Last Updated on April 22, 2023
We all know that all doggos are cute and adorable but who can resist a dog with gorgeous curls? These pups look stylish, cool and just so soft to touch.
But with the number of curly haired dogs out there, choosing one can be challenging.
Quick Navigation
- 1 What You Should Know About Dog Breeds with Curly Hair
- 2 Toy and Small Curly-Haired Dogs
- 3 Medium-Sized Curly-Haired Dogs
- 4 Large and Giant Curly-Haired Dogs
- 5 Mixed breeds Canine with Curly Hair
- 6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- 7 Which Curly-Haired Dog is For You?
- 8 Further Reading: Dog breeds with fun coat colors and types
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the cutest and the most popular curly-haired dog breeds to help you decide which one to bring home.
What You Should Know About Dog Breeds with Curly Hair
Some dogs have short, medium, or long hair. Double coats also exist. Some of these fur types can be silky, corded, curly, or wiry. And all dogs shed, but some breeds shed much less than others.
Curly-haired dog breeds are considered hypoallergenic, which means they don’t trigger allergies in humans. So while you can still be allergic to dog dander of curly coats, the effect will be much less.
In addition, you’ll find less hair on your floors, furniture, and clothes.
You also might want to consider the color of your doggo. For example, if your home decor is mostly white and you bring home a solid black dog, then chances are the dog hairs will be more noticeable.
What are the most popular curly-haired dogs?
Did you know that curly hair in dogs is due to genetics? For a pup to have curly hair, one or both parents need to carry the curly hair gene mutation, the KRT71 gene.
Curly hair can come in all sorts of types, from tight curls to spirals or wooly to wavy hair. The density and length of their hair will again be determined by genetics.
However, a few curly-haired dog breeds out there can come with curly hair (or are typically always curly).
Let’s learn more about the temperament of the most popular curly-haired dog breeds.
Toy and Small Curly-Haired Dogs
If you like the look of curly hair on dogs but need a toy or small-sized pooch to bring home, then you may be wondering what small dogs have curly hair.
Take a look at some of these doggos below.
1. Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier has a wooly coat that often gets it mistaken for a sheep. Their coat needs to be brushed at least twice a week, but bathing shouldn’t be too often as it may cause their fur to lank.
This doggo has a strong sense of smell, is highly intelligent, and makes an excellent watchdog. This dog breed makes for a great companion, and they enjoy playing.
2. Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a fluffy dog breed that has a white, curly coat. Their coat requires daily brushing and grooming, but luckily, they’re hypoallergenic and don’t shed.
This dog breed is cheerful and confident but known to cause mischief, especially when there are children around. In addition, they can get separation anxiety when left alone.
3. Bolognese
The Bolognese makes an excellent family dog as this dog breed is great with kids. They’re sweet and affectionate and enjoy being around those they love.
In addition, this calm pooch is eager to please, which makes them easy to train.
However, this pooch can suffer from separation anxiety. Despite their toy size, their coat will require daily grooming needs.
4. Cocker Spaniels
The American Cocker Spaniel and English Cocker Spaniel are small dog breeds that have a delicate, silky, curly coat. These doggos will make a great family dog since they’re awesome with kids and get along with other pets, including cats.
They absolutely love attention and are friendly and fun-loving.
5. Havanese
The Havanese is an adorable pup that loves everyone in their family, including strangers and other dogs. This intelligent dog is easy to train and adapts well to apartment living due to its size and lack of barking.
However, this doggo is high-energy, so they will need ample time to exercise and play each day.
6. Puli
The Puli, also known as the mop dog, has a soft undercoat with coarse guard hairs as the topcoat.
This herding dog can have corded fur, as long as you give it regular baths, or you can opt for a fluffier look, which will require brushing out and frequent trips to the groomer.
7. Pumi
The Pumi originated in Hungary back in the 17th century. This small Hungarian dog is a sheepdog that was bred to be a working dog.
This pooch is intelligent and will need early training and socialization to curb any bad behavior. This means they need plenty of mental and physical stimulation to cater to their high energy levels.
Medium-Sized Curly-Haired Dogs
If you’d like to bring home a slightly bigger dog, then you can check out some of these medium-sized dogs with curly coats.
8. Airedale Terrier
The Airedale Terrier is the largest of the terrier breeds. The coat is also low-maintenance and hypoallergenic. This doggo is alert and loyal to their family, making them great watchdogs.
However, they are also brave, independent, and intelligent. This makes training difficult, so starting early is a good idea.
9. American Water Spaniel
Just as the name suggests, the American Water Spaniel loves to swim. They were bred to retrieve waterfowl and are energetic. They’ll require a lot of exercise. This doggo is playful, intelligent, and affectionate with their family.
10. Barbet
The Barbet is a hunting dog known for retrieving waterfowl. Since working is in its nature, this pooch needs plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep destructive behavior away.
Luckily, this dog breed is friendly, intelligent, eager to please, and easy to train.
11. Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is another water retriever. This particular breed has thicker curls than other water retrievers.
They are just as energetic, though, and will need much daily exercise. They’ll make a great family pet as they are also good with kids.
12. Kerry Blue Terrier
This intelligent dog came from Ireland and was used for herding sheep. The Kerry Blue Terrier is energetic and loyal to their family.
However, this doggo can get aggressive with other dogs. Due to their high prey drive, having smaller animals in the home may not be a good idea. Early training and socialization are a must.
13. Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolo was bred in the wet marshlands of Italy for the purpose of hunting waterfowl. This pooch requires lots of daily exercises as working is in their nature.
They’re highly energetic but are eager to please their dog owners.
14. Standard Poodle
There are a few types of Poodles such as Miniature Poodles, Toy Poodles, and Standard Poodles. This dog breed is athletic, clever, and intelligent.
They strive to please their owners, which is why they excel at obedience and agility courses. The best part is that this doggo is hypoallergenic and doesn’t shed.
15. Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog was bred for retrieving waterfowl, and they love the water and enjoy having a job.
They have crazy high energy levels, so they’ll need plenty of mental and physical stimulation every day, such as going for runs with you or swimming. This pooch makes for a great family companion.
16. Spanish Water Dog
The Spanish Water Dog is similar to the other water dog breeds, but this one comes from Spain. They’re a loyal companion, highly intelligent, eager to please, and easy to train.
This doggo will need early socialization, but they have high herding and watchdog instincts.
Large and Giant Curly-Haired Dogs
Whether you bring home a large dog breed or a giant one, let’s see what big dogs have curls.
17. Bouvier des Flandres
You’ll be visiting the groomer often with the Bouvier des Flandres. This dog’s coat has thick curls that require a lot of upkeep.
Originally a farm dog, this pup is good at herding and guarding. They’ll make a great family pet with kids, but they can be wary of other dogs and strangers.
18. Curly Coated Retriever
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Curly-Coated Retriever, or Curlies, will make a great companion for any family, especially a family with kids.
They’ll enjoy running around in the backyard with you and your kids, but they’ll be just as happy to relax indoors and cuddle on the couch.
19. Gordon Setter
The Gordon Setter is a large pup that has silky, curly hair. Their ears are floppy with wavy hair. Their coat requires weekly brushing to keep the tangles and matting at bay.
This pooch is loving, affectionate, and confident. However, they are not a hypoallergenic breed.
20. Komondor
The Komondor is another mop dog with a corded curly coat. This pooch needs regular bathing but not brushing.
Its particular double coat with a soft undercoat and topcoat is perfect for protecting this doggo from inclement weather.
Mixed breeds Canine with Curly Hair
Purebreds aren’t the only dogs that can come with curly hair, though. There are many crossbreeds of dogs that come with coiled, corded, or bouncy fur. Some of these mixed breeds are listed below.
- Labradoodle
- Cockapoo
- Maltipoo
- Bernedoodle
- Yorkiepoo
- Aussiedoodle
- Goldendoodle
- Sheepadoodle
- Schnoodle
- Cavapoo
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Are curly-haired dogs high maintenance?
Curly-haired canines require much more grooming than other breeds. You can groom your pooch yourself or bring them to a professional once or twice a month to keep their curls looking their best.
Watch how one paw parent grooms her curly-haired Maltipoo:
Also, another thing to remember is that curly-haired dogs are often more adapted to the cold than warm weather.
Keep this in mind if you happen to live in an area that’s warm most of the year. If you live in an area that’s cold most of the year, then your pup will certainly thrive.
What kind of dog has short curly hair?
If you’re thinking of bringing home a pup with curly hair and you want it to be short-haired, then there are a few breeds to consider.
You can search for an Airedale Terrier, Curly-Coated Retriever, or Bichon Frise, just to name a couple.
What kind of dog has long curly hair?
Alternatively, if you’d like a dog with curly hair that has long fur, then there are a few dog breeds you can think about.
One is the Bolognese, which typically has medium-length hair. The Puli and Komondor dogs are also called mop dogs as they have long, curly hair to maintain.
Why do water dogs have curly hair?
Curly dogs are typically bred for water activities, such as hunting and retrieving waterfowl. These doggos enjoy swimming, and it’s because of their curly hair that they’re able to swim so easily.
Their dense, coiled fur helps keep water away from their skin. This means your pooch will be able to last longer in the water without getting too cold.
What are breeds you should avoid if you are interested in a curly-haired dog?
If you’re looking for a curly-haired dog breed with bouncy curls and lots of texture to their fur, then short-haired or flat-haired dog breeds may not be for you.
Dogs such as Labrador Retrievers don’t have this kind of texture, but if you want their personality, then you can get a Curly Coated Retriever.
Alternatively, if you’d like to bring home a Terrier breed, then a Jack Russell Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier may have a coat that’s too flat or short for your liking.
A Kerry Blue Terrier or Airedale Terrier may be a better option.
Which Curly-Haired Dog is For You?
Curly-haired dogs are great for a lot of things. They’re able to swim efficiently and enjoy such activity with you. They excel in the cold and typically make excellent watchdogs and guard dogs.
Most curly-haired dogs were bred for hunting or were working dogs, so they’re generally alert and loyal to their family.
You’ll need to research which dog breed may suit your home the best since the curls on their back don’t affect their personality or temperament.
However, most curly-haired doggos don’t shed as much and are mostly hypoallergenic.
Regardless, a curly-haired dog breed will be a great addition to any family.
Which pooch was your favorite? Do you have a curly-haired dog at home? Let us know in the comments below!
Further Reading: Dog breeds with fun coat colors and types
Cess is the Head of Content Writing at K9 Web and a passionate dog care expert with over 5 years of experience in the Pet Industry. With a background in animal science, dog training, and behavior consulting, her hands-on experience and extensive knowledge make her a trusted source for dog owners.
When not writing or leading the K9 Web content team, Cess can be found volunteering at local shelters and participating in dog-related events.