The Cleanest Dog Breeds for Those Seeking a Pup

the cleanest dog breeds.

10 Cleanest Dog Breeds

A major hindrance to many of us owning dogs is the need for constant clean-up. Agreed, canines can be quite messy and require attention to detail when in your care, but some dogs will wow you with their level of personal hygiene. 

The breeds listed in this article are known to be some of the cleanest dog breeds around. Follow me on this journey as we delve into the world of the most hygienic dogs you can own.

The 10 Best Clean Dog Breeds

Here are our favorite hygienic hounds on the planet.

1. Bedlington Terrier

clean dog bedlington terrier.

This breed is low maintenance and can easily be trained to keep on top of its hygiene. Also, the Bedlington doesn’t shed, a huge attraction for owners who live a busy lifestyle or have allergies. With this bow-wow, you won't have to worry about a messed-up apartment, extra cleaning, and frequent dog baths. In all, this breed is an excellent dog that cleans themselves.

2. Chow Chow

clean dog chow chow.

The Chow Chow is famous for loyalty and cuteness. Like Bedlington Terriers, the Chow Chow is easily domesticated, has minimal doggy aroma, and is known to keep their living areas neat. However, this pooch tends to shed at certain seasons of the year — particularly spring and fall. Yet, they’re still one of the cleanest indoor dog breeds to own. Its high intelligence and loyal personality make it a very good companion for owners of any age.

3. Basenji

clean dog basenji.

This short-haired breed requires only regular cleaning with a hound glove. It’s a super hygienic dog breed with keen self-grooming habits. The Basenji’s partial self-care, coupled with the lack of canine odor, ensures low maintenance. Some of this breed’s best qualities include: 

  • Short hair and a glossy coat — requires little grooming.

  • Erect ears that don't retain odor.

  • Tightly curled tails with a neat bun.

Intelligent, independent, and of medium size, the Basenji is a great keep for those living in apartments.

4. Japanese Chin

clean dog japanese chin.

If you seek a dog that cleans itself like a cat, the Japanese Chin is the right canine for you. It has a silky and lavish coat, sheds moderately, and has a high sense of self-grooming, even licking its paws to keep its feet clean. This toy-sized tail-wagger is known to be highly intelligent and ideal for those living in apartments. A playful and aristocratic breed, the Japanese Chin is considered one of the cleanest small dogs to own.

5. American Hairless Terrier

clean dog american hairless terrier.

The American Hairless Terrier is one of the cleanest dog breeds. It’s hairless, implying no shedding, and low-canine-grooming maintenance — plus, no worries about fleas. Hey, if you or anyone around you suffer from allergies, this breed is suitable. The American Hairless is a small but muscular hound variant of the Rat Terrier. It’s a smart, agile, and curious dog — an excellent bow-wow buddy.

6. Bichon Frise

clean dog bichon frise.

Charm, beauty, and intelligence are traits this alluring canine is known to possess. It’s excellent for families, as this breed is great with kids. The Bichon Frise has soft curls and seldom sheds and drools, making them one of the cleanest dog breeds to own. A lovely side to this puppy is that it doesn’t produce a funky dog smell. And, the Bichon will settle into either apartment or family home life.

7. Chihuahua

clean dog chihuahua.

A cute dog that’s perfect for first-time owners. This breed is tiny with minimal grooming needs. Named after a Mexican state, these dogs are generally low maintenance, and erect ears also mean a lower chance of parasites and infections. Chihuahuas are loveable, obedient, sassy, and generally a great furry friend for those seeking hygienic dogs.

8. Dalmatian

clean dog dalmatian.

This breed is intelligent, athletic, and one of the most popular. Although Dalmatians are large-sized, hairy, and require regular grooming, they also have water-repellent fur that keeps dirt at bay. This makes them low maintenance — less cleaning and fewer dog baths. This hound would make a good pet for kids.

9. Shiba Inu

clean dog shiba inu.

The Shiba Inu is generally noted as a cat-like dog, due to their general ability to groom itself, as in, lick its paws and clean its eyes. Plus, this pooch is low drooling, which means no messy food or water bowls to constantly clean up. Also, as with other clean breeds, you won't come across any doggy aroma with this pooch.

10. Greyhound

greyhound clean dog.

Although fairly large dogs, Greyhounds are excellent canine companions — especially for those who don’t like mess around the home. A very neat and orderly breed that loves to enjoy cozy moments with its owners while indoors. The Greyhound doesn’t drool, so, no slobber to clean up, and it also has a short coat, which is easy to manage.

Conclusion

The cleanest dog breeds are for those who would love a dog, but hate the thought of doggy aroma filling your home, or constantly cleaning up behind your bow-wow. We’ve provided you with a few possible pooches to get you started, so why not take your pick. Don't forget our hounds are loyal, protective, obedient, and always there.

Cleanest Dog Breeds FAQs

What Is the Cleanest Smelling Dog?

One of the cleanest dog breeds is the American Hairless Terrier. This hound has no hair implying no shedding, without the need for grooming.

What Are the Least Smelling Dog Breeds?

The least smelling canines are those adept at self-grooming and independence. These pooches are characterized as low-maintenance due to their ease of grooming. They include: 

  • Shiba Inu.

  • American Hairless Terrier.

  • French Bulldog.

  • Basset Hound.

  • Chihuahua.

  • Bullmastiff.

Can a Clean Freak Have a Dog? 

It's entirely up to you and depends on how houseproud you are. All dogs shed to a certain degree, so if you can put up with a little doggy mess, then yes. If you can’t stand a speck of dust, it’s probably best to avoid the idea.

What Are the Most Hygienic Dog Breeds?

The most hygienic dogs are those known to self-clean. In most cases, these pets clean themselves as a cat would. The best of them include:

  • Chihuahua.

  • Japanese Chin.

  • Basenji.

  • Bichon Frise.

  • American Hairless Terrier.

What Are the Cleanest Smelling Indoor Dogs?

The cleanest indoor breeds are a joy to own, they don’t mess up your home and maintain self-hygiene. They include: 

  • Basenji.

  • Chow Chow.

  • Japanese Chin.

  • American Hairless Terrier.

  • Chihuahua.