I'm looking for any breeds of small dogs that dont moult I've found a few from reading the forums but would love so help if anyone knows anymore. My dad is allergic to dog hair but after we recently lost our little dog mitzy we all are trying to find a small breed that is right for us. My sister and I are both older but would still love a playful breed.
Any help or advice would be appreciated greatly.
Thank you.
J.

I'm no expert when it comes to breeds of dogs.  All I know is that a friend has a border terrier who has a great temprement and she says that she doesn't moult which is one of the reasons why she bought her as she has problems with dog hair.

bison frise, poodles, puli (small to my standards lol), chinese crested, i've heard the maltese doesn't...

ive read this quite alot too but as an owner of border terriers i would have to say that this just isnt true, my borders do moult and every time i pick them up i get covered in hair although not as bad as our malinois, poodles dont moult though so id go for one of them

bichons  dont moult  but they  can mat quickly if  left,  hows about a dandie dinmont

Shih Tzu's don't moult either, but they do require daily attention if in full coat and weekly brushing if clipped/trimmed.
They are hilarious dogs with a great sense of humour and fun. ;-)

How about  Miniature Schnauzer.  They are a small dog........with a big attitude!!.  I have a 12month male....who thinks he is a Rottweiler.  Such fun dogs, easy to train and NO moulting.

Sorry should have put some shih tzu's do not moult. My chap doesn't and I know alot of others that don't, but there are some that do.

Mexican Hairless or toy poodle.

Emma

There are lots of hybrids that don't moult. Any of the Poodle mixes or Bichon mixes and they will have hybrid vigour too.
They are usually small and highly intelligent. What about a Maltese X Bichon, gorgeous little things.

why not just a maltese or a bichon rather than a cross?

(unles the op's interested in getting a rescue)

> There are lots of hybrids that don't moult. Any of the Poodle mixes or Bichon mixes and they will have hybrid vigour too.
>

It depends what you breed them with.  If the other parent is a moulter some of the puppies will moult.

>What about a Maltese X Bichon, gorgeous little things.

What's the point.  Both breeds are lovely, intelligent and healthy, when bought from a reputable breeder, and if you buy a pure bred you will know just what it will look like.  A cross may look something like one or the other or just a small white mongrel which is what it is, only as healthy as its parents.

> What's the point.  Both breeds are lovely, intelligent and healthy, when bought from a reputable breeder, and if you buy a pure bred you will know just what it will look like.  A cross may look something like one or the other or just a small white mongrel which is what it is, only as healthy as its parents.

really what is the point?? i was looking earlier at some 'labradoodles' in their many and varied forms and i couldn;t help thinking they look variously like really poorly bred (depending on the way their cross turned out) portuguese water dogs, curly coated retrievers or otter hounds- why oh why is having a cross breed that you were ripped off for better than having a health tested, better looking and very rare breed like those listed? perplexing.

When looking for a dog for someone with allergies or asthma it is very important to remember that it is not jsut the non moulting aspect, but the kind of coat which may cause allergic reactions.  Someone may be fine with a poodle type coat and allergic to a terrier/schnauzer coarser hair, or vice versa.  Very few dogs actually don't moult at all, poodles for instance can have some shedding, but it is generaly caught up in the coat, which is one of the casues of matting (as in the bichon). The dog loses some hairs, but they dont lie about the house.

IF you can, visit (or arrange visits from) various breeds which appeal and which you think will suit.  You can then asses which will casue no problems for the person wiht the allergies. (If any).  Getting a cross breed or mongrel could be absolutley fine, but it is impossible to forecast what the coat type will be, so meeting one parent or relative is much lessl ikely to give you any idea.  If you are interested in a cross, then dogs homes are full of them in all shapes and sizes, don't be conned into the hype of "designer crosses" hybrid vigour, etc.  They are money making scams from people who are jumping onto the band wagon perpetrated by the press etc.

Good luck in your search

every time i pick them up i get covered in hair although not as bad as our malinois,

But Malis only moult twice a year, the rest of the time you'd have to struggle to get a single hair off.....Although the working bred ones tend to be bred with incorrect coat, maybe they moult all the time...

Also, do bear in mind that there is no such thing as a "hypoallergenic" dog. Even within the same litter, some pups may set off allergies, while siblings will not. Also, pups give off less allergens than adult dogs, so it is quite possible that a puppy won't initially set off allergies, but it may as it grows. It might be worth considering an adult resuce dog as you'll be able to tell if he/she does set off your Dad's allergy.
Having said that we have a Bichon Frise who is a delight, and such a cheerful dog.
Yorkshire Terriers might be a good option for you too.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Julie

There are lots of hybrids that don't moult. Any of the Poodle mixes or Bichon mixes and they will have hybrid vigour too

sorry but poodle crosses often moult- look at the labradoodles probably 50% moult and there is no such thing as 'hybrid vigour' either

> There are lots of hybrids that don't moult. Any of the Poodle mixes or Bichon mixes and they will have hybrid vigour too.
> They are usually small and highly intelligent. What about a Maltese X Bichon, gorgeous little things

Absolute rubbish.   I know a 'oodle noodle doodle' thing & she is the worst moulting dog I know.

Bichons or Maltese don't moult so how can a Maltichon moult?
and hybrid vigour is a well regarded and recognised trait. The effect of hybrid vigour is 'strongest' or 'highest' in the first generation of progeny produced from the crossing of the two purebred breeds, such as in Labradoodles.    That is, when the two parents are purebred (eg Labrador Retriever and Poodle) and are crossbred, their progeny or offspring have the most hybrid vigour or heterosis effect.   And this first generation of progeny or offspring are commonly referred to as the F1.    And the next generation F2, etc, etc.

So if a person wants a dog for a pet and not to breed with whats wrong with a hybrid, they might be saving themselves a lot of vets bills.

Don't forget a pedigree dog is just an inbred crossbreed.

So if a person wants a dog for a pet and not to breed with whats wrong with a hybrid, they might be saving themselves a lot of vets bills.

MIGHT being the word. Nothing whatsoever to say it won't get say HD or any inherited eye defect or similar, just depends on what both parents carry. I used to have a first cross who had severe HD. Know of another who has a heart problem.

> So if a person wants a dog for a pet and not to breed with whats wrong with a hybrid, they might be saving themselves a lot of vets bills.
>

Nothing wrong with a hybrid, but there isn't the predictability of temperment & health as there is with a purebred.
I am totally in love with Mastiffs, but I would not even consider taking on a Mastiff-cross due to the unpredictability of the temperment - you don't know what you will get, a temperment like the mums, dads  or something new.

The same goes for any dog. If somebody wants a laid back, low drive dog that doesn't require much exercise and they get a cross breed - how do they know the dog will suit them?, they could end up with a dog that wants to run all day.

The whole point of purebred dogs is predictability.
The health problems associated with purebreeds are something that crossbreeds also suffer with.  Humans aren't inbred, we're all 'cross breeds', yet we can be genetically pre-disposed to certain diseases, just the same as cross-bred dogs can (not to mention the fact that HD & ED are just 2 problems that have other contributing/causing factors such as diet, exercise, growth rate).

To the OP.

How about a hairless dog, the Chinese Crested only has tufts of hair at it's extremities?

im not sure i dont think its moulting just around her crate i find hair but when she did moult it was a nightmare we had to buy a rake type thing to get the hair cus a slicker brush wouldnt do it

The trick is to bath them, use a rake in the bath when the coat is wet and get most of the hair off in one go. :) Cuts down on the moulting time quite a lot.

With Marianne here - bathing helps loosen off coats that have started to blow so it's easier to get more out in one go. Often a 3-5 days later even more loosens off and so it speeds up the whole process saving the elbow grease, vacuum cleaner, furnishings etc from extended periods of hair everywhere and importantly makes the dog more comfortable (no scratching at irritating loose hairs)

Speeds up new coat growth too which is a bonus for show dogs :)

When you say 'moult' do you mean not lose any hair at all? Most dogs, even short haired ones, shed hairs regularly, some more than others.

My boy ( french bulldog) shed hairs continually but is really only noticeable on light clothing if he's carried or for a while after a bath. Because he is stroked all the time, we don't notice the loose hairs coming out and there certainly isn't piles on the floor :-D

He had a weekend stay at the vets and when we picked him up to come home, he was covered in loose hair. It was dropping everywhere!

> and hybrid vigour is a well regarded and recognised trait.

Do you know what percentage of deleterious genes are shared between dog breeds and how many are unique? I've never been able to find a paper that discusses heterosis in domestic dog breeds on PubMed or NCBI. It would be interesting to know.

Mother has a miniature poodle. She suffers from asthma & my dense coated dogs make her ill but she's been absolutely fine with the poodle. He's a lovely little thing too, very playful & friendly. Wasn't really a poodle fan until I met him. Grooming fees year round though.

To the OP please do not be fooled by fancy names for purposely bred crossbreed/mongrels that go with the equally fancy prices.

Hybrid vigour does apply to crossbreeding two animals of the same species-as in dogs-it applies to crossing horses with donkeys etc

> Don't forget a pedigree dog is just an inbred crossbreed.

Don't you mean an inbred hybrid ??? How can you have "hybrid"vigour when you breed two breeds of dogs together that have 4 mutual & 2 non mutual genetic conditions increasing the risk of genetic conditions for the offspring from 5 to 6 ?????

> Don't forget a pedigree dog is just an inbred crossbreed.

no they are not, they are line bred for deliberate traits- not two dogs stuck together to make whatever (read money)

can you cite any reputable source that supports the theory of hybrid vigour? (and no wikipedia is not one)

so whats wrong with having 'just' a maltese or or 'just' a bichon? from health tested stock of course. the op can investigate exactly what reaction the allergy sufferer has to their coats and will know exactly what they are getting rather than having no clue how the DNA will play out.

first crosses could easily have faults from both breeds such as hip/eyes/ etc. i dont see mating 2 purebreds (who may have health probs and not be screened for them) can produce MORE healthy dogs?
another moan about the oodle crosses- i wish people would groom/clip them! the amount of scruffy labradoodles and particulary cockerpoos i see that are never washed or clipped. just because they are crosses, why do people think they dont need coat care? most cant see where they are going!

> first crosses could easily have faults from both breeds such as hip/eyes/ etc. i dont see mating 2 purebreds (who may have health probs and not be screened for them) can produce MORE healthy dogs?
>

exactly! what twisted mental process leads to that conclusion??

The Myth of Hybrid Vigor in Dogs

Genetics and hybrid vigor

> Do you know what percentage of deleterious genes are shared between dog breeds

"The average number of deleterious recessive genes carried by an individual dog (or cat or horse or human) could be as high as 20.......," taken from here 18th paragraph down - that's all I could find on a quick surf of the net.

thank you, i'll try that next time :)

> "The average number of deleterious recessive genes carried by an individual dog (or cat or horse or human) could be as high as 20.......," taken from [url=http://www.dogslife.com.au/dogs_life_articles?cid=9450&pid=1798119" rel=nofollow]here[/url] 18th paragraph down - that's all I could find on a quick surf of the net.

Your links demonstrate the points of my question ML. :) Point one, heterozygosity can prevent a disease from being expressed only if the normal gene is dominant, it will not help if the deleterious gene is dominant - one must also remember that a mix breed could still be a carrier. Second, if the parent breeds share deleterious genes then a mix wouldn't help at all. And lets face it dogs are all one species so not far fetched they should have some common genes. Poodles can suffer from hipdysplasia as can labs. Labradoodles are not only in the same boat but the mean score is higher than for either parent breed. That may be down to lack of testing on parents but it certainly hasn't erradicated the problem in that mixed breed.

Peeps :) this thread is about small non-moulting dogs and we're veering off course :-D

What other small dogs can we recommend to help the OP make her decision?

fantastic links mastifflover.

Quite right (slapping face now) I think we got caught up in crosses not necessarily being non moulting. This is Melodysk's list from this thread. And I can't think of more than her.
SOFT COATED WHEATEN TERRIER
BEDLINGTON TERRIER
POODLE
FOX TERRIER (WIRE)
YORKSHIRE TERRIER
PORTUGUESE WATER DOG
BICHON FRISE
MALTESE
AFGHAN HOUND
KERRY BLUE TERRIER
TIBETAN TERRIER

As for allergies it's usually the dander people are allergic to, not the hair. I'm OK with some breeds and not others. Often the shorter hair bothers me more. The best thing to do is to try to get up close and personal. What breed did you have before or was she a mixed breed. If your dad was good with Mitzy I'd get the same breed again if possible. It's heartbreaking to get a dog only to find you're allergic to it.

i can't really think of any more...

chinese crested
mexican hairless
maltese
poodle, both smaller sizes
mini schnauzer
bichon frise
a puli if they want a wee ish dog

can't think of any more

Cairn Terriers are "nonallergic".   As someone said earlier though - there is no such thing as a "nonallergic" dog.   The only way to test it out is live and in person - by coming into contact with dogs of a particular breed.

Australian terriers too........
Karen

There are lots of hybrids that don't moult. Any of the Poodle mixes or Bichon mixes and they will have hybrid vigour too

Sorry, but I thought the OP was after a dog.... as far as I know a Hybrid is two species , not two breeds of the same species

Why not go for a poodle,   if you want a non molting dog, instead of a Xbreed..plus you will be more than likely getting one form health tested parents

> The effect of hybrid vigour is 'strongest' or 'highest' in the first generation of progeny produced from the crossing of the two purebred breeds, such as in Labradoodles.

But they are not hybrids, they are both dogs so will not benefit from being a F1.

> i can't really think of any more...
>
> chinese crested
> mexican hairless
> maltese
> poodle, both smaller sizes
> mini schnauzer
> bichon frise
> a puli if they want a wee ish dog
>
> can't think of any more

What about wire haired dachshund? Standard schnauzer is not too big - just medium.

standard schnauzer moults! mine does anyway

Suppose down to individual dog again! Have had both clipped and stripped std schnauzers and no moulting here. Bought first one because my dad has severe asthma and i suppose it was pot luck because he wasn't allergic and kept visiting!

Im a dog groomer and find alot of people with allergies are fine with longer hair but get reactions with short or rough hair.
Bichons and Poodles are the most favoured, but do matt very quickly, so if the grooming causes any problems, then have them clipped back.
Also i have alot of Yorkies in and they dont seem to moult.

I have two Irish Setters and two cats, my other half is allergic to dogs and cats and is also asthmatic.  When I first met him he would have to drug himself up on allergy tablets before he could step through the door, now he lives with me and he has become immune to my dogs and cats (as long as he washes his hands after touching them otherwise he touches his eyes and they flare up.) he is now very allergic to his parents cat which he wasnt before !!

I am also allergic to dogs and cats. I own 6 dogs and I have found if for the first few weeks if I bathe them in an allergy shampoo and use allergy  wipes for a few weeks longer,,,,I become accustomed to them and then have no symptoms. Any strange dog will set off the itchy eyes especially if they haven't been recently bathed.

All new animals in my house get the same treatment. I bit of a bother but worth it in the end to get them into the house.
:-)

Keeping to the OP.... i have a miniature poodle. He is a great chap (most of the time :-) ) as he doesnt moult and i would recommend the breed, however, you should be aware that poodles are very intelligant so constant training and stimulation is needed. Remember that temperment etc is also very important as well as finding a dog that matches your criteria of being non moulting.

As far as the poodle, bichon crosses that have been mentioned - i would say dont go there. Just because a non moulting breed has been crossed with another dog it does not guarantee the pups will be non moulting. Also these crosses arent often done responsibly so you are likely to end up with a poorly dog or even poorly puppy with no health tests and not great standard of life.
Definatly go for well bred pups from health tested parents and responsible breeders.

If, or when you decide to get a pup, post it on the forum and im sure everyone will be willing to help you select a good breeder and will give you more information.
Good luck.

Just wanted to note that "moulting" - shedding - has very little to do with allergies.   People are allergic to the dander (a.k.a. dandruff) and not the hair itself. 

All dogs lose hair.  All a shedding dog does is lose most of it's coat at certain times in large quantities versus losing small amounts of hair throughout the year.