Are Schnoodles Hypoallergenic: Do They Shed?

If you’re thinking of adding a Schnoodle dog to your family and you have someone in your household with pet allergies, you may be wondering if Schnoodles shed. Are they hypoallergenic? If so, this article is for you.

Schnoodle playing
Schnoodle

Are Schnoodles Hypoallergenic?

Schnoodles shed very little in comparison to other dogs. This decreased shedding means that they are better for those with allergies, but they are still not hypoallergenic. Regularly grooming your Schnoodle can make it shed even less, decreasing the dander let off.

Let’s look in more detail at the meaning of a hypoallergenic dog and just how much a Schnoodle sheds in more detail. We will also go over some things that you can do to ensure your Schnoodle sheds even less.

Related: Schnoodle Coat Types And How To Care For Them

Understanding Hypoallergenic Meaning

When people experience pet allergies, they are generally referring to a pet dander allergy.

Dander, rather than referring to the hair of the dog, refers to dead skin cells. There is a large connection between the amount of hair that an animal sheds, and the quantity of dander that they let off.

Additionally, thick hair stores pet dander within it. This means that interacting with the animal will cause a more severe reaction.

Understanding all of this means that we can disregard the common myth that some dogs or cats are hypoallergenic. The reality is that, even though there are dogs that let off less dander because of their type of hair, they will never let off no dander.

The Schnoodle does not let off a lot of dander. Additionally, its thick, curly coat does not hold the dander as much as some other dogs. So it is a lot better than many of the other dogs for those with allergies. But, it will always let off some, so it is not hypoallergenic.

The Most Hypoallergenic Schnoodle

Schnoodle with wavy hair
Schnoodle with a curly coat

If you want the most hypoallergenic Schnoodle possible, or one that lets off the least amount of dander, then you should consider getting a Schnoodle with very curly hair. Generally, this is inherited from a stronger Poodle gene.

Both Poodles and Schnauzers have some variety in their coats which results in more wavy variants. Those coats tend to hold the most dander within them.

Additionally, smaller dogs let off less dander because there is less skin on them to produce it. For this reason, if you want the most hypoallergenic Schnoodle possible, you should consider the Toy Schnoodle, which is the smallest size. And one that has a higher percentage of Poodle, for example, an F1bb Schnoodle is 87.5% Poodle. You can read more on Schnoodle Generations here.

Do Schnoodles Shed?

schnoodle dog sitting in the field
Schnoodle Dog sitting on the path

As mentioned, shedding increases the amount of dander that is let off. Some people also experience a mild reaction to the actual hair of a dog or cat. So, it is very important to consider how much Schnoodles shed.

Fortunately, the answer to that is very little.

All dogs will shed at least some, but the Schnoodle sheds so little that some people do not even notice the hair around their homes at all if it is cleaned regularly.

How to Minimize Schnoodle Shedding

If you think the minimal shedding of the Schnoodle may still cause a problem, or the allergies you struggle with are very severe, then there are some ways you can minimize the shedding even further.

Good Diet

A good diet leads to a healthy coat as well as healthy skin. This means that your Schnoodle’s shedding will be largely minimized. But, it also means that hair breakage and increased dander due to dry skin will be prevented.

There are many supplements on the market. In my experience, these have a noticeable effect on older dogs, or if your Schnoodle is on cheaper food. If you are not interested in supplements, and you are on a budget, consider adding an egg to your dog’s food every day. This is a relatively inexpensive way to make sure that your dog gets enough healthy fats and protein.

Regular Brushing

When you brush your Schnoodle regularly, you not only remove all of the dust and dirt that may be present, influencing your allergies, but you also pull all the loose hair out. This means that all of the hair and dander are removed in a controlled environment and generally get stuck in the brush.

Although it is not recommended that the family member with severe allergies does the bushing, as long as it is done regularly they should benefit from it.

Keep Hair Short

Schnoodle on deck
Schnoodle on deck

If you keep the hair of your Schnoodle short then the amount of hair that is shed is automatically decreased.

Additionally, shorter hair will trap less dander and dust. You can do it yourself, otherwise taking your Schnoodle to a groomer might be easiest.

Reducing Pet Allergy Tips

Avoid Carpet

If you have pet allergies then you should be avoiding carpets wherever possible. The dense fibers will store dander and can never be cleaned as thoroughly as hardwood or tiles.

The same is true for rugs, although those can be taken outdoors and shaken out thoroughly. Some rugs can even be placed in a washing machine.

Air Filter

Air purifiers like this one, are some of the best ways to minimize dander and dust floating around. If there is only one family member who is allergic to pet dander, consider placing it in the room where they spend the most time, such as their bedroom.

Otherwise, you may need to invest in several to place them throughout your home.

Even though you may not allow your Schnoodle in all the rooms, dander does not require direct contact to spread, and floats around like dust.

Minimize Clutter

Again, just like dust, pet dander can settle on objects around your home. If you have serious allergies, consider minimizing clutter so that the dander settles on the floor and is cleaned up with ease.

If you enjoy small ornaments, one alternative may be packing them away in display cabinets.

Further Reading: