Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?

Goldendoodles aren’t hypoallergenic or non-shedding. Truly hypoallergenic dogs don’t exist, according to healthcare professionals. In addition, many Goldendoodles inherit a heavily-shedding Golden Retriever coat or have a coat that combines a Golden and a Poodle.

This article will discuss why Goldendoodles aren’t hypoallergenic, how much they shed, and more.

Most Goldendoodles Aren’t Hypoallergenic

Goldendoodles aren’t purebred dogs, so things like coat type are unpredictable. In a single litter, you may get a puppy with Golden Retriever fur, one with Poodle fur, and one with a combination of the two.

One problem with this is that Golden Retrievers shed heavily, while Poodles shed very little. Breeders market Goldendoodles like they’ll all take after their Poodle parent, but this is unlikely.

Mixing single and double-coated breeds can also result in an unruly coat that mats easily and requires more care than the parent breeds.

In addition, it can be difficult to tell what a puppy’s coat will be like once they’re grown since it changes as they age.

Doodle Marketing Tactics

Nearly all Poodle-mix breeders are unethical breeders. While very few people breed mixed dogs selectively and responsibly, typically for service work, this is very much the exception and not the norm.

Most of these “designer dog” breeders are in it for the money, not the dogs’ well-being. They don’t mind if their puppies are unhealthy or if they go to people with dog allergies despite being heavy shedders.

While most ethical breeders don’t make a profit, Doodle breeders often charge thousands per puppy. When you combine this with an almost sure chance of neglecting their dogs or failing to perform necessary genetic health tests, they can profit more than those doing things the right way.

An ethically bred, purebred Poodle will likely be your best option if you want a dog that doesn’t shed. You can also check out Poodle rescues for purebred dogs if you’d like.

Please keep in mind, however, that there is little to no proof that shed-free dogs are allergy-friendly. We’ll talk about this more below.

Do Hypoallergenic Dogs Even Exist?

Before making the decision to adopt a dog, you should know that truly hypoallergenic dogs don’t exist. While many breeders and even the American Kennel Club will market non-shedding dogs as hypoallergenic, dog fur isn’t what causes most dog allergies.

Instead, most people are allergic to dog dander (dead skin cells). You may also be allergic to dog saliva or urine.

According to Healthline, some people do have what is called an irritant response to dog hair–but aren’t truly allergic to dogs. In these cases, having a non-shedding dog can ease your symptoms.

But if you’re truly allergic, then all dogs will produce the proteins you’re allergic to. Different proteins trigger different people, so your dog’s allergy might not be the same as someone else’s.

This is why some people seem to respond better to non-shedding breeds, but others say they respond better to dogs that shed pretty heavily. Others claim that they can be around two dogs of the same breed and only have an allergic reaction to one.

While I don’t have dog allergies, I am allergic to cats and have experienced something similar. I seem to have fewer symptoms around my own cats, perhaps due to exposure, but my symptoms worsen around new cats–especially those with different fur types than I’m used to.

Adopting a Dog with a Dog Allergy

If you’re allergic to dogs and still want to adopt, it’s best to meet the dog before adoption and spend a few hours together. Spend time petting them, running your hands through their fur and down to the skin. Touch your face after petting the dog and let them lick you to ensure you don’t have major reactions to their saliva.

The more time you can spend together before adoption and the more potential allergy triggers you can test, the better.

This will give you the best idea of how you’ll react to this dog in particular, and you can then decide. Make sure you’re willing to live with any symptoms you experience around the dog for the rest of their life, which in the case of a Poodle or Poodle mix could be anywhere from 10-18 years.

Adopting a Dog

If you choose to adopt a mix without Poodle fur, a Golden Retriever, or any other double-coated dog breed, spending time with adults of that breed around shedding season might also be a good idea.

Most double-coated breeds, including Golden Retrievers, have two shedding seasons in the spring and fall. During this time, their coats shed profusely, and you may experience worsened allergy symptoms.

Poodles and other single-coated breeds don’t have this shedding period, as they have no undercoat to blow out.

Now that we know Goldendoodles aren’t hypoallergenic and may shed heavily, I hope this article has helped you decide whether this mix is right for you.

While they make great rescues, I don’t recommend shopping with a Doodle breeder. Instead, choose an ethically-bred purebred or a rescue mutt–and make sure you can handle any allergy symptoms you may experience around your dog of choice.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © DBjorgo/Shutterstock.com