Nothing feels better than a cuddle with a fluffy canine companion after a long stressful day at work. Fluffy dogs are like weighted blankets – they’re warm, comforting, and relaxing. With a fluffy dog by your side, you’ll never get tired of running your fingers in his massive, fluffy coat.
Fluffy dogs also come with lots of natural hair that makes them very appealing. But their coats also require regular brushing, trimming, and bathing to control shedding and keep them healthy, clean, and free from tangles.
Considering the time and effort that goes into grooming these dogs, it’s important to you ask yourself whether you’re ready to take care of their grooming needs before bringing one into your home.
If you are, here are 15 fluffy dog breeds to choose from:
Small Dog Breeds – Fluffy Dog Breeds
Small fluffy dog breeds usually grow up to 12 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh around 20 pounds. They tend to live longer than their medium and larger counterparts and can fit in just about any space. This makes them perfect for people living in apartment blocks or small houses.
1. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu is a small dog with huge, beautiful, brown eyes and a long, white fluffy coat. This little family pet is energetic, has a friendly personality, and is very gentle with kids. All these qualities make him an excellent companion, playing mate, and snuggle buddy for your entire family.
Just make sure you brush your Shi Tzu’s coat daily to prevent matting and tangling and trim them at least once a month to get rid of dead hairs. The breed also requires regular baths to keep that white coat always looking clean and neat.
2. Papillon
Just like Shi Tzus, Papillons are small in size, have long, fluffy coats, and make great family pets. Their coats have white colour at the base and patches of brown, black, or tan that look very attractive.
You’ll be happy to know that these fluffy pups don’t shed much hair, so you don’t have to vacuum your home daily. However, you still have to brush their coats regularly to prevent tangling and matting.
It’s also important to note that Papillons are naturally very vocal and will bark at every slightest provocation. This might not go well with your immediate neighbours if you stay in an apartment block.
3. Pomeranian
Pomeranians have beautiful, fluffy coats, a cheerful personality, constant smiles, and confidence that make them the center of attention wherever they go. They may be small in size, but these little dogs are highly energetic and enjoy engaging in all sorts of outdoor activities with their owners. Because of this, it’s important that you include your Pom in family activities to keep him healthy and happy.
Poms are also extremely intelligent, alert, loyal, and tend to bond closely with their family members. But their tiny size also means they can be stepped on or handled roughly by younger kids. For this reason, Poms are better off in households with older children who can handle them more gently.
Poms have a thick double coat that sheds only twice in a year, so they’re not heavy shedders as some people believe. But you still need to trim their coats every few months and brush them at least 3 times a week to prevent matting and maintain fluffiness and shine.
4. Yorkshire Terrier
Another fluffy breed that can’t be left off this list is the Yorkshire Terrier. Their long, soft, and glossy coat is a sight to behold, and they love it when they’re the center of attention. Yorkies are loving, devoted to their owners, and tend to get extremely attached. That attachment sometimes leads to separation anxiety when the owners are not around.
For this reason, you should consider being home more often and consistently if you plan to adopt a Yorkie. This will go a long way in helping this breed overcome separation anxiety. Another thing you’ll love about Yorkies is that they don’t shed, so their grooming needs are very minimal.
5. Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apsos are fluffy, little dogs known for their fearlessness and long, soft, flowing coats. This breed comes from Tibet and was used originally to protect royal palaces – a job they’re still doing today.
Lhasa Apsos are independent, extremely loyal to their families, and love to keep themselves busy by playing with toys or with family members. In terms of grooming, their needs are minimal because they don’t shed.
It’s important to point out that Lhasa Apsos aren’t the easiest dog breeds to train, so if you’re looking for your first dog, this isn’t the best choice for you. They’re better off with experienced dog owners. In addition, they can be very reserved and distant around strangers.
6. Bichon Frise
Despite being less than one foot tall, Bichons have a very warm personality that makes them very popular. These bubbly, little dogs are known for their soft, white, curly coat and teddy bear looks.
They’re in high demand, especially among people suffering from allergies because they don’t shed. But just like in other fluffy dogs, you need to brush your Bichon’s coat frequently to prevent knotting and matting.
Another thing about Bichons is that they love being around their owners. Because of that love, they tend to suffer from separation anxiety if you leave them alone for extended periods of time.
7. Toy Poodle
This breed has adorably good looks and a soft, fluffy coat that’s difficult to ignore. They’re intelligent, easy to train and shed very minimally. Toy Poodles are also highly energetic, so it’s important that you provide them with enough physical and mental exercises daily to meet their energy needs and keep them happy.
Note that Toy Poodles get bored very easily when left alone and will often bark or engage in destructive behaviours to deal with boredom. But, this is something you and your family can fix if you spend more time with your pet and engage in activities that keep him busy and entertained.
Big Dog Breeds
If you’re searching for a fluffy dog that’s a little bit bigger than the ones listed above, then medium-sized breeds are your best bet. These breeds can grow up to 20 inches at the shoulder and weigh anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds.
They’re more suitable for active families who enjoy spending time outdoors walking, exercising, hiking, etc. It’s also important to point out that medium fluffy dogs tend to shed more hair than their smaller counterparts, so you should be prepared to groom them more frequently.
1. American Eskimo
American Eskimos are best known for their white fluffy coats and manes around their shoulders and necks. These dogs are loyal, curious, incredibly intelligent, and always eager to please.
Because they require lots of physical and mental exercises daily to keep them happy, they’re a great choice for active families who need a dog with a similar active lifestyle. If you have a large yard in your home where this breed can roam and play freely, the better.
Note that American Eskimos produce special oil within their double coat, which prevents matting, as well as debris and dirt from sticking to the coat. This makes brushing their coats a breeze. However, since these dogs shed hair constantly, you need to devote at least three days a week to brush them to help control the shedding.
They also don’t like being left on their own for long without company or anything to do. If you do, they get bored very easily and engage in all sorts of destructive behaviours like chewing.
2. Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog is a fluffy dog that was traditionally used for controlling flocks of sheep in hill farms. Like other herding dog breeds, Shelties are easy to train, obedient, quick to learn, and incredibly intelligent.
These dogs are also affectionate, friendly, lively, considerate, and get along very well with everyone in the family, including other pets. They enjoy the companionship of their human family and are more than happy to come along to family activities.
Remember that Shelties are highly active dogs, so you have to provide them with plenty of exercises daily to keep them calm, well-behaved, and happy.
3. Chow Chow
Chow Chows have long, dense coats that give them a giant look, but in reality, they’re medium in size, standing at roughly 20 inches at the shoulder. These dogs, from Ancient China, have distinctive lion-like manes around their shoulders and heads and blue-black tongues.
Some Chow Chows have smooth coats while others have rough coats. Their coat colours also vary from black, red, cream to cinnamon. Underneath their massive coats are dogs that are very tolerant, independent, and well-mannered.
But they’re also extremely protective of their owners and can be suspicious of strangers and other pets. For this reason, you should start socializing and training this breed from an early age to help him get used to being around other people and pets.
Chow Chows also require moderate exercises daily and enjoy occasional time outdoors with their families. They’re easy to maintain because they don’t shed much hair. The smooth-coated ones should be brushed once a week, while the rough-coated ones should be brushed every other day to keep their coats tangle-free.
4. Keeshond
The Keeshond is a descendant of the German Spitz – the same line of dogs as the Pomeranian and the Samoyed. This breed is known for its thick, fluffy coat, fox-like eyes, and pointed ears. But if you look closely around the eyes, you’ll also notice unique markings and shadings similar to a pair of spectacles. It’s a sight to behold.
These dogs make wonderful family pets because they’re highly social, affectionate, and are great with children. Their thick, fluffy coats shed continuously, so regular brushing is needed to prevent excess shedding. This breed also requires bathing and blow-drying every 4-6 weeks.
Another thing to note about these pups is that they tend to suffer from separation anxiety when left alone for too long, so you should try to spend more time with them. Keeshonds also love to bark at anything and everything. This will certainly not go down well with your closest neighbours if you live in a crowded residential area.
5. Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds are a favourite for people looking for a medium-sized, fluffy, and active breed to add to their household. Originally bred to herd cattle, Australian Shepherds have lots of energy to keep going all day long. Their traditional fur colour is a blue merle, but you can also find the fur in other colours as well. They also have beautiful blue eyes that are very distinctive.
Aussies are highly intelligent, fun to be around, and are always ready to have a good time. Since these are working dog breeds, they require lots of physical and mental stimulation daily to stay healthy and happy. If you’re planning to adopt this breed, be ready to provide him with a minimum of two hours of exercise each day, irrespective of the weather.
Note that Aussies tend to be very destructive if their exercise needs are not met. They also shed heavily, so make sure you brush their coats several times a week.
Large Fluffy Dog Breeds
Large-sized fluffy dogs can grow up to 32 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 200 pounds. Their massive coats, coupled with their large sizes, make them perfect for snuggling. Here are 3 large-sized fluffy dogs to choose from if you have enough space in your home to accommodate them:
1. Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is a large dog, weighing up to 175 pounds and standing at 30 inches tall at the shoulder. With a long, thick coat, gigantic size, and impressive lion-like mane, this breed certainly looks intimidating. But the more you’ll interact with them, the more you’ll realize that they’re just big softies with huge hearts.
Tibetan Mastiffs were traditionally used to protect livestock against predators like bears and wolves, so naturally, they make excellent guard dogs. They’re soft, sweet, loyal, and enjoy nothing more than spending time with their human families while being cuddled and groomed.
They’re also known to be stubborn during training, and territorial around children, strangers, and other pets. So, make sure you train and socialize them from a young age to curb these negative behaviours before they get deeply rooted in your pet. These gentle giants also need grooming several times a week to prevent tangles and remove dead hair.
2. The Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees are super strong and powerful dogs that were originally bred to guard sheep and other livestock from predators. They can weigh up to 150 pounds, making them one of the largest fluffy dogs.
These pups easily make a statement wherever they go, thanks to their massive size, as well as gorgeous, fluffy coats. Their coats can be all white in colour or white mixed with reddish-brown, gray, tan, or barger.
The Great Pyrenees are loyal, calm, deeply devoted, independent, easy-going, and always vigilant. They’re capable of hearing intruders approaching from very far and will bark very loudly to alert you and protect your home.
On the downside, the Great Pyrenees can be reserved around strangers, so early socialization is a must if you don’t want them to mistake your visiting friends and relatives for intruders.
They’re also known to be stubborn during training, but with determination, positive reinforcement, and patience, you can turn these dogs into the kind of family pets you want them to be.
They also have a thick, double coat that sheds all year round, so consider brushing them several times a week to control shedding. You also need to give them a bath every 3 months to keep them clean. In addition, these dogs also require sufficient, regular outdoor exercises to keep them happy and fit.
3. Newfoundland
Newfoundlands were originally bred to help fishermen in their line of work. Because of that, they’re naturally strong swimmers who love adventures in the great outdoors.
These gentle giants are known for their big hearts, as well as sweet and caring personalities. They’re incredibly loving, friendly, loyal, calm, easy to train and enjoy being part of the family.
On the downside, Newfoundlands shed heavily, so they need brushing at least twice every week and bathing every few months. These dogs are also prone to drooling, so you must be ready for that as well.
Overall, fluffy dogs come in all sizes, colours, and character traits as you can see above. Take time to go through their individual profiles until you find exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t forget that all fluffy dogs need regular exercise and grooming to keep them healthy, happy, and presentable.
Fun Facts: Ever wonder how many dog breeds are there: The time of this article, the FCI identifies 339 breeds of dogs which are divided into 10 groups.
In this video, we have tried to list all dog breeds that currently exist
