Dozens of dog breeds sport curly coats, ranging from the tight ringlets of a Poodle to the loose waves of a Portuguese Water Dog. These curls aren’t just decorative. They originally served practical purposes like insulation and waterproofing for dogs that worked in cold water or harsh climates. Here’s a look at the most well-known curly-haired breeds, what makes their coats unique, and what that means for grooming and allergies.
Why Some Dogs Have Curly Hair
Curly coats in dogs come down to genetics, specifically a gene called KRT71 that affects the structure of the hair shaft. Variants of this gene cause curly hair not just in dogs but also in humans, mice, rats, and cats. When the gene is altered, it changes how the hair protein is built, causing each strand to curve as it grows rather than lying flat. Different mutations in this same gene produce everything from loose waves to dense, wool-like curls, which is why curly-coated breeds look so different from one another.
Small Curly-Haired Breeds
The Bichon Frise is one of the most recognizable small curly breeds, weighing 12 to 18 pounds with a powder-puff coat of soft, corkscrew curls. Bichons are cheerful, social dogs that do well in apartments and with families. Their white coat needs regular grooming to maintain its signature rounded shape.
The Toy and Miniature Poodle varieties stand under 15 inches tall and carry the same dense, tightly curled coat as their Standard-sized relatives. Poodles are consistently ranked among the most intelligent dog breeds, and their smaller versions pack that same sharp trainability into a compact frame. Their coats grow continuously rather than shedding in seasonal cycles, which means regular haircuts are non-negotiable.
The Bedlington Terrier looks more like a lamb than a dog, with a crisp, linty coat of tight curls that stands away from the skin. Bedlingtons weigh 17 to 23 pounds and are surprisingly fast and athletic beneath that gentle appearance. The Bolognese, a close relative of the Bichon, has a flocked, cottony coat with open ringlets and typically weighs 6 to 10 pounds.
Medium Curly-Haired Breeds
The Standard Poodle is the breed most people picture when they think of curly hair on a dog. Standing over 15 inches (often 22 to 27 inches) and weighing 40 to 70 pounds, Standards were originally duck-hunting dogs. Their dense curls provided insulation in cold water, and those elaborate show clips actually started as a way to protect joints and organs while keeping the dog streamlined for swimming.
The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian breed that dates back to at least the Renaissance, originally bred as a waterfowl retriever in the marshlands of Ravenna. Its rough-looking, waterproof coat forms thick, tight curls covering the entire body except the head. Today the Lagotto is best known as the world’s premier truffle-hunting dog, using its exceptional nose to sniff out the prized fungi underground. They typically weigh 24 to 35 pounds.
The Spanish Water Dog and Portuguese Water Dog both carry curly or wavy coats built for life in and around water. Portuguese Water Dogs weigh 35 to 60 pounds and became a household name after one lived in the White House. Spanish Water Dogs are a bit smaller, with cords that form naturally if the coat is left to grow. The Kerry Blue Terrier, weighing 33 to 40 pounds, rounds out this group with a soft, dense, wavy coat that’s actually born black and gradually fades to its signature blue-gray over the first two years of life.
Large Curly-Haired Breeds
The Curly-Coated Retriever is one of the oldest retriever breeds and one of the largest curly-haired dogs, with males standing 25 to 27 inches and weighing 60 to 95 pounds. These dogs are confident, proud, and described by the AKC as “wickedly smart.” They’re peerless swimmers and versatile gundogs, but they differ from Labradors and Goldens in temperament. Curlies tend to be playful and mischievous with family but aloof with strangers, making them more discerning watchdogs than their more gregarious retriever cousins.
The Irish Water Spaniel stands 21 to 24 inches tall and weighs 45 to 68 pounds, with a liver-colored coat of dense, crisp curls and a distinctive “rat tail” that’s nearly bare. They’re the tallest of the spaniels and were bred for retrieving in the cold waters of Ireland. The Airedale Terrier, often called the “King of Terriers,” is the largest terrier breed at 50 to 70 pounds. Its wiry, dense coat has a tight wave pattern rather than full curls, but it’s firmly in the curly-coated family.
The Barbet is a French water dog that’s relatively rare outside of Europe, weighing 35 to 65 pounds with a thick, woolly coat of natural curls. Barbets are actually ancestors of the Poodle, and many modern curly breeds trace their coat genetics back through this lineage.
Curly Coats and Shedding
Curly-haired breeds are often marketed as “low-shedding” or “hypoallergenic,” and there’s a kernel of truth here, but the full picture is more complicated. Dogs like Poodles do shed dramatically less than breeds with straight, double-layered coats. Poodle owners frequently report finding virtually no loose hair around the house, while Labrador owners often describe shedding that outpaces even other heavy-shedding breeds.
The reason is that curly hair traps shed strands within the coat instead of releasing them into the environment. The hair stays caught in the curls until it’s brushed or washed out. This means less fur on your furniture, but it also means that hair accumulates in the coat itself, which is exactly why matting is such a common problem in curly breeds.
As for allergies, the story is less encouraging. A study published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy measured allergen levels in homes with so-called hypoallergenic dogs (including Poodles, Labradoodles, and similar breeds) versus homes with non-hypoallergenic dogs. The result: no significant difference in the amount of dog allergen found in the home, regardless of how “hypoallergenic” was defined. The allergen that triggers reactions in people is a protein found in skin cells, saliva, and urine, not in the hair itself. So while a curly-coated dog may leave less visible hair around, it doesn’t necessarily produce a cleaner environment for someone with dog allergies.
Grooming Curly-Haired Dogs
Curly coats demand more grooming than almost any other coat type. The same structure that traps shed hair also traps dirt, moisture, and debris, creating the perfect conditions for mats. Mats aren’t just cosmetic. They pull on the skin, restrict airflow, and can hide skin infections or parasites underneath.
For single-layer curly coats (Poodles, Bichons, Lagotti), a slicker brush or rotating pin comb is the right tool. You’ll want to brush thoroughly at least every two to three days, working through the coat in sections to catch tangles before they tighten into full mats. A metal greyhound comb run through after brushing helps confirm you haven’t missed anything.
Professional grooming every four to six weeks is typical for most curly breeds. Some owners opt for a shorter “puppy clip” or “kennel clip” to reduce day-to-day maintenance, though this means more frequent groomer visits to keep the length in check. If you prefer a longer, fuller coat, expect to spend meaningful time brushing at home between appointments. Skipping even a week can turn manageable tangles into mats that need to be shaved out.
Bathing is also different with curly coats. You should always detangle before bathing, never after, because water tightens existing knots. A conditioner or detangling spray helps keep the curls soft and separated. After the bath, many curly-coated breeds look best when air-dried or dried with a low-heat dryer while gently separating curls by hand, since rough toweling can create frizz and new tangles.
Choosing a Curly-Haired Breed
The right curly breed depends on your living situation and how much time you’re willing to invest in coat care. Bichons and Bolognese fit well in smaller spaces and need moderate exercise, while Standard Poodles, Curly-Coated Retrievers, and Irish Water Spaniels are athletic dogs that need substantial daily activity. Lagotti can adapt to various living situations but need mental stimulation, especially if they’re not doing the scent work they were bred for.
Energy level varies widely across curly breeds, but grooming commitment does not. Every curly-coated breed requires regular, hands-on coat maintenance. If the idea of brushing your dog multiple times a week sounds tedious, a curly breed will likely frustrate you regardless of how appealing it looks. If you enjoy the routine, though, these breeds reward the effort with distinctive looks and, in many cases, exceptionally close bonds with their owners.