A curly-coated dog has hair that grows in loops or spirals rather than lying flat. Curls can be tight and woolly (think Poodles) or looser and wavy (often called a “fleece” coat). Curly coats tend to trap loose hair, so they shed less onto your furniture—but they mat more easily and need regular brushing and professional grooming.

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Breeds that are curly by default

Examples include Poodles (Toy, Miniature, Standard), Bichon Frise, Bedlington Terrier, Portuguese Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel, Lagotto Romagnolo, Spanish Water Dog, and Curly-Coated Retriever.

Note on popular crosses: dogs like Cavapoo, Cavachon, Cockapoo, Labradoodle, Yorkiepoo, Schnoodle etc. can look curly, but their coats vary a lot. Littermates can be curly, wavy/fleece, or straight “hair” coats—even within the same breed mix.

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Common coat types you’ll see in crosses

• Curly/Wool – tight corkscrew curls; very low shed; highest mat risk.

• Fleece/Wavy – loose waves or ringlets; usually low shed; mats in friction areas.

• Straight/Hair – flatter, silkier hair; may shed more; lower mat risk but still tangles.

• Mixed/Uneven – curly on ears/legs, wavy on body, straighter on face or tail.

(Behind the scenes, curl and “furnishings” genes decide this—hence the variety.)

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How to tell what you’ve got

• After a bath and air-dry: tight spirals = curly/wool; loose S-waves = fleece; lies flat = hair coat.

• Comb test: can you comfortably comb to the skin everywhere? If not, you’re likely dealing with curl/fleece and early matting.

• Shedding check: lots of hair on the brush usually means a straighter “hair” coat.

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