Fluffy Dog Breeds: 26 Long-Coated Dogs and Their Grooming Needs
Written by Tim de Jong
Fluffy dogs have long coats, and long coats mean brushing. In our breed data, 26 breeds have a long coat. Some are tiny lap dogs and some weigh well over 100 pounds, but all of them need more coat care than a short-haired dog.
Long does not always mean heavy upkeep, though. Of the 26 breeds here, 15 have an AKC grooming rating of 4 or 5 out of 5, and the rest sit at 3 or lower. Shedding is a separate rating: 1 score 4 or 5.
Below, 15 well-known fluffy breeds get their own section with size, lifespan, temperament and the AKC grooming and shedding scores. The other breeds are in a table, and a full summary table closes the article. If you want to filter by size, energy and shedding, try our dog breeds by trait tool or the dog breed selector.
Samoyed
The Samoyed is the classic fluffy dog: a thick white or cream double coat and a tail that curls over the back. It is a medium dog at 35 to 65 pounds, 19 to 23.5 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 14 years, and the AKC temperament words are friendly, gentle and adaptable.
The AKC rates grooming at 3 and shedding at 3 out of 5. Practical note: brush several times a week, and more during the seasonal shed.
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian packs a long double coat into a toy-sized body: 3 to 7 pounds, 6 to 7 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 16 years, and the AKC temperament words are inquisitive, lively and bold.
Grooming is rated 3 out of 5 and shedding 2. Practical note: brush the coat in layers to reach the undercoat, and avoid shaving it.
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise has a long, curly coat that looks like a powder puff. It is a small dog at 12 to 18 pounds, 9.5 to 11.5 inches tall, with a lifespan of 14 to 15 years. The AKC temperament words are curious, playful and peppy.
Grooming is rated 5 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: Bichons need regular clipping every few weeks to keep the coat from matting.
Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a large herding dog with a shaggy, long double coat that hangs over its eyes. It weighs 60 to 100 pounds and stands 21 to 25 inches tall. The lifespan is 10 to 12 years, and the AKC temperament words are smart, gentle and adaptable.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 3. Practical note: a full coat can take hours a week to keep tangle-free, so many owners choose a shorter clip.
Collie
The Collie has a long, rough coat with a full ruff around the neck. It is a large dog at 50 to 75 pounds, 22 to 26 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 14 years, and the AKC temperament words are devoted, proud and graceful.
Grooming is rated 3 out of 5 and shedding 3. Practical note: brush behind the ears and in the feathering of the legs, where mats start.
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog looks like a small Collie with a long double coat. It is a small dog at 15 to 25 pounds, 13 to 16 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 14 years, and the AKC temperament words are playful, energetic and bright.
Grooming is rated 3 out of 5 and shedding 3. Practical note: weekly brushing is the minimum, and the shedding peaks seasonally.
Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie has a long, silky coat that parts down the back, and a beard that gives the breed its name. It is a medium dog at 45 to 55 pounds, 20 to 22 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 14 years, and the AKC temperament words are smart, bouncy and charismatic.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 3. Practical note: brush all the way to the skin, because the coat tangles close to the body.
Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound has a long, silky coat that hangs from its ears and body. It is a large, slim hound at 50 to 60 pounds, 25 to 27 inches tall. It lives 12 to 18 years, and the AKC calls it independent and sweet.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: the silky coat tangles easily, so never brush it dry. Mist it first.
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a small dog with a long double coat that many owners clip short. It weighs 9 to 16 pounds and stands 9 to 10.5 inches tall, and its lifespan is 10 to 18 years. The AKC temperament words are playful, affectionate and outgoing.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: a short puppy cut is easier to manage than a full show coat. We compare the two in our post on Shih Tzu teddy bear cut vs puppy cut.
Maltese
The Maltese has a long, silky white coat that falls to the ground. It is a toy dog at 4 to 7 pounds, 7 to 9 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 15 years, and the AKC temperament words are playful, charming and gentle.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: tear staining around the eyes is common, so wipe the face daily.
Leonberger
The Leonberger is a giant dog with a long, water-resistant double coat. It weighs 90 to 170 pounds and stands 25.5 to 31.5 inches tall. It lives 7 to 9 years, the shortest lifespan on this list, and the AKC temperament words are friendly, playful and gentle.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 4. Practical note: giant dogs mean giant amounts of hair, and brushing a Leonberger takes a long time.
Keeshond
The Keeshond has a long, thick double coat with a ruff around the neck and a tail curled over its back. It is a medium dog at 35 to 45 pounds, 16 to 19 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 15 years, and the AKC temperament words are friendly, lively and outgoing.
Grooming is rated 3 out of 5 and shedding 3. Practical note: brush weekly, and never shave a double coat, because it protects the skin.
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier has a long, silky coat that falls straight on each side of the body. It is a toy dog at 4 to 7 pounds, 7 to 8 inches tall. The lifespan is 11 to 15 years, and the AKC temperament words are affectionate, sprightly and tomboyish.
Grooming is rated 5 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: many owners keep Yorkies in a short clip, which is easier than a floor-length show coat.
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a small dog with a long, heavy, silky coat. It weighs 12 to 18 pounds and stands 9 to 11 inches tall. The lifespan is 12 to 15 years, and the AKC temperament words are confident, smart and comical.
Grooming is rated 3 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: Lhasas need regular brushing or a short clip.
Standard Poodle
The Standard Poodle is a large dog with a long, curly coat. It is the biggest of the three Poodle sizes, at 40 to 70 pounds, 18 to 26 inches tall. The lifespan is 10 to 18 years, and the AKC temperament words are active, proud and very smart.
Grooming is rated 4 out of 5 and shedding 1. Practical note: a Poodle's coat does not shed much but keeps growing, so it needs a clip every few weeks.
The other fluffy breeds
These long-coated breeds do not have their own section above.
| Breed | Size | Weight | Coat | Grooming (AKC) | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernedoodle | Large | 60–90 lb | Long, wavy | 4 of 5 | 12–15 years |
| Biewer Terrier | Toy | 4–8 lb | Long, silky | 3 of 5 | 12–16 years |
| Cocker Spaniel | Medium | 20–30 lb | Long, silky | 4 of 5 | 10–14 years |
| Coton de Tulear | Toy | 8–15 lb | Long, wavy | 4 of 5 | 15–19 years |
| Havanese | Toy | 7–13 lb | Long, silky | 3 of 5 | 14–16 years |
| Miniature Poodle | Small | 10–15 lb | Long, curly | 4 of 5 | 10–18 years |
| Pekingese | Toy | 8–14 lb | Long, double | 3 of 5 | 12–14 years |
| Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | 35–60 lb | Long, curly | 4 of 5 | 11–13 years |
| Silky Terrier | Toy | 8–11 lb | Long, silky | 3 of 5 | 13–15 years |
| Tibetan Terrier | Medium | 18–30 lb | Long, double | 3 of 5 | 15–16 years |
| Toy Poodle | Toy | 4–6 lb | Long, curly | 4 of 5 | 10–18 years |
What to expect from a fluffy dog
Long coats are not all the same. Our data puts these 26 breeds into the types double, silky, curly, rough and wavy, and each needs different care. Double coats need regular brushing and shed seasonally. Silky coats tangle without daily attention. Curly coats shed little but need clipping.
9 of these breeds are on the AKC's list of breeds that tend to suit people with allergies. That list is not a guarantee. By AKC group, our data splits the breeds as Toy (9), Non-Sporting (7), Herding (4), Working (3). You can read each standard in the AKC breed directory.
Some fluffy breeds also have curled tails: see dog breeds with curly tails. If you want curls on the coat itself, see curly-haired dog breeds, and for the opposite texture, wire-haired dog breeds.
All 26 fluffy dog breeds at a glance
| Breed | Size | Weight | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghan Hound | Large | 50–60 lb | 12–18 years |
| Bearded Collie | Medium | 45–55 lb | 12–14 years |
| Bernedoodle | Large | 60–90 lb | 12–15 years |
| Bichon Frise | Small | 12–18 lb | 14–15 years |
| Biewer Terrier | Toy | 4–8 lb | 12–16 years |
| Cocker Spaniel | Medium | 20–30 lb | 10–14 years |
| Collie | Large | 50–75 lb | 12–14 years |
| Coton de Tulear | Toy | 8–15 lb | 15–19 years |
| Havanese | Toy | 7–13 lb | 14–16 years |
| Keeshond | Medium | 35–45 lb | 12–15 years |
| Leonberger | Giant | 90–170 lb | 7–9 years |
| Lhasa Apso | Small | 12–18 lb | 12–15 years |
| Maltese | Toy | 4–7 lb | 12–15 years |
| Miniature Poodle | Small | 10–15 lb | 10–18 years |
| Old English Sheepdog | Large | 60–100 lb | 10–12 years |
| Pekingese | Toy | 8–14 lb | 12–14 years |
| Pomeranian | Toy | 3–7 lb | 12–16 years |
| Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | 35–60 lb | 11–13 years |
| Samoyed | Medium | 35–65 lb | 12–14 years |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Small | 15–25 lb | 12–14 years |
| Shih Tzu | Small | 9–16 lb | 10–18 years |
| Silky Terrier | Toy | 8–11 lb | 13–15 years |
| Standard Poodle | Large | 40–70 lb | 10–18 years |
| Tibetan Terrier | Medium | 18–30 lb | 15–16 years |
| Toy Poodle | Toy | 4–6 lb | 10–18 years |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Toy | 4–7 lb | 11–15 years |
Choosing a fluffy dog
Decide how much time you will spend brushing before you fall for a coat. A Samoyed or a Leonberger takes more time than a Yorkshire Terrier in a short clip. To compare two breeds side by side, use our dog breed comparison tool. For tail tips on coated breeds, see dog breeds with white-tipped tails.
