Here’s the truth: No dog is 100% hypoallergenic. *GASP* 

What you’re looking for is a dog who is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

Here’s what I learned from my hours of research. If you have an allergic reaction to dogs, it’s because of the dander, not necessarily the fur.

Each dog has varying degrees of dander, so you’re going to have to do your research before you get a hypoallergenic dog.

Luckily, this article can help you with that.

Read through this list of the best hypoallergenic dogs.

Shortlist the breeds you like, do some more research, and then go test them out.

Spend time with each breed and see if you have a reaction. 

Time-consuming? Yes.

Worth it? Also Yes. 

Let’s get started, my allergic friends!

Small Breeds

Bichon Frise

Personality: Outgoing, alert, and very entertaining.

Activity Level: Minimal; roughly 30 mins per day.

Coat: Their coat is soft, silky, and loosely curled. The Bichon has a soft undercoat as well.

Grooming Needs: Needs regular grooming, frequent bathing, and brushing.

Miniature Schnauzer

Personality: Friendly, intelligent, willing to please, spirited but obedient.

Activity Level: Moderate; a daily walk is good, but they are good to go as long as you are.

Coat: Hard, wiry outer coat; close undercoat, non-shedding.

Grooming: Beard and legs need frequent combing to keep them mat-free, and may require a professional for regular grooming.

Toy Poodle

Personality: Intelligent, eager to please, quick to learn, affectionate, and loyal.

Activity Level: Minimal exercise required, loves being pampered!

Coat Characteristics: Curly, harsh texture, and dense.

Grooming Requirements: Frequent brushing, combing, clipping, and scissoring; may need regular grooming from a professional.

Miniature Standard Poodle

Personality: Eager, athletic, and smart.

Activity Level: Very active, loves all kinds of activity such as swimming, fetch, and walks.

Coat Characteristics: Non-shedding.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing to prevent matting, and a regular trim at the groomers every 6 weeks.

Yorkshire Terrier ‘Yorkie’

Personality: Lots of spirit, alert watchdog, not a good breed for small children.

Activity Level: Minimal exercise required.

Coat Characteristics: Flossy, fine, silky, and straight.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing.

Shih Tzu

Personality: Outgoing, affectionate, happy, friendly, intelligent, and docile.

Activity Level: Minimal; enjoys a nice walk.

Coat Characteristics: Dense, long, flowing, with a soft undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing.

Maltese

Personality: Gentlest mannered of all little dogs, intelligent, affectionate, and fearless.

Activity Level: Minimal; loves a good play.

Coat Characteristics: Single coat, flat, silky, and hangs straight to the ground.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing, frequent bathing

Scottish Terrier ‘Scottie’

Personality: Loyal, loving, playful, can be scrappy with other dogs, alert, spirited, stable, and steady-going.

Activity Level: Moderate; loves the outdoors, and should be walked briskly at least once a day.

Coat Characteristics: Outer coat is intensely hard and wiry; dense, soft undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Considerable grooming is necessary, and may need regular grooming from a professional.

Chinese Crested

Personality: Loving companion, playful, and entertaining.

Activity Level: Minimal; daily walks and playtime.

Coat Characteristics: Hairless variety: the skin is soft and smooth. Powderpuff variety: has a complete coat of soft, silky hair made up of long, thin guard hairs over a short undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Minimal; moisturizer and a sweater may be required.

Xoloitzcuintli Toy ‘Xolo’

Personality: Calm, happy, fearless, and a good watchdog.

Activity Level: Minimal; enjoys daily walks.

Coat Characteristics: Hairless.

Grooming Needs: Minimal; skin is smooth and satiny, yet thick – providing resistance to injury, sunburn, and insects. Needs a sweater in cold weather.

Xoloitzcuintli Miniature ‘Xolo’

Personality: Calm, happy, and fearless.

Activity Level: Moderate; requires daily playtime and walks.

Coat Characteristics: Hairless may have a tuft of hair. Coated variety the hair is short, dense, and lies flat on the body covering all areas.

Grooming Needs: Minimal; sunscreen and sweaters.

West Highland Terrier

Personality: Spunky, determined, playful, light-hearted, understanding, and devoted.

Activity Level: Moderate; lots of stamina, and speedy, but does not require a ton of exercise; loves to dig.

Coat Characteristics: Straight, and hard hair; soft undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Regular grooming, brushing, and combing.

Havanese

Personality: Happy, outgoing, easy to train, pleasant, and affectionate.

Activity Level: Minimal exercise is required.

Coat Characteristics: Non-shedding, long, soft, and wispy curls at the ends.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing to keep their coat from matting.

Cairn Terrier

Personality: Happy, busy, independent adores being with people, and does not do well segregated from family for hours.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily exercise is a must.

Coat Characteristics: Harsh and weather resistant; the undercoat is short, soft, and close to the body.

Grooming Needs: Regular weekly brushing.

Bedlington Terrier

Personality: Energetic, and courageous.

Activity Level: Moderate exercise daily.

Coat Characteristics: A thick, linty, mixture of soft and hard hair that curls.

Grooming Needs: Regular professional grooming is necessary.

Coton de Tulear

Personality: Boisterous, merry, a bit of a clown, and attached to its owner.

Activity Level: Minimal.

Coat Characteristics: Soft, fine, wavy, with cottony texture, and minimal shedding.

Grooming Needs: Weekly brushing.

Lagotto Romagnolo

Personality: Affectionate, easily trained, and attached to owner.

Activity Level: Moderate; lots of outdoor exercise.

Coat Characteristics: Woolly textured, rough-surfaced coat of thick curls, and waterproof.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing and combing and an annual complete clipping.

Lhasa Apso

Personality: Assertive, loyal, loving, and suspicious of strangers.

Activity Level: Minimal; short daily walks are good.

Coat Characteristics: Long, heavy, straight, and hard.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

Personality: Happy, confident, inquisitive, and alert.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily walks and playtime.

Coat Characteristics: Non-shedding, hypoallergenic, soft textured, and wavy.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing.

American Hairless Terrier

Personality: Smart, inquisitive, and playful.

Activity Level: Minimal; brief daily sessions in a fenced-in yard and/or regular walks.

Coat Characteristics: Skin is smooth and warm.

Grooming Needs: Sunscreen and sweaters.

Peruvian Inca Orchid (Hairless)

Small, Medium, and Large Breeds

Personality: Lively and affectionate.

Activity Level: Moderate; fenced-in yard play, several walks a day, and/or indoor activities.

Coat Characteristics: Hairless.

Grooming Needs: Sunscreen and sweaters.

Affenpinscher

Personality: Spunky, quiet, and fearless.

Activity Level: Minimal; daily walks.

Coat Characteristics: Hard, wiry, short, and dense on the body; shaggy and longer on legs, eyes, nose, and chin.

Grooming Needs: Minimal brushing.

Wire Fox Terrier

Personality: Peppy, big personality, and playful.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily outdoor exercise, and always ready to romp.

Coat Characteristics: Hard and wiry.

Grooming Needs: Regular grooming by a professional.

Bolognese

Personality: Intelligent and witty.

Grooming Needs: Regular grooming, and the occasional bath.

Coat Characteristics: Non-shedding, soft and fluffy.

Activity Level: Minimal; walks, yard play, and/or indoor play.

Lowchen

Personality: Affectionate, outgoing, playful, exuberant, and easy to train.

Activity Level: Minimal; a true lap dog, but loves to run, jump, and play.

Coat Characteristics: Non-shedding, soft, and silky.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing and grooming.

Border Terrier

Personality: Good-tempered, affectionate, obedient, and easily trained.

Activity Level: Moderate; active and agile, daily walks are a must.

Coat Characteristics: Wiry, short, with a dense undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Frequent raking and combing, and annual grooming by a professional.

Brussels Griffon

Personality: Curious and intelligent.

Activity Level: Minimal; daily walks are good.

Coat Characteristics: 2 types: harsh and wiry; smooth and tight.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing.

Silky Terrier

Personality: Friendly and inquisitive.

Activity Level: Minimal; daily walks will do.

Coat Characteristics: Fine, flat-lying, glossy, and silky.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing.

Medium-Sized Breeds

Portuguese Water Dog

Personality: Super smart, easy to train, and eager to please.

Activity Level: High; daily vigorous exercise, enjoys canine sports like tracking, agility, rally, dock diving, and other water sports.

Coat Characteristics: Ranges from tight and curly to loose and wavy.

Grooming Needs: Regular, extensive grooming by a professional.

Xoloitzcuintli Standard ‘Xolo’

Personality: Calm and cheerful.

Activity Level: Moderate; working dogs, require daily exercise and regular walks.

Coat Characteristics: Hairless may have a tuft of short, coarse, not very dense hair on the head and nape; coated variety has short, dense hair that lies flat on the body, covering all areas.

Grooming Needs: Sunscreen in summer and sweaters in colder weather.

Afghan Hound ‘Celine Dion’

Personality: Aloof, dignified, and good-humoured.

Activity Level: High; athletic, requires lots of outdoor activities.

Coat Characteristics: Fine, silky, long, and flowing.

Grooming Needs: Frequent bathing and brushing.

Basenji

Personality: Playful, alert, affectionate, and highly intelligent.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily brisk walks and vigorous playtime.

Coat Characteristics: Short and fine.

Grooming Needs: Grooms itself like a cat, not much for you to do.

Irish Water Spaniel ‘Kenny G’

Personality: Alert, inquisitive, clown of the spaniel family, and protective.

Activity Level: Moderate; energetic, requires regular moderate exercise; a fenced-in yard is a must.

Coat Characteristics: Tight ringlets.

Grooming Needs: Regular combing and trimming.

Kerry Blue Terrier

Personality: Intelligent, feisty with other dogs, with a high prey drive.

Activity Level: Moderate; lots of outdoor activity daily.

Coat Characteristics: Non-shedding, dense, and wavy.

Grooming Needs: Thorough brushing 2-3x a week, and full groom every 6 weeks.

Standard Schnauzer

Personality: High-spirited.

Activity Level: Moderate; energetic, will participate in whatever you want to do, need to be included, long hikes with their people are a favourite.

Coat Characteristics: Double coat.

Grooming Needs: Regular grooming is necessary.

Spanish Water Dog

Personality: Faithful, obedient, spirited, hard-working, and watchful.

Activity Level: Moderate; happiest when working, loves water sports and agility.

Coat Characteristics: Dense, tightly curled coat.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing is necessary to prevent mats.

Puli

Personality: Affectionate, intelligent, and devoted.

Activity Level: Moderate; loves activity and enjoys having a job to do, great for country living.

Coat Characteristics: Heavily corded, dense; weather-resisting double coat.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing between the cords is needed.

Airedale Terrier

Personality: Steady disposition and obedient.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily walks at a minimum.

Coat Characteristics: Dense, harsh, wiry, outercoat; soft undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Regular grooming by a professional.

Tibetan Terrier

Personality: Affectionate, sensitive, and clever.

Activity Level: Moderate; up for whatever you want to do.

Coat Characteristics: Double coat, wooly underneath; fine top coat

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing and grooming.

Large-Sized Breeds

Giant Schnauzer

Personality: Intelligent, easily trained, and loyal.

Activity Level: Moderate; both playful and watchful – they make a good family pet where they have lots of room to run.

Coat Characteristics: Close, strong, hard, wiry; soft and dense undercoat.

Grooming Needs: Regular maintenance is required by a professional.

Komondor ‘Bob Marley’

Personality: Laid back, courageous, and faithful.

Activity Level: Moderate; bred to work as a guardian, best suited to outdoor country living.

Coat Characteristics: Long, white cord consists of soft and harsh hair.

Grooming Needs: Occasional bathing is needed.

Standard Poodle

Personality: Athletic, smart, and eager.

Activity Level: High; loves all kinds of activities like swimming, fetch, jogging, walks, and hikes.

Coat Characteristics: Curly and low allergen.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing, and regular grooming by a professional every 6 weeks.

Mixed Breeds

Maltese Shih Tzu

Breeds: Maltese and Shih Tzu

Personality: Friendly, eager to please, easy to train, and a great family pet.

Activity Level: Minimal; daily walk or a good play session in the yard.

Coat Characteristics: Long, soft, and silky.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing is necessary.

Labradoodle

Mixes: Poodle and Labrador Retriever

Personality: Affectionate, devoted, intelligent, and eager to please.

Activity Level: High; lots of energy, needs lots of exercise and playtime daily.

Coat Characteristics: Variable: non to average shedder.

Grooming Needs: Brushing twice a week, regular grooming by a professional.

Goldendoodle

Mixes: Golden Retriever and Poodle

Personality: Affectionate, social, and trainable.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily exercise, play, and swimming.

Coat Characteristics: Little to no shedding.

Grooming Needs: Regular grooming by a pro every 6-8 weeks, and daily brushing.

Bernedoodle

Mixes: Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle

Personality: Charming, goofy, and happy-go-lucky.

Activity Level: Moderate

Coat Characteristics: Varies: curly and wavy or straight; little shedding.

Grooming Needs: Daily brushing, and regular grooming.

Aussiedoodle

Breeds: Australian Shepherd and Poodle

Personality: Smart, playful, and loyal.

Activity Level: Moderate; requires lots of attention, exercise, and mental stimulation.

Coat Characteristics: Varies from wavy to curly.

Grooming Needs: Regular brushing and grooming by a pro.

Sheepadoodle

Breeds: Old English Sheepdog and Poodle

Personality: Smart, playful, and loving.

Activity Level: Moderate; daily walks, fetch, and mental stimulation.

Coat Characteristics: Low to non-shedding.

Grooming Needs: regular grooming by pro every 8 weeks, and brushed 3x a week.

Remember: When getting a mixed breed hypoallergenic dog, there is no guarantee that you will get a non-shedder, especially when one of the breeds is a shedder. A labradoodle, for example, may exhibit more lab than poodle characteristics.

What Next? 

The only true way to know if you’re allergic is to spend time with the pooch before taking them home.

Some dogs are more prone to dander than others. Your red eyes and sniffly nose will let you know if you’re not a good match.

Take your time, meet dogs more than once. Then make the best decision of your life and get a dog that’s perfect for you!

Done your research and are ready to take home your low-dander pup? Here are some accessories to get you started off on the right paw!