If you suffer from allergies, having a dog can be an uncomfortable experience. You may crave the companionship and unconditional love that come from a canine, but can you tolerate the other symptoms that will likely follow? This leads many people to investigate whether a Double Doodle could be the right choice for them.
The Double Doodle tends to be a low-shedding dog breed. An F1B Double Doodle or a Double Doodle bred from two F1B Doodles may have a better chance of inheriting the wavy or curly coat that sheds less. Be sure to do your research if you want a Double Doodle who is as hypoallergenic as possible.
Keep reading for more information on whether dogs are considered hypoallergenic and how the Double Doodle stacks up!
Can a Dog Be Hypoallergenic?
Before diving into how hypoallergenic the Double Doodle is, it is essential to review whether any dog can genuinely be hypoallergenic. The truth is that there is no such thing as an entirely hypoallergenic dog.
Most people are not allergic to the fur of their dogs. Instead, they are allergic to the protein found in the saliva and urine of a canine. As your dog grooms itself, this protein attaches to its dead skin cells. These skin cells, often referred to as dander, get released into the air of your home, lingering on your clothes and furniture.
As the dander is released into your home, your allergy symptoms will worsen. You will experience all of the troubling symptoms, such as a runny nose and watery eyes.
Why Are Some Dogs Marketed as Hypoallergenic Then?
It mainly relates to how much or how little they shed. If their fur is not constantly falling out, less dander is released into the air. As a result, you will experience fewer allergy symptoms and better enjoy time spent with your new canine companion.
For example, the Shih-Poo and the Cavapoo are both low-shedding options thanks to their Poodle heritage. If you suffer from allergies, you should look for a dog like these two breeds who shed only a tiny amount or possibly even not at all. The question is, how does the Double Doodle compare to other dogs when it comes to shedding?
Do Double Doodles Shed?
The Double Doodle is created by breeding a Goldendoodle and a Labradoodle together. If you are looking for a hypoallergenic dog, this breed is likely as close as you will come. Both breeds are crossed with the Poodle who is known for its hair that rarely sheds.
Many Goldendoodles and Labradoodles will inherit a coat that is very similar to that of the Poodle parent. However, this is not always the case. If low shedding is important to you, ensure that both parents have inherited a low-shedding coat from the Poodle parent.
The Double Doodle will easily take after their parents and shed very little. This is great news for allergy sufferers who have been looking for a new four-legged friend for their family.
While they may shed very little, there is still a possibility that they will shed some. Be prepared to take some steps to minimize your symptoms when this occurs. For example, regular grooming of your pup and cleaning your floors can help reduce the allergies you experience. You can still have a dog without the need to suffer through your allergies.
Are Double Doodles Good for Allergies?
Because they tend to shed very little, the Double Doodle is perfect for those who have allergies.
However, this is not always the case. There is a chance that your Double Doodle could have inherited a shedding coat from their Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever ancestry. You will need to do a lot of research into breeders and their breeding stock before deciding on a specific puppy.
If you want to ensure that your dog sheds as little as possible, you may want to try to get a Double Doodle that comes from F1B breeding stock. This enhances the percentage of them inheriting the low-shedding coat of the Poodle as F1B dogs have more Poodle genes than Golden Retriever or Labrador Retriever genes.
Are F1Bs Better for Allergies?
The short answer is that F1B dogs tend to shed less and are better for allergies than their F1 counterparts. How exactly does this work?
Let’s take a closer look at the Goldendoodle parent to determine how their coat genes play out. An F1 Goldendoodle is a fifty-fifty mixture of Poodle and Golden Retriever. This means that they have a 50 percent chance of inheriting a shedding coat from their Golden Retriever parent and a 50 percent chance of inheriting a low shedding coat from the Poodle parent.
When you look at the F1B Goldendoodle, a Goldendoodle bred back to a Poodle; you have a much higher chance of getting a wavy or curly coat that minimizes shedding.
The same principle holds for the Labradoodle. An F1B Labradoodle is bound to have the type of coat that sheds less than a standard F1 Labradoodle would have.
Each F1 dog can have a primarily hypoallergenic coat, but it is statistically more probable with an F1B dog.
A Double Doodle bred from two F1B parents has a significantly higher chance of being better for allergy sufferers.
Of course, you can also have an F1B Double Doodle. This occurs when a Double Doodle is bred with either one of the original dogs (either a Goldendoodle or a Labradoodle). As long as all of the parents are hypoallergenic, your Double Doodle is likely to be the same. It would be rare to come across a Double Doodle who sheds when all parents do not.
How to Minimize Allergies with Your Dog
While it is likely that your Double Doodle will shed very little, it is vital to prepare your home if you know that you suffer from allergies. Here are a few tips to help you keep your allergies in check with a new canine companion in the home:
Bathe and Groom Routinely
The best thing you can do to minimize dander floating in your house is to bathe and groom your Double Doodle on a regular schedule. They should get a bath weekly, but you may want to brush them daily. Brushing gets rid of loose hair in a controlled environment that you can quickly sweep up when finished. This prevents loose hair from floating around your home, on your furniture, and your clothes.
Limit Where Your Dog Can Go
You need to have someplace in your home where you can go to get away from your allergies. For many people, this means limiting where their dog is allowed to go in the house. Try to limit their presence in rooms where you spend a lot of time. For example, here are some spaces you may want to limit:
- Bedroom
- Office
- Kitchen
- Den
You may even try to keep them in the backyard as often as possible, weather permitting. Never leave your dog outside in the heat without shade and water. Bring them inside whenever it is too hot for them to be outdoors.
Clean Regularly
No one wants to add another chore to their already lengthy to-do list, but cleaning regularly is essential when you have dogs and allergies. You need to vacuum or sweep up their dander and hair a few times each week.
If you have the option, choose a hard surface flooring over carpeting. Pet dander and hair can become trapped in the carpet and make your allergies worse. Hard surface floors such as wood, vinyl, or tile are easier to sweep clean. This ensures that you are minimizing the amount of dog hair found in your home.
Choose a HEPA filter
Your HVAC system does a lot of work to pull allergens from your home. When you have a dog (or any other type of pet), you need to change those filters a bit more regularly. Those with a dog should be changing their air filters at least once every sixty days. Allergy sufferers may prefer to change their filters about once a month.
In addition to changing them more regularly, you may want to opt for a better quality filter. HEPA filters can better reduce the amount of dander and pet hair in the air around your home. As a result, you will have fewer allergy symptoms.
Choosing a Double Doodle for Allergies
To simplify things, a Double Doodle can be a great addition to your family even if you suffer from allergies. As long as both parents have a non-shedding coat, the odds are that your new Double Doodle will likewise shed very little. Be sure to research the breeding stock used to make your new puppy to minimize your reaction to their dander and fur!
Sources
https://wagwalking.com/breed/double-doodle
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pet-allergy/expert-answers/hypoallergenic-dog-breeds/faq-20058425
