When thinking about getting a new dog, considering which breeds are cleanest may help to persuade you one way or another. Below, we will discuss factors that will affect whether breeds are more likely to be clean or not, and give some (not completely tongue in cheek) examples!
Table of contents
How messy are they outdoors?
Dogs who require a lot of exercise and go outside often are more likely to become dirty. Additionally, any dog who enjoys to dig and bury items is more likely to become very muddy, very quickly. These dogs will likely run through mud and puddles and then potentially bring that extra detritus into your home. You can get around this problem by training your dog to have their paws and belly cleaned prior to entering the house. Alternatively, you could try to walk your pet on dry surfaces, such as a pavement, rather than a field. And ensure your garden has large areas of hard, solid ground rather than grass to allow them to run around freely without getting muddy.
How much do they shed hair?
Breeds that moult a lot are more likely to shed large amounts of fur into your home. This can mean that even vacuuming every day is not enough to keep your carpets clean. Pets usually shed their fur based on the weather, so some months will be worse than other months. If your pet has a thicker coat, they are more likely to shed more hair. Whereas single coated animals shed the least amount of fur. Excessive fur on carpets can stimulate human allergies.
There is a big debate between long haired dogs vs short haired dogs and how their shedding varies; Long hairs will be much more visible within the home. Although it will therefore be easier to see them and remove them, but shorter hairs will hide away more. If you are worried about hair shedding in your home, opt for breeds that do not moult dramatically. Also, consider that short haired dogs are less likely to get foreign objects knotted into their fur. And therefore often look cleaner without having to be brushed regularly. If fur is deal breaker, check out some hairless dog breeds, like the Chinese Crested!
Heavy shedding breeds include the Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute, chow chow.
Those with minimal shedding would typically be breeds like the Bichon Frise, miniature schnauzer, and poodle. Short Coated breeds like the whippet, pug, and beagle are also usually less “hairy” around the house!
Are they drooly?
Breeds that slobber a lot are likely to get dampness and saliva all over you and your home. Although saliva can be easy to clean, it is a problem worth thinking about! It is very difficult to stop a dog from slobbering, as it is mainly due to their drooping jowls. Placing extra matting around their food and water bowls can help to catch excessive slobber following eating and drinking. But many of these breeds will slobber when they are asleep or excited, amongst other times too. So always having a cloth nearby can be useful. Long coated breeds with hairy chins may also make a mess as food and water can cling to their facial fur.
Particularly drooly dog breeds are the Bernese mountain dog, basset hound, Saint Bernard and Irish setter. Bearded breeds we commonly see include Schnauzers, bearded collies, and Scottish terriers.
Are they prone to skin problems?
Breeds with excessive skin folds are more likely to get smelly infections within their skin. These folds are commonly found on brachycephalic dogs’ faces. As there is skin contact between two layers, moisture and heat gets trapped making it the perfect environment for infection to flourish. These infections are often itchy, and your pet’s skin may become very red and alopecic when suffering with them. Regularly cleaning these skin folds with diluted antiseptic wipes will help.
Skin folds and secondary infections are common in breeds such as the English and French bulldog and the Shar Pei.
Watch out for West Highland White Terriers too. They are particularly prone to allergic skin disease which means they are very susceptible to skin infections and yeast problems.
Keeping them clean…
Bathing your dog regularly will enable removal of the regular debris found on a dog’s skin. Be sure not to over bathe your pet, as a healthy pet’s skin will secrete the correct amount of sebum to keep a healthy balance of moisture and bathing them will remove this. Animals with allergies will itch a lot more and will therefore have more skin debris; so they need to be cleaned more often. Check the medical history of your pet’s ancestry, as allergies can be hereditary and some breeds are more likely to develop allergies than others.
You can book your dog in with a groomer for this or, if you would like to save money, you can try to do this at home. Bathing your dog will also help your dog smell nice afterwards because of the perfumes in the shampoos. When using a new shampoo, though, be sure to test it on a small patch of your pet’s skin a day or so prior to their bath and lathering it all over them, in case of a reaction. Make sure you use a shampoo designed for dogs, as other shampoos may harm their skin. There are formulations available that support the natural skin barrier and soothe irritation.
Older dogs or dogs who have mobility issues may be less able to groom themselves. This problem could affect all breeds of dog. If you are not going to be able to care for an older dog, you probably are not a suitable owner. If your pet becomes overweight, they are less likely to want to groom because it will require much more effort. A dog that is unable to groom appropriately will get dirty more quickly and will require bathing more often.
So what’s the most important factor?
To conclude, there are lots of factors to consider when thinking about the cleanest dog breed. Many of these problems have solutions, but keeping a dog clean is an ongoing battle! Remember too, each dog will have its own unique personality which may lead them to be more or less clean than would be expected from their breed.
You might also be interested in:
- Is a Mastiff a healthy breed, and do they make good pets?
- Do Papillon dogs make good pets?
- Is a Malamute a good family pet?
Discussion