Data report · Updated October 2026
Dog Breeds That Shed the Least and the Most: AKC Shedding Ratings for 47 Breeds Kept in India
Six of 47 breeds kept in India score the lowest shedding rating of 1 out of 5 on American Kennel Club breed pages. They are the Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier. Twelve breeds score 4 or 5, among them the Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Pug and Siberian Husky. The low shedders pay for it in grooming: they average 4.2 out of 5 for coat care, against 2.1 for the heavy shedders.
Key findings
- Six breeds score 1 out of 5 for shedding on AKC breed pages: Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier.
- The Bernese Mountain Dog is the only one of 47 breeds to score 5, "hair everywhere" on the AKC scale.
- Eleven breeds score 4, including the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky and Pug.
- Nearly half the breeds, 23 of 47, score a moderate 3 for shedding.
- Low shedders need more grooming: the six breeds rated 1 average 4.2 out of 5 for coat care, the heavy shedders 2.1.
- Double coats shed more on average, 3.1 against 2.6, but the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise have double coats and still score 1.
- Of the eight pedigree breeds Supertails rates 4 or 5 stars for popularity in India, four score 4 for shedding and only the Shih Tzu scores 1.
- A UK study of 905,543 dogs in 2016 linked heatstroke to flat faces and weight over 50 kg. It could not record coat type, so shedding was not tested.
- Long-coated breeds shed least on AKC ratings: 9 average 1.6 out of 5, against 3.2 for 22 short-coated breeds.
- Nine low-shedding breeds on the Supertails March 2026 list start at a median Rs 15,000, from Rs 8,000 for a Pomeranian.
Which dog breeds shed the least in India?
Six breeds kept in India score 1 out of 5, the lowest shedding rating on American Kennel Club (AKC) breed pages. They are the Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier.
Six more score 2: Boxer, Cane Corso, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dachshund and Pomeranian. That makes 12 of the 47 breeds we checked, about a quarter, at the low end of the scale.
AKC describes shedding as how much fur and hair a breed leaves behind, from 1, "no shedding", to 5, "hair everywhere". Every dog loses some hair, so a 1 means little loose hair on the floor, not none.
American Kennel Club breed pages, opened 16 October 2026. Count by dogeats.in.
Show the numbers
| Label | breeds |
|---|---|
| 1, no shedding | 6 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3, moderate | 23 |
| 4 | 11 |
| 5, hair everywhere | 1 |
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These ratings are for adult dogs of each breed. Individual dogs vary, and crosses sold as "low shedding" can take after either parent.
Which dog breeds shed the most?
The Bernese Mountain Dog is the only breed of 47 to score 5 out of 5 for shedding. Eleven score 4: Dalmatian, Dobermann, Dogo Argentino, German Shepherd, German Spitz, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Pug, Siberian Husky and Tibetan Mastiff.
Several of India's most popular breeds are heavy shedders. Supertails rates eight pedigree breeds 4 or 5 stars for popularity on its March 2026 price list, besides the adopted Indie. Four of those score 4 for shedding, and only the Shih Tzu scores 1.
The Pug surprises many owners. Its coat is short and smooth, yet AKC rates it 4 for shedding, the same as the German Shepherd.
AKC breed pages, October 2026; popularity of 4 or 5 stars from the Supertails dog price list, 9 March 2026, rechecked 18 October 2026.
Show the numbers
| Label | score |
|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | 4 |
| Golden Retriever | 4 |
| German Shepherd | 4 |
| Siberian Husky | 4 |
| Beagle | 3 |
| Rottweiler | 3 |
| Pomeranian | 2 |
| Shih Tzu | 1 |
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AKC notes that heavy shedders need brushing more often, are more likely to trigger some allergies and need more vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Do low-shedding dogs need more grooming?
Yes, on AKC's own ratings. The six breeds that score 1 for shedding average 4.2 out of 5 for coat grooming frequency, where 3 means weekly and 5 daily. The 12 breeds that score 4 or 5 for shedding average 2.1.
The reason is the hair that does not fall out. A Poodle, Maltese or Shih Tzu coat keeps growing and tangles unless it is brushed and clipped. A Labrador drops its loose hair instead.
In India that usually means a professional groomer every few weeks for the low shedders. Our grooming and training cost report has city prices.
AKC breed pages, October 2026. Grooming scale: 1 monthly, 3 weekly, 5 daily. Averages computed by dogeats.in.
Show the numbers
| Label | score |
|---|---|
| Shedding 1 (6 breeds) | 4.2 |
| Shedding 2 (6) | 1.8 |
| Shedding 3 (23) | 2.1 |
| Shedding 4 (11) | 2.0 |
| Shedding 5 (1) | 3.0 |
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Double coats shed more on average. The 22 breeds AKC lists with a double coat average 3.1 for shedding against 2.6 for the 24 without, and 7 of the 22 score 4 or more. Coat type is not the whole story: the Shih Tzu and Bichon Frise have double coats and still score 1.
Do long-haired dogs shed more than short-haired dogs?
No, on AKC ratings it runs the other way. The 9 breeds AKC lists with a long coat average 1.6 out of 5 for shedding, and 6 of them score 1. The 22 short-coated breeds average 3.2 and the 12 medium-coated breeds 3.4.
Short coats fool people. Every short-coated breed in our list scores 2 or more, and 6 of the 22 score 4, among them the Labrador, Pug, Dalmatian and Dobermann. AKC rates how much hair a breed leaves behind, not how long that hair is.
Across all 47 breeds, shedding and grooming pull in opposite directions. The correlation between the two AKC scores is minus 0.46, so the less a breed sheds, the more brushing and clipping it tends to need.
AKC breed pages, checked 18 October 2026. Averages by dogeats.in. Three breeds with two coat lengths (Chihuahua, Dachshund, English Cocker Spaniel) and the German Spitz, with no coat length given, are left out.
Show the numbers
| Label | score |
|---|---|
| Long coat (9 breeds) | 1.6 |
| Short coat (22) | 3.2 |
| Medium coat (12) | 3.4 |
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| Coat length | Breeds | Average shedding (1 to 5) | Score 1 | Score 2 | Score 3 | Score 4 or 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long | 9 | 1.6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Short | 22 | 3.2 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 6 |
| Medium | 12 | 3.4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
The long-coated breeds that do shed are the Samoyed and Pekingese, both 3, and the Pomeranian at 2. All three have double coats that drop their undercoat.
What does a low-shedding dog cost in India?
Most low shedders start between Rs 8,000 and Rs 30,000 on the Supertails March 2026 price list. Nine of the 12 breeds that score 1 or 2 for shedding are on that list, with a median starting price of Rs 15,000.
The cheapest are the Pomeranian from Rs 8,000 and the Lhasa Apso from Rs 10,000. The Cane Corso, a short-coated guard breed that scores 2, is the dearest at Rs 50,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. The Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are not priced on the list.
Heavy shedders are not cheaper. The 9 breeds scoring 4 or 5 that Supertails prices have a median starting price of Rs 20,000. Our dog breed price index has prices for all 58 breeds in our guides.
Lowest price in each breed's range on the Supertails dog price list, 9 March 2026, rechecked 18 October 2026. Breeds scoring 1 or 2 for shedding on AKC pages.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs |
|---|---|
| Cane Corso (2) | Rs 50,000 |
| Bichon Frise (1) | Rs 30,000 |
| Maltese (1) | Rs 25,000 |
| Shih Tzu (1) | Rs 20,000 |
| Boxer (2) | Rs 15,000 |
| Chihuahua (2) | Rs 15,000 |
| Dachshund (2) | Rs 15,000 |
| Lhasa Apso (1) | Rs 10,000 |
| Pomeranian (2) | Rs 8,000 |
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| Breed | Shedding (1 to 5) | Grooming (1 to 5) | Puppy price from (Rs) | Puppy price to (Rs) | Supertails popularity (stars) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shih Tzu | 1 | 4 | 20,000 | 80,000 | 4 |
| Lhasa Apso | 1 | 3 | 10,000 | 40,000 | 3 |
| Maltese | 1 | 4 | 25,000 | 80,000 | 2 |
| Bichon Frise | 1 | 5 | 30,000 | 80,000 | 2 |
| Pomeranian | 2 | 3 | 8,000 | 80,000 | 4 |
| Boxer | 2 | 2 | 15,000 | 50,000 | 3 |
| Chihuahua | 2 | 1 | 15,000 | 50,000 | 3 |
| Dachshund | 2 | 2 | 15,000 | 50,000 | 3 |
| Cane Corso | 2 | 1 | 50,000 | 2,50,000 | 2 |
Add grooming to the price. The four breeds that score 1 and are priced here all score 3 to 5 for grooming, which on the AKC scale means weekly to daily coat care.
Is a low-shedding dog better for Indian heat and monsoon?
Not by itself. A UK study of 905,543 dogs under veterinary care in 2016 linked heatstroke risk to a flat face and weight over 50 kg. It also named breeds such as the Chow Chow, Bulldog and French Bulldog. It could not record coat type for each dog, so it did not test shedding, though its authors suggested thick coats may add to the risk. One in seven heatstroke cases, 14.18%, ended in death.
So the Pug, a heavy shedder, and the Shih Tzu, a light one, both need care in an Indian summer: both are flat-faced. Our heat risk ranking scores all 58 breeds for Indian heat.
Long, low-shedding coats hold water and dirt in the rains, so they need drying after every walk. See the monsoon risk ranking for breed scores.
| Breed | Shedding (1 to 5) | Grooming frequency (1 to 5) | AKC coat type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bichon Frise | 1 | 5 | Curly, Double |
| Lhasa Apso | 1 | 3 | Silky |
| Maltese | 1 | 4 | Silky |
| Poodle (Standard) | 1 | 4 | Curly |
| Shih Tzu | 1 | 4 | Double |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 1 | 5 | Silky |
| Boxer | 2 | 2 | Smooth |
| Cane Corso | 2 | 1 | Smooth |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 2 | 2 | Silky, Wavy |
| Chihuahua | 2 | 1 | Smooth |
| Dachshund | 2 | 2 | Smooth |
| Pomeranian | 2 | 3 | Double |
| Alaskan Malamute | 3 | 3 | Double |
| American Eskimo Dog | 3 | 3 | Double |
| Australian Shepherd | 3 | 2 | Double |
| Beagle | 3 | 2 | Smooth |
| Belgian Malinois | 3 | 2 | Smooth |
| Border Collie | 3 | 3 | Double, Wavy |
| Bull Terrier | 3 | 2 | Smooth |
| Bullmastiff | 3 | 1 | Smooth |
| Chow Chow | 3 | 3 | Double, Rough, Smooth |
| English Bulldog | 3 | 3 | Smooth |
| English Cocker Spaniel | 3 | 3 | Double |
| English Mastiff | 3 | 1 | Double |
| French Bulldog | 3 | 1 | Smooth |
| Great Dane | 3 | 1 | Smooth |
| Japanese Spitz | 3 | 3 | Double |
| Miniature Pinscher | 3 | 1 | Smooth |
| Pekingese | 3 | 3 | Double |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 3 | 2 | Smooth |
| Rottweiler | 3 | 1 | Smooth |
| Russell Terrier (Jack Russell) | 3 | 2 | Wiry, Smooth |
| Saint Bernard | 3 | 2 | Smooth, Rough, Double |
| Samoyed | 3 | 3 | Double |
| Shiba Inu | 3 | 2 | Double |
| Dalmatian | 4 | 2 | Smooth |
| Dobermann | 4 | 1 | Smooth |
| Dogo Argentino | 4 | 1 | Smooth |
| German Shepherd | 4 | 2 | Double |
| German Spitz | 4 | 3 | Not given |
| Golden Retriever | 4 | 2 | Double |
| Labrador Retriever | 4 | 2 | Double |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 4 | 2 | Double |
| Pug | 4 | 2 | Smooth |
| Siberian Husky | 4 | 2 | Double |
| Tibetan Mastiff | 4 | 3 | Double |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 5 | 3 | Double |
Ratings come from each breed's AKC page. The Jack Russell row uses the AKC Russell Terrier page and the Cocker Spaniel row the English Cocker Spaniel page. AKC does not rate the Indian Pariah Dog or other native breeds, so they are not in this table.
Frequently asked questions
Which dog breed sheds the least?
Six breeds kept in India score the lowest shedding rating, 1 out of 5, on AKC breed pages: Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier.
Which dog sheds the most?
Of 47 breeds, the Bernese Mountain Dog is the only one AKC rates 5 out of 5. Eleven more score 4, including the Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Husky and Pug.
Does a Labrador shed a lot?
Yes. AKC rates the Labrador Retriever 4 out of 5 for shedding, though only 2 out of 5 for grooming frequency.
Does a Shih Tzu shed?
Very little. AKC rates the Shih Tzu 1 out of 5 for shedding, but 4 out of 5 for grooming, so its coat needs regular brushing and clipping.
Do Pugs shed?
Yes, more than most owners expect. AKC rates the Pug 4 out of 5 for shedding despite its short coat.
Do low-shedding dogs need more grooming?
Yes. The six breeds rated 1 for shedding average 4.2 out of 5 for grooming frequency, against 2.1 for breeds rated 4 or 5.
Is a non-shedding dog safe for someone with a dog allergy?
Not necessarily. A 2012 Dutch study found more of the main dog allergen, Can f 1, in hair of so-called hypoallergenic dogs than of other dogs. The figures were 2.26 ug/g in 196 dogs against 0.77 ug/g in 160. Allergen levels in the air of their homes did not differ.
Does a German Shepherd shed a lot?
Yes. AKC rates the German Shepherd 4 out of 5 for shedding. It has a double coat.
Do short-haired dogs shed less?
No. On AKC ratings the 22 short-coated breeds kept in India average 3.2 out of 5 for shedding, and the 9 long-coated breeds 1.6. The Labrador and Pug both have short coats and score 4.
Methodology and limitations
We opened the AKC breed page for each of the 47 breeds in our breed guides that AKC recognises, on 16 October 2026. We read the Shedding Level, Coat Grooming Frequency, Coat Type and Coat Length traits from the data each page loads, and re-checked all 47 on 18 October 2026. Native Indian breeds, the Pit Bull and the Kangal have no matching AKC page and are left out.
Shedding and grooming are AKC's 1 to 5 scales. Group counts and averages are dogeats.in calculations from those ratings. Popularity stars and puppy price ranges come from the Supertails dog price list dated 9 March 2026. Supertails is a pet retailer, so its prices are listed ranges, not survey data.
Coat length averages leave out the Chihuahua, Dachshund and English Cocker Spaniel, which AKC lists with two lengths, and the German Spitz, which has none listed. The Supertails Cocker Spaniel price is matched to the English Cocker Spaniel row.
Sources
- American Kennel Club breed pages (47 breeds), breed traits, Shedding Level, Coat Grooming Frequency and Coat Type for each breed
- Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG. Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs. Scientific Reports 2020;10:9128, Heat-related illness risk factors and fatality rate, 2016 data
- Vredegoor DW et al. Can f 1 levels in hair and homes of different dog breeds. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2012;130(4):904-9, Allergen levels in hair of so-called hypoallergenic and other dogs
- Also consulted: Supertails, Dog Price List in India 2026 (9 March 2026), AKC breed trait definitions for Shedding Level and Coat Grooming Frequency, shown on every breed page.
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