Last Updated on February, 2025
Everyone loves dogs, but some people might face doggy allergies or get irritated with dog odors.
Are you someone struggling to find a puppy that won’t leave a trail of fur all over your home or make your whole house smell like a canine perfume aisle?
You’re in the right place.
This article will briefly discuss some popular dogs that don’t shed or smell, their characteristics, and grooming needs.
After reading the article, you’ll know which dog is the best for you.
Let’s dive in.
Quick Summary
Popular dog breeds that don’t shed or smell are highly sought after for people with dog allergies or those who dislike dog odors. Read on below to find the dog breeds.
Non-shedding and non-smelling dogs require regular grooming and brushing to keep their coat healthy and odor-free.
Factors such as sebaceous glands, skin folds, and moisture can contribute to a dog’s smell, while coat type and shedding frequency determine whether a dog is hypoallergenic.
Table of Contents
11 Dog Breeds That Don’t Shed or Smell
Let’s discuss briefly about some of the non-shedding, non-smelling dog breeds.
1. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is a dog that looks like a cotton ball with a small size and a fluffy white coat.
Character-wise, Bichon Frise is intelligent, friendly, playful, and behaves nicely with children and other dogs.
Bichon Frise is a hypoallergenic dog breed, but you must groom it regularly, ideally 2-3 times a week, to prevent matting.
In addition, you must bathe and clip the hair once a month. With this simple routine, these dogs won’t shed or smell.
Among the minimal shedding dog breeds, Bichon Frise is at the top. So, if you are prone to dog allergies, this is an ideal breed.
2. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is known as the lion dog due to its royal look and long silky hair.
Shih Tzus are affectionate and friendly dogs. They love to spend time outside with the owner and are friendly with other pets too.
Many people misunderstand this breed to be a high-shedder due to its long hair, but it’s not.
Shih Tzu sheds a reasonable amount, but you won’t find dog hair everywhere. Why? Because the double coat traps the loose hair, and you can brush it off.
Regular brushing is essential to keep a Shih Tzu fresh and non-smelly. Plus, only bathe it occasionally; once a month is enough. This breed is perfect for you if you live in a small apartment or have limited space.
Don’t you want to know the price of this amazing dog breed? Check this article.
3. Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dogs are hypoallergenic dogs known for their high-energy personalities.
They have long, dense coat with curly or wavy hair, and what’s interesting is their coat is water resistant.
On the other hand, regular grooming is keeps the fur free of odor.
The Portuguese water dog has a playful, calm personality. As the name suggests, it loves water and excels at water sports. It’s intelligent, too, so you can train it quickly.
Regular exercise is crucial to keeping a Portuguese Water Dog fit; if you don’t have time for that, this breed is not for you.
4. West Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier is one of the most popular Terrier breeds due to its small size.
The West Highland Terrier has a cheerful, curious personality. It loves spending every minute with its owner, making you laugh all day with its playful antics.
A Westie has a non-shedding, non-smelling coat that needs regular brushing. It’ll lose its beautiful appearance if you bathe your White Terrier too often.
So daily brushing is enough to keep it healthy and happy. Once every 4-6 weeks, you can give it a professional grooming.
5. Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Water Spaniels are hypoallergenic dogs with low shedding and non-smelling, water-repellent coats.
The Irish Spaniel is a natural-born swimmer. It’s a sports dog and loves water-based activities such as retrieving objects from water, hunting waterfowl, etc.
So, the Irish Water Spaniel can be the perfect companion if you are involved in outdoor adventures often. It’s very intelligent but can be stubborn at times.
The Irish Water Spaniel has a curly coat. You must brush it daily to prevent matting and trim every few months.
6. Basenji
Basenji is a non-smelling dog known for its cleanliness.
Basenji, the barkless dog, was originally bred in Africa as a hunting dog but doesn’t bark like other hounds. Instead, it makes yodel-like vocal sounds.
Basenji has a short, fine coat that requires minimal grooming. It means you don’t have to brush your dog’s hair daily. Basenji grooms itself like cats do.
Hence, brush it once a week to spread the coat oils evenly. It’s also naturally odorless, so you can bathe it only when it gets dirty.
Basenji is an energetic breed and suits families involved in outdoor activities often. It’s also suitable for allergy sufferers and people looking for a low-maintenance dog.
7. Whippet
Whippet is a non-shedding breed with a friendly nature.
It’s an affectionate dog that gets along well with canines and other animals, like cats. It also loves to spend time on the owner’s lap.
Its hair is smooth and short. It’s almost odorless and sheds very little. If you hate even a slight dog smell, then a Whippet is the perfect dog for you.
Moreover, the Whippet only requires a little maintenance. Hence, weekly brushing and bathing are sufficient.
The downside is a Whippet requires a lot of exercise to be fit. So you must allocate time for dog walks and other outdoor activities.
Whippet is a slightly large-sized dog breed. Therefore, introducing them to small children must happen with your supervision.
8. Schnauzer
Schnauzer is another non-smelling, non-shedding dog. It comes in three sizes: miniature, standard, and giant.
Miniature Schnauzer is a popular lap dog, while the Giant Schnauzer requires regular exercise.
Schnauzer is known for its distinctive gray and white hair and the fur around its mouth that looks like a beard.
The breed has a wiry coat which requires minimal grooming. Brush the coat regularly to keep it odorless.
Schnauzer is a friendly dog that gets along well with small children.
9. Labradoodle
Labradoodle is a crossbreed of a Labrador Retriever and a Poodle.
It inherits its hypoallergenic coat from its Poodle ancestors.
Labradoodle is an intelligent, energetic, and cheerful dog breed. It’s ideal for families involved in regular outdoor activities.
You must brush its coat regularly to prevent matting and bathe it every 2-3 weeks to eliminate pungent odors.
10. Goldendoodle
Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic dog breeds.They are a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle.
They inherit their non-shedding, non-smelling coat from the Poodles and their cheerful, loyal nature from the Golden Retrievers.
Goldendoodles come in different sizes: standard, miniature, and toy. You can select a size suitable for you. Their coats can be curly, wavy, or straight.
You must brush the coat frequently to prevent matting. Don’t bathe Goldendoodles often. Once every few months, you must take them for professional grooming.
Don’t you want to get a good crate for your Goldendoodle? Read our Best Goldendoodle Crates page and find the best one.
11. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Wheaten Terrier is another hypoallergenic breed.
As the name indicates, the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier has a wheat-colored soft coat.
It’s known for its signature welcome style, where the dog jumps to meet its owner.
This dog doesn’t shed excessively or give foul odors.
You must brush the coat regularly to avoid matting.
Why Do Some Dogs Shed or Smell More Than Others?
Dogs shed to get rid of old or damaged hair. The amount of shedding depends on the dog breed and coat type.
Some dog breeds shed year-round, and some shed seasonally. Dogs with thick, long coats tend to shed more than dogs with a single coat with short hair.
All dogs smell, but some more than others. Why? Certain features contribute to odor production.
Let’s look at them:
Characteristics of Non-Shedding Dogs
Many dog owners expect non-shedding dogs not to shed at all. However, that’s impossible.
Non-shedding means minimal shedding, meaning hypoallergenic dog breeds shed very little compared with other breeds.
Their shedding frequency is similar to that of human hair fall. Hence, you’ll only occasionally find a little pet hair in your home.
Characteristics of Non-Smelling Dogs
The leading cause of dog odor is the oils secreted by sebaceous glands. These oils are essential to keep the dog’s coat shiny, yet they are also what’s responsible for the pungent smell.
Dogs have sebaceous glands in varying sizes. Dogs that don’t smell have small sebaceous glands.
Moreover, these dogs lack floppy ears and skin folds. Usually, moisture and microorganisms accumulate within skin folds, leading to a foul smell.
How Do You Groom Dogs That Don’t Smell or Shed?
All hypoallergenic breeds are not the same.
They have different coat types, such as curly, straight, or wavy. Some have coats that are more similar to human hair than animal fur.
Generally, dogs that don’t shed or smell require frequent brushing and professional grooming every few months.
The specific grooming needs vary from breed to breed. So, learn the breed-specific grooming requirements before you bring a dog home.
Pros of Having Dogs That Don’t Shed or Smell
Other guides and tools you might need when training your dog:
FAQs
The Final Verdict
Dog breeds that don’t shed or smell are perfect for people who love dogs but have doggy allergies.
Scottish Terrier, Bichon Frise, Yorkshire Terrier, Giant Schnauzer, and Shih Tzu are hypoallergenic purebred dogs. Goldendoodles and Labradoodles are non-shedding, non-smelling crossbreeds.
Consider your needs and the breed-specific grooming requirements before you choose the right dog for you.
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