Whether it's snowing or raining, bad weather makes for a good time to cozy up next to the fireplace with hot cocoa or tea and a good blanket...or a fluffy dog. There are lots of poofy dog breeds out there and which fur-ball to snuggle up with is up to you. Here are 15 of the fluffiest breeds in the world:
1. Bearded Collie
Bearded Collies are part of the herding group and named for the long hair that looks like a beard around their faces. Their coat is thick but lies flat, making them look less fluffy than they actually are. But don't let that fool you, they are quite the fluff-balls. Their fur can also change color or fade over time, giving them an "ombré" look.
2. Bichon Frisé
The Bichon Frisé looks like a little white puffball, especially when groomed a specific way. They have a soft undercoat and a curly, dense topcoat. Though voluminous, the coat of the Bichon Frisé does not shed. Because of this, the breed is considered hypoallergenic. They do, however, require regular daily brushing and regular haircuts. Otherwise the the fur will continually grow to no end.
3. Chow Chow
Chow Chows are large and fluffy all over, even down to their tail. They have a thick, wooly undercoat and one of two topcoat types: rough and fluffy or hard and smooth. The profuse fur around their head, neck and chest gives the appearance of a lion's mane. Chow Chows shed quite a bit in the spring and fall, which requires extra grooming during those seasons. In addition, they need a special grooming tool for their delicate skin.
4. Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is a large dog breed with long, soft, white fur. They have a weather-resistant double coat comprised of a dense, wooly undercoat and a long, flat over coat. They need only occasional brushing and clipping, though the frequency of these increases during shedding seasons.
5. Japanese Spitz
The Japanese Spitz is a fluffy, white dog, larger than the Pomeranian but much smaller than the Samoyed. Their coats are thick, dry and typically dirt-repellant. Though they have quite a bit of fur, they don't require regular baths. In fact, too much bathing can actually remove natural oils and moisture from the fur and cause itchiness. That being said, the Spitz does need bi-weekly brushings to keep the fur healthy and prevent matting.
6. Keeshond
The Keeshond is a fluffy dog, from head to tail. They have a double coat made of a thick, soft undercoat and a long, straight topcoat that puffs out. The fur on their front legs is long and feathery, while that on their back legs is short and smooth. They have a fluffy mane around the neck and curled tails that end in a fluffy plume. With all that fur, the Keeshond requires weekly brushings and sheds its undercoat seasonally.
7. Newfoundland
Newfoundlands, or Newfies, are large and fluffy. They have a thick, water-resistant double coat with a long, course topcoat and a dense undercoat. Historically, the Newfoundland's heavy coat protected it in cold and icy water when hauling in fish and rescuing people. Because of all their fur, Newfoundlands require frequent grooming to prevent matting and keep their coats healthy.
8. Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog has an iconic fluffy, gray and white coat. They have double coats that consist of a soft undercoat and a textured outer coat. The fur is neither straight nor curly, giving them a shaggy look, but requires weekly brushing to maintain a healthy coat and prevent matting. In fact, Old English Sheepdogs have such fluffy fur that, when shaved, it can be spun into yarn (much like wool).
9. Pekingese
The Pekingese is a small but fluffy dog with a double coat and long, straight hair. They have a thick mane around the neck and shoulders, as well as lots of feathering along the ears, legs, toes and tails. Regular brushing (daily, every other day or bi-weekly depending on the individual dog) will prevent matting and keep the coat healthy. The Pekingese also needs its fur trimmed around their eyes, face creases and their buttocks to prevent sores.
10. Pomeranian
Pomeranians are essentially little fur-balls. They have double coats comprised of a thick, soft undercoat and a long, puffy topcoat. They also have profuse, fluffy fur surrounding their neck, which looks much like a lion's mane. Because of the amount of fur, Pomeranians require regular grooming to keep their coat and skin healthy.
11. Poodle
Poodles naturally have coarse, curly coats. However, they can be extra fluffy when groomed and clipped in certain ways. Typical fluffy Poodle haircuts include the "English Saddle Clipped" and "Continental Clipped" coats. Though they have lots of hair, they don't shed much and are considered hypoallergenic. They do, however, require weekly brushings and regular baths to maintain their coats.
12. Rough Collie
Rough Collies are herding dogs with big, puffy coats. They have soft undercoats and dense, long topcoats. They also have a lot of fur around their neck and chest, giving the appearance of a mane. Because Rough Collies have so much fur, they don't love to swim, as their coat becomes so heavy when wet. To maintain all their fur, these dogs require weekly brushing and more frequent ones during their bi-annual sheddings.
13. Samoyed
The Samoyed is known for its fluffy, white fur. They have a dense double-coat with a short, soft and thick undercoat. The fur grows out to the topcoat, which is long and straight and keeps the undercoat relatively clean. Samoyeds have a fluffy mane around the neck and shoulders as well as a bushy tail that they use to keep warm while sleeping. Their fur is so soft and thick that it can be used to create sweaters that withstand temperatures below freezing. They shed their undercoat seasonally and shed finer hairs throughout the year, but produce less dander than other breeds. Because of this, they are considered hypoallergenic. But people with more sensitive dog allergies should beware, as it's near impossible to eliminate all dander from the Samoyed's fur.
14. Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, or "Sheltie," looks like a collie but is smaller in size. The have thick, puffy multi-colored double coats that are both water- and dirt-resistant. Their undercoat is short and dense, causing the longer topcoat to stick out from the body. They also have a lot of fur on their legs and tails as well as around their neck and chest, which looks like a mane. But the Sheltie's luxurious look means they shed often and require regular brushing to maintain.
15. Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiffs are big, puffy dogs. They have heavy double coats with a soft, wooly undercoat and a thick, long over coat with straight fur. They have profuse fur around their tail and upper thighs, as well as on their neck and shoulders, which looks like a mane. Males tend to have thicker coats and manes than females. Tibetan Mastiffs don't shed much and may not shed seasonally, depending on where they live. Despite the lack of shedding, Tibetan Mastiffs require brushing up to three times a week with a wire brush to prevent matting.