Guest post by Ashton Kent from Kent Family Farms
Goldendoodles & Allergies
This is a commonly misunderstood topic when talking about Goldendoodles. I do not like the term “Hypoallergenic,” as it is misleading. Many state that even the Poodle is not hypoallergenic. There are different types of allergies to dogs. The first thing to figure out is what type of allergy that you have. There are allergies to dander (flakes of skin), saliva and urine. Most allergies are to dog dander. Different dogs shed dander less than others. A poodle sheds very little dander, much less frequently than a Golden Retriever does, which makes the Poodle more allergy friendly, not hypoallergenic.
Which goldendoodle generation is best for people with allergies?
Overall, non-shedding and allergy friendly dogs are very possible in Goldendoodles, you just need to know what to look for and make sure you have a breeder that understands their genetics.
When talking about allergies and shedding with Goldendoodles, it is important to understand the generations of Goldendoodles and make sure you get one that fits your situation best. An F1 generation is probably not the best choice for a person with dander allergies, as there will be some in this generation that a low-shedding and therefore shed dander as well. It is recommended that if you have an allergy that you look for an F1b, F3 or multi-gen Goldendoodle, that is tested for improper coat (IC) (aka furnishings).
Improper Coat & Furnishings
The furnishing gene should always be our primary focus when it comes to allergies and shedding. Ideally if a family member has allergies to dander, you want to seek out a puppy with two furnishing genes (genetically F/F rather than F/IC or IC/IC). Improper Coat is the gene that causes the Golden Retriever coat to shed. Golden Retrievers have two copies of this gene (they are genetically IC/IC; no Golden Retriever carries the furnishing gene). Poodles usually do not have any copies of this gene. Instead, most Poodles carry two furnishing genes (and no improper coat genes). Notice I said ‘most’. In rare cases we have seen some Poodles that only carry one furnishing gene. In these cases not only will they throw improper coats when bred to another dog that doesn’t carry two furnishing genes, but they are also more likely to shed, causing issues with allergy sufferers.
This is why it is essential for breeders to test for IC when breeding above an F1b generation. A goldendoodle puppy with two copies of the improper coat gene will inherit a shedding coats like the Golden Retriever. So, if you are someone with an allergy and are looking at a any generation beyond F1b, make sure that your breeders tests for IC.
Genetics and Goldendoodle Shedding
If you already own a goldendoodle and are wondering why your sweet puppy is shedding, you can learn her genetic makeup with one simple cheek swab. Embark’s genetic testing kits will give you insight about a number of genes impacting your doodle’s shedding such as furnishings/improper coat, the shedding gene, and the long hard gene. These canine genetic test kits can be purchased either through the Emkark website or on Amazon (it varies which is cheaper based on the current promotion). Learn more about the genetics behind goldendoodle shedding in Ashton Kent’s second article.