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80 Fluffy Dog Breeds | The Comprehensive AKC Double Coated Dog Breed List


Spitz dogs and double coats Fluffy white dogs
Samoyeds - Dogs of the Spitz Family


Looking for a fluffy dog? Then look no further! The double coated dog breeds are your ticket to puff and fluff in all shapes, sizes and temperaments.  The double coat is represented in every dog group from working and herding to toy, hounds, sporting and non-sporting dogs, and they have some major fur-factor going on.

For example, looking for a small, white fluffy dog – choose from the West Highland White Terrier, Bichon Frise or American Eskimo Dog.  

Needing a big fluffy white dog; try the Samoyed or the Great Pyrenees just to name a few of your options.

What is a Double Coat?

Double coats are comprised of long, guard hairs that define the dog’s appearance, which are supported by short, dense woolly hairs (the undercoat) below the surface of the guard hairs.  The denser the undercoat, the fluffier the dog appears. The protective guard hairs of the coat are designed to repel moisture and shed dirt.  The undercoat acts to insulate the dog from summer heat and winter cold, while the outer guard hairs protect the dog from rain and wind.  Double coated dogs should never be shaved; their coats act as a protective barrier from summer heat and scorching sun rays.

Comprehensive List of Double Coated Dogs (AKC Recognized)

  • Akita
  • Alaskan Husky
  • Alaskan Malamute
  • American Eskimo
  • American Water Spaniel
  • Australian Cattle Dog
  • Australian Shepherd
  • Australian Terrier
  • Bearded Collie
  • Belgian Sheepdog
  • Beauceron
  • Belgian Malinois
  • Belgian Tervuren
  • Bernese Mountain Dog
  • Bichon Frise
  • Black Russian Terrier
  • Briard
  • Border Collies (Rough and Smooth varieties)
  • Bouvier des Flanders
  • Boykin Spaniel
  • Cairn Terrier
  • Canaan Dog
  • Chesapeake Bay Retriever
  • Chinook
  • Chow Chow
  • Collie (Rough and Smooth varieties)
  • Corgi (Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh)
  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dog
  • Finnish Spitz
  • Finnish Lapphund
  • German Shepherd Dog
  • German Spitz
  • Great Pyrenees
  • Golden Retriever
  • Havanese
  • Icelandic Sheepdog
  • Irish Terrier
  • Keeshond
  • Komondor
  • Kuvasz,
  • Korean Jindo
  • Labrador Retriever
  • Lakeland Terrier
  • Leonberger
  • Newfoundland
  • Norfolk Terrier
  • Norwegian Buhund
  • Norwegian Elkhound
  • Norwegian Lundehund
  • Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  • Old English sheepdog
  • Otterhound
  • Parson Russell Terriers
  • Plott
  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog
  • Pomeranian
  • Puli
  • Rat Terrier
  • Samoyed
  • Schnauzer (Miniature and Standard)
  • Scottish Terrier
  • Sealyham Terrier
  • Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
  • Shiba Inu
  • Shih Tzu
  • Siberian Husky
  • Silky Terrier
  • Skye Terrier
  • Swedish Lapphund
  • Swedish Vallhund
  • Tibetan Mastiff
  • Tibetan Spaniel
  • Tibetan Terrier
  • West Highland White Terrier
  • Wheaten Terrier
  • Wirehaired Fox Terrier
  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
  • Yorkshire Terrier

Double Coated Spitz Dog Breeds


The Spitz variety of dogs provides the fluffiest coat of the double coated dogs.  Many breeds in the working, herding and toy breeds fall into the Spitz category and even more can trace their breeds lineage back to Spitz ancestors. They were bred to live outdoors year round in Arctic climates, and many Spitz breeds were originally developed to pull sleds. 

Other characteristics of the spitz breeds include a curled tail, held over the back, and a pointed head with small prick ears.  The word "spitz" comes from the German word meaning "pointed."

Spitz-type dog breeds with double coats include:
 
Double Coated Fluffy Dog Breed the Chow Chow
By Томасина / Chow Chow


  • Akita
  • Alaskan Husky
  • Alaskan Malamut
  • American Eskimo
  • The rare Chinook
  • Chow Chow
  • Finnish Spitz
  • Finnish Lapphund
  • German Spitz
  • The Icelandic Sheep Dog
  • Keeshond
  • Korean Jindo
  • Norwegian Elkhound
  • Norwegian Lundehund
  • Shiba Inu
  • Siberian Husky
  • Samoyed
  • Swedish Lapphund
  • The Pomeranian from the toy group

Herding Group Double Coated Dog Breeds

Fluffy Chocolate Border Collie

Much of the Herding Group is double coated with varying lengths and thickness of coat.  Many of these breeds, such as the collie, border collie and sheltie count Spitz dogs in their ancestry.


The double-coated herding dog breeds recognized by the AKC include:



  • Australian Cattle Dog
  • Australian Shepherd
  • Both the Rough and Smooth Collie
  • Bearded Collie
  • Belgian Sheepdog
  • Beauceron
  • Belgian Malinois
  • Belgian Tervuren
  • Briard
  • Both rough and smooth coat Border Collies
  • Bouvier des Flanders
  • Canaan Dog
  • Both the Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgi
  • German Shepherd Dog
  • Norwegian Buhund
  • Old English sheepdog
  • Polish Lowland Sheep Dog
  • Puli
  • Shetland Sheepdog
  • St. Bernard
  • Swedish Vallhund. 


The fluffiest dog breeds in the herding group from smallest to largest are the Sheltie, the brilliant Border Collie (our personal favorite), the Aussie, the Rough Collie and the Old English Sheep Dog.


Working Dog Breeds with Double Coats


Double Coated Working Dog The Great Pyrenees
Livestock Guardian Dog the Great Pyrenees  Photo Credit Don DeBold
Looking for some fluffy protection? These Puff Daddies are the biggest fluffy dogs on the block; you’ll find them in the Working Group:


  • Bernese Mountain Dog
  • Black Russian Terrier
  • The rare Entlebucher Mountain Dog
  • Great Pyrenees
  • Komondor
  • Kuvasz,
  • Leonberger
  • Newfoundland
  • Saint Bernard
  • Tibetan mastiff.

Seeking a water loving dog with some extra puff to his coat? Check out these double coated dogs from the Sporting Group:

  • American Water Spaniel
  • Boykin Spaniel
  • Chesapeake Bay Retriever
  • Golden Retriever
  • Labrador Retriever (not so puffy, but still double coated)
  • Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. 



Hounds with Double Coats

Otterhounds with double coats
Otterhounds Double Coated Hound Breed

The Hound group has the second fewest members of their group sporting a double coat.  

The two hound breeds with double coats are the the elegant, double coated Plot and the uniquely web-footed Otterhound.


Terrier Breeds with Double Coats


If you’re in need of a dog with some puff and a whole lot of attitude, the terrier group should supply plenty of both.  


Fluffy Dog Breed the West Highland Terrier
Alfonso Perez / Double Coated Dog Breed: The West Highland White Terrier

Terrier breeds with double coats include:


  • Australian Terrier
  • Cairn Terrier
  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier
  • Tibetan Terrier
  • Norfolk Terrier
  • Parson Russell Terriers
  • Irish Terrier
  • Lakeland Terrier
  • Rat Terrier
  • Scottish Terrier
  • Sealyham Terrier
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Skye Terrier
  • Wheaten Terrier
  • Wirehaired Fox Terrier
  • West Highland White Terrier



Double Coated Toy Breeds and Teacups


The Toy Group offers a nice variety of fluffy and silky double coated lap dogs: 


  • Havanese
  • Pomeranian
  • Shih Tzu
  • Silky Terrier
  • Tibetan Spaniel
  • Yorkshire Terrier 



Non-Sporting Double Coated Dogs 


Looking for small, fluffy and white? The Non-sporting Group offers the Bichon Frise, the lone double coated breed of this AKC group.

Fluffy White Dog The Bichon
Heike Andres / Bichon Frise






Whichever double coated dog you select, keep in mind that their coats have some special grooming concerns.  Generally the under coat will “blow” twice a year. Maintenance of the coat during this seasonal shed is essential to keeping your dog mat free and your home free of stray hair. 



manage shedding on double coated dogs


Learn How the Care for Double Coated Dog Coats.  All the tools and techniques, including videos, to keep a healthy coat and and a hair free home.


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