Updated at: 28-09-2023 - By: petstutorial

Curly-haired dogs are some of the most distinctive breeds out there. They are often low-shedding and have a distinctive appearance that makes them stand out from other breeds. Curly-haired dog breeds were developed either as water dogs, for helping fishermen or aiding in aquatic rescue, or as herders in cold, wet climates, such as that of the British Isles.

These breeds have different grooming requirements, some require frequent brushing, washing, or grooming appointments, while others require hand stripping or a stripping comb.

In this article, we will explore 10 types of dogs with curly hair, including their grooming needs and characteristics.

10 Types Of Dogs With Curly Hair

Poodle

Poodles are one of the most popular curly-haired dog breeds. They are known for their distinctive curly coat, which is often low-shedding and hypoallergenic. However, contrary to popular belief, poodles are not born with curly hair.

Poodle puppies are born with straight hair, and their signature shaggy curls start to develop once they reach the age of six months. The curly fur of a poodle will depend on the individual dog’s coat, as some colors are finer and less dense, resulting in wavy rather than curly hair.

Poodles are water dogs, and like other curly-haired water dogs, they don’t have an undercoat to protect them. Poodle genes are so strong that any mixed poodle breeds usually turn out to be quite curly as well.

To keep a poodle’s curly coat looking its best, regular grooming is essential. This includes brushing, washing, and grooming appointments, as well as hand stripping or a stripping comb, depending on the dog’s grooming needs.

Bichon Frise

 

Bichon Frise is a small, curly-haired lapdog breed of dog known for its fluffy coat and cheerful disposition. The breed is also known as “curly toy dog” because of its thick undercoat and curly topcoat.

Bichon Frises are incredibly playful and lovable pets, but they require lots of grooming and maintenance. Their hair starts to go curly when they are about a year old, although it may take until they are three years old for the coat to become fully developed.

The Bichon Frise originated in the Mediterranean area, and Spanish sailors are believed to have introduced Bichons Frises to the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where Italian sailors found them in the 14th century.

The breed is 9.5 to 11.5 inches tall at the withers and weighs 12 to 18 pounds. Bichon Frises have a short blunt muzzle, silky ears that drop, and a puffy, silky, curled coat and an undercoat. Their color is mostly pure white, although some individuals have shadings of cream, buff, or apricot around the ears or on the body.

Monthly trips to the groomer for haircuts and lots of brushing at home are necessary to keep their coat looking its best.

Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington Terriers are small, curly-haired dogs that were originally bred to hunt. They are named after the mining town of Bedlington, Northumberland in North East England.

The breed has a unique appearance, with a curly, medium-long coat that is a mix of hard and soft hair. The coat is described as having a crisp appearance and texture, and it is non-shedding.

Bedlington Terriers come in blue, liver, or sandy coloration, all three of which may have tan points. The breed is known for its versatility and athleticism, with powerful swimming skills and high endurance.

Bedlington Terriers are also noted for their similarity in appearance to lambs. To keep their curly coat looking its best, regular brushing, trimming, and clipping are necessary.

Bedlington Terriers are generally milder-mannered and less rowdy indoors than most other terriers, but they can become dauntless explorers once outdoors and aroused.

They are bright and clownish with their own family, but their reaction to strangers varies from inquisitive to reserved, so early socialization is important.

Barbet

The Barbet is a medium-sized breed of dog known for its long, curly hair and distinctive beard. Here are some key characteristics of the Barbet breed:

Appearance:
– Covered with dense, curly hair and a distinctive beard
– Long, dense covering of curly hair
– Rustic, medium-sized breed of balanced proportions
– Comes in black, brown, fawn, gray, and white
– Sometimes has markings in various shades of brown

Temperament:
– Agile athlete, used primarily to locate, flush, and retrieve birds
– Friendly, intelligent, and loyal
– Devoted to their owners
– Good with children and other pets

Grooming:
– Covered in long, curly hair
– Requires an owner who is devoted to maintaining the coat throughout the life of the dog
– Regular grooming is necessary to keep the coat healthy and free of mats

Genetics:
– The Cu Locus (Curly hair) impacts hair curl as a result of a DNA variant in the KRT71 gene which produces a form of keratin, a major structural component of the hair

In summary, the Barbet is a friendly and intelligent breed of dog with a distinctive curly coat that requires regular grooming to maintain its health and appearance.

Portuguese Water Dog

The Portuguese Water Dog is a breed of dog known for its curly hair and water-resistant coat. Here are some key characteristics of the breed’s coat:

Appearance:
– Curly or wavy coat
– Compact, cylindrical curls, somewhat lusterless
– Hair on the ears is sometimes wavy
– Medium to long and single-coated

Temperament:
– Friendly and enthusiastic
– Equally skilled at working, playing, and lounging at home with the family
– Intelligent and trainable

Grooming:
– Regular brushing is necessary to keep the coat healthy and free of mats
– The coat may be kept in the lion clip, where the coat on the hindquarters and muzzle is clipped

In summary, the Portuguese Water Dog is a friendly and intelligent breed of dog with a curly or wavy coat that is medium to long and single-coated. Regular brushing is necessary to keep the coat healthy and free of mats, and the coat may be kept in the lion clip.

Lagotto Romagnolo

The Lagotto Romagnolo is a small to medium-sized dog breed known for its curly coat of woolly texture. Here are some key characteristics of the breed’s coat and grooming needs:

Appearance:
– Dense, curly coat of woolly texture
– Non-shedding hair
– Rustic appearance

Temperament:
– Friendly, affectionate, and intelligent
– Originally bred as a water retriever

Grooming:
– Regular grooming is necessary to keep the coat healthy and free of mats
– Combing, brushing, and washing the curly hair of the Lagotto Romagnolo is recommended
– The coat may be clipped or scissored depending on the desired style
– The coat is best when kept at about 1 to 2 inches in length

In summary, the Lagotto Romagnolo is a friendly and intelligent breed of dog with a dense, curly coat of woolly texture that requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and free of mats. Combing, brushing, and washing the coat is recommended, and the coat may be clipped or scissored depending on the desired style.

Pumi

The Pumi is a medium-small breed of sheepdog from Hungary that is known for its curly hair and versatile stock dog abilities. They have a long head with semi-erect ears, a whimsical expression, and a tail that forms a circle over the back. The coat of the Pumi is a combination of wavy and curly hair forming curls all over the body, and it comes in black, white, grey, or fawn.

The Pumi is considered to have arisen from the cross-breeding of Hungarian Puli with French and German herding dogs from the 17th century onwards.

The international breed standard was approved in 1935, and the Pumi became an officially recognized breed in the US in 2011 and in the UK in 2015.

The Pumi is a brainy dog that is more than mere fluff, and it is known for its impeccable guarding and herding skills. Pumis are adorable, fluffy, and fuzzy canines that are not only the cutest dogs but also super energetic.

Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is a breed of dog that is known for its curly hair and distinctive appearance. Here are some key characteristics of the breed’s coat and grooming needs:

Appearance:
– Sturdy, cobby dog native to Ireland
– Coat consists of dense curls that shed very little
– Coat is liver/puce in color with a purple hue
– Distinguishing characteristics include a topknot of long, loose curls growing down from the head, a “beard” growing at the back of the throat often accompanied by “sideburns,” and a curled, liver-colored coat

Temperament:
– Highly intelligent and inquisitive
– Known as the clown of the spaniel family
– Devoted companion, but socialization is important

Grooming:
– Coat requires regular grooming to prevent mats
– Must be brushed two to three times a week
– Coat is waterproof and liver in color
– Shedding is minimal due to the non-shedding characteristic of the coat

In summary, the Irish Water Spaniel is a breed of dog with a sturdy, cobby build and a distinctive curly coat that sheds very little. The coat is liver/puce in color with a purple hue and requires regular grooming to prevent mats.

The breed is highly intelligent and inquisitive, known as the clown of the spaniel family, and makes a devoted companion with proper socialization.

Curly-Coated Retriever

The Curly-Coated Retriever is a breed of dog known for its curly hair and athletic build. Here are some key characteristics of the breed:

Appearance:
– Athletic build with a dense coat of small, tight, distinct crisp curls
– Coat is black or liver in color
– Webbed feet for swimming

Temperament:
– Even-tempered, intelligent, and affectionate
– Highly energetic and playful
– Independent and less needy than other retriever breeds

Grooming:
– Coat requires minimal grooming due to its tight curls
– Shedding is minimal

Training:
– Early obedience training is recommended due to the breed’s independent nature
– Needs a strong, confident owner to prevent the dog from taking charge

In summary, the Curly-Coated Retriever is an athletic breed of dog with a dense coat of small, tight, distinct crisp curls that requires minimal grooming.

The breed is even-tempered, intelligent, and affectionate, but also highly energetic and independent. Early obedience training is recommended, and the breed needs a strong, confident owner to prevent the dog from taking charge.

Airedale Terrier

The Airedale Terrier is a breed of dog that is known for its curly hair and distinctive appearance. Here are some key characteristics of the breed’s coat and grooming needs:

Appearance:
– Largest of all terrier breeds
– Dense, wiry coat that is tan with black markings
– Coat is waterproof and liver in color
– Coat may look almost curly when grown out

Temperament:
– Intelligent, tough, and energetic
– Tolerates pets it grows up with and generally gets along well with other dogs and children
– Known as the “king of terriers” due to its size

Grooming:
– Coat requires regular brushing and stripping to maintain its hard, wiry texture
– Shedding is minimal

Training:
– Obedience training is important for these quick learners
– Needs daily exercise to thrive

In summary, the Airedale Terrier is a breed of dog with a dense, wiry coat that is tan with black markings and may look almost curly when grown out.

The breed is intelligent, tough, and energetic, and known as the “king of terriers” due to its size. Regular brushing and stripping are necessary to maintain the coat’s hard, wiry texture, and obedience training is important for these quick learners.

FAQS

1. What are some popular curly-haired dog breeds?

– Poodle
– Bichon Frise
– Portuguese Water Dog
– Lagotto Romagnolo
– Curly-Coated Retriever
– Airedale Terrier
– Irish Water Spaniel
– Bedlington Terrier
– Barbet
– Pumi

2. Are all curly-haired dogs hypoallergenic?

No, not all curly-haired dogs are hypoallergenic. While some breeds, such as the Poodle and Bichon Frise, are known for being hypoallergenic, others may still cause allergies in some people.

3. Do curly-haired dogs shed?

Curly-haired dogs typically shed less than other breeds, but they still shed to some extent. Some breeds, such as the Poodle and Portuguese Water Dog, are known for being low-shedding.

4. Do curly-haired dogs require a lot of grooming?

Curly-haired dogs do require regular grooming to keep their coats healthy and free of mats. Some breeds, such as the Poodle and Bichon Frise, require more grooming than others.

5. Are curly-haired dogs good with children?

Many curly-haired dog breeds are known for being good with children, but it’s important to remember that each dog has its own temperament. Proper socialization and training are important for any breed of dog to ensure that they get along well with children and other pets.

6. Are curly-haired dogs good for people with allergies?

Some curly-haired dog breeds, such as the Poodle and Bichon Frise, are known for being hypoallergenic and may be a good choice for people with allergies. However, it’s important to remember that no dog breed is completely hypoallergenic, and individual dogs may still cause allergies in some people.

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