10 Curly-Haired Dog Breeds: From Small to Large

10 Curly-Haired Dog Breeds: From Small to Large

What is better than a dog with gorgeous curls? A hypoallergenic dog with curly hair! So, you don't have to worry if you're an allergic person. Also, if you're a curly-haired person then you can be matchy with your curly-haired dog.

But did you know that the curls are simply due to genetics? If a dog has curls it means that somewhere in their lineage there was a dog with curly hair. What dog has really curly hair? Keep reading the article to find out.

Which breeds have a curly coat?

Curly-haired, non-shedding dogs

The most beautiful & popular curly dogs:

  1. Poodles
  2. Labradoodle‌
  3. Lagotto Romagnolo‌
  4. Portuguese Water Dog‌
  5. Bichon Frise
  6. Flandoodle
  7. Puli
  8. Komondor
  9. Barbet
  10. Irish Water Spaniel

1. Poodles - The famous curly-haired dog breeds‌that are hypoallergenic

Apricot Poodle
Photo by Steven Van Elk / Unsplash

Poodles are known as curly dogs that don't shed. They are among the most intelligent, elegant, and gentle dog breeds. A Poodle coat is different for puppies who have very soft and wavy hair in contrast to thick and curly adult fur. ‌

  • Coat: Curly with a natural hard texture, dense everywhere.
  • Color: white, cream, brown, latte, apricot, black - the fur may vary nuances of the same color
  • Shedding: low
  • Groom: medium
    Be careful with brushing, tho'. If you don't brush a full-fur Poodle completely to the skin, the hair will tangle near the roots and you'll have to shave it off to start from scratch with new growth (see the best brushes for Poodles).

🐩 Different Poodle cuts:

✂️  Lion cut
✂️  Modern cut
✂️  Puppy cut
✂️  English saddle cut
✂️  Dutch cut
✂️  Summer cut
✂️  Cupcake cut
✂️  Teddy bear cut

Poodles are hypoallergenic dogs that hardly shed or drool.

There are 4 size varieties of Poodles: Standard, Medium, Miniature, and Toy.

all poodle sizes

All sizes of Poodles are getting attached by their owner fast, the strong bond being only between them. They will get along well with the other member of the family, too, but due to their one-person dog personality, they will stick until the end with their first favorite person.

Careful though', because of their high level of affection, Poodles tend to have separation anxiety when left alone.

Standard Poodle

The Standard Poodle (Royal Poodle) is that elegant dog that under the curly coat, stands an athletic stylish dog. This large size of Poodle is 18-24 inches of shoulder height.

Standard Poodles are not only intelligent and quick learners, but they are also one of the most obedient dog breeds.

The Standard Poodles are also known as Royal Poodles due to their fashionable looks and haircuts and for the popular canine shows (like in the images above).

This big dog with curly hair comes in many colors: brown, white, black, gray, parti.

Medium Poodle

Medium Poodles have great personalities. These pups are perfect pets for families due to their loyal nature. Mediums are usually 15-20 inches tall, about the same size as a small Standard Poodle.

Medium Poodles are also called Moyen or Klein Poodles.

Funny and clever, Medium Poodle will do anything to make you laugh and play with him. This breed loves to cuddle and stay near you all day, but it also needs daily walks. Also, Poodles cannot live outside, because they are a breed perfect for apartment life, ready to be part of the family.

Miniature Poodle

Miniature Poodles are hyperactive amazing friends. They are usually 11-14 inches tall.

Beginning around 9 months of age, the coat of Miniature and Toy Poodles will gradually transition over to their adult coat. This procedure generally takes 9 months. As a result, by the time a Poodle reaches the age of 18 months, it will have grown into its full adult curly coat.

Also, loyal, loving, and highly intelligent, Miniature Poodle is the perfect buddy for any kind of person. Due to their high level of energy, this dog goes with you when traveling or doing sports.

Toy Poodles

Toy Poodles are highly intelligent and easy to train. These little hearts are no bigger than 10 inches, being one of the smallest dog breeds. Although they are smaller in size, you should expect them to behave in the same way as a standard-sized Poodle.

One of the most affectionate dog breeds, for decades, the Toy Poodle has accompanied families with friendship and warmth. They're natural learners who excel at obedience work.

Toy Poodles are the most famous small curly-haired dog breeds at the moment.

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How do I keep my Poodle hair curly? After the bath, let your Poodle without drying its coat. Let its hair air-dry without brushing it out. This may help it naturally curl into a tighter curl. Conditioning your dog's hair after washing and before letting it air dry is also a good idea. Make sure your poodle is eating a healthy, balanced diet.

2. Labradoodle - Most popular crossbreed

Labradoodle
Photo by Bruce Williamson / Unsplash

‌A Labradoodle is a beautiful crossbreed dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Poodle (Standard, Miniature, Toy).

Like both of his parent breeds, this doggo is intelligent, loving, friendly, and very active. His curly coat requires maintenance.‌

  • Coat: divided into three categories: wool, fleece, or hair predominantly wavy
  • Color: white, cream, brown, latte, apricot, black - the fur may vary nuances of the same color
  • Shedding: low
  • Groom: medium

3. Lagotto Romagnolo‌ - Medium curly dog breed with waterproof fur

Photo by Bianca Ackermann / Unsplash

‌At first look, Lagotto Romagnolos, you'll notice their beautiful, curly coat. This dog's name can be translated to "lake dog." The AKC mentions that their curly fur is waterproof to keep them dry and warm while working.

If you are able to keep up with grooming requests, you will be rewarded with a loving family mate who can be easily trained.‌

  • Coat: more like human hair than fur, predominantly curly
  • Color: a variety of colors (cream, brown, white) that can be either strong or fragmented with different color markings.
  • Shedding: low
  • Groom: medium

4. Portuguese Water Dog‌ - Medium sized curly black and white dog

Portuguese Water Dog at the Pier
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra / Unsplash

‌The name of Portuguese Water Dog comes from this dog breed's history that once served as crew on fishing trips, and herding fish into nets.

They are nicknamed Porties and they are fun-loving and friendly doggos. They are perfect for active families near the beach. They need a lot of exercises.‌

  • Coat: curly and wavy
  • Color: a variety of colors: brown, white, black
  • Shedding: low
  • Groom: medium

For a tangle-free, you must brush The Portie two-three times a week.

5. Bichon Frise‌- Small curly-haired dog that looks like a cloud

Photo by Matt Briney / Unsplash

‌A Bichon Frise is a cute fluffy little dog with a snow-white curly coat. His fur will start to get curled when he is about one year old. For some Bichon Frises may take until 3 years old for their coat to become entirely curly.‌

  • Coat: with a powder-puff appearance, their coat is soft, dense, and curly
  • Color: always white
  • Shedding: low
  • Groom: high

6. Flandoodle - Big curly dog that adores people

The Flandoodle is a large dog breed that is a cross between the Bouvier des Flandres and the Standard Poodle.

This big dog with curly hair is an excellent family companion and is well-known for being a great watchdog due to its protective and loyal nature.

Its weight is around 70 pounds and stands approximately 25 inches tall.

Flandoodles have dense, curly fur that ranges in length from medium to long and can be any color. Black, brown, white, grey, red, and blue are the most common colors encountered.

7. Puli - Most popular Dreadlock dog breed

Puli is small-medium-sized Hungarian herding and livestock guarding dog breed with a long and corded coat. Its tight curls of the coat resemble dreadlocks.

The Puli is a black and white solid-colored dog. White, gray, or cream are some less popular coat colors. The white Pulis are neither albino nor have blue eyes. Dark pigment, black pads, black noses, and black pigment inside the mouth are all typical features. The white gene is recessive in comparison to the pure black gene.

The coat is the outcome of a controlled matting process. The Puli's coat requires extensive cleaning to keep its cords clean, neat, and appealing. With age, the coat can grow fairly long, sometimes touching the ground. However, the coat can be clipped short on a regular basis for easy maintenance, albeit the corded coat is what fascinates many people to the breed. This breed sheds almost nothing.

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Why do Puli dogs have dreadlocks? The cords appear spontaneously when the puppy is roughly 9 months old (according to the Puli Club of America).

8. Komondor - Hungarian Dreadlock dog breed

Komondor, also known as the Hungarian sheepdog, is a large, white-colored Hungarian dog breed with a long, corded coat. The Komondor has a similar looking to Puli but is a considerably larger breed that is also Hungarian.

The Komondor, often known as "mop dog" is a long-established dog breed that is commonly used to defend livestock and other properties. The Komondor, which is covered with white cords from head to tail, is one of the world's most identifiable breeds.

While is still a puppy, the coat is fluffy and silky. The coat, on the other hand, is wavy and continues to curl as the puppy grows. A fully mature coat develops gradually over 2 years, with the soft undercoat and rougher outer coat merging to produce tassels or cords. Some assistance is required in separating the cords so that the dog does not become a giant matted tangle. As the coat expands, the length of the cords increases.

In contrast to the similar-looking brother, Puli, which can be white, black, or grayish, the Komondor is born with solely a white coat.

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Interesting facts: (1) After bath, the Komondor's coat takes roughly two and a half days to dry. (2) The thick coat protects the Komondor from wolf bites because the bites do not penetrate the thick coat.

9. Barbet - Medium size curly hair dog that loves water

The Barbet dog breed is a medium-sized French water dog. The name derives from the French word barbe, which means "beard".

You might think this dog looks like a Poodle, a Portuguese Water Dog, or a Lagotto Romagnolo. They are similar, but not the same. What they all have in common is that they are all water dogs with similar curly hair and colors.

Coming back to the Barbet breed description, males stand 23–26 inches tall, while females 21–24 inches tall. With its long, woolly, and curly coat, the Barbet is the prototypical water dog.

Their coats grow long and must be maintained on a regular basis, or the coat will become matted and the Barbet will drop little tufts of hair, like tumbleweeds.

Barbet's colors are solid black, brown, white, gray, fawn, mild fawn, or more multicolored. The Barbet breed is known as brown curly hair dog.

10. Irish Water Spaniel - A beautiful brown curly haired dog

Irish Water Spaniel brown curly haired dog breed

The Irish Water Spaniel, which averages 22–24 inches (56–61 cm) tall and straddles the medium–large size spectrum, is the tallest member of its spaniel breed.

This brown curly hair dog is an extremely active and lively breed that needs a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Also extremely intelligent and easily trainable, the Irish Water Spaniel can learn brand-new skills quickly and enjoys doing new things.

Irish Water Spaniels were bred mainly for hunting and have a powerful natural urge to retrieve. They are excellent swimmers, which makes them suitable for water activities.

The curly, dense coat of the Irish Water Spaniel offers warmth and weather protection. Also, their coat is water-repellent.

Irish Water Spaniels are hypoallergenic dog breeds, therefore those who suffer from allergies should consider getting one.

This breed comes only in brown Irish Water Spaniels are entirely liver (brown) in color, without any variances or additional markings.

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These curly-haired dog breeds are among the most famous and beautiful dogs. Besides the charming look, the curls protect them from getting wet or keep them warm in winter and cool in summer.

Small curly-haired dog breeds or big curly-haired dog breeds? Which one is your favorite?

See you in the next article! Paws & love! 🐾

Frequently Asked Questions

What breed of dog has long curly hair?

Besides the mentioned breeds in this article, Puli and Barbet have also long curly hair.

Do curly hair dogs shed?

Curly-coated dogs are less likely to shed. Many dog-allergic persons can tolerate curly-haired pets, which is fantastic news if you don't want hair all over your house or if you are allergic. Low-shedding curly-coated dogs, on the other hand, do shed a little and stray hair gets stuck in their curly coats.

Why do water dogs have curly hair?

Curly dogs were frequently bred to assist fishers and hunters on the sea. That type of dense, curled hair can help keep water from penetrating their skin, allowing them to work in the humidity for extended periods of time. 

Are all curly-haired dogs hypoallergenic?

No.