Allergy sufferers may know that dogs are not a good combination for them, but they crave the canine companionship and unconditional love that many dogs offer. With designer dog breeds being advertised as hypoallergenic, it leaves a lot of people wondering whether the Schnoodle is one of these breeds. Are Schnoodles hypoallergenic and suitable for allergies?
The Schnoodle is not hypoallergenic, as no dog truly falls into this category. However, they shed very little due to their Poodle and Schnauzer ancestry. An F1B Schnoodle is even more likely to shed less than their F1 counterparts. Mini-Schnoodles will also shed very little.
How much does the Schnoodle shed, and how can you protect yourself from watery eyes and a stuffy nose? This breakdown will give you everything you need to know!
Do Schnoodles Shed a Lot?
If you are searching for a dog that does not lose a lot of fur, the Schnoodle might be the right fit for you. A cross between the Schnauzer and the Poodle, this breed is known for being as allergy-friendly as they come. While it isn’t possible to say that they do not shed at all, the amount of loose fur in your home will be relatively minimal.
The Schnauzer parent has a long and wavy coat, but they do not shed much when adequately groomed. Instead, their undercoat often picks up the loose hair and holds onto it until it is manually removed via brushing or grooming.
On the other hand, the Poodle parent is an extremely low shedder. Their fur is more similar to hair than the typical dog fur, and they do not shed much. Like the Schnauzer, they will require frequent grooming to keep their coat in pristine condition, though.
While the Schnoodle is not known for being an exceptionally high shedder, does that mean they are hypoallergenic?
The Truth About Hypoallergenic Dogs
Many people want to minimize the uncomfortable symptoms of allergies related to their four-legged friends. They see many designer dogs such as the Whoodle and the Sheepadoodle being touted as hypoallergenic breeds. Because the Schnoodle has Poodle blood and may inherit their traits, many people wonder whether this breed is hypoallergenic.
The unfortunate news is that the Schnoodle is not a hypoallergenic dog. The truth is that no dog is truly hypoallergenic. However, some breeds will be very compatible for those who suffer from allergies to pets in general. The Schnoodle is as allergy-friendly as they come primarily due to its low-shedding coat.
No dog is truly hypoallergenic because most allergy sufferers are not allergic to the fur that covers their dog’s body. Instead, they react to a protein found in the saliva and urine of the dog.
As your Schnoodle grooms himself, this protein attaches to the dander of his skin. These dead skin cells are shed throughout the home, triggering an allergic reaction in some individuals. Of course, you can do a few things to minimize your experience of these allergies.
How to Minimize Allergy Symptoms
While the Schnoodle could be a good option for those who suffer from allergies because they do not tend to shed as much, there are a few other ways you can minimize your allergy symptoms. Take a look at this list and see where you might be able to make some changes to your routine.
Groom Your Schnoodle Regularly
The first and easiest way to minimize the shedding of your Schnoodle is to routinely groom them at home. You should be brushing your dog every couple of days to release loose fur and dander in a controlled environment. You might brush off a small pile of hair, but it will be much easier for you to sweep up or vacuum in this one centralized location instead of battling loose hair all over the house.
In addition to regular brushing, you may get your Schnoodle trimmed by a groomer every six to eight weeks. This is also an excellent time for a bath to get out as much of that loose fur as possible.
Change Your Air Filter
The air filter on your HVAC system is responsible for pulling small particles out of the air of your home. Pet hair and dander are some of the top pollutants that it can help to filter out. While it may not be a cure-all, it can certainly help.
Most HVAC experts recommend changing your filter at least once a quarter or once each season. If you have pets and allergies, you may need to do this monthly.
You should also make sure to purchase a high-quality air filter such as a HEPA filter. Sometimes, the old adage that you get what you pay for is true. A more expensive filter that can filter out more irritants in the air is a wise investment.
Change Your Flooring
Do you have soft carpet running throughout your home? This could spell problems for your allergies. The fibers of your carpet trap pet dander and fur where your vacuum may not be powerful enough to pick them up. You might want to consider upgrading to a hard surface floor type such as:
- Luxury vinyl plank or tile
- Ceramic tile
- Laminate
- Hardwood
Like the types listed above, hard surface flooring makes it easier to sweep or vacuum. You can rest assured that you will be getting all of the pet hair up and that nothing will remain trapped just below the surface.
While it can certainly be an investment to change your flooring, you might consider doing this just in the main living areas where your dog spends most of its time.
Limit Where Your Schnoodle Can Go
If you want to reserve some spaces in your home as allergy-friendly zones, then you may want to consider limiting where your Schnoodle can go. This means restricting them to certain home areas and banning them from others.
For example, many allergy sufferers do not allow their canines in the bedroom with them so that they can sleep without the stuffy nose and watery eyes that often accompany their pet’s presence. They may also keep them out of the home office or other rooms where the owner spends the most time, such as a den.
Another tip is to keep your Schnoodle outside when the weather permits. Remember to always make sure that they have shade and fresh water during the warm days of summer. If it is too cold outside, bring them in but leave them in the living room or main living areas where they would typically spend the most time.
Are F1B Schnoodles Better for Allergies?
If you are concerned about how your allergies will fare with a Schnoodle in the home, you may want to consider getting an F1B Schnoodle. In this breeding, a Schnoodle is bred back to a Poodle to increase the likelihood of having Poodle characteristics such as a low-shedding coat.
It increases the odds of inheriting this curly coat because they will have 75 percent Poodle genes and only 25 percent Schnauzer genes. While the traditional F1 Schnoodle (50 percent Poodle, 50 percent Schnauzer) is an excellent option for allergy sufferers, you may want to consider enhancing your odds that your new pup will wind up with the curly and low-shedding coat of the Poodle.
Do Mini-Schnoodles Shed a Lot?
Much like their standard-sized counterparts, the Mini-Schnoodle does not shed much. It inherits some of these characteristics from both the Schnauzer and Poodle sides. In this case, both the parents (a Miniature Schnauzer and a Miniature Poodle) are not prone to much shedding, which increases the likelihood of being suitable for allergy sufferers.
Are Mini-Schnoodles Hypoallergenic?
While Mini Schnoodles do not tend to shed much, they cannot truly be considered hypoallergenic because of their saliva and urine protein. However, they are as allergy-friendly as you can get in a dog, thanks to the beautiful breed pairing of the Schnauzer and the Poodle.
Remember that you may still have to take some precautions to minimize your allergy symptoms, such as regular grooming, limiting your dog’s access in the home, and changing your air filters more regularly. With some minor adjustments that don’t take much time, you can boost your chances of successfully keeping your Schnoodle indoors and your allergies in check.
Adding a Schnoodle to the Family
If you have been on the fence about whether a Schnoodle is the right fit for your family, the good news is that they are very allergy-friendly. While they cannot be classified as genuinely hypoallergenic due to the proteins in their saliva and urine, they do not shed much. This reduces the amount of dander and pet hair in your home, giving you some relief from your allergies. The Schnoodle might be the perfect dog for your family if you have allergies!
More on Schnoodles
If you’re simply in love with Schnoodles and can’t get enough, then check out our other posts below:
