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10 Least Smelly Dog Breeds

| Published on August 20, 2020

There are many dog breeds that seem to carry around that particular “doggy” odor and this can be undesirable for many people looking for a companion. There are many reasons for dog smell such as poor general hygiene, poor diet, allergies or a coat or skin type that holds smell in. Regardless of the reason, there are many dog breeds people consider to be on the odorless side and we’ve compiled a list of them here. The following are the top 10 least smelly dog breeds according to dog experts:

#1 – Dalmatian

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The Dalmatian is well-known for its appearance as well as its use and popularity in firehouses, movies and as company mascots. Originally bred as a carriage pulling dog in Croatia, it is now largely an active family companion. Because of their short, dense coat, Dalmatians are known for lacking traditional doggy odor.

#2 – German Pinscher

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The German Pinscher is a medium-sized Pinscher breed often mistaken for a Doberman, although it is a separate breed. They are strong, elegant and active dogs that make excellent companions for the right owner. Their coat type is well-known for producing very little odor.

#3 – Papillon

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The Papillon, aptly named due the butterfly look of its ear feathering, is a toy breed of dog that makes a wonderful lapdog and companion. They are very intelligent and easily trained and they excel in various dog sports such as obedience and agility. Owners and enthusiasts do report that the breed lacks the typical doggy smell that many others exude.

#4 – Saluki

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The Saluki is a beautiful sighthound from Egypt and Iran, where it was used as a hunting and racing dog. They are elegant, independent and incredibly athletic dogs and owners are often surprised that they possess very little doggy odor.

#5 – Schnauzer

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All varieties of the Schnauzer – Miniature, Standard and Giant – all have the same coat type and lack the same amount of doggy odor that many other breeds have. They are each different breeds, although the Standard Schnauzer is the original and all were used as ratters and guard dogs.

#6 – Basenji

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This small African breed has a short, smooth coat that doesn’t trap odor and creates a dog that doesn’t carry any odor. The breed is also known for its tendency to howl and yodel rather than bark and has many characteristics that are different than typical domestic dogs.

#7 – Portuguese Water Dog

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Photo credit: Raymond Brow

The Portuguese Water Dog is a water-retrieving breed from Portugal. They have a thin, curly coat that sheds very little. Because of this, they are considered to be one of the more hypoallergenic breeds and also have little to no doggy smell.

#8 – Poodle

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The Poodle comes in three varieties – Toy, Miniature and Standard. All three types have the same coat that not only smells very little, but is considered to be hypoallergenic. These dogs hardly shed and are an excellent choice for someone looking for an intelligent, active companion, as all three breeds excel in various dog sports like agility and obedience.

#9 – Kerry Blue Terrier

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The Kerry Blue Terrier is an Irish breed originally used to hunt vermin such as rats, rabbits and foxes. It has also been used as a herding and guard dog. It’s coat is soft and lacks an undercoat, allowing it to contain little to no doggy odor at all.

#10 – Bichon Frise

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The Bichon Frise is one of the most popular companion dog breeds due its cheery, energetic nature. They make excellent family companions and do not shed their thin, single-layered coat. Their coat also has the benefit of prohibiting any doggy odor from developing and many owners enjoy this quality as much as their dogs’ happy dispositions.

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