Big Fluffy Dog Breeds: 15 Big Fluffy Dogs You’ll Want to Cuddle

Big fluffy dog breeds make for wonderful cuddly companions. There’s nothing better than wrapping your arms around a big, fluffy puppy and burying your face into their fleecy coats. Although giant fluffy dog breeds can be the best companions on a cold night, they require considerable exercise and a good amount of grooming.

If you are looking for a canine pal larger than life and has plenty of shaggy furs to run your fingers through, then a big fluffy dog breed may be just what you are looking for. Many of these breeds possess big hearts and teddy bear-like personalities and can brighten up any household. Read on if you want to learn more about big fluffy dog breeds and need help selecting one.

What Makes a Dog Fluffy?

Before discussing the various big fluffy breeds, it makes sense first to define what makes a dog fluffy. In most cases, breeds considered fluffy are those that have a double coat. This means that there are two layers to the fur coat, an undercoat and a top coat. The undercoat consists of short hairs (woolly in texture) and the upper coat has longer hairs often called guard hairs. As a result, double-coated dogs are fluffier because they have a denser undercoat. Although double-coated dogs require a bit of grooming, the undercoat does help insulate these dogs from cold and wet weather, especially if they are bred for a certain type of job.

Twelve Big Fluffy Dog Breeds

If you are looking for a big, fluffy canine companion, there are many breeds and varieties to choose from. It is important to know that many of these breeds were originally bred as working dogs, requiring a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Also, many of these dogs are quite large and easily weigh between 50 and 150 pounds,

1. The Great Pyrenees

A well-known, big fluffy dog breed is the Great Pyrenees. This Pyrenees is quite ancient, and for hundreds of years, these dogs worked with sheepherders in the Pyrenees Mountain range between Spain and France. Bred as companions and guard dogs, the Great Pyrenees was designated the Royal Dog of France in 1645, and they are known for their devoted yet independent nature. Today, the Great Pyrenees is a popular livestock guard dog for sheep, alpacas, and other herd livestock.

If you are looking for the Great Pyrenees to add to your family, be aware that they do take up quite a bit of room. Male Great Pyrenees dogs average between 25-35 inches in height, averaging around 100 pounds. Females range from 25-30 inches high, and weigh a bit less than the males, about 85 pounds. Like Saint Bernard, the Great Pyrenees may not reach their full size until two years of age.

This fluffy canine is large, muscular, and has a thick double coat of fur that is most often white, or white with patches of gray, pale yellow, or tan. The Great Pyrenees is a calm, loving, devoted, and well-mannered dog that makes it ideal for a family, but because it is such a fluffy, cuddly dog, it will require quite a bit of grooming.

2. The Siberian Husky

The Siberian Husky has long been known as a rugged sled dog and possesses a thick, double coat of hair to protect it from cold and wet temperatures. As working dogs, they have immeasurable endurance, are quite social, and are always ready for adventure. This breed can live comfortably in any environment (home or apartment) provided it gets plenty of exercises.

Male Huskies typically weigh around 40-60 pounds, and females between 35-50 pounds. This northern breed is smaller and lighter than their cousin, the Alaskan Malamute, and as born pack dogs, they enjoy family life and get on well with other dogs.

Although the Husky does have a thick fur coat, this breed needs very little grooming. It”s not necessary to trim the hair, just regular brushing to remove any dead hair. Like other giant fluffy dog breeds, the Husky will shed its undercoat at least once a year, so it”s essential to keep this variety well-grooming during the shedding season.

3. The Newfoundland

The Newfoundland is a large, heavy-coated dog known for its glossy, black fluffy fur. The breed was first developed in Newfoundland as a working companion to fishermen, and they are legendary for their powerful swimming ability and history of spectacular water rescues.

The “Newfie” male is typically around 28-30 inches tall and ranges in weight from 130-150 pounds. Females are a bit smaller, standing at 26 inches tall and weighing between 100-120 pounds. As a big, fluffy breed, grooming is crucial, both for c and health. The Newfoundland hair coat needs to be brushed regularly to remove dead hairs, and nails should be kept to a short length.

Newfies can come in other colors such as black with white or brown with white markings and are loving and make great family dogs. They are intelligent, gentle, and can be protective of family members and children. Because of their size, they do need regular exercise and can make wonderful hiking and exploring companions. If you happen to live in an area near water, the Newfie would be in its element.

4. The Leonberger

The Leonberger is a fluffy-coated, large and powerful mountain breed of German origin. They are very gentle and patient and adore human companionship. Bred as watchdogs and working dogs, these canines are known for their intelligence and loyalty.

Males can be around 31 inches tall, and weigh up to 150 pounds. Females are a bit smaller in height and can weigh up to 130 pounds. This breed is known for its lush hair coat and lion-like mane around the neck. They come in several different colors, such as red, yellow, sandy, and mahogany. Leonbergers require brushing at least once a week and shed moderately at least twice a year.

The Leonberger is a lively breed, intelligent, courageous, and affectionate. These dogs are very loving, friendly, stable, and calm, and are known to possess incredible patience, even with the most rambunctious children. The Leonberger does not need a lot of exercises, however, this variety enjoys going on walks and hikes with their humans. They also love to be included in any family outing and can adaptable to almost any situation.

5. The Bernese Mountain Dog

The Bernese mountain dog is one of the four Swiss mountain breeds and is known for its strength and muscular build, as well as for its fluffy hair coat. It was first developed as an all-purpose, working farm dog used to guard and herd cattle in the Alps of western Switzerland. They were trained to pull carts and do light draft work on farms.

The Bernese is large, with the male measuring 25-27 inches tall, and the female 23-26 inches tall. Males generally weigh around 120 pounds and females around 75 pounds. This breed makes for an excellent canine companion and is loving, alert, good-natured, and willing to please and learn new things.

The Bernese is known for its shiny tri-colored coat that consists of a background color of black, with white, red, or brown markings. Their hair coat is thicker and longer than the Great Pyrenees and does requires frequent brushing and grooming.

READ MORE: Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle Mix Personality, Temperament, Grooming and Adoption

6. The Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards have been portrayed in several films as loyal, happy-go-lucky, big, fluffy creatures known for mountain search and rescue. These dogs are huge powerful, and muscular dogs. Saint Bernard is thought to have been first bred as a watchdog at a monastery in the Swiss Alps in the 11th century.

Male Saint Bernards can range between 28 and 30 inches in height and weigh between 140 and 180 pounds. Females may vary between 26 and 28 inches in height and weigh between 120 and 140 pounds. Like most large breeds, Saint Bernards take longer than smaller breeds to mature and are not considered fully grown until they are 2-3 years old.

Saint Bernards can be either longhaired or shorthaired, with red and white, brown and white, or brindle and white coat colors. Their eyes are typically a bit droopy, and they are known for their big jowls which make for a bit of drooling. Saint Bernards shed twice a year (spring and fall), and regular brushing and grooming can help reduce shedding.

READ MORE: Saint Bernard and Poodle Mix Size, Personality and Care

7. The Tibetan Mastiff

The Tibetan Mastiff is another intelligent, independent mountain breed that is known for its protectiveness, extreme loyalty, fluffy hai coat, and love for his family. Bred to be a guard dog for villages in the mountains of Tibet, this variety is independent and suspicious of strangers and may be prone to barking when alarmed.

The Tibetan has a characteristic heavy coat and a bushy tail that curves over his back, and both males and females can weigh between 80-150 pounds. Unlike some of the other mountain breeds, this breed does not necessarily require a lot of exercises but does enjoy walks and hikes.

The Tibetan Mastiff has an impressive mane that covers the neck and shoulders and a long, thick coat. These dogs need to be groomed at least twice a week to remove shed hair and to prevent tangles, and depending on the climate, may shed up to twice a year.

8. The Samoyed

Another big fluffy dog breed is the Samoyed. Although this variety is not as big as others discussed in this article, it is one of the fluffiest. The Samoyed is known for its impressive, thick, and fluffy snow-white coat, and may need daily grooming, especially during shedding season.

This breed gets its name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia and was bred for herding, hunting, protection, and sled-pulling. Males tend to weigh between 45-65 pounds and females between 30-50 pounds.

Samoyeds need lots of regular grooming to keep that impressive, fluffy coat from going bonkers. As mentioned above, this breed must be brushed at least every other day to prevent matting. When grooming, you can start brushing with a large pin brush at the base of the Samoyed’s coat and brush out to the ends to remove any tangles or mats.

READ MORE: White Dog Breeds

9. The Karakachan

The Karakachan is another big, fluffy breed used for centuries by nomadic shepherds of Bulgaria, where the variety originated. Considered one of Europe’s oldest breeds, the Karakachan is known for its intelligence, loyalty, patience, and protective nature.

The Karakachan male ranges in height from 25-30 inches and can weigh up to 120 pounds. The females range from 24-27 inches in height and can weigh up to 99 pounds. This breed does need a good brushing several times a week to remove any dirt and debris and to prevent tangles and mats from forming. Also, the Karakachan does tend to shed more heavily than other fluffy dog breeds and will most likely need daily brushing and grooming.

The Karakachan dog is robust and stout and, like the Newfoundland, has a thick, fluffy coat that comes in a variety of colors, from black, black, and white, to brown and white. Because the Karakachan is a herding dog, it can be very territorial and is very protective of its flock and family. Karakachans can make great family dogs if properly socialized, trained, and exercised, however, they are not ideal for apartment or city living and are not recommended for first-time dog owners.

10. The Eurasier

The Eurasier is a new, giant fluffy dog breed developed in Germany about 50 years ago. Originally bred from Keeshonds, Chow Chows, and Samoyeds, the Eurasier is known for its vast coat, which is easy to groom but will require brushing at least once or twice a week to remove dead hair. This breed also sheds about twice a year, in which case daily brushing will be necessary. ^[1]

Males weigh between 50–70 pounds, and females 40-57 pounds. Eurasiers are even-tempered and calm dogs and can be reserved towards strangers without being aggressive. Eurasiers make great loyal family dogs and love to spend time with their humans. As a result, they do not do well being by themselves and prefer to be in the company of their humans and other pets.

11. The Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes have big, fluffy, dense coats that are very thick to protect them from freezing Arctic climates. These dogs are one of the oldest Arctic breeds and were bred to transport sleds and goods over long distances. Alaskan Malamutes come in color combinations of white and gray, black, or sable, and have friendly white faces and big fluffy tails.

Males typically weigh about 85 pounds, and females weigh about 75 pounds. However, it’s not unusual for a well-muscled male or female to top out at 100 pounds. The Malamute does require regular brushing and grooming and can be bathed as frequently as once a week if needed.

The Alaskan Malamute can be a wonderful family pet and is known to be intelligent, fun-loving, and social. Its characteristic intelligence makes it easy to train.

RELATED: Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky Differences

12. The Old English Sheepdog

Perhaps the fluffiest big dog breed is the Old English Sheepdog, a breed that originated in England and was bred from early types of herding dogs. The Old English Sheepdog is a large dog, immediately recognizable by its long, thick, shaggy grey and white hair coat, with fur covering the face and eyes.

This breed is considered a large breed, with males weighing up to 90 pounds and females up to 80 pounds. This breed is known to be a moderate shedder, and because of its thick, dense fur coat, does require a lot of grooming.

These gray and white fluff-balls are known for their easy-going nature and are one of the few double-coated dogs that may need professional grooming, especially if the fur gets out of control. However, if you don”t want to bother with the groomer, it’s important to brush out your Old English Sheepdogs weekly.

How to Care for Your Big Fluffy Dog

If your dog has an especially fluffy coat, there is often a greater deal of work involved in grooming. Double-coated fluffy breeds shed their undercoats at least twice a year. This process can take several weeks, but it is critical to know about this hair growth and loss stage because your dog requires more intense grooming during this period.

Depending on your dog’s fur, plenty of tools are designed specifically for this purpose, such as a shedding rake. With minimal effort, a shedding rake will remove the bulk of excess dog fur momentarily. In the worst-case scenario, you may need to cut out the matted fur on a dog with severe matting if it will not come out with a fine-toothed comb. It is common to use slicker brushes and detangling products to help remove matted fur while not damaging healthy fur.

FAQ

Article Sources:

1. “Keeshond Dog Breed Information.” Purina, purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/dog-breeds/keeshond.