One of the most common questions I see about is this dog breed is the following: “Is a Goldendoodle hypoallergenic?” This comes from all the pet owners who have allergen hypersensitivities when they touch dogs and want to know the answer to this question before they bring one of these cute teddy bear dogs home. The ultimate answer is that no dog is 100% completely hypoallergenic, but a Goldendoodle is more hypoallergenic than most dogs due to the Poodle genetics.
Is a Goldendoodle Hypoallergenic?
What Does “Hypoallergenic” Mean?
For a dog to be considered hypoallergenic, it must be very unlikely to trigger an allergic response in the body. The Greek word “hypo” literally means “under or less” and is opposite to the word “hyper”. Dogs to even be considered hypoallergenic must have hair that doesn’t shed. Hair that doesn’t shed permits the dander and dead skin particles to remain inside the hair as opposed to being discharged into the air. Fun fact, it’s extremely rare that individuals are actually allergic to dog hair or fur, but it’s the dander from skin particles are make people have pet allergies.
Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
We’re going to take a very strict approach to the word hypoallergenic and define it as a dog that doesn’t create dander (which humans are allergic too). So according to this definition, Goldendoodles are not hypoallergenic. In fact, no dog is truly 100% hypoallergenic, but there are dogs that are typically labeled hypoallergenic because they do limit the dander and dead skin particles that humans are allergic too. A Poodle is one example of a dog that is typically labeled hypoallergenic.
Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
The question of “Are Goldendoodles hypoallergenic?” is very similar to the question “Do Goldendoodles Shed?”. Since Goldendoodles are a crossbred, it highly comes down to the generation they come from and how much Poodle genetics they will receive. In general, the more Poodle genetics that a Goldendoodle has, the more hypoallergenic the dog will be. Some signs to look for when picking a hypoallergenic Goldendoodle would be wavy or curly hair that doesn’t shed.
Most Hypoallergenic Goldendoodle Generations
As we know, the most hypoallergenic Goldedoodle’s will have a significant amount of Poodle genetics. We’ve written a more in-depth article on all the Goldendoodle Generations. As a summary, I’ve outlined the more hypoallergenic Goldendoodle generations below:
F1B Goldendoodle: 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Retriever
F2BB Goldendoodle: 81.25% Poodle and 18.75% Golden Retriever
F2B Goldendoodle: 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Golden Retriever
F3 Goldendoodle or Multi-generation Goldendoodle: Typically contain hypoallergenic Goldendoodles since they are backcrossed to the Poodle.
In general, you want to look for a Goldendoodle that has has been backcrossed to the Poodle, hence the letter “B” at the end of the generation. Typical characteristics of a hypoallergenic Goldendoodle include wavy to curly hair and nonshedding.
I would avoid an “F1 Goldendoodle” or F2 Goldendoodle” since these dogs will be 50% Golden Retriever and 50% Poodle. Most of these generations of Goldendoodles will shed more hair which will cause them to be less hypoallergenic. Remember, you want a Goldendoodle that will be nonshedding and have a curly coat if you have pet allergies.
How To Minimize Allergies Caused By Goldendoodles?
If you brought home a Goldendoodle and have been experiencing issues with allergen sensitives, there are preventative measures to make your Goldendoodle more hypoallergenic. Below is our list of tips to limit the amount of Goldendoodle allergies:
Wash your dog at least twice per month. Bathing your Goldendoodle will significantly decrease the amount of dander residing in their coat and hair. Make sure that you use a good shed control cleanser as well as a shampoo that won’t dry out their skin.
Brush your dog regularly. Since dander will sit in your dog’s coat, you should brush your dog as much as possible (most owners will brush their dog daily). Brushing is the most important step to limit the number of allergies that your dog carries as well as spreads out the skin oils across the hair. This helps to separate any future dander.
Regularly clean your home. Not only will physical contact with your Goldendoodle cause your allergies to flare up, but also dander that has already been released from your dog’s hair. This means that you will need to more regularly clean your house which includes vacuuming. This should dramatically help with Goldendoodle allergies.
Are Goldendoodles more Hypoallergenic then other dogs?
The Goldendoodle is regularly recognized as a hypoallergenic dog and great for people who have pet allergies. In fact, Goldendoodles were created as a support dog for owners with pet allergies. Thus, a nonshedding Goldendoodle is certainly more hypoallergenic than most other dogs that shed.
That being said, before you run out and buy your Goldendoodle, you should certainly test your allergies with Goldendoodles and other dogs. Sensitivities can range from dog to dog and you certainly don’t want to be miserable with sniffles, red eyes, and sneezing the rest of your life. A Goldendoodle may be more hypoallergenic than most dogs, but you should certainly understand that some Goldendoodles will be more hypoallergenic than others. Try going to a dog park and petting some different kinds of dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
No. Goldendoodles range in how hypoallergenic they are based on the coat type. In general, the more curly and nonshedding a Goldendoodle is, the more hypoallergenic they will be. This comes down to which generation a Goldendoodle is. An F1 Goldendoodle will be much less hypoallergenic than an F1B Goldendoodle because it contains more Golden Retriever genetics. In general, if you’re looking for a Goldendoodle that is hypoallergenic, then you should look for an F1B, F1BB, F2B, F2BB, or multi-gen Goldendoodle as these dogs have the highest chance of being hypoallergenic.
Are F1 Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
F1 Goldendoodles are the least hypoallergenic of all Goldendoodles. If you’re looking for a Goldendoodle that is hypoallergenic, I would not get an F1 Goldendoodle because it is 50% Golden Retriever and has a high likelihood of shedding. Getting an F1B Goldendoodle or F2B Goldendoodle would be a much better option because they contain a significant amount more of Poodle genetics.
Are mini Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?
Mini Goldendoodles are not 100% hypoallergenic. However, Goldendoodles are certainly more hypoallergenic than most dogs because they usually contain a significant amount of Poodle genetics. To find a hypoallergenic mini Goldendoodle, you will want to look for a curly and nonshedding coat. Mini Goldendoodles will also be more hypoallergenic than larger Goldendoodles because they will have less hair that can carry dander.
Final Thoughts
Goldendoodles are more hypoallergenic than most dog breeds. However, some Goldendoodles will be more hypoallergenic than other Goldendoodles. Particularly, if you suffer from pet allergies, you want to get a Goldendoodle that is nonshedding and has a curly coat because these will be most hypoallergenic Goldendoodles. Lastly, if you have a Goldendoodle and notice that you getting dog allergies, then you can take preventative steps by brushing, bathing, and cleaning your house. No dog is going to be 100% hypoallergenic, but the Goldendoodle is certainly close which is why it is often labeled a hypoallergenic dog.
