The Fairest Fur of All: Small Dog Breeds with Luxurious Long Hair
As a dog lover, I confess to being enchanted by the fairytale look of a small dog with endless locks. With coats that tumble to the ground and flutter in the breeze, long haired dog breeds seem to have stepped out of a storybook. They carry themselves with the poise and grandeur of a princess, even when rolling around at the dog park.
Small dog breeds in particular wear long hair well, with the contrast of a petite frame draped in yards of silky fur. According to the American Kennel Club, long haired small breeds like the Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Maltese, and Pomeranian consistently rank in the top 20 most popular dogs in the United States. The Havanese, a small long haired breed, has even shot up 10 spots since 2012.
So what gives these pint-sized Rapunzels such staying power? As a long haired small dog owner myself, I‘m happy to share the allure along with care tips so your furry friend can live happily ever after.
The Long and Short of Long Hair
A dog‘s coat is considered long when the hair extends several inches from the body, often reaching the ground. But not all long coats look or feel the same. They come in 4 main types:
- Silky: Smooth, glossy, fine hair that lies flat, seen on Yorkies, Malteses, Shih Tzus, and Lhasa Apsos
- Wooly: Dense, crimped, plush undercoat topped with long, coarse guard hairs, as with Pomeranians, Chow Chows, and Samoyeds
- Wiry: Rough, bristly outer hairs over a soft undercoat, characteristic of Affenpinschers and Brussels Griffons
- Curly: Tightly coiled hair from root to end, giving Poodles and Bichon Frises their signature poufs
Each coat type has its quirks. Silky hair tends to tangle less than other textures but can look greasy without frequent washing. Wooly undercoats shed seasonally and trap a lot of dirt. Wiry top coats repel mats but need "stripping" to remove dead hair. Curly locks range from waves to tight spirals and may be more prone to picking up burrs and hitchhikers.
One reprieve for neat freaks is that long haired dogs actually tend to shed less than their short haired cousins. The Maltese, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, and Havanese all made PetMD‘s list of dogs that shed the least. The Bichon Frise and Poodle, both curly coated long haired breeds, also earn top marks for being hypoallergenic.
Still, there‘s no such thing as a maintenance-free mane. Long haired dogs need regular haircuts and brushing to the tune of at least an hour a week. Their hair grows fast – about half an inch per month. Without grooming, mats and tangles quickly form which can irritate the dog‘s skin. Long ear and tail hair can also trap bacteria, leading to infection.
The Mane Attraction: Top Small Dog Breeds with Long Hair
While breeds like the Afghan Hound and Bearded Collie may be the poster pups for long hair, small dogs also have a lot to celebrate in the coat department. Here are 10 of the most beloved small long haired breeds:
1. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkie‘s crowning glory is a long, sleek, floor-length coat in shades of blue and tan. Puppies are born black and tan, with the colors shifting as they mature.
Personality: True terriers – feisty, bossy, and brave
Shedding & Allergies: Sheds extremely minimally
Famous Yorkies: Audrey Hepburn‘s "Mr. Famous", Nixon‘s "Pasha", Missoni‘s "Tai Tai"
2. Shih Tzu
The AKC breed standard describes the Shih Tzu‘s double coat as "long, flowing, and quite dense" with hair sweeping the ground. It comes in a kaleidoscope of colors including black, white, blue, brindle, or combinations.
Personality: Playful, outgoing, affectionate lap dog
Shedding & Allergies: Light to no shedding, good for allergy sufferers
Celebrity Owners: Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Bill Gates, Colin Farell, Miley Cyrus
3. Maltese
This ancient Mediterranean breed is famed for its long, straight, and silky all-white coat. The hair hangs to the ground on either side of a center part running down the back.
Personality: Gentle, playful, and adaptable companion
Shedding & Allergies: Minimal shedding and dander
Famous Malteses: Elizabeth Taylor‘s "Sugar", Marilyn Monroe‘s "Maf", Leona Helmsley‘s "Trouble"
4. Havanese
The Havanese has a light, soft, slightly wavy double coat that reaches 6-8 inches long. The hair comes in a spectrum of colors from white to black to sable.
Personality: Responsive and trainable, humorous, outgoing
Shedding & Allergies: Minimal shedding, relatively hypoallergenic
Celebrity Owners: Barbara Walters, Venus Williams, Joan Rivers
5. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian‘s calling card is a fluffy double coat with a textured outer layer over a downy undercoat. Coat colors run the spectrum from orange to black to tan to cream.
Personality: Bold, lively, inquisitive
Shedding & Allergies: Seasonal medium to heavy shedding
Famous Poms: Paris Hilton‘s "Prince Hilton", Queen Victoria‘s "Windsor‘s Marco" and "Turi"
6. Long Haired Chihuahua
A less common variety than the short haired Chihuahua, long coats have fine guard hairs over a downy undercoat. They come in many colors like fawn, red, cream, black, chocolate, and mixed.
Personality: Alert, animated, and devoted to their special person
Shedding & Allergies: Light to moderate shedders
Celebrity Long Haired Chihuahua Owners: Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Osbourne, Madonna
7. Pekingese
With long feathering on the ears, toes, legs, and tail, the Pekingese coat is one of the most high maintenance in dogdom. The hair comes in several colors like gold, red, sable, black, and parti-color.
Personality: Affectionate but discriminating in their attentions, dignified, opinionated
Shedding & Allergies: Heavy seasonal shedding
Famous Pekes: Loulou, the inspiration for the Loulou character in Grease
8. Coton de Tulear
The Coton‘s trademark is a white, cotton-like coat with the hair growing in spiral twists rather than straight down. At its full length, it reaches the ground.
Personality: Naturally clownish and lighthearted, eager to please
Shedding & Allergies: Minimal shedding, relatively hypoallergenic
Celebrity Fans: Debra Messing, Jane Lynch
9. Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa‘s heavy, straight double coat resembles human hair more than canine fur. It‘s parted in the middle and hangs down on both sides, often to the ground.
Personality: Confident, complex, mischievous
Shedding & Allergies: Minimal shedding
Famous Lhasas: Dalai Lama‘s dogs, Kurt Vonnegut‘s "Pumpkin", 14th Dalai Lama‘s "Senge"
10. Biewer Terrier
Sometimes called a "Parti Yorkie", the Biewer has a long, straight, and silky coat hanging close to the ground. The hair is parted on the back, showing a black, blue, and white tri-color pattern.
Personality: Childlike and playful, upbeat, and self-assured
Shedding & Allergies: Limited shedding
Celebrity Biewer Owners: Margot Robbie, Ronan Farrow
Caring for Long Haired Dogs
Now that you‘ve fallen for these fairytale-worthy coats, how do you keep your dog from looking like something the cat dragged in? Even easy-care breeds need a regular grooming routine:
- Brushing: Long haired dogs need thorough brushing at least 3 times a week, if not daily. Work through the entire coat with a pin brush or slicker brush to remove tangles. Follow up with a fine-toothed comb or dematting rake to target knots.
- Bathing: Aim to bathe every 1-2 weeks using a gentle, moisturizing dog shampoo. Comb out tangles before getting the dog wet. Rinse until the water runs totally clear as shampoo residue can irritate the skin. Be sure to dry the coat completely.
- Haircuts: Budget for a professional grooming every 4-8 weeks to trim the coat, clean up the feet, ears, and sanitary areas, and check for skin issues. In between, you can do light trims around the eyes and paw pads yourself.
- Styling: Many owners put long hair up in a topknot or braids to keep it out of the dog‘s face. Use coated bands to avoid breaking the hair. A short puppy cut can also make daily care more manageable.
Even with diligent grooming, long haired breeds may be more prone to some health issues like ear infections, skin irritation, and tooth decay. Check the ears weekly for dirt, wax, or odor and clean them out with a vet-approved solution. Wipe the face daily with a damp cloth, especially the area around the eyes which can develop staining from tears. And don‘t neglect dental hygiene – small breeds are notorious for tooth troubles.
Maria Hoyos, a New York City groomer, shared her top tip for long haired dogs: "Brush, brush, and then brush some more. Mats start small and get big fast. Prevention is much easier than trying to fix it later."
Long Hair, Do Care
Silky locks swaying in the breeze, fluff for days…it‘s easy to see why long haired breeds have such a glamorous reputation. Behind the effortless elegance though is real effort. Keeping those coats red carpet ready takes time, tools, and dedication.
As Jennifer Moccio, a pet photographer and Coton de Tulear owner told me, "People are surprised how much upkeep he needs. They‘ll say ‘Oh he‘s so adorable and fluffy!‘ but that fluff comes with a lot of grooming. It‘s a labor of love."
The good news is more and more owners are embracing that labor of love. Long haired breeds are flooding social media, with accounts like @guccithehavanese and @yukithemaltesedog racking up hundreds of thousands of followers. Hashtags like #longhaireddog, #fluffydogsofinstagram and #hairydog have millions of posts celebrating these luxe looks.
So if you‘ve got your heart set on a small dog with a storybook coat, go for it. Expect to spend some quality time with your brush and develop a close relationship with your groomer. The first time you see your Shih Tzu prancing with her hair blowing in the wind or snuggle up to your Pomeranian‘s lush fluff, you‘ll know it‘s all worth it. With some extra TLC, your long haired dog will be fairest of them all.
