Top 15+ Breeds That Shed the Most Hair

Understanding Dog Shedding Basics

Before diving into specific breeds, it's important to understand why dogs shed in the first place. Shedding is a natural process where dogs lose old or damaged hair. Most dogs shed year-round, with increased shedding during seasonal changes in spring and fall when they "blow their coat." Double-coated breeds, which have both a soft undercoat and a coarser outer coat, typically shed more than single-coated breeds. Factors affecting shedding include genetics, health, nutrition, and environmental conditions. While shedding cannot be completely prevented in breeds genetically predisposed to it, regular grooming, proper nutrition, and healthcare can help manage the amount of loose hair around your home.

German Shepherds The Versatile Shedders

German Shepherds are renowned for their intelligence, loyalty, and unfortunately, their impressive shedding capabilities. These versatile working dogs have a dense double coat that sheds moderately year-round and "blows" seasonally, leaving behind clumps of undercoat during spring and fall transitions. Their thick fur serves an important purpose, providing insulation against both cold and heat, but this protective feature comes at a cost to your floors and furniture. German Shepherd owners should invest in high-quality grooming tools, including undercoat rakes and slicker brushes, and establish a consistent brushing routine—ideally several times per week, increasing to daily during shedding seasons—to manage the continuous fur fallout.

Siberian Huskies Snow Dogs with Serious Shedding

Developed to pull sleds in arctic conditions, Siberian Huskies possess a remarkably efficient double coat that keeps them comfortable in extreme temperatures. This functional coat consists of a dense, cashmere-like undercoat and longer guard hairs that form the topcoat. While Huskies are moderate shedders most of the year, they experience dramatic seasonal "blowing" of their undercoat, typically twice annually. During these periods, which can last 3-5 weeks, the shedding is so intense that fur comes out in large tufts, often described by owners as a "fur explosion" or "fur-nado." Daily brushing during these seasons is essential, and many Husky owners find that outdoor brushing sessions help contain the mess. Even with diligent grooming, Husky owners should expect to find fur on clothing, furniture, and even floating through the air during heavy shedding periods.

Golden Retrievers Friendly Fur Factories

Golden Retrievers are beloved for their friendly dispositions and beautiful golden coats—which happen to shed profusely throughout your home. Their medium to long water-resistant double coats were developed to protect them while retrieving game from cold water, but this functional feature means they shed moderately all year and heavily during seasonal changes. The fine, light-colored hair from Golden Retrievers has a remarkable ability to weave itself into fabrics and carpet fibers, making it particularly challenging to remove completely. Regular brushing with a slicker brush and undercoat rake, preferably several times weekly, helps capture loose fur before it ends up on furniture. Many Golden owners also benefit from investing in high-quality vacuum cleaners specifically designed for pet hair, as standard vacuums can quickly become clogged with their abundant golden fluff.

Labrador Retrievers America's Favorite Shedders

Consistently ranking as America's most popular dog breed, Labrador Retrievers combine wonderful temperaments with significant shedding tendencies. Their short, dense double coats were designed to repel water and provide insulation while retrieving in cold waters, making Labs excellent swimmers but prodigious shedders. Despite their relatively short fur, Labradors shed year-round with increased shedding during seasonal transitions. Their short hairs can penetrate deeply into fabrics and carpets, and the sheer quantity of shed fur can be surprising to new Lab owners. Regular brushing with a rubber curry brush or shedding tool helps remove loose undercoat before it ends up around your home. Many Lab enthusiasts note that their black Labs may appear to shed less than yellow or chocolate varieties, though this is largely a visibility issue rather than an actual difference in shedding volume.

Alaskan Malamutes The Heavy-Duty Shedders

Larger and more powerful than their Husky cousins, Alaskan Malamutes were bred to pull heavy sleds over long distances in arctic conditions, necessitating an extremely thick double coat that creates shedding challenges of epic proportions. Malamutes have a dense, woolly undercoat paired with longer, coarser guard hairs that work together to provide superior insulation. Twice yearly, typically in spring and fall, Malamutes "blow" their entire undercoat in a spectacular shedding event that can last for weeks. During these periods, fur comes out in large tufts and clumps, quickly filling brush after brush with removed undercoat. Owners often joke that they could create a second dog from the amount of fur shed during these seasons. Year-round, Malamutes require brushing several times weekly, with daily grooming during shedding seasons. Many Malamute owners find that professional grooming with high-velocity dryers helps remove loose undercoat more efficiently than home grooming alone.

Great Pyrenees Magnificent Mountain Dogs with Matching Fur Output

These majestic guardian dogs were developed to protect sheep in the Pyrenees Mountains, requiring a weather-resistant double coat that sheds in quantities proportional to their impressive size. The Great Pyrenees possesses a thick, coarse outer coat over a dense, fine undercoat that creates a protective barrier against harsh mountain weather conditions. While they shed moderately throughout the year, Great Pyrenees experience a dramatic annual shedding season, typically in spring, when their heavy winter undercoat is released in copious amounts. Their beautiful white fur shows prominently on dark surfaces, making shedding particularly noticeable in most home environments. Regular grooming with the right tools is essential—undercoat rakes, slicker brushes, and wide-toothed combs all play important roles in managing their substantial coat. Many owners find that establishing a designated grooming area outdoors helps contain the fur during major brushing sessions, as the amount removed can be genuinely astonishing.

Saint Bernard Gentle Giants with Generous Shedding

The iconic Saint Bernard, famous for alpine rescues and friendly demeanor, comes with an impressive double coat that sheds abundantly. These giant breeds have moderately long outer coats covering a dense undercoat, historically developed to protect them during search and rescue missions in the cold Swiss Alps. Despite their reputation for drooling, many new Saint Bernard owners are surprised to discover that shedding represents an even bigger maintenance challenge. Saint Bernards shed heavily twice a year during seasonal transitions and maintain a moderate level of shedding year-round. Due to their immense size, the sheer volume of hair they produce is substantial—proportionally more than smaller breeds with similar shedding patterns. Regular brushing is essential, with many owners preferring to use rake-type tools followed by slicker brushes to manage both the undercoat and outer coat effectively. The good news is that their patient, gentle temperament usually makes grooming sessions relatively stress-free, if somewhat time-consuming.

Chow Chows The Fluffy Fur Dispensers

With their distinctive lion-like appearance and blue-black tongues, Chow Chows are unmistakable—as is the amount of fur they leave around the home. These ancient Chinese dogs possess one of the densest double coats in the canine world, with some individuals having up to 70 hairs per follicle (compared to one hair per follicle in many breeds). Their outer coat is straight and coarse while the undercoat is soft and woolly, creating a thick ruff around the neck that amplifies their regal appearance. Chows shed moderately year-round and heavily during seasonal changes, with their thick undercoat coming out in large quantities. Their straight, coarse guard hairs can penetrate fabrics and carpet fibers, making them difficult to remove completely. Professional grooming every 4-6 weeks is recommended for Chows, supplemented by home brushing several times weekly with appropriate tools, including pin brushes for the outer coat and rakes for the undercoat. Their unique coat texture means that without proper grooming, Chows are prone to matting, which can lead to skin problems in addition to increased shedding.

Akitas Noble Dogs with Notable Shedding

Originating from Japan, Akitas are powerful, dignified dogs with thick double coats that contribute significantly to household dust bunny populations. These loyal companions have a dense undercoat covered by a straight, harsh outer coat that stands slightly away from the body, giving them their distinctive appearance. Akitas shed moderately throughout the year but experience dramatic seasonal shedding, typically twice annually, when their undercoat "blows" in preparation for seasonal changes. During these shedding events, fur comes out in large tufts, and daily brushing becomes necessary to manage the volume. Their coarse guard hairs can be particularly noticeable on clothing and furniture, while the fine undercoat tends to float through the air and settle on surfaces throughout the home. Akita owners often develop a routine of regular home maintenance, including frequent vacuuming and lint rolling, to keep fur accumulation under control. Many Akita enthusiasts recommend professional grooming services with high-velocity dryers during heavy shedding seasons to remove loose undercoat more efficiently.

Newfoundlands Gentle Giants with Generous Coats

These massive working dogs, originally bred to help fishermen in Newfoundland, Canada, possess waterproof double coats that shed impressively throughout the year. Newfoundlands have a dense, soft undercoat protected by a longer, coarser outer coat that can be straight or wavy. This combination provides excellent insulation and water resistance, allowing these dogs to excel at water rescues even in frigid conditions. While their shedding is moderate most of the year, Newfoundlands experience seasonal "blowing" of their undercoat, typically in spring and fall, when shedding increases dramatically. Their large size means they simply have more fur to shed than smaller breeds, resulting in substantial volumes of discarded coat around the home. Regular brushing with appropriate tools, including slicker brushes and undercoat rakes, helps manage shedding, though many owners find that twice-weekly brushing is the minimum needed during normal periods, increasing to daily during shedding seasons. Because their coats are prone to tangling and matting, consistent grooming is essential not just for shedding management but for overall coat and skin health.

Bernese Mountain Dogs Beautiful but Fur-Abundant

With their striking tricolor coats and gentle temperaments, Bernese Mountain Dogs make wonderful companions, albeit ones that leave a trail of fur in their wake. These Swiss working dogs have thick, moderately long double coats that were developed to protect them while working in the cold, mountainous regions of Switzerland. Their silky, wavy outer coat sits atop a dense undercoat, creating a weather-resistant barrier that unfortunately translates to significant shedding. Berners shed moderately year-round with heavy seasonal shedding, typically in spring and fall. The contrast of their black, white, and rust-colored fur means their shedding is particularly visible on nearly any surface in the home. Regular brushing with appropriate tools is essential for Bernese Mountain Dogs, with many owners finding that line brushing (systematically working through small sections of coat) produces the best results. Their friendly, patient temperament generally makes grooming sessions pleasant, though the time commitment remains substantial, especially during heavy shedding periods.

Corgis Short Dogs with Substantial Shedding

Don't let their small stature fool you—Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis are prodigious shedders despite their compact size. These herding dogs were developed to work in rainy Wales, requiring weather-resistant double coats that shed considerably throughout the year. Corgis have a thick, short undercoat covered by a longer, water-resistant outer coat that creates their distinctive appearance but contributes to significant fur accumulation around the home. They shed heavily twice a year during seasonal changes, with many owners describing the process as their Corgi "exploding" with fur. Their short to medium-length hair can work its way into fabrics and carpets, while their light-colored undercoat often becomes visible floating through the air during heavy shedding periods. Regular brushing with appropriate tools, including undercoat rakes and slicker brushes, helps manage shedding, though Corgi owners typically find that even with diligent grooming, some level of fur around the home is inevitable. Many Corgi enthusiasts recommend rubber curry brushes for regular maintenance and de-shedding tools for seasonal blowouts.

Australian Shepherds Herding Dogs with Heavy Coats

Known for their intelligence and work ethic, Australian Shepherds also have a reputation for being heavy shedders throughout the year. Despite their name, Aussies were actually developed in the western United States as ranch dogs, requiring a weather-resistant coat suitable for working in various conditions. Their medium-length double coat features a water-resistant outer layer and an insulating undercoat that sheds year-round with increased shedding during seasonal changes. Australian Shepherds come in various color patterns, including merle, which can make their shedding less immediately noticeable on some surfaces but no less substantial in volume. Regular brushing is essential, with many owners finding that weekly thorough brushing sessions supplemented by quick daily brush-throughs help manage fur accumulation. Their active temperament and intelligence mean Aussies often benefit from being taught to stand calmly for grooming from a young age, making the process more efficient for both dog and owner.

Shiba Inus Small Dogs with Serious Shedding

These fox-like Japanese dogs pack substantial shedding into their compact frames, surprising many first-time Shiba owners with their fur output. Shiba Inus possess a thick double coat consisting of a soft, dense undercoat and a straight, harsh outer coat that gives them their distinctive appearance. While they shed moderately throughout the year, Shibas experience dramatic seasonal shedding, typically twice annually, when they "blow" their undercoat in an impressive display that can last for weeks. During these periods, their undercoat comes out in tufts, creating what many owners call the "Shiba shake" where fur seems to explode from the dog with each movement. Their strong-willed temperament can make grooming challenging, so establishing positive grooming routines early is particularly important with this breed. Regular brushing with appropriate tools, including undercoat rakes and slicker brushes, helps manage shedding, though their thick coat texture means that professional grooming with high-velocity dryers may be necessary during heavy shedding seasons to completely remove loose undercoat.

Pomeranians Tiny Dogs with Tremendous Fur

Don't let their small size fool you—Pomeranians produce an astonishing amount of fur relative to their diminutive stature. These spirited companions descended from large Arctic sled dogs, retaining the dense double coat of their larger ancestors in a compact package. Pomeranians have a soft, dense undercoat covered by a longer, harsh-textured outer coat that creates their distinctive puffball appearance. They shed moderately year-round with heavy seasonal shedding, typically in spring and fall. Their fine undercoat hairs can float through the air and settle on surfaces.

Conclusion:

Living with a high-shedding dog requires patience, planning, and a good vacuum—but for many pet lovers, the companionship is well worth the mess. Understanding which breeds shed the most and how to manage that shedding is key to maintaining a clean home and a happy, healthy pet. With the right grooming tools, a consistent care routine, and realistic expectations, even the most fur-filled homes can stay manageable and welcoming. While high-shedding breeds may not be ideal for everyone, they often come with personalities that are just as big as their coats—loyal, loving, and endlessly rewarding. Each hair on the couch tells a story of a bond built through walks, cuddles, and shared moments. For those willing to embrace the fluff, these dogs offer a level of devotion and joy that more than makes up for the extra cleaning.