Your Cart is Empty
We are used to referring to dog fur, but what about dog hair? Here’s a quick guide on the difference between hair and fur and the benefits that go with each.
Both hair and fur are made of the same protein -- keratin. Keratin is also what makes up fingernails, claws, and more.
In that regard, hair and fur are very similar. Some people consider the difference between hair and fur to be more semantics with hair being exclusive to humans and fur to animals. There is, however, a difference in how hair and fur grow.
Hair tends to take much longer to grow than fur. Like human hair, dog breeds with hair can have different follicles at different points of growth, with some being active or dormant. Because of the longer cycle of growth, dogs breeds with hair, not fur tend to shed less.
Hair also tends to grow longer, sometimes getting curlier to further trap allergens. Dogs with fur can sometimes have a double-coat, while dogs with hair have only one layer. With dogs that have hair, you can see with a dog brush the amount of loose hair.
In addition, while the makeup of hair and fur is identical, the way each grows can be very different.
When looking for a dog breed with hair, not fur, there is quite a large selection. The most common breed known to have hair are poodles, but you are not limited to only poodles.
The great thing about dogs with hair is the fact that they don’t shed nearly as much as a dog with fur. While there are no dogs that don’t shed hair, dogs with hair rarely lose significant amounts of hair. With a dog grooming brush or any other dog de-shedding tool, you can take out any loose hairs and keep the hair around your home to a minimum.
These breeds can be toy size to large and can come in a wide variety of colors and hair textures. At the end of the day, it all depends on what you're looking for and what you like in a furry companion.
When it comes to short hair dog breeds, t is really up to the owner’s preference. Hair tends to grow longer than fur. Like our own hair, it can grow quite long until we decide to get it cut.
Keep in mind that all the breeds below can be either styled with long or short hair. The great thing about hair is its versatility for styling.
When it comes to small, short hair dog breeds, a popular choice are Yorkshire terriers. Yorkies can have their hair styled short or long, with short being a popular style.
Thanks to their hair, they shed less than dogs with fur. They don’t have a shedding season, and their hair tends to fall back into their coat. Like people, hair will occasionally fall out but not in the same quantities as fur.
Thanks to their fine texture, dogs with hair tend to have it styled long. Here are just a few long hair dog breeds.
When looking for a dog breed with long hair, Shih Tzu’s are a great choice. They were particularly bred for their long, luxurious coats. They are friendly and small and can be great companions.
Like Yorkies, any hair they shed is few and far between. They are a small dog which lends to them shedding less. Properly groomed and maintained, they can be a complete showstopper without the hassle of long hair all over your home.
Like a Shih Tzu, Maltese are known for their signature long hair. They make excellent companion dogs and love being indoors.
Whatever hair they do shed is minimal and easy to clean up. When their coat is kept long, hair shed can be trapped against their coat keeping it from getting all over your home. Brushing them with a good dog hair brush can help you get those loose hair out and your dog’s coats untangled.
Poodles are one of the most versatile and friendly dog breeds known for their intelligence and recognizable by their curly coat and highly amicable personality. They originated from Germany to be water retrievers and come in three sizes: standard, miniature and toy. They are very energetic and like participating in many activities, such as agility and obedience tasks. In addition, they make for great companions due to their playful and friendly nature.
When it comes to the quintessential dog with hair, poodles often come to mind. They are often touted as hypoallergenic thanks to their hair coat and the benefits that come from hair as stated earlier.
Another great thing about poodles is the array of sizes they can come in, with standard, miniature and toy variations available.
Standard poodles stand over 15 inches tall. Because of their size, they can be considered a large dog breed with short hair.
Yes, while they do shed, it is a minimal amount compared to furred dogs.
Miniature Poodles stand between 12 to 15 inches. While smaller, their personalities are just as large as standard poodles, as are the benefits of their fur coats.
Like standard poodles, the miniature poodle’s shedding is minimal and easy to look after. Like humans, their hair comes out at a manageable amount.
Standing at 10 inches and under, these tiny pets make great companions. They have all the spunk of a poodle with the size of a chihuahua.
They do shed, but like their larger size variations, these poodles have hair that be easily managed with low amounts of shedding.
Poodle mixes have allowed for a large variety of breeds to benefit from having hair over fur. They include labradoodle, maltipoos, cockapoos, golden doodles and more. If they inherited their poodle parent’s coat, you can rest assure that their shedding will be minimal.