Do Goldendoodles Shed? Are They Hypoallergenic? (Vet Weighs In!)
Goldendoodles are a very popular dog in the US. These dogs are known for their low shedding or no shedding properties and are thought to be hypoallergenic. Are these actually real facts about this breed of dog?
Do Goldendoodles Shed?
Goldendoodles may shed some, but if they do, it is very little. These dogs are considered hypoallergenic because they shed so little. There are the different crossing of Goldendoodles that shed less than others and would be a great choice if you wanted a Goldendoodle that does not shed.
What Does Hypoallergenic mean?
If your dog is considered hypoallergenic, then your dog sheds very little or not at all. A person who is allergic to a dog is allergic to the dander that is on their hair. When your dog sheds, they leave this dander all over the house and on the couch.
If your dog does not shed very much, they are not constantly leaving dander for you to come in contact with. While there is no dog that is 100% hypoallergenic, there are some breeds such as a Goldendoodle that comes very close.
How to tell if You are Allergic to a Dog?
There are three different things that you can be allergic to in your dog. These are
- Their Dander
- Their Saliva
- Their Urine
Most commonly, it is their dander that they leave behind when they shed that will cause you an allergic reaction. If you are allergic to these things, you may develop a rash, itch, have hives, and in severe cases, have an antiphallic event.
Symptoms of Pet Allergies in People
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Swollen eyes
- Hives
- Itchy skin
If you have these symptoms every time that you are around a dog, then you are most likely allergic to dogs. It would be best to see your doctor as they can even test you for pet allergies.
Are Goldendoodles hypoallergenic?
Since Goldendoodles are a mixture of a Golden Retrievers and Poodles, they are often described as being hypoallergenic.
There is not any scientific evidence that shows that any particular breed of dog or cross-breed is more or less allergenic.
There are some cases where people who have milder allergies to dogs will not react as severely to a particular breed of dog, but there is no reputable breeder that will 100% guarantee that their dogs are going to be hypoallergenic.
Your reaction to dogs can be very different from dog to dog, even dogs within the same litter. If you have pet allergies, it would be best to go and spend time with several different puppies to see how you react to them and if you need to plan to go through with getting a certain Goldendoodle.
Some allergists think that Goldendoodle coats that are more like poodles and do not shed as much will help keep any loose skin dander trapped closer to their skin, so it is not just freely moving around your house, which would help a person who reacts to pet dander.
Why Do Goldendoodles Not Shed?
The main reasons that Goldendoodle’s shed very little is that they have hair and not fur. While most people think that hair and fur are the exact same thing and they are not entirely wrong.
If you look at the makeup of hair and fur, it contains the exact same thing. Also, microscopically you cannot tell the difference between the two, but there is a difference when you look at how often the hair and fur shed.
Goldendoodles have hair. This means that their hair is continually growing. If you never cut your Goldendoodle’s hair eventually, this hair would be very long.
Dogs with fur will grow to a certain length and fall out. This is like what we see with our short hair dogs, such as Labs or Chihuahua. These dogs have fur. They never need their hair cut, and it will only grow to a certain length.
Do All Goldendoodles Not Shed?
Most Goldendoodles do not shed much at all, but Goldendoodles with straighter hair tend to shed a little more.
Each dog is different on how much or how little they shed. If your Goldendoodle looks more like a Poodle, it will not shed as much as those that look more like a Golden Retriever.
Some of the Goldendoodle’s that look more like a Golden Retriever may actually shed a lot.
Which Doodle Breed Sheds the Least?
When looking for a dog that does not shed at all, try to find a mixture of two breeds that do not shed at all. Other great doodle breeds that tend not to shed are
- Schnoodle
- Yorkiepoo
- Maltipoo
- Havapoo
These, however, most of these are all very small dogs. If you want a dog that has the potential to shed even less than a Goldendoodle and still have a bigger dog, consider a Schnoodle.
A Schnoodle comes in three different sizes, just like a Goldendoodle, and tends to not shed at all.
Which Generation of Goldendoodle Is the Best for Shedding?
These dogs are 75% Poodle and 25% Golden Reviver giving them more of the poodle traits. These dogs tend to have the lowest amount of shedding of all of the different generations.
Your next best option would be an F2B. This generation is 62.5% Poodle and 37.5% Golden Retriever. This mix is made by crossing an F1 Goldendoodle to an F1B Goldendoodle.
These dogs are also usually very light shedders. Although you may be lucky with an F1 or F2 and have a Goldendoodle that does not shed much, these generations are unpredictable for shedding.
This would be a gamble unless your puppy has had DNA testing.
Do flat-coated Goldendoodles shed?
The one downside of getting a straight or flat coat Goldendoodle is that they do tend to shed a little more. These are some of the downsides compared to a typical wavy or curly-haired Goldendoodle.
- A flat coat Goldendoodles do tend to shed a lot more than wavy and curly-haired Goldendoodles. This is mostly because a flatter coat contains less of the Poodle genetics, which makes a Goldendoodle have a curlier coat. With a flat-coated Goldendoodle, you need to be prepared to have hair that sheds on your floor. However, usually, a flat coat Goldendoodle does tend to shed significantly less than a Golden Retriever sheds.
- A Straight Coat Goldendoodles tend to be less hypoallergenic. Since these Goldendoodles then to having more Golden Retriever genetics and less of the Poodle genetics, a straight coated Goldendoodle will be less hypoallergenic. These sought-after hypoallergenic features come from the curly coat and the non-shedding features. The hypoallergenic features are created because the curly hair of your Goldendoodle does not allow any dander and other protein allergens to stick to your dog’s skin.
Genetic Testing for Hair Type in Goldendoodle’s
Even though it is thought that the curliness of a Goldendoodle’s hair usually correlates to the non-shedding and hypoallergenic features, this still may not always hold true. The easiest way to know for sure your dog’s coat type is to look at your dog’s genes.
You will want to specifically look at the Furnishing Gene and Shedding Locus Gene to gain a better understanding of your Goldendoodle is a non-shedding dog and hypoallergenic.
It is recommended to getting a DNA test on your Goldendoodle if you want help trying to figure out your Goldendoodle’s genetic structure.
Genetic testing of the Cu locus gene, which is also known as the KRT71 gene, will help determine whether or your Goldendoodle will have a straight coat, wavy coat, or curly coat.
Generally, the less Cu locus gene your Goldendoodle has, the more straight their hair coat will be. Since Goldendoodles are usually a mix of different generations of Golden Retrievers and Standard Poodles, typically bred to Standard Poodle, it will more likely that your Goldendoodle’s coat will be wavy or at the very least have a recessive Cu Locus gene.
You can ask your vet for a reliable DNA test of your Goldendoodle to help determine what kind of coat they will have. In general, you can usually tell whether or not your Goldendoodle will have a straight coat or a curly coat based on their coat as a puppy.
Usually, Goldendoodle litters will have a mix of the different types of coats; some will have straight coats, so will have wavy coats, and some will have curly coats. Once your puppy loses their puppy hair, their adult hair does not usually change type.
Do Goldendoodles Shed More as Puppies?
Many people do say that their Goldendoodle puppies shed less when they are a puppy, and as they get older tend to shed a little more.
However, any increase in the level of stress can trigger your Goldendoodle to spontaneous start to shed. This will often occur when you first bring your puppy home.
This can be a very stressful time for a young puppy to leave behind their family and first home and to start a new life with their forever family.
Some puppies will shed a lot throughout their time as a puppy. These Goldendoodles are the ones who will most likely be a big shedder as adults. This is not always the case, as some Goldendoodles are constantly full of many surprises!
Your Goldendoodle puppy will start out in life with a soft, fluffy, single coat.
At first, this coat is not necessarily a good indication of what your Goldendoodle will look like as an adult. As your Goldendoodle matures, their coat will often become darker, stiffer, and thicker.
Your Goldendoodle will shed their puppy coat between 6 to 10 months of age. This is totally normal and is no cause for any alarm. Some Goldendoodles may even take as long as a full year to develop their mature adult coat.
Since Goldendoodles will typically shed less than many other breeds, owners should pay very close attention to their grooming as their adult coat starts to come in.
Their puppy coat will shed but may often remain trapped below their other hairs. This causes them to become tangled into mats. This is especially seen as their adult coat emerges.
It is best to brush your Goldendoodle very diligently to prevent a very “hairy situation” from developing.
Why Does My Goldendoodle Shed So Much?
There are many different reasons that your Goldendoodle may be shedding a lot. These are a few of the most common reasons for a Goldendoodle to shed
- If they resemble more of a Golden Retriever, they will shed more. Goldendoodle’s that have more of the Golden Retriever hair tends to shed a lot more than those who look like a poodle.
- They are going through a seasonal shedding. During the spring and fall of each year, your Goldendoodle may shed more. This is because the change in the weather has stimulated a change in hair.
- Your Goldendoodle is an F1 or F2 generation. If your Goldendoodle is an F1 or F2 generation Goldendoodle, they may shed more. This generation tends to be less predictable in terms of shedding—many of these Goldendoodles winding up with a higher shedding index. F3 generation Goldendoodles are often moderate shedders as well.
- There is a medical issue causing them to shed. Some diseases, such as hypothyroid or Cushing’s disease, can cause your dog to lose their hair. If you see that your Goldendoodle is just all of a sudden starting to lose their hair, it would be best for you to take them to the vet. They can run bloodwork and other tests to make sure that there is not a medical issue causing your Goldendoodle to shed.
These are a few of the most common reasons that your Goldendoodle may be shedding more than normal.
You can usually quickly figure out what is causing them to shed more, especially if it is just all of a sudden.
How Bad Do F1 Goldendoodles Shed?
A first-generation breeding or F1 Goldendoodle, which is a purebred Poodle that is bred to a purebred Golden Retriever, is more likely to have a more wavy coat that will shed a little more than a Goldendoodle that has more Poodle genes. These dogs will still shed far less than a Golden Retriever.
An F1B, which is a first-generation Goldendoodle mixed with a purebred Poodle, will result in a Goldendoodle that is 75% Poodle and 25% Retriever.
This makes coats that are more likely to be non-shedding. This would make the F1B Goldendoodle breed more likely to be a great choice for a person who suffers from dog allergies.
While there is still no way to guarantee that a Goldendoodle is hypoallergenic and low shedding, it is simply a matter that certain people will react differently to certain dogs.
A Poodle tends to cause less allergic reactions in people, so it has the reputation of a hypoallergenic dog. So, by cross-breeding any breed of dog with a Poodle has given that new breed the hypoallergenic title.
However, still, remember, there is no guarantee or no standard required test that can prove anything.
You may not know what your Goldendoodle’s coat will look like from just looking at the puppy, but there are a few different clues you can use to help you figure out what they may look like.
You can even talk with your breeder. They can go over photos of other puppies that they have had and what their fur turned out to be for you to compare. This will help give you a feel for what your Goldendoodle’s coat may be like.
If you find a reputable breeder, they should be able to tell you the pedigree line that your puppy comes from and show you some photos so that you have a good idea of what your Goldendoodle will look like.
How to Minimize Allergens Caused by Your Goldendoodle
If you are allergic to pet danger, there are many things that you can do to help decrease the amount of dander that your dog leaves behind.
These are five things that you can do to help decrease pet dander in your house:
- Bath Your Goldendoodle Very Often: By giving your dog baths frequently, you are removed from the dander from their skin. You can give your dog a bath at least once a week. Sometimes in severe cases, you may need to bath your dog every few days. If you are bathing your dog very often, it is best to gentle shampoo or even conditioner to help your dog’s skin from getting to dry.
brush Your Goldendoodle Often: If youbrush your Goldendoodle very often, you can help remove any dead hair. This will help prevent them from leaving hair on the furniture around the house.- Groom Your Goldendoodle Very Short: If you keep your Goldendoodle groomed very short, they also will have less hair and allergens to spread around your house. Dogs with longer hair will have to constantly lick and clean themselves. This gets to proteins that are found in their saliva on their hair and then eventually on you or in your house. Your groomer can keep your dog’s hair cut short to help them be more hypoallergenic.
- Give your Dog Skin Supplements: Giving your dog a skin supplement that contains Omega Fatty Acids can help their coat. If your dog has a dull, dry coat, it will be more brittle, and their hair will break and fall out more often. Fatty acids and fish oil supplements added to your Goldendoodle’s diet will help keep their fun, nice and shiny. This will keep your Goldendoodle from shedding as much.
- Use a Shampoo Designed for shedding: There are certain shampoos that help decrease the amount that your dog sheds. While they will still shed, this just helps them shed a little less. Tropicana Shed Control is one shampoo that you can use to help decrease the extra hair from your Goldendoodle.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While there is no drug that you can give your dog that is designed to stop your Goldendoodle from shedding, there are many things that you can do to make sure that your Goldendoodle does not shed as much.
This all started on looking at their genetics when you purchase them. After that, make sure that your Goldendoodle is fed a good quality diet that contains many of the great skin supplements to help keep their fur nice and shiny.
Also, giving your dog frequent baths and regular grooming will help decrease the amount of hair that they shed.