15 Breeds Of Dogs With Wiry Hair (with PHOTOS)

If you know anything about dogs, you know there are thousands of breeds and coat types.

Maybe you’re more familiar with smooth and soft dog coats, but what about wiry coats? Some of the best-known (and best-loved) dogs in the world have a coat with a wiry texture.

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Why? Well, one reason is that these dogs don’t tend to shed much. That means that many of them are fantastic for people with allergies. There are special ways to groom wiry hair dogs, so you’ll have to learn about that before adopting your puppy.

Here are 15 breeds of dogs with wiry hair.

1. Kerry Blue Terrier

The aptly named Kerry Blue Terrier has what is called a blue coat. A blue dog coat has a dark color with blue undertones.

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a medium-sized dog that usually measures between 17.5 and 19.5 inches at the shoulder. The average weight for this breed is between 33 and 40 pounds.

The Kerry Blue Terrier needs professional grooming, which should be done every two months.

This wire-coated breed is known for its keen intelligence. Its cleverness is only matched by its frolicking temperament. The Kerry Blue Terrier is an excellent family dog, but you’ll have to be more patient with training as this pooch can be a little stubborn.

2. Standard Schnauzer

The Standard Schnauzer is an iconic breed. Male Schnauzers weigh between 35 and 50 pounds, while females weigh between 30 and 45 pounds.

Standard Schnauzer on the grass — Standard Schnauzer running on the grass.

This hypoallergenic dog’s coat has a wiry outer layer. Like other dogs with an undercoat, the Standard Schnauzer undercoat is soft, and some say it feels like cotton.

You should brush your Schnauzer at least once a week. This spunky breed has an affectionate personality and is a good choice for families. They’re easy to train as they’re highly intelligent, but they get bored easily.

3. German Wirehaired Pointer

The German Wirehaired Pointer got bred as a sporting dog. Its wiry hair stops this pooch’s skin from getting injured and keeps out water.

If you want an active dog and have plenty of space for your pet to run, a loyal German Wirehaired Pointer might be a good choice. It won’t be appropriate if you have a cat, as this breed has a strong prey drive.

One advantage of this breed is how little grooming it needs, as it only needs occasional bathing.

4. Irish Wolfhound

Do you have the space for a giant dog? The Irish Wolfhound is simply enormous. On average, it measures between 30 and 35 inches and can be as heavy as 180 pounds.

Irish Wolfhound stands — Irish Wolfhound standing on the grass.

The Irish Wolfhound is a double-coated breed. It has a wiry top coat, which protects the undercoat and skin. Irish Wolfhounds shed very little, lacking the seasonal shedding you see in many non-wiry coat breeds.

And this breed has a gentle personality.

When it comes to grooming, the Irish Wolfhound is relatively low-maintenance. Use an undercoat rake and pin brush for regular brushing. As this is such a large dog, you may want to bring it to a professional groomer when it needs to be bathed.

5. West Highland White Terrier

For a tiny dog with a wiry coat, you can’t go wrong with a West Highland White Terrier. While the top coat is wiry, the undercoat is quite soft.

When grooming this Terrier, you should give it a daily brushing. Like the other wiry breeds, the coat will also have to be stripped or clipped by a groomer regularly.

The West Highland White Terrier is great for someone looking for a dog with a spunky personality as this breed is full of energy.

6. Poodle

The Poodle is one of the best-known breeds with a wiry top coat and soft undercoat. Poodle coats will get matted if you don’t brush and groom them regularly.

black Poodle comb — Combing a black Poodle.

If you have a Poodle, you should bring it for professional grooming. If you want to do the grooming yourself, you’ll have to learn how to do it correctly. A Poodle coat requires owners to be more attentive to grooming than they would have to be with most other breeds.

This breed is extremely intelligent and responsive to training.

7. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is distinctive for its proportionately large head and small body. This feature creates an adorable look, and many owners like to accent this with haircuts. This breed comes in different color varieties, specifically mustard and pepper.

The Dandie coat grows to medium length, and you must get it groomed regularly. It has a double coat, meaning the upper coat is wiry, and the undercoat is soft.

This Terrier breed has moderate grooming needs. It doesn’t shed much, making it good for people with allergies. If you’re looking for a friendly small terrier breed, this breed is a fantastic option.

8. Airedale Terrier

The Airedale is a famous large Terrier, with a delightfully quirky look. It weighs between 50 and 70 pounds and usually measures around 23 inches at the shoulder. It’s a frisky and playful dog.

An Airedale Terrier with a top grade two color coat.

The Airedale is a double-coated canine. The topcoat is wiry, while the undercoat is soft. If you want an Airedale, you have to know how to hand-strip the coat.

You’ll also need to groom your Airedale regularly. This dog should be bathed and fully groomed at least four times annually, but they must get brushed a few times a week.

9. Wirehaired Fox Terrier

A male Wirehaired Fox Terrier weighs around 18 pounds, while a female average between 15 and 17 pounds. This breed is a famously friendly dog, and it’s very playful. As a Terrier, the Wirehaired Fox Terrier is energetic and needs plenty of stimulation.

You should groom this dog moderately frequently. Like other dogs with a wiry coat, this breed doesn’t shed much.

This dog has a medium-length coat. Of course, you’ll need to do regular brushing and occasional full grooming.

10. Scottish Terrier

As its hair grows relatively long, the Scottish Terrier needs more grooming than some other wiry-haired breeds. Yet it’s still a low shedder, which is useful to know.

Black Scottish Terrier sitting on the ground.

There are two main options for Scottish Terrier grooming: creative clipping and hand-stripping. Weekly grooming is needed for a hand-stripped Scottish Terrier. Scottish Terriers with a creative clip will need to be seen by the groomer around once a month.

You’ll also need to brush your Scottish Terrier. This brushing will help take out the loose and shedding undercoat. It’s also necessary for removing any topcoat hairs that fall out.

11. Otterhound

The Otterhound is much rarer than most of the breeds I’ve listed here. An interesting fact is that breeders used it to create the Airedale Terrier.

Otterhounds have some unusual characteristics. For example, they have an unusual gait. Some people compare it to shuffling.

The Otterhound has a double coat, with a water-resistant topcoat and soft undercoat.

This dog’s coat can grow to between two and six inches in length. Some Otterhound owners notice their individual dogs have extremely oily coats. Be aware that this breed sheds more than some other wiry-coated dog breeds.

12. Irish Terrier

As implied by its name, the Irish Terrier originally hailed from Ireland.

In common with most other wiry-coated breeds, the Irish Terrier has a double coat. The topcoat is wiry, while the undercoat is soft. The topcoat has wiry hairs that help guard the undercoat and skin.

Most Irish Terrier coats have a red wheaten color.

Remember to brush your Irish Terrier twice or three times weekly. If you don’t get professional grooming for this breed, you will probably have to brush them daily.

13. Brussels Griffon

If you’re looking for a toy dog with a wiry coat, the Brussels Griffon is worth considering. One unique thing about this dog is its coat’s rough texture.

For such a small dog, the Brussels Griffon is surprisingly lively. They can be noisy, too. That is because of how watchful and alert they tend to be.

So make sure they have lots of time to play and burn off energy.

Brussels Griffons are moderate shedders. So, they’ll need grooming, but not as often as you might expect.

14. Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher is small, weighing between 7 and 10 pounds. Its height at the shoulder is usually between 9 and 11.5 inches. One of this breed’s strengths is how friendly it is.

Affenpinscher on a leash — Affenpinscher out on a leash.

It’s also quite playful and tends to be adaptable.

Unlike most of the other wiry-coated dogs I’ve listed here, the Affenpinscher has only a single coat. This coat has a wiry texture, notably textured and thick.

Although it doesn’t shed much, it does need grooming. Make sure to give your Affenpinscher weekly brushing. You will probably need a slicker brush and a metal rake comb.

15. Border Terrier

Like many other Terrier breeds, the Border Terrier has a double coat. The undercoat is noticeably dense. The top coat, of course, has a wiry texture.

Make sure to brush your Border Terrier twice a week.

Like other wire-coated breeds with a double-coat, the Border Terrier coat needs periodic stripping, around twice a year. But, you shouldn’t bathe a Border Terrier too often.

If you shampoo it too much, the top coat might stop being effective at keeping dirt away from the skin. Bring your Border Terrier to a groomer for his occasional shampoo sessions.

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen here, there are plenty of fantastic dogs with wiry hair coats. Are you thinking about adopting one? Do your research and go to a reputable breeder.

And, of course, know how to groom your dog’s coat.