Dogs come in many shapes and sizes. This includes large dogs, small dogs, dogs with long hair, and many more.
Many people love to have dogs with long hair in their homes. You need to focus more on grooming a long-haired dog, but people still enjoy having them as their furry friends.
There are many kinds of long-haired dogs, mainly differing in hair color. White-colored long-haired dogs are the most common. However, there are brown and gray-haired dogs as well.
Here are the top 10 long-haired dog breeds you need to know and what’s so special about them
Top 10 Long-Haired Dog Breeds You Need To Know
The following are some amazing and beautiful long-haired dog breeds that you must know of. They make excellent pets, as most are great with families with young children.
Most of these long-haired dogs are highly energetic, loyal, and intelligent breeds that make excellent pets.
The Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is a famous long-haired dog. They have high energy levels and are bred as herding dogs.
The Australian Shepherd has exceptional beauty due to its unique coats, which grow in a bottle pattern in shades of gray, blue, or red. Their soft hair looked stunning in different hues and is one of the main features of this breed.
They are hard-working medium-statured dogs who are very sporty. They love to go for long walks with their owners.
The Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is also a beautiful breed with multi-colored coats. Their long coat of black, white, and tan fur makes them look fabulous.
They have a double coat with two layers – a wool-like overcoat and a longer undercoat. They shed a fair amount of it, so it’s advisable to maintain a frequent brushing routine.
They are a very loyal dog breed with a calm and friendly disposition. They are intelligent and gentle and great with children. The Bernese Mountain Dog is a very active breed despite its large size.
The Irish Setter
The Irish Setter is one of the most beautiful dog breeds with a luxurious and lengthy coat of red or mahogany color.
Their well-behaved, gentle, and playful nature makes them ideal for families with young children. They look very elegant, which also makes them suitable for this role.
The Irish Setter is a hunting dog that is outgoing and incredibly loyal.
The Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound has iconic long hair, one of its striking features. Its long, straight, thick, and silky coat gives it a dignified appearance.
They are hunting dogs, and their coat helped protect them from the harsh climate of the mountain region of Afghanistan.
The Afghan Hound is a large dog with high energy levels. Its coat requires a significant amount of work for good maintenance.
The Full-Coated Collie
The Full-Coated Collie has an amazingly-soft coat and is a popular long-haired dog breed. It became very popular in pop culture and is the dog breed featured in ‘Lassie.’
Its iconic long fur grows in various hues and patterns, including white, black, and brown. Its narrow wedge-shaped head, along with its long hair, are the features that give it a very unique and beautiful appearance.
The Full-Coated Collie is an athletic and energetic dog who is loyal and intelligent. It has enjoyed a long-standing position as one of America’s most trusted family dogs.
The Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie has a beautiful shaggy thick double coat that has a mix of white and gray colors.
It is intelligent and loyal with high energy levels. The Bearded Collie is not a commonly-found dog breed.
These dogs get bored quickly, which is why you need to start training them from an early age. You need to put in a proper walking schedule and ensure that it gets enough exercise daily; otherwise, this dog breed could be quite a handful.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the few smaller-sized long-haired dogs on this list. Its cute appearance with its long hair is the feature that makes it so popular as a cuddly dog.
Their breed originates from the aristocrats of Britain, which is why it’s given such a name. They are beautiful and graceful dogs with luxurious colored coats.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a playful dog who loves to spend a significant amount of time napping. It’s the ideal dog for families looking for a small-sized long-haired dog.
Its luxurious, silky coat needs quite a bit of work. Be prepared to give it regular baths and establish a brushing routine to avoid knots and tangles.
The Newfoundland
The Newfoundland is a large, long-haired dog that was bred in Canada. They were bred to become strong working dogs that would be loyal companions.
Their distinct features include their large size and majestic, long coat that is pure black, brown, or black and white.
The Newfoundland can weigh up to 150 pounds but is a highly gentle dog ideal for families. It’s playful and gets along well with young children.
Their thick fur needs significant maintenance, including regular brushing with a long-toothed comb.
The Komondor
The Komondor is one of the world’s most recognizable dog breeds, with its long corded coat that looks like dreadlocks.
They have lengthy white hair with mop-like cords. As puppies, they have short and curly hair, but as they grow, the hair knots into large, matted strands.
Their unique coat serves an essential purpose. It protects The Komondor from scratches and bites from bears and wolves, as they were initially bred in Hungary for guarding livestock.
They are affectionate dogs who are very protective of their families. They tend to act quite aggressively towards strangers.
The Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a cute small-sized long-haired dog. It only weighs between 9 and 16 pounds and has a lengthy, luxurious, and silky coat.
They are among the most popular small-sized long-haired dogs due to their cute appearance and adorable flowing coat.
The Shih Tzu is a very playful dog who loves to curl up on its owner’s lap. They are well-behaved and get along well with families, especially young children.
How To Take Care Of A Long-Haired Dog
Taking care of a long-haired dog is no easy feat. Although they may look beautiful, you need to put in a significant amount of work to maintain that long hair.
The longer, silkier, and more luxurious-looking the hair is, the harder it is to maintain. However, it’s all part of having a long-haired dog, and a well-maintained coat will give these dogs a distinct appearance with the effort you put into maintaining it.
A long-haired dog needs more frequent baths than other dogs. It is naturally due to their long hair, which can collect dirt and sweat. It’s also essential to keep the hair from getting tangled or knotted.
Regular brushing is also required to keep your dog’s hair from getting matted, which could be painful if it gets to the point where the fur is pulling on the skin or preventing the flow of air beneath the coat.
Having a long-haired dog also means you will have to take more frequent trips to the groomer than a short-haired dog.
Be mindful of the temperament and energy levels of the long-haired dog you choose to have and see if it matches your lifestyle and preferences.
Some dogs are also large and require more space and a large backyard, which you must keep in mind when selecting a long-haired dog breed for your home.
Long-haired dogs are also costly due to their beautiful appearance. They can easily attract thieves, and there is more of a chance of losing one than with short-haired dogs.
You need to keep them safe both indoors and outdoors. Use dog GPS trackers and pet tracking devices whenever you go out with your dog.
Conclusion
Having one of the above long-haired dog breeds is amazing, and you can have so much fun. These dogs are beautiful, intelligent, loyal, and playful.
You can choose a large majestic-looking dog or a cute small dog, according to your preference. Their long hair and a mix of colors make them one of the best pets you can have at home. Most of these dogs get along well, even with families with young children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Long-Haired Breeds Are The Largest?
The Afghan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Bernese Mountain Dog, The Komondor, The Newfoundland, and The Rough Collie are some of the largest long-haired breeds.
Which Dog Has Hair That Is Similar To Human Hair?
The Yorkshire Terrier has one of the most distinctive coats in the canine world. Its luxurious coat is almost identical to human hair, which makes it the best choice of dog breed for people with pet allergies.
About the Author: Jackson Rotheray has been training dogs professionally since 2002. He is a Certified Mentor Trainer for the Animal Behavior College, providing hands-on instruction and supervision to students and aspiring trainers.