If you love pets, you’ve probably discovered some of the outrageous dog hairdos on social media. While scrolling, you might spot elaborate braids or brightly colored fur. It’s definitely tempting to immediately start looking up these breeds, trying to figure out which pup pup has the most hair possible. If you’re hoping for long-haired dog breeds, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through 10 of the top breeds with long, beautiful locks that you can choose as your furry friend.
Afghan hound
Once you get to know the Afghan hound, there’s no mistaking this striking breed. As the name suggests, these buddies were bred to live in the mountains of Afghanistan — hence the need for a lot of hair. Their coats may have been designed to keep them warm, but you’ll have your work cut out for you when it comes to keeping it clean and brushed. Don’t let that deter you, though! Afghan hounds are sweet and don’t bark much.
Bearded collie
You might be unsurprised to learn that the bearded collie rocks facial hair and all the rest of it, too. Similar to some of the other collies, this breed hails from Scotland with the shag to prove it. The distinctly double-coated fur doesn’t shed much but will require frequent brushing. Luckily, bearded collies work great as family dogs because they like both kids and other pets.
Bolognese
Like the first pooch on our list, it’s easy to tell where this beastie originated — Bologna, Italy. You cannot miss their flowing white coat, which looks a bit like a fluffy cloud. To help keep the hair at bay, consider clipping it shorter and make sure to brush daily. Bolognese are affectionate lapdogs that love to play and chill equally.
Briard
This beauty actually comes from the land of brie, and we suspect many briards would love to munch on their namesake cheese. As a herding breed, they love to have a job and won’t necessarily feel content just lazing about. But many briard lovers call the shaggy guy “a heart wrapped in fur.”
Coton de Tulear
Another white fuzz ball explosion; you’ll notice the word cotton in this fur ball’s name because of their resemblance to a cotton ball. The Tulear part comes from their origin, a port town in Madagascar. You should bring home this pup if you want a constant companion since cotons don’t do well when on their own and can develop separation anxiety.
Havanese
Our world tour of dogs stops next in Cuba, where the Havenese hails from. This little Fido doesn’t need as much exercise as a big dog and so works well for a more relaxed family or in an apartment (all dogs need both physical and mental stimulation though). If you get sick of constantly pulling the mats out of his luxurious coat, you can trim it down to something more manageable.
Lhasa apso
A favorite breed of the Dalai Lama, the Lhasa apso loves people, including kids. Outside of their extremely affectionate natures, they also have quite the watchdog mentality, since that was once their job. As with many of the buds on this list, you definitely want to invest in a groomer or acquire the skills to keep their coat clean and free of tangles.
Pekingese
The Pekingese might be at the top of the cute fuzz ball list. They’ve been lapdogs for quite some time and were kept by Chinese royalty for centuries. You’ll notice that the Peke has quite a mane, which will take some work to prevent it from becoming a nuisance. They also can’t go long without a bath!
Shih tzu
Shih tzu means lion in Chinese, and you can tell why right away. These tinies love to live in families and also like apartments just fine. Some shih tzus have coats so long they touch the floor. Needless to say, that will make their maintenance even more challenging. They can also be difficult to potty train, so be prepared to invest your energy there.
Tibetan terrier
Fun fact: This dog isn’t really a terrier. It was mistaken for one by Westerners unfamiliar with the breed from Tibet, and the name stuck. Tibetan terriers love their people and want them to stick around always. Only those who can give a lot of at home time should bring home this beastie.
The most important thing to remember: Long-haired dog breeds almost always require more grooming. You may need to brush or cut their fur on a regular basis. When you look over your pet budget, make sure to include any funds you plan to spend on maintenance, including a groomer if you want to go that route. Regardless of whether you do it at home or hire a professional, your vet will help you determine the proper routine.
