Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?

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Goldendoodles are loving dogs that are good with kids and make excellent family pets. 

But what if a member of your household is allergic to dogs and other companion animals? It’s often said that certain breeds of dogs don’t shed hair, making them the ideal choice for allergy sufferers. So, is a Goldendoodle hypoallergenic?

Read this guide to find out if a Goldendoodle is the ideal choice of canine companion for you if a member of your family has a pet allergy.

What Does “Hypoallergenic” Mean?

Hypoallergenic means “slightly” or “below average” allergenic.

Happy Goldendoodle getting a belly rub

The term is generally used to refer to something that causes fewer allergic reactions.

What Causes Pet Allergies?

An allergic reaction happens when your immune system becomes hypersensitive to a particular substance, the “allergen.” 

Your body’s immune system is there to respond to substances that it perceives as being harmful. When an allergen is detected, your immune system tries to destroy the allergen. That results in sneezing, itchy eyes, skin rashes, and other unpleasant symptoms.

In the case of dogs, the allergen is a protein, Can f 1 that’s found in canine saliva, urine, hair roots, mucus, and in the dander that falls off the animal’s skin.

How Do You Know If You’re Allergic To Dogs?

If you have a pet allergy, you’ll most likely start to sneeze, your eyes will become itchy and streaming, and you may develop a tickly throat or even a skin rash.

Why Are Some People Not Allergic?

It’s really the luck of the draw!

Some people are simply not allergic to animals because their immune system is not triggered by the presence of pet dander. However, interestingly, you might have someone in your household that’s allergic to your pet cat but not to your dog. It’s just a question of what a person’s immune system is most sensitive to.

And, sometimes, a person can be allergic to certain breeds of dogs but not to others! Who knew?!

Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic Or Not?

Here’s where I dispel a popular urban myth … Goldendoodles are not hypoallergenic.

In point of fact, there are no dogs on earth that can be said to be truly hypoallergenic. 

How so?

Well, any dog, even a hairless breed, such as the Chinese Crested Dog, for example, can cause an allergic reaction in someone who has a dog allergy. That’s because every dog produces dander. All dogs lick themselves, so there will always be some dried saliva on the dog’s skin, and that dried saliva will be shed along with skin flakes.

In the dry atmosphere of your home, those tiny, lightweight flakes of dander drift onto the carpet. As soon as someone walks across the carpet, the dander is disturbed and floats up into the air, where the allergy sufferer inhales it. And an allergic reaction is triggered.

Why Are Goldendoodles Considered To Be Hypoallergenic?

In certain cases, some dogs are considered to be hypoallergenic, including Goldendoodles.

Why is that?

Young boy being playful and loving on his large white dog

Well, as you know, a Goldendoodle is part Golden Retriever and part Poodle. Although the Golden Retriever has a long double coat that does shed, the Poodle’s coat is just one single layer that barely sheds at all. So, by crossing the two breeds, you get a dog that sheds minimally. Hence the Goldendoodle is widely thought of as hypoallergenic.

As you’ve learned, the term “hypoallergenic” simply means that the risk of an allergic reaction is minimal or much reduced. That doesn’t mean that you won’t suffer any allergic reaction at all if you choose to keep a Goldendoodle as opposed to any other breed.

Multi-Generation Goldendoodles And Shedding

A standard Goldendoodle is a cross between a purebred Golden Retriever and a purebred Poodle. However, multi-generation Goldendoodles are also extremely popular, primarily because they are very low-shedding.

Basically, the degree of shedding of each individual dog depends on the amount of Poodle it carries in its genes. It’s worth mentioning here that every Doodle is different! Many times, you won’t know exactly what coat type your puppy will have or what color he will turn out to be until he’s finished maturing.

Which Multi-Generation Goldendoodles Are Best For Allergy Sufferers?

Bearing in mind the caveat I mentioned above, let’s take a look at what multi-generation Goldendoodles are theoretically best for pet allergy sufferers. Remember, every dog sheds to some degree, and it’s the dander that causes allergies, not merely the dog’s hair.

  • F1 Goldendoodle = 50% Poodle
  • F1B Goldendoodle = 75% Poodle
  • F1BB Goldendoodle = 87.5% Poodle
  • F2 Goldendoodle = 50% Poodle
  • F2B Goldendoodle = 62.5% Poodle
  • F2BB Goldendoodle = 81.25% Poodle

You can also find F3 Goldendoodles that are created by backcrossing several generations of Goldendoodle to the Standard Poodle.

So, if you want a Goldendoodle that doesn’t shed much, I recommend that you go for an F1B or an F1BB dog.

Grooming Tips To Reduce Allergies Caused By Your Goldendoodle

As well as choosing the most low-shedding generation of Goldendoodle, you can further minimize the risk of your pet triggering allergies by following these top grooming tips:

Bathe Your Dog Frequently

Goldendoodle coats are renowned for being grime magnets, picking up all kinds of detritus when you’re out walking. For that reason, you’ll most likely need to bathe your pet quite regularly anyway. However, if you have allergy sufferers in your home, you can help dramatically reduce the allergens that dander causes by bathing your dog more frequently.

Choose a special dog shampoo formulated to reduce shedding, which can help to further control the amount of hair and dander that your dog loses. Never use human shampoo on your dog! The chemicals used in human cosmetic products are not balanced to suit canine skin and could harm your pet.

Brush Your Goldendoodle Every Day

Goldendoodles have a double coat, consisting of a soft, fluffy undercoat that keeps the dog insulated against cold and heat and a top coat of longer, water-repellent guard hairs.

The fluffy undercoat is prone to matting and tangling, which can lead to skin irritation and infections that will stimulate the dog’s skin to produce excessive amounts of dander. The dog will also lick himself more in an attempt to remove the irritating itching underneath the matted hair.

The only way to control those annoying mats is by brushing your Goldendoodle every day. Make sure that you brush the coat right down to the skin, working over the whole animal from nose to tail, not forgetting his legs!

Did you know that daily brushing with a high-quality slicker brush will get rid of loose undercoat hairs, reducing shedding and thereby cutting the risk of allergens by up to 90%? Read the article at this link to learn how to brush your Goldendoodle and discover some of the best essential items that you’ll need for your grooming kit.

Get Your Goldendoodle Clipped

As well as brushing and bathing your Goldendoodle, you might want to consider getting him professionally groomed every four to six weeks.

There are lots of super-smart and trendy clip styles that are popular with Goldendoodle owners, which can be extremely helpful when it comes to controlling allergens. Alternatively, why not take a few grooming lessons, invest in a good set of dog clippers, and do the job yourself? 

More Tips On How To Live With Pet Allergies

As well as choosing a low-shedding generation of Goldendoodle, brushing him daily, bathing your dog frequently, and clipping his coat regularly, here are a few more general tips that you can use to help control pet allergies.

Allergy-free Zone

Choose a room in your home that’s dedicated to being dog-free. That could be the allergic person’s bedroom where the dog is strictly forbidden to go.

Young woman at home with pillow

Use a super-efficient HEPA air cleaner for that room to ensure that no allergens are present that could trigger a reaction.

Clean Your Home Daily

If possible, choose furnishings that won’t catch hair and dander, such as carpets, fabric drapes, and blinds, and rugs. Use HEPA cleaners throughout your home, vacuuming your floors daily to pick up shed hair and dander that would otherwise get into the air and trigger allergies.

Remember to wash pet bedding, sofa covers, pillows, etc., to remove clinging pet dander.

Try Allergy Treatments

There are lots of treatments for allergies that you can use to combat allergies, such as immunotherapy shots, antihistamine tablets, nose sprays, etc., which may be worth trying to control your allergies.

In Conclusion

portrait of a F1 miniature golden doodle

Goldendoodles are not hypoallergenic dogs. However, if you want a dog that doesn’t shed much and is kinder to people with pet allergies than many other breeds, a multi-generation Goldendoodle could be the perfect choice for you.

Minimize the risk of allergens in pet dander by brushing your dog daily, bathing him frequently, and consider having your pet’s coat clipped to reduce shedding.

Are you a dog owner with a pet allergy? Share your allergy control tips with us in the comments box below. And please share this article if you found it helpful.

Meet our writer

Alison Page was brought up with dogs and various other pets! For a few years, Alison worked as a Practice Manager in a small animal veterinary clinic. Alison is now a full-time writer, specializing in creating articles on the care and training of dogs, cats, and fish.

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