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Do Toy Poodles Shed? Are Toy Poodles Hypoallergenic?

toy poodle coats

Last updated on October 22nd, 2020 at 01:18 am


People who are thinking of getting a toy poodle wonder it the toy poodle breed is like most dog breeds when it comes to shedding. They wonder if getting a toy poodle will worsen their allergies. Toy poodles shed but toy poodles shed way less compared to other dog breeds. Here is a list of what all dogs, including toy poodles, shed:

  • Dander: Dander is dead hair and dead skin. Dander is so small and invisible to the eye. It can be inhaled when released into the air, and it can trigger allergic reactions.
  • Hair: Just like humans, toy poodles will occasionally lose the hair that is not firmly attached to their skin.
  • Saliva: When toy poodles slobber, their saliva goes from their mouths and gets on their hair, and when this saliva dries up, it falls off from their skin. Saliva shed this way can trigger allergies.

Why do Toy Poodles Shed Less?

Toy poodles shed less because they have hair, instead of furs (like most dogs do). Furthermore, toy poodles shed less because they have a tightly-curled coat that traps the dander, dead hair, and saliva coming from the body of the toy poodle. This way, the toy poodle will not release danders and dead hair into the air.

Moreover, the smaller size of toy poodles compared to other poodles (standard and miniature) means toy poodles have less body area. Therefore, toy poodles have less body area from which they can shed. Therefore, toy poodles shed minimally compared to other poodles and much less compared to other dogs.

Furthermore, generally, toy poodles require regular grooming. A side effect of regular grooming is that regular grooming eliminates the dander and dead hair that is trapped in the toy poodles coat. When a toy poodle is groomed regularly, it will shed less.

These factors add up to make toy poodles the perfect dog breed for allergies sufferers.

Are Toy Poodles Hypoallergenic Dogs?

Hypoallergenic means “below average allergens”. An allergen is a substance that can trigger an allergic reaction when inhaled or eaten. Allergens can be found in dog danders and saliva. An HYPOallergic dog has a lower tendency to release allergens and a lower chance of triggering an allergic reaction.

Toy Poodles are NOT strictly hypoallergenic. They can trigger allergic reactions as other dogs. However, toy poodles have a lesser tendency to trigger an allergic reaction compared to other dog breeds.

Do Toy Poodles shed Dander?

Yes, toy poodles shed dander but they shed dander in a very small amount compared to other dogs and other poodle breeds.

Are Toy Poodles Good for Allergy Sufferers?

Toy poodles are good for people with allergies because, compared to other dog breeds, there is a low chance of a toy poodle triggering your allergies. However, if you have the tendency to have allergies, you still have to take precautions to ensure that your toy poodle does not worsen your allergies. Below are the precautions that you can take to prevent toy poodle allergies.

Making Sure Your Toy Poodle Does Not Trigger your Allergies

You can reduce or even eliminate getting allergies from your toy poodle if you do these theses:

  • Bathe your toy poodle regularly (at least twice a week). This the most effective way to further reduce the chances of your toy poodle triggering your allergies.
  • Brush your toy poodle`s coat regularly. By brushing your poodle, you remove the danders trapped in your toy poodle`s coat. Thus, your toy poodle won`t have any dander to shed.
  • Cut the hair of your toy poodle regularly (every 4 to 6 weeks)
  • If you are very worried about your allergies, make sure you bathe your toy poodle immediately after your toy poodle comes back inside after playing outside. This is because if your allergies are triggered by allergens from the outside, your toy poodle can bring in allergens like pollens to you inside from the outside.
  • Vacuum your house regularly to clean up toy poodle danders that might be hiding in your house.
  • Restrict your toy poodle to only hang out and play in certain parts of the house. Importantly, do not allow your toy poodle in your bedroom. I know this is very hard to do 🙁 This way, you can totally avoid having any dander in the area of your house where you do not allow your toy poodle.
fields of pollen

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a dog breed that is less likely to cause allergies, then a toy poodle is one of your best available options. Toy poodles shed less compared to other dogs. Furthermore, because of their smaller sizes, toy poodles shed much less compared to other poodles.

Therefore, if you are looking to get a puppy, and you are worried about your allergies, a toy poodle is one of your best available option.