Curly Haired Dogs: Breeds and Care

Written by

Kosar KoohiUpdated 19 September 2026 · 9 Min Read

Kosar is the editor of Pretty Fluffy, a lifelong dog lover, and the proud mom of Yuki, a Maltese who has very high standards. So does Kosar. She researches everything obsessively before it ever makes it onto the page.

Run a hand through a curly coat once and the appeal is obvious. Curly haired dogs feel soft and springy and rarely leave drifts of fur on the sofa. What surprises new owners is the part photos never show: those curls hold on to every loose hair, and without regular brushing they knot into mats close to the skin within days.

Below are 16 curly haired dogs, from pocket-sized lapdogs to 100-pound guardians, each with an honest note on the coat care it asks for. For a coat that asks for almost nothing, the hairless dog breeds sit at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Why Some Dogs Have Curly Hair

Curly haired dogs are breeds whose coats grow in ringlets, waves or cords rather than lying flat. The best known include the Poodle, Bichon Frise, Portuguese Water Dog, Lagotto Romagnolo, Curly-Coated Retriever and Irish Water Spaniel. Most curly coats shed less onto furniture than straight coats, but they need brushing down to the skin several times a week and a professional trim every four to eight weeks.

The curl comes down largely to one gene. A genetic study of more than 1,000 dogs traced curly coats to variants in KRT71, a keratin gene, working alongside two others that control coat length and the beard and eyebrows known as furnishings. One copy of the curl variant tends to produce a wave and two copies a tighter ringlet, which is why doodle littermates can look so different.

Many of these breeds were built for cold water work. The trade-off of a dense curly coat is that shed hair gets trapped in the curls instead of falling out, and it felts into mats. A slicker brush and a metal comb are the two tools every curly coat needs, and this guide to the right brush for every coat type explains which to choose.

Small Dogs With Curly Hair

Toy and Miniature Poodle

The two smaller Poodle sizes pack the same brain as the Standard into a lap-sized body. Poodles rank among the smartest dog breeds, so tricks and house rules come quickly, and a bored one invents its own games. Toys stand under 10 inches at the shoulder and Miniatures up to 15. Both need a clip every four to six weeks.

Bichon Frise

A Bichon's snowy corkscrew curls sit over a soft undercoat, which creates that cloud-like shape and also means mats form fast behind the ears and in the armpits. Cheerful and sociable at 12 to 18 pounds, Bichons adapt easily to small spaces and are regulars among the best dog breeds for apartments.

Bolognese

The Bolognese is the Bichon's quieter Italian cousin. Its white coat falls in loose, fluffy flocks rather than tight ringlets and is traditionally left untrimmed. Calm and deeply attached to its people, it suits a home where someone is around most of the day, and it is uncommon outside Italy.

Bedlington Terrier

With its arched back, pear-shaped head and crisp, linty curls, the Bedlington famously looks like a lamb. Underneath is a terrier with sighthound in its ancestry, so it can sprint and it will chase. Bedlingtons shed very little but need a trim every six weeks or so to hold their shape. The breed is prone to copper storage disease, so ask any breeder about DNA testing of both parents.

Medium Curly Dog Breeds

Most of the old working water dogs sit here, and most still want a job.

Portuguese Water Dog

Bred to herd fish into nets for Portuguese fishermen, this sturdy dog is happiest near water and has webbed feet to prove it. The single coat can be tightly curled or wavy, and many owners choose the short, even retriever clip for easier upkeep. At 35 to 60 pounds with plenty of stamina, it is one of the best dog breeds for active people who swim, hike or run.

Lagotto Romagnolo

Italy's truffle-hunting dog is covered in dense, woolly ringlets, right down to a curly beard. Lagottos are affectionate, clever and ruled by their noses. The coat is traditionally kept rustic and trimmed to an even length every couple of months rather than blown out into a fluffy shape.

Kerry Blue Terrier

Kerry Blues are born black and gradually clear to their soft blue-gray, usually by around 18 months. The silky, wavy to curly coat has no undercoat, so shedding is minimal, though a trim every six to eight weeks keeps it tidy. They are loyal, spirited terriers that can be selective about other dogs, so early socialization matters.

Pumi

This Hungarian herding dog has springy corkscrew curls and half-folded ears that give it a permanently curious look. At roughly 22 to 29 pounds, it is quick, vocal and busy. The coat is one of the easier ones here: comb it through every few weeks, wet it, let it air dry so the curls spring back, and trim lightly as needed.

Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dogs herd livestock and work in water, and their woolly curls are never brushed. Left alone, the coat forms cords, so most pet owners simply shear it to an even length once or twice a year. Devoted to family and wary of strangers, they need daily exercise and a confident owner.

Puli

A Puli's coat starts out fluffy and, from around its first birthday, begins forming long cords that need separating by hand as they grow. A fully corded Puli can take a day or more to dry after a bath. Under the mop is an alert herding dog with a big bark, better suited to experienced owners.

American Water Spaniel

Wisconsin's state dog is a brown hunting spaniel of 25 to 45 pounds, with a coat that ranges from an even wave to tight curls. Unlike most dogs here, it has an undercoat and sheds seasonally, a useful reminder that curly does not always mean low shedding. It is friendly, eager and happiest with outdoor work.

Large Curly-Haired Dog Breeds

Big curly coats mean more brushing and bigger grooming bills. For gentle giants with every kind of coat, this roundup of big dog breeds is a good companion read.

Standard Poodle

The Standard Poodle began as a German duck retriever, and the show clip is said to have started as a way to lighten the coat for swimming. Standing over 15 inches and usually weighing 40 to 70 pounds, Standards are athletic, sensitive and easy to train. They need real daily exercise and a professional groom every four to six weeks.

Curly-Coated Retriever

The tallest of the retrievers wears small, tight, crisp curls that shrug off water and brambles. It is also one of the lowest-maintenance curly coats, since brushing breaks the curls into frizz, so most owners simply wet the coat down and snip stray hairs. Curlies are calm indoors, tireless outdoors and more reserved than a Labrador.

Irish Water Spaniel

The biggest of the spaniels is easy to spot by its liver-colored ringlets, curly topknot and smooth "rat tail." The oily coat repels water, making it a natural swimmer, but the same oil holds dirt, so weekly brushing and regular trims are needed. These are playful clowns at home and often reserved with strangers.

Barbet

The Barbet is a French water dog named for its beard, with dense, woolly curls in black, brown, gray or fawn. It loves water and mud in equal measure. Weekly brushing to the skin and a trim every couple of months keep it comfortable. The breed is still rare, so finding one takes patience.

Komondor

This Hungarian livestock guardian weighs 80 pounds or more and is covered in heavy white cords that can reach the ground. The cords need regular separating, and drying after a bath can take the better part of two days. It is a serious, protective dog that needs an experienced owner, space and plenty of early socialization.

Curly Doodles and Other Poodle Mixes

A Labradoodle, Goldendoodle or Cockapoo puppy can grow a tight curl, a loose wave or a flat coat that sheds like its non-Poodle parent, and littermates often differ. Reputable breeders can DNA test parents for the curl and furnishings genes, which predicts the adult coat better than any puppy photo. Doodle coats mat quickly where a harness rubs, so plan on brushing several times a week.

Curly Hair Dog Breeds Compared

Do Dogs With Curly Fur Shed Less?

Onto the floor, mostly yes. Curly coats grow for a long time before hairs fall, and loose hair tends to catch in the curls instead of landing on the sofa. That is why brushing matters: the hair stays in the coat until a brush removes it.

Is a Curly Coat Hypoallergenic?

Less hair on the furniture is not the same as fewer allergens. People react mainly to proteins in dander and saliva, which every dog produces, and a study of allergen levels in family homes found no difference between homes with so-called hypoallergenic breeds and homes with other dogs. Time spent with the specific dog before committing is the only reliable test.

How to Groom a Curly Coat at Home

Best Brush and Comb for a Curly Dog

Work in small sections with a slicker brush, lifting the hair and brushing from the skin outward, then follow with a metal comb. If the comb cannot glide from skin to tip, that spot is not finished. The usual hiding places are behind the ears, under the collar, in the armpits and down the backs of the legs. Most curly breeds need this two or three times a week, and doodles often more.

Dog Shampoo and Conditioner for Curly Coats

Always brush before a bath, because water shrinks and tightens any mat left in the coat. Use a gentle dog shampoo and a conditioner, rinse thoroughly and dry completely, since damp curls packed against the skin can irritate it. This step-by-step guide to bathing a dog at home covers the full routine. Most curly haired dogs do well with a wash every three to four weeks.

How Often a Curly Coat Needs the Groomer

Plan for a professional trim every four to eight weeks for most curly haired dogs, with corded coats and the easy-care Curly-Coated Retriever and Pumi as the exceptions. Never cut tight mats out with scissors at home, because the skin underneath is easy to nick. A groomer or vet can clip them out safely.

Choosing a Curly Dog Breed for Your Home

If grooming time is the worry, the Curly-Coated Retriever, the Pumi and a Portuguese Water Dog in a short clip carry the easiest coats here. Poodles and Bichons are forgiving for beginners in temperament, though not in coat care, and this list of the best dogs for first-time owners compares more breeds by grooming load. The Komondor, Puli, Spanish Water Dog and Kerry Blue Terrier have strong guarding, herding or terrier instincts and reward experienced handlers most.