If you or someone that you live with suffers from allergies that are triggered by animal fur, but you desperately want to get a dog, then you are going to need to find a breed that is hypoallergenic.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will never interfere with a person’s allergies, it does significantly lower the chances of doing so.
We can understand why you might want to get a faithful companion even if you have allergies, and a Goldendoodle is often thought to be a great choice for allergy sufferers. If this is a breed that you are looking at, you are probably wondering if they are hypoallergenic.
In this article, we are going to discover if Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic, and everything else that you need to know about them when it comes to allergies.
We will also tell you how you can minimize the risk of an allergic reaction to your dog, so that you can have the best of both worlds.
Are Goldendoodles hypoallergenic?
If you are someone that suffers from allergies, or you are sensitive to animal fur, then you might be looking for a dog that you can bring into your home without suffering for it.
A Goldendoodle is a great dog to look at, and we are going to answer all of your allergy-related questions below.
This will help you to decide for yourself if this is the right dog for you, and help you to understand what you can do to minimize your allergy problems.
What is hypoallergenic?
For those that don’t already know, something that is hypoallergenic is something that is really unlikely to trigger an allergic reaction for someone.
Dogs that are thought to be hypoallergenic will typically have longer hair that does not shed, which makes them a great option for those that suffer from allergies.
This will allow the dander, which is dead skin particles, to remain embedded within the hair instead of being released into the air.
Most of the time, it is quite rare for people to be allergic to the dog fur itself, and most people are actually allergic to the dander from the skin. This is what causes the allergic reaction, not the fur. Although, there are some people that cannot tolerate fur either.
Are Goldendoodles hypoallergenic?
The first thing that you should know is that even if a dog has no hair at all, they are still going to produce dander, which some people are allergic to.
So, technically, a Goldendoodle is not hypoallergenic, but they are considered to be by many people. This is due to the fact that they do not produce so much dander into the air as other dogs.
Some dogs, like Poodles, are considered to be hypoallergenic, and this is one of the parents of the Goldendoodle breed. So, whether or not a Goldendoodle is hypoallergenic will depend on a few different factors.
Some of these factors will include the generation of the dogs, how its genes are expressed, and how much the dog sheds.
If you are defining hypoallergenic as a dog that does not create dander, then a Goldendoodle would not fall into this category. However, this would also mean that no other dog is hypoallergenic either, as they all produce dander.
However, if your definition of hypoallergenic is a dog that produces a limited amount of dander into the air, then this dog could be considered to be hypoallergenic.
Goldendoodles are a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, and the answer to whether they are hypoallergenic will usually come down to the generation that they come from and how much Poodle is in them.
Generally, the more Poodle genetics that a Goldendoodle carries, the more hypoallergenic the dog will be considered to be. Some of the signs to be aware of when you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog are wavy or curly hair that does not shed.
What are the most hypoallergenic Goldendoodle generations?
Now that you know that some of the most hypoallergenic Goldendoodle’s are those that have the most Poodle genetics, it is time to look at some of the most hypoallergenic Goldendoodle generations. These generations include:
- F1B Goldendoodle – 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever
- F1BB Goldendoodle – 87.5% Poodle and 12.5% Golden Retriever
- F2B Goldendoodle – 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Golden Retriever
- F2BB Goldendoodle – 81.25% Poodle and 18.75% Golden Retriever
- F3 Goldendoodle or Multi-generation Goldendoodle – Typically hypoallergenic Goldendoodles as they are back crossed to the Poodle
Generally, you are going to want to look for a Goldendoodle that has been back crossed to the Poodle, which is marked by the letter B at the end of the generation. They are typically categorized as dogs that have wavy to curly hair and do not shed.
If you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog, then you should probably avoid the F1 or F2 Goldendoodle, as these are typically 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. This type is more likely to shed more hair, making them less hypoallergenic.
Will my Goldendoodle shed?
There is no easy answer to this question. A Goldendoodle can shed, but it might not always shed. It will depend on the generation of the dog, and which category it belongs to.
There will be Goldendoodles that shed a lot and others that do not shed at all. If you are looking for the least amount of shedding, then you should look for a dog that contains more Poodle than Golden Retriever. The more Poodle that the dog is, the less likely they will be to trigger your allergies.
How to groom your dog to reduce allergies
The first thing that you should do is to brush your dog on a regular basis. Dander will sit in your dog’s fur, and so brushing them as often as you can will ensure that you are limiting the amount of allergies that your dog is carrying.
It will also spread out the oils of the skin across the fur, which will help to separate any future dander. You should be brushing your dog every day, and it might be best to do this outside if you are able to. To find out which is the best brush for a Goldendoodle check out our recent review guide.
You should also make it your mission to wash your dog twice a month, as bathing them will reduce the amount of dander that is within their coat and fur. You should make sure to use a good shed control cleanser and shampoo that isn’t going to dry their skin. To save you the stress of researching this, we have put together blog posts on the best shampoo for Goldendoodles and best hypoallergenic shampoos for dogs.
It can also be helpful to clean your home on a regular basis. Both physical contact and dander that has already been released from your dog’s fur will cause your allergies to flare up. So, it is important to clean your house often, including vacuuming, to help with any allergies.
Conclusion
No dog is truly hypoallergenic, but the Goldedoodle, depending on their Poodle DNA, are likely to shed less hair and dander than other dogs, and are therefore considered to be good for allergy sufferers. To find out more about the different doodle breeds and how hypoallergenic they are, check out the below blog posts.