23 of the Top Curly Haired Dog Breeds

Can you resist the cuteness of those curls? If not, then do you know why some dogs have curls and others do not? Well, the answer is simple; it is due to genetics and comes from the lineage.

Curly-haired dog breeds are known to shed less and have unique appearances. There are tight curled coats, loosely curled coats, wavy-haired coats, spiral curled coats, and more. They differ in hair density, growth patterns, and length of hair. So, if you are looking for a perfect curly-haired pup for your home, this guide is for you.

Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington Terrier originated from England, and they are also known as Rothbury Terrier, Rodbery Terrier, and Rothbury’s Lamb.

Bedlington Terrier Appearance

Bedlington Terrier weighs around 17 to 23 pounds, having a height of 15 to 17.5 inches and a life span of 11-16 years. These pups are available in cream, brown, blue, chocolate, or liver colors.

They have curvy bodies but triangular and tasseled ears and a narrow head shape with a profuse topknot. They have unique and curly coats.

Bedlington Terrier Temperament

Bedlington Terriers are known to be gentle, friendly, willful, outgoing, and playful. They need moderate exercise and training and are intelligent pups.

These dogs love active owners, and they also bark frequently. They are good with all cats, families, children, and seniors.

Also Read: 18 of the Cleanest Dog Breeds for Neat Freaks

Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise comes from Belgium and these dogs are also known as Tenerife Dog, Bichon A Poil Frise, Bichon Tenerife, Bichon Tenerife and Purebred Bichon.

Bichon Frise Appearance

Bichon Frise has a life span of around 14 to 15 years, and these dogs weigh around 12-18 pounds while having a height of 9.5 to 11.5 inches. These pups are available in white and cream bicolor patterns with short and curly coats.

They have black eyes and noses and have high-maintenance double coats. They give away an appearance of a cotton ball and have short and curly coats.

Bichon Frise Temperament

Bichon Frise dogs are known to be friendly, playful, and outgoing. They are good with children, cats, other dogs, and families.

These small white curly haired dogs are easy to train and require a lot of grooming to keep their looks cute. They are apartment-friendly and extremely intelligent and good for first-time pet owners.

Also Read: 24 Popular, Comforting Dog Breeds for Anxiety

Bolognese

Bolognese dog belongs to Bologna, Italy and they are also known as Bichon Bolognese, Bolognese Toy Dog, Bologneser, Bolo, Botoli and Bottolo.

Bolognese Appearance

With a height of 10-12 inches, Bolognese is a small-sized breed weighing around 35.5 to 9 pounds and a life span of 12-14years. These dogs come in white color only.

These dogs have soft and lightly tufted coats and round black eyes, and a gumdrop nose. They have feathered tails with curls and have a mop head if not trimmed properly.

Bolognese Temperament

Bolognese is quite friendly, willful, and playful little pups. They are calm and very intelligent as well.

These small curly haired dogs have low prey drives and are good with families with children and other dogs. They can sometimes be shy or reserved initially, but they enjoy spending their time with the family after that.

Pumi

Pumi dog originates from Hungary and is also known as Hungarian Puli, Pulik, and Hungarian Water-Dog.

Pumi Appearance

Pumis are known to stand between 15 to 18 inches in height and weigh around 22lbs to 29lbs. They are available in black, gray, cream, red, fawn, or white colors.

These dogs have curly coats and curly tails and are known to have whimsical expressions. They have black eyes and noses with curly fur covering their whole body.

Pumi Temperament

Pumis are fearless pups with a strong desire to work, and they have unlimited energy that requires release. These dogs are anxious, clever, and playful.

They get along with others, are athletic, and love to chat. They have a strong prey drive and are not picky when picking up their owners or getting along with other pets.

Toy Poodle

Toy Poodle comes from France and Germany, and these pups are also known as the miniature Poodle, Moyen poodle, and standard Poodle.

Toy Poodle Appearance

Toy Poodles are small-sized pups having a height below 10 inches, a weight of 4 to 6lbs, with a life span of 10 to 18 years. These dogs come in black, white, cream, fawn, gold or yellow, brown, liver, chocolate, gray, and red.

They have large and dark eyes and noses and have square-type bodies. They also have bi-colored coats, but that is rare, and their curly fur is what makes them stand out.

Toy Poodle Temperament

These highly intelligent dogs are known to be friendly and outgoing. They are good with all children, seniors, other pets and are family-friendly dogs.

They are quite easy to train but require a lot of grooming and can easily tolerate cold weather. Due to their temperament, they are ideal for first-time owners and do not require high levels of exercise.

Barbet

Barbet dogs originate from France, and they are also known as Griffon Barbet, French Water Dog, and Barbet Water Spaniel.

Barbet Appearance

Barbets are a medium-sized breed, having 35 to 65 pounds weight and a height of 19 to 24.5 inches. These dogs have a life span of about 12 to 14 years and are present in white, fawn, gray, liver, brown, black, and chocolate colors.

They have medium, long and curly coats that are extremely soft. They shed and drool very little and have long and sweeping tails, and they have beards and large heads with expressive eyes in dark brown or hazel color.

Barbet Temperament

These pups are highly intelligent and love to learn new tricks. They are loyal, friendly, outgoing, and playful.

They are great with active families as they require their sporting needs to be fulfilled and are also good with other pets and children. They are good hiking companions, easy to train, and have a high prey drive and many grooming requirements.

Kerry Blue Terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier originated from Ireland and is also known as Irish Blue Terriers.

Kerry Blue Terrier Appearance

Kerry Blue Terriers have a life span of 12 to 15 years, with a weight of around 33 to 40 pounds and a height of 17.5 to 19.5 inches. These dogs are present in gray, blue, and black colors.

They have an impressive beard that has longer hair than their whole coat and have dark eyes. These dogs do not shed much but require high maintenance to avoid matting of coat and turn into blue or gray colors after some time as they are born with black hair that fades over time.

Kerry Blue Terrier Temperament

Kerry Blue Terriers are known to be willful, playful, and friendly dogs. They are highly intelligent and need high exercise times as they have a lot of energy.

They go best with active families and are great with other animals and people. They are extremely loyal dogs, love hiking, require a lot of grooming, and have a high prey drive.

Also Read: 18 Dog Breeds With Wiry Hair

Lagotto Romagnolo

Lagotto Romagnolo belongs from Italy, and these dogs are also known as Italian or Romagna Water Dogs.

Lagotto Romagnolo Appearance

Lagotto Romagnolo is a medium-sized breed with a life span of 15 to 17 years and a height and weight of 16 to 19 inches and 24 to 35 pounds, respectively. They have bicolor, tricolor and sable patterned coats.

They have cream, liver, chocolate, orange, brown, and white-colored coats. These dogs have teddy bear curls and have a long mustache with brownish to hazel eyes and nose.

Lagotto Romagnolo Temperament

Lagotto Romagnolo is known to be a bit timid, willful and playful dog. They are good with children, families, and dogs.

This teddy bear dog is not the type to cuddle on a couch; they love learning and are always ready for it. They love swimming and are a bit slow when it comes to warming up to strangers; they love barking, digging the yard, and training.

Airedale Terrier

Airedale Terriers are from England, United Kingdom, and they are also called Bingley Terrier and Waterside Terrier.

Airedale Terrier Appearance

Airedale Terriers have a life span of around 12 to 15 years, with a height of 22 to 23 inches and a weight of 50 to 70 pounds. These dogs fall in the large breed size category and have brown, chocolate, or liver colors.

They have black and tan patterns all over their bodies and have short, wiry and curly fur coats. These dogs have dark eyes and an alert and proud stature.

Airedale Terrier Temperament

Airedale Terriers comes with a ready-for-action personality; these dogs are fun, confident, and playful. They are gentle, friendly, and outgoing.

These dogs are good with other dogs, children, and families and are easy to groom and train. They have a high prey drive and love water; they are apartment-friendly, loyal, and a good companion.

Also Read: 9 of the Top Airedale Terrier Mixes

Curly Coated Retriever

Curly Coated Retriever comes from England, the United Kingdom, and is also known as Flat-Coated Retriever.

Curly Coated Retriever Appearance

Curly coated retrievers weigh 60 to 95 pounds and stand tall between 23 to 27 inches. They have black or liver or reddish-brown color.

They have black eyes and a black button nose. These dogs have curly fur all over their ears with smooth hair on their face.

Curly Coated Retriever Temperament

Curly Coated Retrievers are known to be loyal, clever, and lively pups. This sensitive dog requires firm but kind training and is best for active families.

They act reserved with strangers, mature slowly, and are usually independent dogs. These dogs are smart, love their family, and are good with children and other dogs.

Bouvier Des Flandres

Bouvier Des Flandres is originated from Flanders, Belgium and France and these dogs are also known as Toucheur de Boeuf, Vlaamse Koehond and Vuilbaard.

Bouvier Des Flandres Appearance

Bouvier Des Flanders are large dogs with heights of 23.5 to 27.5 inches, a weight of about 70 to 110 pounds, and a life span of around 10 to 12 years. They have fawn, gray and black colors.

These dogs have brindle, speckled, ticked, and flecked curly coats in varying colors. They have shaggy eyebrows, triangular ears that are cropped, and have a double coat, with the outer coat being rough.

Bouvier Des Flandres Temperament

Bouvier Des Flanders has quite a playful temper and is known to be gentle, willful, and aloof. This breed is extremely active and highly intelligent and requires an owner that can provide both these qualities.

These dogs require a lot of grooming and are extremely loyal. They can gain weight easily, love water, and are good companions for hiking and other activities involving their exercise and training needs.

American Water Spaniel

American Water Spaniel belongs to the United States, and it is also known as American Brown Spaniel, American Brown Water Spaniel or just AWS.

American Water Spaniel Appearance

American Water Spaniel has a height of 3 inches to 6 inches, weighs around 25 to 45 pounds, and has a life span of 12 to 15 years. They have dark-colored coats usually present in chocolate color.

They have long floppy ears shaped like pendants which are completely covered in curly hair. They have curly coats that have uniform waves known as marcel to tight curls.

American Water Spaniel Temperament

American Water Spaniels are known to be loyal and best hunting companions. They are great family dogs, playful and affectionate.

They are known to be intelligent, aware, and alert of everything around them. They are obedient and social when it comes to their training and always stays close to their owner.

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Water Spaniel is from Ireland, and they are also known as Whiptail, Shannon Spaniel, Bog Dog, and Rat Tail Spaniel.

Irish Water Spaniel Appearance

Irish Water Spaniel is known to have an average height of 21 to 24 inches, having a weight of 45 to 68 pounds, and lying in the medium breed size with a life span of around 12 to 13 years. This breed has brown, chocolate, or liver-colored coats.

With a low shedding and drool amount, they have curly and medium-sized coats. These dogs have almond-shaped dark eyes and a cowlick on their forehead with loose curls on their floppy ears.

Irish Water Spaniel Temperament

Irish Water Spaniel is a sweet and cute dog that lies under gentle and kind dogs. These dogs are good with others and are a bit anxious and timid at times but mostly friendly, playful, and gentle pups.

This medium dog breed is highly intelligent with moderate requirements for training and exercise. They also need active owners to compete with their dynamic nature and are easy to train and best for owners, owning a pet for the first time.

Labradoodle

Labradoodle is from Australia, and they are also known as Poodle and Labrador Retriever.

Labradoodle Appearance

Labradoodle is in the medium-sized breed category while having a height and weight range of 22 to 25 inches and 50 to 75 pounds, respectively. They have a life span of around 10 to 14 years and usually come with a bicolor pattern in brown, liver, chocolate, red, gold, cream, black, white, and yellow colors.

The appearance of a Labradoodle depends on their generation, but generally, they have longer and wavy hair. They have a teddy bear appearance and have low shedding and drool amounts.

Labradoodle Temperament

Labradoodle is a protective pup and is also gentle, friendly, willful, outgoing, and playful. These dogs are extremely intelligent and require moderate exercise needs to be fulfilled.

Labradoodle is easy to train and groom but requires a lot of grooming sessions and is okay if they are left independent. These dogs have a low prey drive, are good with other pets, and are extremely loyal and good hiking companions, especially for first-time dog owners.

Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese Water Dogs are originated from Portugal and are commonly called water dogs, PWD and Portie.

Portuguese Water Dog Appearance

Portuguese Water Dog has an average height of 17 to 23 inches while weighing between 35 to 60 pounds and having a life span of around 11 years to 13 years. These medium-sized dogs are known to have bicolor, black and tan, and tricolor patterned coats.

These dogs have medium and curly coats having black, white, brown, liver, or chocolate colors. They have both curly and wavy hair and usually come with a splash of white color on their chins, they shed very rarely, and they have webbed feet for swimming while their bodies are a bit longer than being tall.

Portuguese Water Dog Temperament

Portuguese Water Dog is amazingly smart pups who are trained to be fishing dogs. These dogs are known to be outgoing, friendly, and playful, and they are good with children, other dogs, seniors, and families.

They are highly intelligent, have hyper energy levels requiring high exercise, and are very affectionate dogs. This working breed easily gets suspicious of new strangers though it does not harm them; they require extra attention and love to learn a new trick and playing games and get bored easily.

Spanish Water Dog

Spanish Water Dog comes from Andalusia and these dogs are commonly known as Perro de Agua Espanol, Perro Turco, Andalucian Turk and Turco Andaluz.

Spanish Water Dog Appearance

Standing tall at 15.75 inches to 19.75 inches, Spanish Water Dog is a medium breed dog with an average weight of 31 to 49 pounds with a life span of around 12 years to 14 years. This dog breed is known to be infrequent shedders and has a really low drool amount.

These dogs have bicolor patterns in brown, chocolate, liver, black, white, and cream colors. They have very expressive brown eyes, bed head hair, curly and wooly coats, docked tails, and are longer compared to their heights.

Spanish Water Dog Temperament

Spanish Water Dogs are known to be very loving and loyal towards their owners, and they are one of the highly intelligent dogs present and are perfect for families. They easily get along with children, adults, and other pets.

These outgoing and playful pups are suitable for experienced dog owners as they need their high exercise levels and are quite active. They are very protective of children as if they are their guardians, and due to their playful nature, they are easy to train and become good hiking companions.

Standard Poodle

Standard Poodle belongs of German origin, and they are generally known as Caniche, Toy Poodle, French Poodle, or Miniature Poodle.

Standard Poodle Appearance

This timid pup stands tall at 18 inches to 24 inches, weighing 50 pounds to 70 pounds on average, and generally has a life span of 12 years to 15 years. This large dog breed has multiple coats varying between lengths and hair type (Long, medium, short and curly).

The Standard Poodle is present in brown, liver, yellow, chocolate, gold, gray, red, fawn, white, black, cream, and blue colors and has a long and pointed nose with mesmerizing small dark eyes. The standard Poodle is the largest among all the other poodle dogs, and they are generally associated with ornate dog grooming styles.

Standard Poodle Temperament

Standard Poodle is smart, obedient, and playful, they are not aggressive at all, but if they find someone or something suspicious, they will alert their owner. They are shy, anxious, and reserved with strangers but still friendly and playful once comfortable.

The Standard Poodle loves other animals, families, and children, is extremely loyal, and can easily stay alone if required. They are extremely smart and intelligent and have hyper energy levels that require extra exercise needs so that they can keep up their excitements level to normal and stay calm, requiring active owners who love training and grooming.

Also Read: 62 Cutest Poodle Mix Breeds

Puli

Puli dogs come from Hungary, and it is also known as Hungarian Water Dog due to its love for water and its herding and livestock guarding.

Puli Appearance

Puli has an average height of 16 inches to 17 inches while weighing 25 pounds to 35 pounds, having a life span of around 10 years to 15 years. The Puli lies in the medium breed category of dogs with long and curly coats available in black, gray, and white colors.

This dog has doggy dreadlocks and has a unique coat which makes it different than other dogs. The coat of Puli requires high maintenance, and they infrequently shed with a minimum drool level belonging in the herding breed group.

Puli Temperament

Pulis is known to be willful, outgoing, and playful. They are good with children and families; they are very intelligent, happy, and alert dogs.

These little pups are extremely faithful and loyal; they are best suited for experienced dog owners as they require a consistent training routine and exercise. This breed is best as a family dog, but if not properly socialized, it may not get along well with other dogs; they are extremely active and smart and can easily become comfortable with new people.

Komondor

Komondor belongs to Hungary and is also known as a Hungarian sheepdog due to its color and coat.

Komondor Appearance

Komondor stands at the height of 25.5 inches to 27.5 inches; this large breed weighs around 80lbs to 100lbs while having a life span of 10 to 12 years. These dogs do not shed a lot and also drool very rarely.

They have long coat lengths in white color, which are unique as their coats are covered in tassel-like fur. They have coarser outer and softer inner coats while having dreadlock styles on their head and tail; they have dense coats and muscular bodies.

Komondor Temperament

Komondor is an independent and watchful dog and is very loving and affectionate for its owners. These dogs can make their own decisions during training and are best for experienced dog owners.

They can train best if provided treats or rewards after training; they are quite well-behaved dogs if trained properly. These dogs are good with families, children, and other animals; they are gentle and willful, can easily stay alone, and are extremely loyal to their owners.

Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel is originated from England and is also called out as Cocker or by its full name most of the time.

Cocker Spaniel Appearance

Cocker Spaniel is a medium dog having a height range from 14 to 15 inches, weight around 20 to 30 pounds, and a life span of 10 to 15 years. This playful pup has an occasional shedding amount while having very low drooling sessions.

They have long to medium coats varying in colors such as black, brown, cream, white, red, gold, blue, chocolate, liver, and yellow with bicolor, tricolor, sable, merle, ticked, speckled, flecked, and black and tan patterned coats. They have big dreamy eyes and have a look that says give me 24/7 attention.

Cocker Spaniel Temperament

This pup loves to snuggle; they are smart, trust their owners a lot, and have a high hunting and preying instinct. Cocker Spaniels are extremely good with seniors, children, cats, dogs, families, and gentle, playful, and friendly dogs.

They are very sweet and affectionate and can be quite cuddly when it comes to their temperament. These dogs are great with all other animals but with proper training. However, they have preying instincts, making them unsuitable for sharing a house with animals like birds or chickens and more that can become their hunting target easily.

Havanese

Havanese is originated from Cuba and this dog is also known as Havanese Cuban Bichon, Havaneser and Havanzer Bichon Habanero Ringo.

Havanese Appearance

Havanese is a small dog with a life span of 14 years to 16 years, a weight of around 7 pounds to 13 pounds, and a height of 8.5 inches to 11 inches. This toy breed has long coats in different patterns like bicolor, sable, tricolor, spotted, ticked, speckled, flecked, tuxedo, merle, harlequin, black and tan, blue and tan, and liver and tan.

They have coats in gray, black, cream, red, blue, white, brown, chocolate, liver, fawn, yellow and golden color. They require a lot of grooming and have occasional shedding; they have longer bodies than their height, with tails set high in the air and arches over their back.

Havanese Temperament

Havanese are charming dogs while being smart, sweet, easy to train, and eager to please. They are naturally extroverts who love entertaining; they are a great addition to the family and get along well with other pets and children.

They are very confident dogs, and their bark is also confident. Socialization can greatly positively impact the dogs as they can get easily comfortable with other pets and people.

Gordon Setter

Gordon Setter is originated from Scotland, and they are also known as black and tans due to their coat.

Gordon Setter Appearance

Gordon Setter has a height of 23 to 27 inches, with 45 to 80lbs and a life span of 12 to 13 years. This large breed lies in the sporting breed group with black and tan patterns on their coats.

They usually have black-colored coats and brown eyes having different markings above them. Their coat is a bit wavy, and they have longer hair around their legs, tails, chest, bellies, and ears.

Gordon Setter Temperament

Gordon Setter is known to be a friendly, playful, and willful dog. They are also good with families, children, and other dogs but not with cats due to their high prey drive.

They are good hiking companions and are extremely loyal, filled with high energy, and are very joyful. These dogs tend to chew and love outdoor activities and exercise.

Also Read: Top 17 Dog Breeds with Floppy Ears

Black Russian Terrier

Black Russian Terrier comes from Russia, Soviet Union, and is known as Chornyi Terriers and Red Star Kennel dogs.

Black Russian Terrier Appearance

Black Russian Terries stand tall at 26 to 30 inches and weigh around 80 to 130 pounds while having a life span of 10 to 12 years. They are extra-large dogs with black and blue coats.

They have sable and black and tan patterns all over their bodies and have curly coats. They are highly muscular, big-boned, and military-type dogs with a scruffy beard and a confident gaze.

Black Russian Terrier Temperament

These dogs are confident yet friendly and aloof. They are good with families and dogs and are smart and intelligent.

Black Russia Terrier is calm, composed, and courageous dogs that are extremely loyal to their families. They are easy to train, loves water, and are great hiking companions.

So, here our guide ends by informing you all about the 23 of the top curly-haired dog breeds. Now, you can decide which curly, adorable, playful, and affectionate pup you want to bring to your home so that you can have memorable moments with them.