15 Shaggy Dog Breeds Perfect for Any Owner
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Some dog breeds have short hair. In contrast, others are much better-known because of their shagginess. Those interested in getting a shaggy dog should use Wag and other resources to hone their dog grooming skills. Still, so long as they are willing to put in that effort, they can choose from the many shaggy dog breeds that are suitable for a wide range of people with a wide range of preferences.
1. Affenpinscher
Monkey Terrier is another name for the Affenpinscher because the German affe means either “ape” or “monkey.” These dogs are called thus because of their simian-seeming face, though that doesn’t make them any less adorable-looking. Black is the standard color for the Affenpinscher. Neither the KC nor the FCI will recognize these dogs as being these dogs without it. Meanwhile, the Affenpinscher Club of America says that Canada, Mexico, and the United States are much more relaxed in this regard.
This means that there are more coat color options for interested individuals. If there is a fault with this dog breed, it would be their territoriality. This makes them a less than perfect choice for families with small children, though to be fair, the same can be said for other smaller dog breeds because of the potential for mishandling when unsupervised. Otherwise, Affenpinschers are loyal, playful, and affectionate creatures that get along well with their human family members.
2. Barbet
The French barbe means “beard.” Barbets do indeed have something that can be considered a beard. However, that can be hard to tell considering their all-around shagginess. Personality-wise, these dogs are good in every single respect. They are smart, easy to train, and fond of their families, which makes sense because these dogs are believed to be Poodle relatives. Matters are murkier when it comes to their health.
Essentially, Barbets have become so rare that there is a lack of in-depth information on their chances of getting various medical problems. Unfortunately, a small gene pool tends to make inbreeding much more of an issue. Due to this, interested individuals need to put extra effort into ensuring that their dog has come from a reputable source. Conscientious dog breeders will do their best to prevent obvious genetic pitfalls when breeding these dogs, so seek out one of them rather than one of their counterparts who are either ignorant or indifferent or both.
3. Berger Picard
Speaking of which, the Berger Picard is another rare dog breed that can trace its roots to France. In its case, it is one of the numerous dog breeds that got hammered by the First World War and then the Second World War. Some of those dog breeds have managed to bounce back. So far, the Berger Picard hasn’t managed that to the same extent, which is why it remains rare. On the plus side, these easygoing dogs seem to have remained on the healthier side of things. Interested individuals still need to watch out for hip dysplasia and other medical problems. That said, Petful says that the Berger Picard has a life expectancy of 13 to 14 years, which suggests that they aren’t as problem-prone as some of the other dogs out there.
4. Briard
Briards are yet another French dog breed. Traditionally, they are associated with Brie, which would be the region that Brie cheese came from. Technically, Briards were used for both herding sheep and protecting sheep. In practice, they saw much more use for the former than for the latter because predators weren’t very common in the region. Once upon a time, these dogs existed in two varieties, one of which possessed a goat-like coat while the other possessed a sheep-like coat. Sadly, Briards suffered a great deal during the two World Wars, with the result that the dogs with the sheep-like coats have long since disappeared. The rest have managed to make a smooth transition to being companion animals for the most part. Shepherd dogs tend to be smart and loyal without being clingy. Briards match that description.
5. Brussels Griffon
Brussels Griffons can refer to three related varieties of Belgian dogs. Out of these, the Petit Brabancon looks like a Pug because it is descended from Pugs. Said resemblance includes their ancestors’ short-haired coats, which was once considered to be a fault but is now considered to be standard for them. The other two varieties called the Griffon Bruxellois and the Griffon Belge are much shaggier-looking, particularly if they have a rough coat rather than a smooth coat. It is believed that Brussels Griffons were bred to be companion animals. Certainly, their ability to get along with both humans and other animals supports that story.
6. Bearded Collie
Bearded Collies aren’t Collies with extra-long facial fur. Instead, they are a separate dog breed that is said to be descended from both Scottish and Polish dogs. Exactly how this happened is unclear. One story says that the Polish dogs were abandoned in Scotland. Another story says that a Polish merchant brought some Polish shepherd dogs with him when he decided to trade a shipment of grain for sheep. A local shepherd was so impressed with the Polish shepherd dogs that he traded several sheep for several dogs. Whatever the case, Bearded Collies are tough, reliable animals that can nonetheless make excellent pets because shepherd dogs are shepherd dogs.
7. Collie
The AKC considers the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie to be two varieties of the same dog breed. Those who want a shaggy dog will want to go for a Rough Collie. There is nothing wrong with Smooth Collies. Quite the contrary. Rough Collies just happen to be the ones with the longer-haired coats. In any case, Collies need a serious investment of time and effort for them to do their best. Even so, they are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States for very good reasons.
8. Dachshund (Long-Haired)
Generally speaking, people don’t think of Dachshunds when they think of shaggy dogs. However, The Daily Pup points out that some Dachshunds have long coats, which can be either wire-haired or smooth-haired. Please note that Dachshunds were meant to fight badgers and similar-sized animals in their burrows. They are exactly as brave, determined, and energetic as one would expect based on that, though plenty of people have found them to be wonderful companions because rather than despite those characteristics.
9. Komondor
Anyone curious why the Komondor is nicknamed the Mop Dog will realize the answer as soon as they lay eyes on one of these animals. Simply put, the hair of these dogs looks like the long, corded strands found on mop-heads, particularly since it comes in white that can seem off-white under certain circumstances. Those who want a Komondor should know that it is a livestock guardian. By default, it is a calm, collected animal that will make decisions for itself rather than consult its owner for every single situation. Fortunately, it isn’t a particularly aggressive animal, though it is protective towards both the human and the non-human members of its household.
10. Old English Sheepdog
Old English Sheepdogs are one of the most iconic shepherd dogs. It used to be common for them to have docked tails. Nowadays, the sight of long, feathery tails is becoming more and more common because people are becoming more and more opposed to cosmetic docking. Many countries have outright banned the practice. Similarly, kennel clubs in other countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom have adopted a policy of neutrality on the matter. The United States is one of the countries where the relevant organizations recommend either a bobtail or a docked tail, as shown by the Old English Sheepdog Club of America’s copy of the AKC standards. Regardless, the Old English Sheepdog is similar to other shepherd dogs, though it is notable in that it is reputed to be a clown at heart.
11. Pekingese
The Pekingese is one of those dog breeds that have undergone significant changes in their appearance over time. We know this because the long-haired version is favored over the traditional spaniel-coated version, which makes it clear that there is a traditional spaniel-coated version. Pekingese dogs are affectionate towards their families but much more aloof when it comes to strangers. On top of this, they are famously stubborn, so their owners are going to need to establish themselves as being the ones in charge without alienating their dogs in the process. Be warned that the Pekingese has a huge flaw in that it can have some serious medical problems. To name some examples, their lone spines make them prone to back problems while their flattened faces make them prone to breathing problems.
12. Portuguese Water Dog
Supposedly, Portuguese Water Dogs originated in the southernmost part of continental Portugal. After which, they spread from region to region because they worked well with fisherfolk and other people who worked out on the water. On the whole, Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent and independent creatures that get along great with humans. Curiously, they are said to develop a particularly strong bond with a single member of their family, which is speculated to be the result of how their ancestors would spend a great deal of time cooped up on small fishing boats with their human masters.
13. Puli
Those who see a Puli might mistake it for a Komondor. Both are Hungarian dogs that worked with livestock. However, the Puli has some important differences from its counterpart. For example, it is small to medium-sized rather than large-sized. Similarly, its standard color is black rather than white. Moreover, the Puli can come in other colors such as gray, cream, and white. Some of the cream-colored dogs even have black masks.
A Puli has the personality that one would expect from dogs that were used for herding and protecting livestock. As a rule, they are close to their owners while being suspicious of strangers. Those who are interested should know that the latter can be an issue. These dogs have been known to go on the attack without giving a warning when they are feeling irritated. Strangers might want to keep themselves at a reasonable distance.
14. Pyrenean Shepherd
Pyrenean Shepherds originated from the French Pyrenees. It is one of the numerous rough-coated sheepdogs that can be found throughout Europe. In earlier times, shepherds in the region are said to have been helped out by a couple of dog breeds. One was the Pyrenean Shepherd, which assisted with the livestock herding. The other was the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, which was a much bigger animal that was expected to take on wild predators if that proved to be necessary. Currently, there are both long-haired and smooth-faced versions of these animals. Some claim that the long-haired version is more cautious in the presence of strangers than its smooth-faced counterpart.
15. Shetland Sheepdog
At one point in time, Shetland Sheepdogs were called Shetland Collies. For various reasons, this irritated the Rough Collie enthusiasts, thus resulting in a rename. This is particularly funny because Shetland Sheepdogs look nothing so much as miniature Rough Collies. People might be interested in a dog with a merle coat. If they are, they should be very careful about buying from dog breeders who are willing to breed merle dogs together.
So-called merle dogs are notorious for having higher chances of being deaf and blind, which is a phenomenon that can be seen in other dog breeds as well. On a related note, other kinds of carelessness in the breeding process can also introduce other inherited problems, meaning that people are going to need to watch out for those as well. Still, those who want a shaggy dog can do very well with a Shetland Sheepdog, which is said to be one of the smartest dogs around.
