Is there a truly non-shedding breed of dog, and if so what are the weaknesses of the breed?

As a groomer, I can tell you that EVERY breed of dog out there (except for hairless) shed. Anything with hair is going to shed.

Some dogs, like Poodles, Bichons, Maltese, ShihTzus shed so minimal that is is barely noticable but they do shed. Their hair is most like ours...Human hair does not fall out like a Golden for i.e., but everytime you brush your hair, there is hair in the brush...shedding.

I have a Standard Poodle and there is hair on his bedding from him shedding. I also have a smooth coated Dachshund that actually sheds a little less than the StPoo, but still sheds.

Most dog that are minimal shedders need regular grooming since the majority of hair does not fall out onto the ground (like a Labs does) but it sheds into itself...which, if not combed out on a regular basis, will get matted.

As for breeds being hypo-allergenic...no one breed is. I know people who can be allergic to one dog, and not to the other of the same breed. All depends on the dog itself.

ALL DOGS SHED!!! There is no such thing as a "non shedding" dog. Genetics is the factor here, not %'s. Nothing is 50/50 when breeding. If you don't know that then you don't need to breed. Definitely don't mix breeds ya back yard breeder!!! You could get 99% of the more shedding breed and 1% of the low shedding breed or 75/25, or 60/40, or any combination of the two. That's why it's mixing and why the progeny (pups) are mutts! You never know what you're going to get.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a dog that doesn’t shed at all. All dogs will shed and replace at least some of their hair, just like people do. There are some breeds that shed far less than others, however, and selecting one of these breeds can keep the shedding mess to a minimum.

The Airedale terrier is a large terrier with a rough coat that sheds very little. These dogs can be good with children, but such socialization needs to start early in the dog’s life. They may play too roughly for small children. These are loyal and trainable dogs, but are also very naturally curious and not easily coaxed away from something that catches their interest. The Airedale usually grows to about 22-24 inches in height and a weight of 50-65 pounds.

The Cockapoo is reminiscent of the Poodle, especially in the face. It has a short, curly coat and does not shed much but does require above average grooming. It is actually a cross between the American Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle, hence its appearance and name (Cocker + Poodle = Cockapoo). These dogs are very friendly, loyal, and playful. They are good with children and other dogs and are typically very easy to train.

The Italian Greyhound is a miniature Greyhound. The body style of this dog is nearly exactly like that of his racing cousins, but in a convenient, compact size. These dogs are gentle and submissive. They become very emotionally attached to their people. They are obedient and easy to train, but prone to mischief ­ and they know when they’ve been naughty. They get along well with children ­ if the children are well behaved. If the kids are high strung and rambunctious, the dog will be too. It is best in a quiet household. The coat of the Italian Greyhound is short and sleek and they don’t shed much at all.

The Miniature Poodle is not truly a breed all to itself, but one of the three AKC recognized sizes of Poodles. Like all Poodles, they shed very little, but their short, curly coats require considerable grooming. They are very intelligent, playful, and quite trainable. They generally get along well with children, but they can be sensitive or nervous around rowdy kids. They easily integrate with a family and feel that they have to be a part of all family activities. They will often act as though they’ve been slighted if not included in family activities.

"All dogs shed; some more then others. There is no such thing as a non-shedding dog, unless you have a completely hairless dog, such as the American Hairless Terrier, however shedding varies greatly from breed to breed."

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shedding.htm

Skin problems are common with the hairless breeds, and they require protection from the sun (and other weather! They're the only ones that truly could USE all the ''doggy clothes'' sold today).

Poodles and bichon frises are about as non-shedding as it gets. Other, supposedly non-shedding breeds (like the maltese, for instance) still have some amount of shedding. It may be minimal, but they lose hair, nonetheless.

I'm not familiar with the bichon breed, but I've had poodles. They are smart and affectionate, but can tend to be a little high-strung. Also, the toy breeds tend to be susceptible to deafness as they grow older, as well as epilepsy.

Hope this helps.

I belive poodles shed less than most other breeds- if at all. But remember, just like a fuzzy sweater, if it has hair, hair will fall out. Poodles have a lot of energy and are extremely intelligent so they need a lot of exercise and a lot of training. With such care, they can make excellent companions.

ok i understand what those ppl are saying~all dogs shed~ but its not true. My dog doesn't shed AT ALL! She is a Maltese, I got a Maltese b/c they are hypo allergenic(some ppl will say there is no such thing but if they are right then my dog does't exist!) A maltese's fur is very similar to human hair acctually. NO SHEDDING!! ITS SO AWESOME!! I have no allergy problems with her, my sisters dachshund on the other hand is a lil shedding machine lol

so Maltese. good luck

No, all dogs shed, in fact everything living sheds.

There are dogs that shed *less*, but they need regular trips to the groomer.

Wire haired dogs dont shed much at all like caren terriers

YES, a poodle is a dog that absolutely does not shed,

Purchase from a reliable breeder, great anti allergy dogie too. They are bright & with proper training are great companion dogs. The come in several sizes, tiny tea cups to standard size. As far as faults, there are no "bad" dogs, only owners that do not take the time that is required to train the pup.