Dog Breeds With Curly Hair: Coat, Size and Care

The Portuguese Water Dog and the Pumi are the two dogs clearly described as having curly hair. The Portuguese Water Dog has a curly-coated variety, while the Pumi has a double coat that mixes wavy and curly hair.

These coats may look similar at first, but they are built differently and need different grooming routines. Size, character and working background also matter when you are deciding which dog may suit you.

Curly-haired dog breeds at a glance

• Portuguese Water Dog: A medium-sized, robust dog with either a curly or wavy single-layered coat. It needs brushing every other day and trimming about every two months.
• Pumi: A medium-small herding dog with a thick double coat containing both wavy and curly hair. It is lively, intelligent, alert, trainable and somewhat vocal.
• Curly-Coated Retriever: This dog is named in an account of retriever ancestry. However, that account does not provide enough detail to compare its present-day coat, size or grooming needs with the other two dogs.

How the curly coats compare

Portuguese Water Dog coat

The Portuguese Water Dog comes in curly-coated and wavy-haired varieties. On the curly variety, the hair forms compact, cylindrical curls. Some dogs may be curly across the body but have wavier hair on the ears and tail.

This is a single-layered coat. A single coat has little or no downy undercoat, so it differs from the two-layer coat found on the Pumi.

Portuguese Water Dog coats may be black, brown, black and white, or brown and white. Entirely black dogs are also described, as are dogs with white markings on the chest or legs. Under Portugal’s breed standard, white markings cannot cover more than 30% of the dog.

Pumi coat

The Pumi has a thick, medium-length double coat. Its hair is approximately 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) long and combines wavy and curly sections.

The outer layer is a harsh topcoat. Beneath it sits a soft undercoat. Together, these layers create a coat with little to no shedding. Grey is the most common Pumi color in Hungary, where there are over 2,000 Pumis registered.

Single and double coats are not the same

Curly-haired dogs do not all have one standard coat type. The Portuguese Water Dog has a single coat, but the Pumi has guard hairs and a soft insulating undercoat.

This difference is important when you plan grooming. Neither coat should simply be left alone because curls and mixed textures can become matted when neglected.

Size and build

Portuguese Water Dog size

The Portuguese Water Dog is medium-sized and robust. Males are about 20 to 23 inches (51 to 58 cm) tall and weigh between 40 and 60 pounds (18 and 27 kg).

Females are about 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 cm) tall and weigh between 35 and 50 pounds (16 and 23 kg).

Pumi size

The Pumi is a medium-small dog. Male Pumis stand 41 to 47 cm (16 to 19 in) and weigh 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb).

Females stand 38 to 44 cm (15 to 17 in) and weigh 8 to 13 kg (18 to 29 lb).

For a quick comparison, the main measurements are:

• Portuguese Water Dog male: about 20 to 23 inches (51 to 58 cm); between 40 and 60 pounds (18 and 27 kg).
• Portuguese Water Dog female: about 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 cm); between 35 and 50 pounds (16 and 23 kg).
• Pumi male: 41 to 47 cm (16 to 19 in); 10 to 15 kg (22 to 33 lb).
• Pumi female: 38 to 44 cm (15 to 17 in); 8 to 13 kg (18 to 29 lb).

Grooming curly-haired dogs

Portuguese Water Dog grooming

A Portuguese Water Dog should be brushed every other day. Its coat should also be trimmed about every two months. Keeping to this recurring routine helps prevent the curls from becoming matted.

Two standard clips are described for this breed. The lion cut removes the hair from the hindquarters, muzzle and base of the tail. Approximately 1/3 of the tail hair is left long.

The retriever cut leaves the coat one inch (2.5 cm) long and even across the body. Some owners shorten the hair around the muzzle or the base of the tail as part of this clip.

Pumi grooming

A Pumi should be combed every few weeks and trimmed every two to four months. This routine needs to reach both the harsh outer hair and the soft undercoat. Neglect can allow the mixed wavy and curly coat to mat.

Professional grooming costs are not the same in every country or area. If you need help planning the ongoing expense, ask a nearby groomer or vet about local services and prices.

Temperament, work and everyday suitability

Living with a Pumi

The Pumi is an active herding dog. It is described as intelligent, lively, alert, trainable, protective and somewhat vocal. It needs physical activity, early training and regular mental stimulation.

Herding, agility, obedience and learning tricks can help keep a Pumi occupied. Without suitable ways to use its natural behaviour, it may dig, bark or try to herd people.

The right amount of daily exercise will depend on the individual dog and your local situation. A nearby vet can help you set an appropriate routine.

The breed became officially recognized in the United States in 2011 and in the United Kingdom in 2015.

The Portuguese Water Dog’s working past

The Portuguese Water Dog originated in Portugal’s Algarve region and later worked along the country’s coast. Its fishing jobs included herding fish into nets, recovering lost tackle or broken nets, and carrying messages between ships or from ships to shore.

Prominent webbing between the toes helps the dog swim. This physical feature fits closely with the breed’s history of working around fishing boats and coastal waters.

The breed has not always appeared in large numbers at major events. Only 36 Portuguese Water Dogs were entered for Crufts in Great Britain in 2013.

The Curly-Coated Retriever ancestry account

The Curly-Coated Retriever is linked to the extinct St. John’s water dog. In England, the St. John’s water dog was crossed with other dogs to create retrievers.

The ancestor itself was described as having a short, thick, water-resistant coat rather than a curly one. It was a strong swimmer and worked from fishing boats, retrieving lines or nets.

Dog restrictions and taxes in Newfoundland, together with a UK quarantine imposed in 1885, contributed to the St. John’s water dog becoming extinct. This ancestry explains a water-working connection, but it does not provide enough information to compare the modern Curly-Coated Retriever’s coat care or size here.

Are curly-haired dogs hypoallergenic?

Some Portuguese Water Dog breeders describe the breed as hypoallergenic. Its non-shedding coat may be better tolerated by some people who have dog allergies.

Others point out that there is no scientific evidence that hypoallergenic dog breeds exist. It is therefore better not to treat a curly or non-shedding coat as a guarantee that a dog will not affect your allergies.

How an allergy sufferer should assess an individual dog before adoption can vary. Speak with a nearby vet for guidance suited to your circumstances rather than relying only on the dog’s coat label.

Choosing between these curly-haired dogs

The Portuguese Water Dog offers a defined curly-coated variety, a robust medium-sized build and a long history of fishing work. Its single coat needs brushing every other day and trimming about every two months.

The Pumi is smaller and has a double coat mixing wavy and curly hair. It needs combing every few weeks, trimming every two to four months, early training, physical activity and plenty of mental stimulation.

Whichever curly-haired dog appeals to you, look beyond the curls. Consider the coat layers, grooming schedule, adult size and natural behaviour. A beautiful curly coat stays manageable only when its care fits comfortably into your everyday life.