Are Puggles Hypoallergenic? [An Allergy Sufferers Guide]

Those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from pet allergies need to be cautious about what type of dog they add to their growing family. A four-legged friend can be a great addition, but not if it comes at the expense of your health. You need a dog with a low-shedding coat to minimize the allergies you will encounter with a pet. Are Puggles one of these hypoallergenic breeds?

Puggles are not considered to be hypoallergenic dogs. Both the Pug and the Beagle parents have coats that shed at a relatively high rate. As a result, your Puggle is likely to do the same and may not be allergy-friendly.

This breakdown is for you if you want to learn more about hypoallergenic dog breeds and how the Puggle compares.

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Are Dogs Really Hypoallergenic?

Many new pet owners are interested in a designer dog breed because they hear that they are hypoallergenic and easier to keep up with for those who have allergies. Unfortunately, this is the myth of the hypoallergenic dog. The truth is that no dog is truly hypoallergenic though some may have coats that shed less and are easier on allergy sufferers.

Why aren’t dogs who don’t shed much considered hypoallergenic? It’s because the fur itself is not responsible for the allergy reaction in humans. Instead, the reaction of your allergy symptoms is caused by the proteins found in the saliva and urine of your new canine companion. As your dog grooms itself or goes to the bathroom, those proteins end up sticking to the skin.

This skin eventually becomes nothing more than dry and dead flakes known as dander. The skin begins to flake off and covers your clothes, furniture, and floor. When this happens, you are likely to experience an uptick in your allergy symptoms.

Dogs who do not shed much are considered better for those who have allergy symptoms. This is because the dander attached to the protein typically sticks to the fur. As that fur is released from their body, the hair and the dander both float onto the surfaces of your home.

While they may not be completely hypoallergenic, some of these designer breeds can certainly come close. For example, Cavapoos and Shih-Poos are both as close to hypoallergenic as you can get. Many designer breeds that are mixed with the Poodle have the low-shedding coats typically associated with the hypoallergenic dog.

Are Puggles Hypoallergenic? Do They Shed?

Now that we have addressed the myth of the hypoallergenic dog, it is time to look at whether the Puggle will be a hypoallergenic dog breed. If you can afford to add one of these dogs to your family, you should know exactly what to expect. You don’t want to make a commitment to a four-legged friend and have to rehome them in a few weeks due to your unending allergy symptoms.

The Puggle is a cross between a Beagle and a Pug. Neither of the two parent dogs found in first-generation Puggles are going to be hypoallergenic. Both the Beagle and Pug shed quite a bit compared to some of the designer breeds crossed with the Poodle. Even if you opt for a later generation of Puggle, you still will not have a hypoallergenic dog. These short-haired pups do not inherit the type of hair that is inherent to low-shedding.

One of the reasons they shed so much is because they have a double coat. This helps them regulate their temperature in the winter, but they frequently blow out their coat in the warmer weather. This results in a lot of loose hair being found all over your home. Because they release a lot of hair, they are also likely to release a lot of the protein-covered dander into the air. This can spell trouble for those who get watery eyes, a runny nose, and other allergy symptoms.

It does not matter whether your particular Puggle takes after the Pug side or the Beagle in terms of appearance or coat. Both breeds are considered to be extremely high shedders and are bad for allergy sufferers.

The only upside to selecting a Puggle for allergy sufferers is that they are relatively small dogs. As a result, they are likely to have less loose hair than a dog twice their size. This small attribute may help minimize the amount of dander in the home and lead to a slightly reduced experience of allergy symptoms.

Mitigating Allergy Symptoms

If you still feel that the Puggle is a fitting addition to your family, you can help yourself to experience fewer symptoms with some of these standard mitigation techniques. While they may not present a perfect scenario, they can give you some reprieve from symptoms and allow you to enjoy the company of your new furry friend.

Limit Where Your Puggle Goes

If you have allergies, you need to have some place in your home where you can get away from your symptoms. People who allow their Puggle to go in every room of the house will never be able to get away from that shedding coat and the notorious pet dander. It is best to attempt to limit where your Puggle goes inside of the home.

For example, you may want to keep them out of the bedroom so that you can sleep easier at night. It will be a challenge, especially in the early days of bringing home a puppy. You will have to travel farther at night to let them out, and they may bark more because they are separated from you for long periods. However, it can help you to catch a break from your symptoms and get some much-needed shut-eye.

When keeping them out of the bedroom is not an option, you need to find some place in the house where they are not allowed. It may be a spare room, the kitchen, or the den. No matter what rooms you choose, be sure to block them off so you can rest easy, knowing that your Puggle is not going to be entering. You might want to close the door or put up baby gates. Eventually, you may be able to take these barriers down, and your dog will automatically know not to enter. This gives you some place to go where your allergy symptoms don’t have to follow.

Frequent Baths and Grooming

Many people want a Puggle because they do not have many grooming requirements. A lot of designer dog breeds require frequent trips to the groomer for haircuts, nail trims, and baths. On the other hand, the Puggle does not need any haircuts because of their short-haired coats. This can undoubtedly save you some money each month, but you may want to consider calling the groomer anyway.

You can remove more dander from your dog’s coat by giving them frequent baths. Most people recommend bathing them weekly or every other week. You must be careful not to dry out their coats, or you will face an increase in dander and shedding.

Purchase a special shampoo that can also help to nourish their coat and skin. If their hair feels rough, they might need a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner combination like Tropiclean that smells like papaya and coconut. Alternatively, you could get an oatmeal formula such as this one from the well-known brand Wahl.

Because they may have some skin folds inherited from their Pug parents, make sure to dry these folded areas thoroughly. If you leave them wet, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria as they have difficulty drying on their own. Make sure to clean in these folds as well during bath time!

Brushing them can also help control when and where that loose pet hair comes free. Most often, it is recommended to brush them at least once a week. You can easily pair this with their weekly bath. If you suffer from allergies, you might want to increase that number. Consider brushing your Puggle every day or every other day to keep control over how much of their hair is let loose in your home.

Keep Them Outdoors

While you do not want to permanently ban your dog from inside your house, allowing them to spend more time outdoors can help with your allergy symptoms. The more time they spend inside, the more likely they are to shed in the house. In turn, this leads to more symptoms that cause you to suffer. If your dog is outside, their shedding takes place there instead of in your home.

Keep in mind that you do not want to leave your dog outside in the heat. If your dog is brachycephalic or short-nosed like the Pug, they have a more challenging time in the summer weather when you are experiencing extreme heat. Always allow your dog inside to cool off when the temperatures begin to soar.

Clean More Frequently

It probably comes as no surprise that sweeping or vacuuming up your pet’s hair or dander more regularly leads to fewer allergy symptoms. If they are troublesome for you, then you may need to quickly clean your floors and furniture daily.

Most people report a reduction in allergy symptoms when they switch from carpet to hard surface floors. This is because pet hair can quickly become trapped in your carpet fibers or the pad underneath. Even with an excellent vacuum, lifting this hair out of the carpet can be a challenge. Hard surface floors are much easier to sweep clean regularly. Hair never gets stuck to or trapped on a hard surface floor such as wood, laminate, or vinyl.

Switch Your Air Filter

Your HVAC system is responsible for helping to filter harmful elements out of your air instead of allowing them to circulate. If you suffer from allergies, you may want to invest in a higher quality air filter for your system, such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This can help to cut back on the allergens circulating throughout your home.

Another helpful tip is to swap out your air filter on a more regular basis. Most people are used to changing their air filters about once every quarter or every ninety days. Those who have pets in the family need to change those filters slightly more often. Consider swapping them out every month to ensure that your air is as clean as possible. Set a reminder alarm on your phone to help you remember to change them on the first of every month.

Wash Pet-Related Items

Just like you want to vacuum or sweep up their extra hair, you also need to regularly clean items they come in contact with. It is a good idea to keep them off the furniture if you have allergies, but you can still give them some comfort items such as a dog bed or some blankets. The key here is that you need to choose items that can be easily tossed in the washing machine to clean them every week.

By washing these items, you effectively get rid of the pet hair and dander they harbor on their surfaces. This is just as crucial as sweeping up loose hair will be.

Finding a Hypoallergenic Breed

Unfortunately, the Puggle may be adorable, but they are not hypoallergenic for those who suffer from allergies. They shed quite a bit and release a lot of dander into the air. As a result, you are likely to experience more symptoms like itchy or watery eyes and a runny nose. After a while, this can wreak havoc on your sinuses and your mood. You can try some of these steps to mitigate your pet allergies, but you may want to consider opting for a more allergy-friendly breed.