{"id":10689,"date":"2023-03-21T17:59:29","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T00:59:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osfbl01.justfoodfordogs.com\/?p=10689"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:37:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:37:02","slug":"6-long-haired-dog-breeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/justfoodfordogs.com\/blog\/6-long-haired-dog-breeds","title":{"rendered":"8 Majestic Long Hair Dog Breeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Long, luxurious hair doesn\u2019t just look good on humans \u2013 dogs who sport gorgeous, flowing coats are completely fabulous, too! Luckily for pet parents with a penchant for long-haired furry friends, there are several long hair dog breeds, from dainty and darling Yorkshire Terriers to big and shaggy Old English Sheepdogs. And even among long-haired dogs, you\u2019ll find a variety of coats that vary in texture, length, and care requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re curious about dogs with long locks or you\u2019re already enjoying life with a well-tressed pet, here\u2019s everything you need to know about long-haired dog breeds<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-Haired Dog Breeds 101<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So what makes a dog a long-haired dog? That might seem like a simple question, but according to Dr. Jessica Wilson, DVM, there\u2019s more to the answer than just the length of a dog\u2019s coat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously, long hair is longer than short hair, but there are other factors to consider,\u201d says Dr. Wilson. \u201cPerhaps the best way to differentiate between a short-haired dog and a long-haired dog is whether the fur obscures the shape of the dog\u2019s body. With most short-haired dogs, it\u2019s pretty clear what that dog\u2019s body looks like. But long hair adds a fluffiness that can make it hard to tell what your dog\u2019s shape actually is.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s another way to look at it: When you bathe a short-hair dog, you\u2019re not going to be surprised by how they look when they\u2019re wet. On the other hand, when a long-hair dog gets wet, you might be shocked to see how different its shape is underneath that distinctive coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fur texture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Then there\u2019s fur texture. \u201cSome long-haired dogs have a dense undercoat that adds bulk to their fur; others have a more hair-like coat. Then there are curly-hair dogs like Poodles, which are also considered long-hair dogs,\u201d Dr. Wilson explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The texture of a dog\u2019s fur is often related to its breed history \u2013 after all, many of today\u2019s modern dog breeds were originally bred to perform a certain type of work. \u201cLet\u2019s take Siberian Huskies for example,\u201d says Dr. Wilson. \u201cThese dogs originated in a very cold place and were working dogs, so they were bred to have a very dense double coat that helps them keep warm in extreme cold.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many Siberian Huskies, for example, possess the medium-length coarse coats of their ancestors, though that coat has evolved to be softer and fluffier over time. There\u2019s even a rare, non-standard, long-haired variant called a \u201cwooly\u201d Siberian Husky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not all long-haired dogs had to \u201cwork\u201d for their hair, though. Here\u2019s an example from the other end of the spectrum: Shih Tzus. These dogs were originally bred as companion dogs for Chinese emperors more than 1,000 years ago. Their fur is particularly silky and was likely bred for looks, rather than utility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shedding and long-haired dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These days, some long-haired dogs are prized for other reasons. Dr. Wilson notes that some long-haired dogs \u2013 the ones with silky, hair-like coats \u2013 shed less than their short-haired counterparts. That can be a boon for those who suffer from allergies<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMost dogs are going to be shedders,\u201d she says. And that\u2019s what tends to trigger allergies because most people are allergic to dog dander and saliva, which is released into the air when dogs shed. Regular brushing and regular grooming can help reduce shedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut certain breeds, the ones with minimal undercoats, shed a bit less,\u201d says Dr. Willson. The AKC categorizes several long-haired breeds as hypoallergenic<\/a> family pets, including the Afghan Hound, Irish Water Spaniel<\/a>, Maltese, Poodle<\/a>, and Yorkshire Terrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n