Shorthair dogs are not sought after for the softness of their coat. It also doesn't mean that they shed less than other dogs. Here is a top 10 list of shorthair breeds to give you some pointers.
1- The Jack Russell
This small dog (no more than 30 cm at the withers) belongs to the terrier family. Its name comes from an English pastor living in the 19th century who was passionate about hunting foxes and started breeding these dogs, which are very well suited to hunting hounds. This breed is also appreciated by riders because it runs fast and can follow a horse at a gallop.
Its coat is smooth, rough or both mixed. Note that the rough-coated Jack Russel sheds much less than the others, which does not prevent it from being maintained regularly. The smooth-haired Jack Russel sheds throughout the year.
2- The Boxer
This medium-sized dog (no more than 64 cm at the withers) belongs to the molosser family. Rather easy to train, this breed of dog is perfect for being around children. However, depending on the individual, it may present behavioral defects (aggressiveness, excessive fear...), so it is advisable to call in a professional to train it, especially since it is an animal with strong muscles that has long been used for fighting.
This dog sheds a lot, which can be reduced by brushing twice a week, followed by a shine. Despite its short coat, the Boxer is able to sleep outside in a shelter during the winter.
3- The Dalmatian
This medium-sized dog (no more than 60 cm at the withers) comes from a region in Croatia. Its hair is short, dense and fine, slightly shiny.
As early as the 18th century, it accompanied American firemen to bark and ward off people from passing. It then gained great popularity following the cartoon of Walt Disney.
The Dalmatian is not an indoor dog: it is athletic and gets good results in competitions such as agility or rhythmic obedience.
4- The American Staffordshire Terrier
This medium-sized dog (no more than 48 cm at the withers) belongs to the terrier family. Its hair is short, tight, and hard to the touch.
It is towards the end of the 19th century, that the American Staffordshire Terrier becomes very appreciated, not any more for its qualities related to the combat, but for its relational qualities, like dog of company. Today, in Great Britain, these dogs are named "nanny dogs", and it is not ironic! They are indeed particularly affectionate towards children. They are also truly loyal to their master. In the days when they were used in fights, their master could pull them out at any time without being bitten, despite the tension in which the animal could be.
5- The Boston Terrier
This medium-sized dog (no more than 43 cm at the withers) belongs to the family of molosses. It is of American origin. It was so popular in the United States in the 1920s that it represented 20 to 30% of the dogs shown in competitions. The Boston Terrier is easy to train because he likes to learn. They are one of the highest jumping dogs.
Its coat is short, smooth, shiny and fine and requires very little maintenance.
6- The Dachshund
This small dog (no more than 27 cm at the withers) belongs to the terrier family. It is a very versatile hunting dog, used to lift game or search for wounded game. It can also enter burrows to dislodge game. It is a dog that needs exercise and must be taken out several times a day.
The Dachshund comes in three sizes: Dachshund, Miniature Dachshund and Rabbit Hunting Dachshund. Besides the short-haired variety, there are two other varieties: wire-haired and long-haired.
Its small size does not make it a weak character: it is cunning, it has a pronounced dominant side which encourages it to want to impose itself to its master. It thus needs a tightened education.
7- The Basset Hound
This small dog (no more than 38 cm at the withers) is the heaviest of the bassets. Its morphology and its power make it a working dog with a great endurance. Its coat is smooth, short and tight, without being too fine, and does not require any particular maintenance. However, it needs regular cleaning of the ears and eyes.
It is a hunting dog that has a very good sense of smell, which is why, in the United States, the Basset Hound is used as a sniffer dog in the police or as a detector dog by companies treating insects.
Some individuals have a temperament that causes them to follow scents easily and to wander off without responding to the owner's calls. This basset hound also has a tendency to howl when it senses major changes, whines for attention and barks for food or petting. It is a dog that can be a burden on a daily basis if it is not well behaved.
8- The Beagle
This medium-sized dog (no more than 41 cm at the withers) is very popular in France. Intelligent, lively but gentle, it is a good playmate for children.
Its very short and dense coat gives it a great resistance to bad weather conditions. Appreciated by hunters for its agility, its speed and its exceptional sense of smell, it was, in the 19th century in Great Britain, very much used for hunting hares.
Of a stubborn temperament, the Beagle is however difficult to train, especially since it has a tendency to run away and, very greedy, it easily and insistently asks for its food if it is not rid of this behavior very young.
9- The Weimaraner
This large dog (no more than 63 cm at the withers) is a pointing dog of German origin, very athletic and needs to move all the time.
Its short coat reveals an athletic anatomy. Its gray color makes it a unique and very elegant animal that was the muse of the photographer William Wegman. The Weimaraner only needs to be brushed once a week, but a little more during the moulting period.
10- The Dobermann
This large dog (no more than 72 cm at the withers) takes its name from the man who created the breed. The story is not certain, but it would be a tax collector who needed courageous and combative, fast and agile defense dogs to defend the large sums of money he had to move.
The Dobermann has a short, rough, tight, smooth and close coat, without undercoat, which is why it cannot stand the cold. Tail and ears are usually cropped, except in Europe where the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals prohibits it.
Endowed with a strong character but emotionally fragile, he is very devoted to his master, who must be stable and composed.