We often associate “slim” with bones showing through bare skin, but that’s not always the case.
There are plenty of skinny dog breeds with long hair masking the scrawny figure—or maybe the coat is just a few strategically placed patches that add character to the gaunt look rather than hide it.
Let’s dive right in and see how long canine coats work with scrawny figures!
Lovable Scrawny Dogs With Gorgeous Locks
1. Silken Windhound
- Lifespan: 12-20 years
- Weight: 22-55 pounds
- Height: 18-24 inches
- Coat: Silky
When we crafted our list of the top 10 skinny dogs, we ended with the Silken Windhound. So, let’s get things started with this long-haired beauty this time around.
The breed is known for its silky-smooth coat with feathering around the face. These pups can have medium or long hair, but it’s usually slightly shorter on the limbs.
Note that this skinny breed isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) yet.
2. Poodle
- Lifespan: 10-18 years
- Weight: 40-70 pounds
- Height: 15 inches
- Coat: Curly
The curly hair makes poodles look like fluffy pillows. Yet, if you shave the coat off, you’ll see how skinny these pups are.
Aside from being important for dog shows, the long coat is also considered low-allergen and low-shedding!
3. Afghan Hound
- Lifespan: 12-18 years
- Weight: 50-60 pounds
- Height: 25-27 inches
- Coat: Silky
Picture this: a greyhound wearing a wig. That’s how we’d describe the Afghan hound.
Don’t let the glamorous supermodel look fool you; these dogs are aloof and playful. Of course, once they start running around, the wind pulls back their hair to expose just how scrawny they are.
4. Irish Wolfhound
- Lifespan: 6-8 years
- Weight: 105-120 pounds
- Height: 30-32 inches
- Coat: Wiry
It’s hard to say that a dog that weighs over 100 pounds is skinny. However, once you consider the average height, you’ll find this breed is rather slender.
That said, the coat on these well-behaved pups is more medium-length than long. The messy beard makes the coat seem longer, though.
5. Scottish Deerhound
- Lifespan: 8-11 years
- Weight: 75-110 pounds
- Height: 28-32 inches
- Coat: Wiry
Even with a double coat, you can tell that the deerhound is fairly slender (but not bony).
In terms of texture and coat type, this breed is similar to the Irish Wolfhound. However, its AKC-accepted colors are more limited; it comes in gray, brindle gray, and blue-gray. Unlike wolfhounds, deerhounds can’t be red, white, or cream-colored.
6. Irish Setter
- Lifespan: 12-15 years
- Weight: 60-70 pounds
- Height: 25-27 inches
- Coat: Silky
What’s red, vocal, and has a fringe of hair dangling from its tummy? It’s the outgoing Irish setter!
Although Irish setters have medium-length coats all over their bodies, the hair gets a bit long around the tail, belly, chest, and ears. This is what creates the “fringe-like” look.
To meet the AKC’s show standards, some pet parents might opt to trim the coat around the neck and face. Doing so helps highlight the dog’s slender figure.
7. Saluki
- Lifespan: 10-17 years
- Weight: 40-65 pounds
- Height: 23-28 inches
- Coat: Smooth
Saluki is a short-haired breed. Why is it on the list? Well, you can’t deny how long the hair is on their ears and the underside of their tails.
Interestingly, Saluki dogs are one of the oldest (around 5,000 years old!) dog breeds. In fact, they were considered royal companions in ancient Egypt!
8. Kyrgyz Taigan
- Lifespan: 11-13 years
- Weight: 35-55 pounds
- Height: 23-27 inches
- Coat: Smooth
As the name implies, this breed is native to Kyrgyzstan and is embedded deep into the region’s folklore.
Overall, the Taigan looks like the Saluki; they both have short coats over their bodies, with longer hairs on the ears and tails.
However, the Taigan’s unrollable tail “ring” is a key distinguishing feature. Plus, the breed develops an undercoat during the winter.
The sad news is that purebred Kyrgyz Taigan dogs are hard to come by nowadays.
9. Borzoi
- Lifespan: 9-14 years
- Weight: 60-105 pounds
- Height: 26-28 inches
- Coat: Curly/Silky
If it weren’t for the elongated muzzle, the Borzoi would look like the Taigan. How long, you ask? Well, it’s as long as the dog’s skull!
Unlike the Taigan, the Borzi is recognized by many clubs. So you won’t have a hard time registering it with the UKC, AKC, or FCI.
10. Bedlington Terrier
- Lifespan: 11-16 years
- Weight: 17-23 pounds
- Height: 15-17 inches
- Coat: Curly
While we’re speaking of weird-looking muzzles, we have to mention the Bedlington Terrier.
At first glance, these fluffy fellows look more like lambs than dogs, thanks to their curl-coated faces.
Compared to other dogs on the list, this breed’s coat would be considered medium instead of long. However, the hair on the lithe legs is usually kept longer than the rest of the body.
11. Portuguese Water Dog
- Lifespan: 11-13 years
- Weight: 35-60 pounds
- Height: 17-23 inches
- Coat: Curly/wavy
People used to give water dogs the “Continental Clip.” This means shaving from the navel and backward to give the hind parts a wide movement range while keeping the chest area warm.
Ironically, doing so on a breed with such a dense coat makes it look like the pup is wearing skinny jeans with a fluffy top!
12. Long-Haired Dachshunds
- Lifespan: 12-16 years
- Weight: 20-26 pounds
- Height: 8-9 inches
- Coat: Smooth
According to Dachshund Health UK, you should be able to feel (but not see) Dachshunds’ ribs. So, they’re not the skinniest on the list, but they’re definitely lean.
The long-haired varieties usually have soft and straight hair. Yet, it’s possible to notice slightly wavy parts.
It’s also worth noting that these beauties are prone to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), and regular screening is vital.
13. Löwchen
- Lifespan: 13-15 years
- Weight: 15 pounds
- Height: 12-14 inches
- Coat: Wavy
If you loved the continental clip on porties, you’ll probably appreciate the lion clip on the Löwchen dogs.
This clip highlights how skinny these dogs are under their dense, long coats. No wonder it was a favorite among European ladies of the court!
Plus, these scrawny affectionate pooches come in a lot of coats, from black to fawn.
14. Hairless Khala
- Lifespan: 10-14 years
- Weight: 26-55 pounds
- Height: 19-29 inches
- Coat: Tuft only
We get that it’s a bit counterintuitive to include a breed with “hairless” in its name on this list.
These dogs have a predisposition to hair loss, which leaves them bald pretty much everywhere. However, we find that the long mohawk-like tuft on top of their heads is a compelling reason to mention them.
15. Chinese Crested
- Lifespan: 13-18 years
- Weight: 8-12 pounds
- Height: 11-13 inches
- Coat: Hairless (with silky patches)
Last on the list, we have yet another breed that’s technically both hairless and long-haired. The Chinese crested dogs are bald all over their bodies except for the head, feet, and tail—did anyone say pigtails and fluffy socks?
Add to that the spotted pink skin, and you get quite a fashionable toy dog!
All dogs from this breed are lean, but the “deer” type is skinnier than the “cobby” one. However, it’s hard to find pure deers today, and most pups are a mix of the two types.
Final Thoughts
Long coats can sometimes change a dog’s figure completely, like the Afghan hound that suddenly doesn’t look all that skinny with its luscious locks.
Meanwhile, a few sparse long hairs can add character to other scrawny breeds, like the khala and its mohawk.
Keep in mind that many of these lovable pups with long hair require regular grooming to keep their coats clean, shiny, and presentable!
