Allergies & Shedding

Why Australian Labradoodles Are A Great Fit For Many Families

cafe colored labradoodle on patio lounge chair
The struggle to find the unconditional love of canine companionship for dog lovers with dog allergies is one that many can relate with. Beyond that, service dogs help many people with disabilities go about their daily lives with the support of a faithful four-legged friend, but people with special needs who suffer from dog allergies face even more difficulties finding the perfect pup. The Australian Labradoodle is an answer to that struggle!
The Australian Labradoodle was originally bred for the sole purpose of filling the need for a hypoallergenic service dog. In addition to being remarkably intelligent and very friendly, the Australian Labradoodle was bred to have a low or no-shed coat, limiting the amount of dander they contribute and making the aid of service dogs available to those with dog allergies and special needs.

Many people are familiar with pet dander as an allergen. The allergenic proteins adhere to the dander and dander adheres to hair, making heavily shedding breeds difficult to own for people who suffer with allergies. While the Australian Labradoodle’s non-shedding or lightly shedding coat and its calm demeanor when held (less agitation, less dander) address this allergy concern, please keep in mind that it is not always the dog dander that someone may be allergic to, but the highly-allergenic dog saliva.

cream colored labradoodle puppy surrounded by flowers
The saliva of dogs is the most prominent source of allergens. For this reason, it is always best to not let the dog lick your face or hands, and that is where the intelligence and intuition of the breed come into play. The ability to train service dogs is imperative, but what about companions for those who have allergies but no other special needs? The Australian Labradoodle is predisposed to be calm and quiet when handled, and can be trained not to lick the face or hands, making it easier to avoid contact with saliva and still enjoy the many benefits of owning a dog.

As for shedding, again, the Australian Labradoodle is known for its low to non-shedding coat, particularly the wool and fleece coat types. The breed has been developed over generations to maintain an allergy friendly coat that is a blend of the lab and poodle coats. There is one point in the Australian Labradoodle’s life that you might observe shedding and that is between 8-14 months of age when it changes out of its baby coat and into its permanent adult coat. But, have no fear! This phase does not last forever, and you will have your allergy friendly, low/non-shedding pet back very soon!

One caveat to mention: as with any other dog breed, some humans may be allergic to dog saliva. If you feel that you might be allergic, you can do testing to diagnose your allergy before making a puppy part of your family.

If you or a loved one is in search of an allergy friendly dog that is remarkably lovable, smart, trainable, and loving, then the Australian Labradoodle could be exactly the solution to your needs. Call us at Good Day Doodles today to find out if one of our pups is the missing piece you’ve been looking for!