Dogs are perhaps the most versatile pets to keep by your side. A little care, pure love, and a pat on their head, voila, your canine partner would just adore you for these sweet nothings. But, do you know what scares most of the new dog parents? A shedder.
Yes, long-haired dogs are a tad bit high maintenance because of their thick coats. Their coats not only have lush furs, but they also shed a lot. Many people are hesitant to have hairy dogs at home due to their heavy hair shedding.
So, how about we tell you about dog breeds that don’t have double fur coats? You can actually pet a hunky, thinly coated doggo with the least maintenance needed.
Large Short Hair Dog Breeds You Should Bring Home
With these pups by your side, you can actually keep up with your fast-paced life as well as be a proud dog parent of a big woofer you can cuddle at night. Scroll down the list below to read more about these short hair dog breeds.
1. Boston Terrier
America’s very own four-legged Gentleman is the best dog with the shortest hair. These dogs are best suited and have very low maintenance for families and bachelors alike. They have been ruling the pet arena for over a century with their patchy big guy body and agility and sportiness.
Going by the looks, Boston Terrier is a well-proportioned dog with a hunky build. It features a square face, upright ears, and a slightly arched neck. The muzzle is short and wrinkle-free with an even or slightly undershot bite. Their chest is large, but their tail is short.
2. Irish Greyhounds
Irish greyhounds are known for their stiff, tall appearance and snarky look. Fret not; they are the sweetest creature when petted properly. These dogs are hunting dogs with skinny coats and sleek, polished built.
Greyhounds are amiable, not just towards people of all ages but also to other pets. While they are alert, they aren’t aggressive to strangers. Even though they are a breed with a high level of energy, they rarely are enthusiastic or love to jump around and are seen preferring to sleep or relax in their off time.
Their heritage as hunting dogs does not make them any less lovable or adorable. They appreciate a good belly rub as much as the next dog and are very loyal to their parents.
3. Anatolian Shepherd Dog
Anatolian Shepherd Dogs have a lineage that can be traced back to the ancient period, even the bronze age. This is a large dog with high endurance and agility. They are rarely used as herd dogs, even though their name suggests that. Their size and capacity to fend off almost all kinds of predators have this name, not because of their obedience.
These Guard Dogs define what it means to be loyal to someone, making them one of the best at what they do. They are not playful, making them not so suitable a companion for a child. Still, they are brilliant, perfect for any adult who needs a friend or a companion who helps them through it all.
They are effortless to take care of and require minimal attention to their health. An extremely independent breed, they need exercise and only minimal brushing of hair.
4. German Shepherd
German Shepherds are enormous, active dogs who enjoy human connection and flourish when presented with new tasks. And what’s even more interesting is that they have medium coats all over their robust body.
Yes, this shepherd dog breed has medium body hair in all shades of black, brown, and patchy tan. They don’t shed quickly and go on without a proper hair care regimen for a really long time.
German shepherds are better family dogs than other shepherd breeds. They can adapt to pretty much everything you throw at them. Even though they appear terrifying, they are charming. They are friendly with everyone they love, and they get along very well with people. They drool a lot too, adding to the cuteness and quirky aspect. Their sweet nature, along with all this, makes them an excellent choice for a pet.
5. Dogue de Bordeaux
Dogue de Bordeaux is a subset of the French Mastiff. This is a massive and muscular breed, usually bred to pull carts or other heavy works. They are not just strong but ancient. They are one of the oldest breeds, preceding the kingdom of France itself.
This breed has a high sense of independence, making it hard for you to train it. But once trained, Bordeaux is one of the most loyal companions one could ever ask for. They get along well with people of all ages and even children. It is a territorial dog, with a tendency to be aggressive towards those who trespass their territory, making them suitable to be guard dogs.
They require only minimal attention when it comes to taking care of them. This doesn’t mean they can be ignored. Still, they are easier to take care of than an average dog because they have short hair and a higher ability to withstand harsh and challenging circumstances.
6. Great Dane
Great Danes were originally bred as hunting dogs and are one of the giant breeds of dogs in the world. Also known as the German Mastiff, this breed hails from Germany. They are a highly alert breed of dogs, making them excellent for various purposes, including herding, guarding, plus being cool companions.
Great Danes are extremely intelligent and are easy to train. They are also known for their enthusiasm, as they make good friends for children who need extra energy output. While friendly with those they like, this breed is tough to cross paths with as its heritage makes it a very deadly opponent for enemies.
This breed requires rest and relaxation for quite some time in a day. So they need a big space to lay down and relax, making it hard for them to domesticate if you live in a small house or apartment.
7. Dalmatian
If you love cartoon movies, you must recognize a Dalmatian. Originating from Croatia and the historical city of Dalmatia, they are a large breed of dog with white skin spotted with black marks. They are one of the most popular dog breeds of all time and have an entire movie franchise called 101 Dalmatians dedicated to them, thanks to Disney.
They are a breed with high stamina and endurance due to their heritage as carriage pulling dogs earlier. They are really friendly and a pleasure to be around. Plus, they also have high energy levels, making them good companions to active children. This intelligent dog is obedient in nature, easy to train, and has almost no hair to take care of.
One of the most sensitive breeds, dalmatians get along well with people of all ages and can be trained for multiple functions. They require some attention. Still, they are a relatively independent breed and not always a handful to the pet parents.
8. Basenji
You might know these really long-legged beasts as the famous Barkless Dogs, for they are known to produce a yodel-like sound. However, another essential feature of these beautiful creatures is the thin layering of the fur around their bodies.
Basenjis are African and thus need a skinny layer of hair to keep themselves cool. Their coating is so thin that they don’t even need frequent brushing.
The Basenjis are chirpy, lively, inquisitive when petted but are reserved around strangers. The Basenji is prone to developing an emotional attachment to a single human. They are also athletic and take part in many jumping, running, and outdoor exhibits.
9. Bullmastiff
A mastiff breed of English origin, the Bullmastiff, is one of the toughest dogs. They have been bred as a cross between Bulldog and Mastiff. Bullmastiffs have been helping humans as long as one can trace their origin.
They are an intelligent breed, making them beneficial to help catch poachers in wilder areas and gamekeepers in older times. They are fearless and used widely as guard dogs, making them a little dangerous to strangers whom they consider enemies. Even while it is so, they are very loyal to the ones they love and can get along with people of all ages. They are not active dogs and prefer sitting and laying around to just hopping on couches and playing with children.
It is an immaculate breed, thanks to their mellow short hair that’s easy to keep groomed and conditioned. Moreover, they adapt well to small places and are thus ideal for apartments and small houses.
10. Vizsla
The medium size of the Vizsla is one of its most attractive traits, along with its shiny brown polished body. This Hungarian breed is particularly famous for its glossy, thin coat of brown hair all over its body and amazing domestic temperament.
The Vizsla has enjoyed a significant place among sporting dogs. They are used in many competitions due to their long history of protective dog breeds. However, these dogs are the best for families with kids and older people once attached.
They are an alert species, making them good guard dogs, and intelligent and loyal to the same extent, making them the perfect companion for living alone. They are extremely strong and are known as one of the world’s best protection dogs.
11. Doberman
Doberman Pinscher, also referred to as Doberman, is a German breed known for its long muzzle. They are sleek and feared by almost everyone, despite their elegant nature.
Highly aggressive towards those unfamiliar with it, they are often stereotyped as violent and evil, a stereotype reinforced by the villain roles they repeatedly have to perform in the movies. Don’t believe me? Look into any movie where dogs attack people, and most of them will be Doberman.
But despite this, they are one of the most loving dog breeds ever and would even go to extreme lengths to protect you once they start loving you. They are active and can be good friends for children. Their superior intelligence makes them constantly need mental challenges to keep them busy.
12. English Foxhound
They are a hound breed, bred to hunt foxes by smell/scent. Originated in England, this breed is one of the most energetic breeds of dogs. Their hunting heritage makes them have high durability and endurance, even in extreme situations. They are also known for their long tails.
They need a lot of exercise to burn enough energy each day and cover great distances in a single leap. Their sense of smell is exceptionally good, much like their intelligence. And their high enthusiasm, combined with the heightened sense of smell, makes it hard to keep them contained in space as they very frequently go on the trace of an interesting scent.
Their large size and high enthusiasm make them unlikely apartment pets. Still, their friendly and athletic nature makes them suitable as a companion for outdoor activities.
13. German Shorthaired Pointer
Bred initially in Germany, as their name suggests, the German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the larger breeds of dogs, used as point dogs in hunting games. As affectionate companions, they are very intelligent and active and are among the sporting breed, used for various purposes other than hunting.
Famous as companion dogs and as family dogs, this dog breed is very enthusiastic in nature. It can be a good friend to children, as it helps keep the child occupied, and the dog burns off the excess energy through activities.
They are good at escaping places, making them hard to keep as pets in small places, and they are extremely intelligent and quickly adapt to new places and conditions. Requiring exercise of an hour or two per day, these dogs need reasonable care and attention from the pet parents for them to thrive.
14. Bloodhound
Very famous for their deadly appearance, Bloodhounds are scent hounds originally in Europe. The ability to discern human scent over great distances is really notable, and the Sherlock Holmes novel ‘The Hound of Baskerville” added to this fame, and this fame isn’t in vain.
This is one of the best scent hounds mankind has ever encountered. Bloodhounds are the most used breed in helping the police track down potential suspects and solve cases. While they get along very well with other dogs and people of relatively older age, they are not a recommended companion for children as their sight can be pretty terrifying for a child.
Highly capable of enduring tough situations, Bloodhounds can cover large distances in a single stretch, making them ideal for hunting too. Like English Foxhounds, they are easily distracted from their work due to their heightened sense of smell, and it is hard to train a bloodhound to keep to the command and not be distracted.
Conclusion
Dogs are a huge responsibility if you genuinely care about them. Like humans, they need care, nourishment, and a bit of discipline. All of these dogs mentioned here are known to be the best of their kind and have short, manageable fur. Plus, they are big in size, easy to live with, and have a very gentle ability to bond with humans. If you, too, want to make these canines a part of your family, take cues from the list given above and make a choice.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.