06/03/2026
As a service dog organization, we receive a lot of questions and requests regarding “hypoallergenic” dogs for people with allergies. Unfortunately, this topic is incredibly confusing and controversial due to misinformation from breeders, marketing claims, and misunderstandings surrounding dog allergies.
We have said this for years: there are NO truly hypoallergenic dogs.
Dogs that shed less can absolutely help reduce loose hair in the home, but that does NOT eliminate allergens. Allergies are not caused only by hair — they are primarily linked to proteins found in saliva, dander, skin cells, and urine.
Years ago, we had a Goldendoodle in our program that shed just as much — if not more — than a typical Golden Retriever. We have seen situations like this many times.
Science has actually shown that so-called “hypoallergenic” dogs can have significantly HIGHER levels of the major dog allergen Can f 1 in their coats and hair samples than non-hypoallergenic breeds. There is currently no scientific evidence proving any breed is truly hypoallergenic. (PubMed)
If you or a family member has dog allergies, please do extensive research before choosing a breed. Spend time around that individual dog whenever possible, because allergies can vary greatly from dog to dog — even within the same breed.
Interesting study here:
So-called hypoallergenic dogs had higher Can f 1 levels in hair and coat samples than did control breeds. These differences did not lead to higher levels of environmental exposure to dog allergens. There is no evidence for the classification of certain dog breeds as being "hypoallergenic."
