The medicine cabinet overflowed with Claritin, Allegra, Benadryl and half a dozen nasal sprays. The culprit was a buff Cocker Spaniel with tons of wavy hair deposited all over the house.
According to DogBreedInfo, no dog on earth is 100 percent non-shedding. However, some shed little to no hair and are ideal for allergy sufferers.
1. American Hairless Terrier. With no body hair or dander, it has pink skin and gray, black, golden or red spots. Playful and loving, it needs daily exercise and weekly bathing. These dogs must avoid sunburn and stay warm in cold weather. They normally live 14 to 16 years. Size: 7 to 16 inches, 5 to 16 pounds.
2. American Water Spaniel. This active dog lives 12 to 15 years and has a curled or wavy outer coat in liver, brown or dark chocolate and a protective undercoat. Intelligent and trainable, it’s an excellent hunting dog needing plenty of exercise. Size: 15 to 18 inches tall and 25 to 45 pounds.
3. Bichon Frise. These little guys live 15 or more years. Long outer coats cover a soft undercoat. They’re white and fluffy, with an identifiable haircut requiring regular professional grooming. Bichons are loving, sociable dogs that need a daily walk. Most weigh 7 to 12 pounds and reach 9 to 12 inches tall.
4. Chinese Crested (Hairless). The Powder Puff variety has a long, soft coat. The Hairless has hair only on its feet, head and tail. Both come in many solid or spotted shades. They live 10 to 12 years and need constant companionship, a daily walk and sunscreen to thrive. Some are allergic to lanolin and wool. Their size is 12 inches tall, not exceeding 10 pounds.
5. Hairless Khala. They’re medium-sized hounds that become dark gray at maturity. They’ve loving and docile with family members but can be unfriendly with strangers. They grow to between 14 and 20 inches tall, depending on the type, and weigh 15 to 30 pounds. Export to the United States is limited, so there’s no calculated age range here.
6. Miniature Poodle. The curly or corded coat comes in black, blue, silver, gray, cream, apricot, red, white, brown or café-au-lait. These smart, cheerful dogs love children but are high-strung without exercise. Since they don’t shed, their coats must be clipped regularly. Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years. Size: 16 to 17 pounds, 11 to 15 inches tall.
7. Portuguese Water Dog. The non-shedding coat is black, white, brown, mixed, silver or gray. These water-loving dogs have a pleasant disposition and a sense of humor. They love being in the spotlight and need daily mental and physical exercise during their 10 to 14 years. They weigh between 35 to 49 pounds and stand 17 to 22 inches tall. Life expectancy is 10 to 14 years.
8. Standard Schnauzer. These shed-free wiry dogs are solid black or salt and pepper. Great watchdogs, they’re clever but not great with children. They need a daily walk and usually live at least 15 years. They also require daily combing or brushing to avoid mats. Their size is 17 to 19 inches tall, between 30 and 45 pounds.
Reference:
- DogBreedInfo web site
