Low Maintenance Hypoallergenic Dogs

If you have dog allergies, it can be difficult finding a four-legged friend that’s both non-shedding and easy to look after. However, there are plenty of low maintenance hypoallergenic dogs. So, you’re sure to find a breed that suits your lifestyle. 

Whether you’re looking for small low maintenance hypoallergenic dogs, medium-sized relaxed pooches, or large non-shedding tail-waggers that will slot easily into your life, the perfect breed is out there for you.

non shedding dogs low maintenance.

What Makes a Dog Hypoallergenic?

Before we reveal the best low maintenance hypoallergenic dogs, let’s first define what hypoallergenic actually means. 

No dog breed in the world can be 100% allergen-free. 

Contrary to popular belief, it’s protein in the dog’s skin cells, saliva, and urine that causes allergy symptoms — not their fur. These dead skin cells are called dander, and it causes more problems for pet owners of heavy-shedding dogs. This is because dog dander can become attached to your dog’s fur, and when they shed, the dander also hitches a ride. 

For a dog to be considered hypoallergenic, it needs to be a low-shedding breed, preferably one that also doesn’t drool much!

Are Non Shedding Dogs Low Maintenance?

All dog breeds have unique traits and characteristics and some are more low maintenance than others. However, if you have a non-shedding pooch, that doesn’t automatically mean you will have a laid-back dog that’s fuss-free to care for. 

Low maintenance means different things to different dog owners. One pet parent may consider a low-maintenance dog to be a pooch that doesn’t bark often or need much exercise. On the other hand, another person may define a low-maintenance breed as one that requires minimal grooming and is so well behaved, that you could easily forget there is a dog in the house. 

As hypoallergenic dogs don’t shed much, these breeds often have manageable coats and won’t cover every surface in your home with hair. In terms of grooming, it can be argued that they’re low maintenance simply because they don’t lose as much fur. However, not all hypoallergenic breeds are low maintenance in all areas of their life — in fact, some can be total doggy divas!

If you don’t want to trade a well-behaved and easy-to-care-for dog breed for one that won’t trigger your dog allergy symptoms — keep reading…

low maintenance hypoallergenic dog breeds.

The Top 10 Best Low Maintenance Hypoallergenic Dogs

If you’re looking for low maintenance hypoallergenic dog breeds, we’ve done the research, and put together this list for you. You’ll see, it is possible to have the best of both worlds.

Don’t let your dog’s allergies get in the way, if you want a chilled-out and happy dog, there are many low-shedding breeds you can choose from.

are brussels griffons low maintenance dogs.

The Brussels Griffon is one of the adorable, low maintenance hypoallergenic small dogs. This toy-sized pooch has a wiry and smooth double coat but doesn’t shed much dander throughout the year. The Brussels Griffon doesn’t drool either, so you won’t need to worry about this breed triggering your allergy symptoms. 

When it comes to exercise, the Griffon only needs around 30-40 minutes a day. However, this small dog is renowned for being extremely playful and if they aren’t active enough to burn off this energy, they can quickly become bored.

This bow-wow will need its nails trimmed around once a month. And, you should brush regularly — outside — to release any trapped hairs from their double coat. 

When fully grown, a Griff Bruss stands around 7-10 inches tall. This means they won’t take up much space in your home or get under your feet. When it’s time for training, you shouldn’t have much trouble either, just be consistent with your methods.

See More On The Brussels Griffon Dog.
are chinese cresteds low maintenance dogs.

While the Chinese Crested has been touted as one of the ugliest dog breeds on the planet, they are both low shedders and low maintenance. As a hairless dog breed, the Crested requires practically zero coat maintenance. However, if you have the ‘powder-puff’ breed, you will need to trim the tiny patches of fur that they do have. 

If you’re worried about having a yappy dog, the Chinese Crested has a fairly low barking level and isn’t annoyingly vocal. This breed is also good with families and other animals, so they shouldn’t cause too much disruption when you introduce them into your home. 

While they can have a stubborn side, on the whole, the breed is straightforward to train. Remember to be patient, consistent, and use positive reinforcement, and you shouldn’t have much trouble training your Crested. 

The Chinese Crested makes a loving and affectionate pet. Although they are described as energetic, you’ll only need to spend around 30 minutes a day walking this tiny tail-wagger. Also, this breed only reaches around 13 inches, hence, ideal for apartment living.

See More On The Chinese Crested Dog.
low maintenance hypoallergenic dog havanese.

The Havanese is a great choice if you’re looking for a friendly and happy family dog that’s also hypoallergenic. This breed adores the company of people of all ages and also knows how to behave around other animals. So you won’t need to worry about this pooch disrupting your family life. 

Training this breed is quite simple, thanks to their eager-to-please nature. Havanese dogs have a comical side and enjoy performing tricks for their parents. They’re intelligent and confident and shouldn’t cause you any trouble during their training. And, if you don’t have a lot of free time, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Havanese only requires around 30 minutes of exercise per day. 

Another plus — you won’t need to apologize to neighbors about all the barking. Being a reasonably quiet breed, the Havenese only really barks when someone knocks on the door — they aren’t considered overly vocal dogs. 

Havanese are low-shedding dogs, but you will need to brush them regularly to release trapped fur from their double coat. If you have allergies, it’s best to brush your dog outside so that their fur (and dander) doesn’t settle inside your home.

See More On The Havanese Dog.
low maintenance hypoallergenic dog italian greyhound.

Italian Greyhounds are a hypoallergenic and smaller version of the traditional Greyhound. These dogs have a short, smooth coat and are relatively low shedders. They reach around 15 inches at the shoulder, and while not exactly small, they will still slot into your home life without causing too much disruption. 

These dogs are lazier than you might think. Although they demand a good run around (20-30 minutes a day), they love nothing more than to curl up on the couch and take it easy. 

The Italian will get on well with all members of the family, they’re loving and affectionate, yet playful at times, and have a mostly relaxed and mellow personality. Training should be fairly easy, they are an intelligent breed that responds best to positive reinforcements and a kind and patient trainer.

As for grooming, an Italian Greyhound is extremely low maintenance. Their short coat only needs a quick brush once a week and nails should wear away naturally when walking on hard surfaces. Alternatively, you can take them to get their nails clipped professionally.

See More On The Italian Greyhound Dog.
low maintenance hypoallergenic dog maltese.

Maltese dogs are small hypoallergenic dogs that are also low maintenance. This breed grows to around 7-9 inches and weighs less than 7 pounds. These dogs are charming and playful and they look both elegant and adorable with their long, straight, silky coat. You could be forgiven for thinking that their coat would trigger your allergies, but the Maltese are hypoallergenic, they rarely shed or drool. 

The Maltese is sometimes described as a stubborn breed, but with patience and lots of doggy treats to hand, they can be trained with minimal effort. Your Maltese will be a fun companion for all members of the family, and they’re sociable when in the company of other dogs. 

All-night barking isn’t high on this breed’s agenda. That said, if you don’t regularly exercise your pooch, they may become bored and be more prone to voicing their frustrations. However, they only need to be walked for around 30 minutes a day — so, even the busiest of pet parents should be able to fit that in.

As the Maltese has a long coat, you may wish to trim it regularly to keep it clean and looking healthy. And, brushing 2 or 3 times a week should be enough to prevent matting and keep their coat in good condition.

See More On The Maltese Dog.
low maintenance hypoallergenic dog shih tzu.

Another of the toy-sized low maintenance non shedding dog breeds, the Shih Tzu looks elegant and fancy with a long coat. Yet, despite all that hair, this breed doesn’t shed often — great news for allergy sufferers. 

Weighing up to 16 pounds and growing to approximately 11 inches tall — these aren’t big dogs. In fact, they’re perfect lap-sized dogs that will enjoy long lazy days curled up and having cuddles with their humans. Their cute appearance means they are a much-loved breed by people of all ages and they’re exceptionally gentle and affectionate with small children. 

Shih Tzus do require more exercise than other dogs on this list (60-70 minutes). However, it’s easy enough to split this up into two shorter walks, so it won’t interrupt your entire day. And, walkies will be drama free as the Shih Tzu is a playful pup that’s happy and well-behaved when in the company of other dogs. 

If you don’t have lots of time for grooming, you can clip your Shih Tzu’s hair short. Or, if you want to cut your doggy’s fur in a particular style, this will require more attention. However, grooming-wise, your Shih Tzu can be as high or low maintenance as you want.

See More On The Shih Tzu Dog.
low maintenance hypoallergenic dog standard poodle.

The standard size is a popular choice for people looking into hypoallergenic low maintenance medium sized dogs. Growing to around 24 inches at shoulder height, they may not be the ideal fit for apartment living. This breed is adaptable and will happily slot into your lifestyle, whether you have children or a busy working life. 

An eager-to-please breed, hence training shouldn’t be difficult, plus Poodle’s respond well to rewards-based training. Your pooch will pick up routines quickly, which is great if you’re on a tight schedule. 

A Standard Poodle may bark occasionally, like when someone is at the door, but for the most part, they are very accepting of strangers and will behave well when out on their daily walks. The Standard is an energetic dog that requires regular daily exercise — two walks a day, lasting around 30 minutes each.

The coat on this canine will need to be clipped regularly. However, this doesn’t need to disrupt your lifestyle too much, just make an appointment with the groomer every 4-6 weeks. Poodles of all sizes are considered to be hypoallergenic and if from a well-bred line, will have a relaxed and adaptable personality.

See More On The Standard Poodle Dog.
low maintenance hypoallergenic dog giant schnauzer.

The Giant Schnauzer is a smart, obedient, and friendly breed. These dogs have a hypoallergenic wiry double coat — any shed dander tends to get caught between the layers of fur. Brushing weekly keeps the coat in good condition, but for a low-maintenance approach, you can clip or strip your Schnauzer. 

A Giant Schnauzer will be fairly accepting of strangers entering your home and adapt well to any changes in your lifestyle. These giant dogs love to play with children and other animals and should easily fit into family life. 

However, this breed can become mischievous and naughty if they aren’t given opportunities to burn off their energy. Giants need to be walked for at least an hour a day. This may not sound like low maintenance, but one walk a day is doable for the majority of pet parents. 

Giant Schnauzers are extremely smart dogs and this means training should be a breeze. Your Schnauzer will love to learn new tricks and show off their skills. Beware of their stubborn side, you may find your gentle Giant isn’t low maintenance unless you’re willing to be patient during the training process.

See More On The Giant Schnauzer Dog.
are yorkshire terriers low maintenance dogs.

The Yorkie is a small and adorable hypoallergenic dog, with a long, silky coat that won’t shed much throughout the year. This coat will need as much or as little maintenance as you prefer. Some owners choose to style and regularly trim their Yorkshire Terrier’s coat, whereas others prefer a quick trim when it becomes too long. 

Yorkshire Terriers are yappy canines, but if you teach your pup well, you should be able to keep excessive barking at bay. However, some pet parents find them tricky to train, so you may have to persevere — particularly if they’re on the stubborn side! Just stay consistent and reward your pooch for good behavior and your efforts will be rewarded. 

Exercise for a Yorkie entails two, 20-minute walks a day. This will also help keep any bad behavior at bay.

On the whole, Yorkies are social and happy dogs — responding well to strangers and children. For the most part, they also socialize well with other dogs, so your daily walks should be a pleasant experience.

See More On The Yorkshire Terrier Dog.
are west highland white terriers low maintenance dogs.

The Westie also fits the hypoallergenic/low maintenance criteria. They’re a happy, loyal, and entertaining breed who love the company of all the family. Westies are adaptable — reasonably good in the company of other dogs and will suit the lifestyles of families and singletons. 

Westies are small dogs, at just 11 inches tall, so they aren’t going to get under your feet and be disruptive around the home. 

A Westie has a medium-length, double coat and will only need brushing a couple of times a week. As a moderate shedder, it’s best to regularly brush out the trapped fur and dander. Westies don’t drool much either, so you won’t need to worry about saliva causing an allergic reaction. 

They are an intelligent and energetic breed, but they do have a stubborn side. Plus, Westies can be noisy. However, by using toys and treats as rewards, you can train your curious pup to be well-behaved and obey commands. 

Westies are ok with around 40 minutes of exercise per day. Although, it doesn’t have to be one long walk every day. This breed prefers short bursts of activity, and many owners choose to split exercise into two or 3 short walks per day.

See More On The West Highland White Terrier Dog.

Conclusion

While it may seem like a mission impossible to find a dog that’s both low-shedding and fuss-free to look after — such breeds do exist! 

There are several low maintenance hypoallergenic dogs that suit the lifestyles of people who are short on time or those who need their dog to easily slot into family life. You don’t have to trade off good behavior for a hypoallergenic dog.

Low Maintenance Hypoallergenic Dogs FAQs

What Dogs Can Be Left Alone and Are Hypoallergenic?

If you have dog allergies and a lifestyle that means your dog will need to be left alone regularly, suitable breeds to consider include Lhasa Apso, Basenji, and the Miniature Schnauzer

What Is a Low Maintenance Dog That Doesn’t Shed?

It can be difficult to find a low-maintenance dog that also doesn’t shed, but it is possible. If you want a hypoallergenic dog that’s easy to care for, take a look at: 

What Is the Most Low Maintenance Big Dog?

There are many low-maintenance breeds, they vary in size and shedding levels. The Labradoodle, Standard Poodle, and Wirehaired Pointing Griffon are all good breeds to consider if you want a large, low-maintenance dog. 

Are Small Dogs Better for Allergies?

The size of a dog, unfortunately, has very little to do with its ability to trigger allergy symptoms or not. Small dogs that shed and drool a lot are not hypoallergenic. Equally, not all large dogs will pose a problem for people with pet allergies. When trying to find a dog that’s good for allergies, look at their shedding and drooling levels, not their size. 

What Is the Most Low Maintenance Dog?

The most low-maintenance dog will vary from person to person. Hence, if you consider low maintenance to mean your dog doesn’t need much exercise, a Pug, Chihuahua, or Basset Hound may be a good fit. However, if your idea of a low-maintenance dog is one that doesn’t shed much, great breeds are the Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier, or Brussels Griffon.