Short hair dogs are perfect for a family that has little time to spend on grooming! Dogs with short hair include family favorites like the Labrador Retriever and Boston Terrier, or the independent-minded Chihuahua and hardworking Mastiff.
Short hair dogs require little grooming, but depending on the breed, they can still shed. While most short hair dogs won’t require clipping (unless you’re looking for a new style), you can still give your pet pooch a pampering with regular brushing and washing of their sleek coats.
In this article, we take a look at the best short haired dog breeds. These are low maintenance dogs in terms of grooming, but like all dogs, they can have a seriously independent, stubborn streak (we’re looking at you, Chihuahua!) when they want to.
Keep reading to find out the best short haired dog breeds!
The Best Short Hair Dogs
The following list of short haired dog breeds is by no means comprehensive. There are so many more pups out there to love, from short haired dog crosses and mutts to entirely hairless dogs.
These are generally low maintenance dogs, but remember, short haired dogs still need brushing and cleaning (just not as regularly as those flamboyantly styled short dogs with long hair like the Shih Tzu or Miniature Poodle!). Brushing and cleaning will help to remove any debris from the short coat while also giving you a chance to check for parasites (such as mites, ticks, etc.).
Short haired dogs aren’t necessarily low shedding dogs either. Some of these pups shed a lot of fur, in fact – this is part of the reason why their hair remains so short. If you’re searching for a hypoallergenic dog, you’ll find that many longer haired dogs or crosses are much better (the Labradoodle, for example).
Now, let’s get to the short haired dogs!
#1. American Pit Bull Terriers
American Pit Bull Terriers are short hair medium dogs that are best known for showing extreme levels of affection and care towards family, particularly children. Often called a “Nanny Dog,” American Pit Bull Terriers are famously loving and will try to look after everyone in the household!
Luckily, these dogs don’t need much care because their short coats look after themselves. American Pit Bull Terriers were originally bred as working dogs, so they are easy to train, intelligent, and athletic.
Average Height: 18 inches
Average Weight: 60 pounds
#2. Beagle
The Beagle is a short haired, compact scenthound that makes for a wonderful family pet or companion dog. These dogs are well known for their soft, sleek fur, but perhaps better known for their floppy Beagle ears!
Beagles were originally bred for hunting in the countryside, and they do love the outdoors. Their short coats come in handy, too, as it’s difficult for twigs and thorns to get stuck when they dash through the bushes.
Average Height: 14 inches
Average Weight: 25 pounds
#3. Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are classic small short hair dogs with super smooth fur that requires almost little in the way of grooming throughout their life.
Boston Terriers are compact dogs with a slight pugnaciousness about them. They were originally bred to be aggressive dogs, but it turned out that these delightful pups were just too friendly, and instead, they became favored companion dogs.
Boston Terriers have distinctly upright ears, and despite their droopy face and smile, are fantastically intelligent and independently minded dogs. They are excellent dogs for smaller houses or apartments, where space is limited, but they do enjoy outdoor space and exercise!
Average Height: 15 inches
Average Weight: 15 pounds
#4. Bull Terriers
Bull Terriers are one of the most unique-looking breeds of short haired dogs in the world. Bull Terriers have a very distinctive face, with a muzzle that’s almost oblong and eyes that are triangular. With an average weight of 50 pounds, these medium short hair dogs are rather squat and heavy too!
Bull Terriers are exceptionally energetic and do need lots of space to run around outside. With their short dog coat, though, you can spend more time playing with Bull Terriers and less time trying to groom them.
Average Height: 22 inches
Average Weight: 50 pounds
#5. Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are exceptionally small dogs, standing at just 7 inches on average. Some of these tiny pups are much smaller, too!
Chihuahuas are a love or hate sort of pet, and they can be difficult to train and even harder to befriend. Their short coats might be easy to maintain, but you’ll need to put in a lot more effort before this toy pup respects you and listens to you.
Chihuahuas are perfect for apartments, as they need almost no space at all (they can literally fit in your handbag). A bed ramp for dogs can help your tiny Chihuahua to get around the home, giving you the chance to form bonds while hanging out on the couch or watching late-night TV!
Average Height: 7 inches
Average Weight: 7 pounds
#6. Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular large short hair dogs in the world. These friendly pups are well-known family dogs, because of their unmatched energy and affection!
Labrador Retrievers have a double waterproof coat, but it’s still exceptionally short. They were originally bred to be working dogs, and specifically to retrieve game. They are fun-loving and easy to train (they love retrieving things, of course), but they do need lots of attention and lots of exercise.
Labrador Retriever coats, while short, shed a lot. While you won’t be doing much grooming, you will find yourself cleaning up their hair around the home!
Average Height: 22 inches
Average Weight: 70 pounds
#7. Greyhound
Tall, slender, sleight, and athletic, the Greyhound is truly a beautiful breed of dog. This is one of the fastest dogs in the world, in fact, but surprisingly, also one of the laziest!
Greyhounds can reach exceptional top speeds, but they are just as happy hanging out on the sofa all day, lazing around. This makes these unique dogs easy to look after and easy to keep at home. Give them a chance to run once a day, and they’ll be happy.
Greyhounds have a super sleek coat that’s easy to maintain, too. These short haired dogs need very little brushing and no trimming. They don’t shed much either, making this the perfect coat for the lazy-minded dog handler to care for!
Average Height: 30 inches
Average Weight: 60 pounds
#8. Mastiff
The Mastiff is one of the oldest known breeds of dog in the world, but while this giant is descended from old English war dogs, the current breed is one of the friendliest known to humankind.
These are lovable dogs, but don’t underestimate their size. They love affection, and they love to cuddle, but that can be difficult when your Mastiff weighs in at 150 pounds and stands 30 inches tall. Many Mastiffs reach much heavier weights, too, with some weighing in at well over 200 pounds on occasion.
Mastiffs have wonderfully short coats, though, and you can spend less time grooming and more time in the local park.
Average Height: 30 inches
Average Weight: 150 pounds
#9. Rottweiler
Rottweilers can be one of two extremes. Trained as guard dogs or police dogs, they are exceptionally fierce and territorial. But when brought up in a loving family, they have nothing but affection for their household (and they can protect your home at night, too!).
These large short haired dogs are intelligent and respond well to training, but perhaps best of all, they don’t need any grooming at all. Give them a brush and a wash once or twice a year, and these dogs are more than happy.
Average Height: 25 inches
Average Weight: 100 pounds
Short Hair Dogs: The Final Verdict
That’s it for our list of short haired dogs, but there are many more breeds of short hair dogs out there too. You could even take things to the extreme with a hairless Chinese Crested Dog or Mexican Hairless Dog. (Top Tip: Hairless dogs are perfect if you have allergies!)
Like all pups, short haired dogs (and hairless dogs) all need care and attention. While short haired dogs don’t need as much grooming as their long haired cousins (and often don’t need any clipping at all), they still benefit greatly from a brush and a wash every few months.
If you’re searching for the perfect four-legged friend, then why not bookmark our guide to short hair dogs for future inspiration?
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