Do Poodles Shed?
The Truth Behind the Reputation
Do Poodles shed? Yes! But their fur gets stuck in their curly coat, instead of falling to the floor.
The lively and intelligent Poodle has long been a favorite breed among dog lovers.
Many potential owners become interested in the three different types of Poodle when they hear about the breed’s reputation as a low shedding hypoallergenic dog
Is this reputation true?
The answer to this question can be especially important if you have pet allergies.
But even if you don’t have allergies, the idea of a dog that doesn’t shed excessively is appealing to many potential owners.
We’ll tell you all you need to know about Poodle shedding and grooming so you can make the best choice for your next canine companion.
Do Poodles Shed?
Yes, Poodles shed. Like all animals with hair (including humans), sometimes a Poodle’s hair will fall out naturally or during grooming. This is normal.
While all dog breeds shed, the Poodle does earn its reputation as a low shedding breed, as compared to heavy shedders such as the Golden Retriever and Alaskan Malamute
Why do Poodles shed less than some other dogs?
The Poodle coat is dense and curly, but shedding is relatively low because the breed has a single coat, not a double coat.
Double-coated dogs shed more than single-coated dogs because, in addition to normal year-round shedding, their undercoats undergo heavy seasonal shedding as well.
This heavy seasonal shedding of the undercoat is often called “blowing the coat.”
Poodles are low shedders that don’t blow their coats when the weather changes.
What about the Poodle’s reputation as a hypoallergenic dogs?
Do Poodles Shed? No dog breed is 100% hypoallergenic, and responsible breeders will not make this claim about their dogs.
Some dog breeds, like the Poodle, are light shedders and produce less dander than other breeds.
This makes them easier to tolerate for people with allergies, but not completely hypoallergenic.
This makes them easier to tolerate for people with allergies, but not completely hypoallergenic.
So, if you have pet allergies, the best way to determine if a Poodle is right for you is to spend time with Poodles in their home environments.
Remember that dogs are a lifetime commitment. Many dogs end up in shelters because people with pet allergies didn’t do their homework before getting one.
What Exactly is a Hypoallergenic Dog Breed?
When used in the context of dog breeds, hypoallergenic simply means a breed of dog that is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. This includes dogs that don’t shed very much or dogs without an undercoat, you can check with cutetoypoodlesonline .
Poodle mixes do double duty when it comes to being considered hypoallergenic, depending on the breed they are mixed with. They are low shedders which will leave less hair around the house. Their coat is also able to trap dander and some of the hairs they will inevitably shed.
Living with a dog and allergies means cleaning your house and grooming your dog regularly. Keep your pet off your pillows and away from your face to prevent an allergic response.
Why Do Dogs Shed?
Do Poodles Shed As we mentioned, all mammals shed their hair. Hair goes through growth cycles. Hair falls out naturally at the end of its growth cycle, and then new hair will start to grow.
The amount of shedding can vary greatly in dogs. The Poodle and some other breeds are minimal shedders, while dogs with thick double coats shed quite a bit, especially seasonally.
It’s important to note that low shedding dogs like the Poodle can lose more hair than normal if they suffer from certain illnesses or skin conditions.
Common causes of hair loss in dogs include skin infections, inflammatory diseases, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies.
How Much Do Poodles Shed?
What exactly does the term “low shedding” mean? How much can you expect your Poodle to shed?
It’s unlikely that many people sit around and count the number of hairs that their Poodle sheds naturally from day today.
We do know that a normal human will lose about 100 hairs a day.
A good rule of thumb for Poodles is to keep in mind that larger dogs have more coat area, which of course means more hairs to lose.
A miniature or toy Poodle might be a better choice than a standard Poodle if you’re really concerned about shedding. You can check with cutetoypoodlesonline.com
Can I Have a Poodle Mix if I Have Dog Allergies?
Here are some tips and tricks to coexist with your dog and your allergies:
- Regular baths. This is simple but effective. Giving your poodle mix a bath every week will keep their coat clean, and significantly reduce the allergens they are spreading in your home.
- Talk to your doctor. They may be able to prescribe an effective treatment for your allergies like immunotherapy, antihistamine sprays or pills, or a combination of treatments. It is also possible your poodle mix isn’t the cause of your allergies. Check with your doctor or allergist and find out the allergens responsible for your reactions.
- Create a safe space for yourself. Make your bedroom a pet-free zone to prevent severe allergy symptoms. Choose hypoallergenic bedding and use a HEPA air cleaner if necessary.
- Keep your house clean. Regular sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, carpet cleaning, and dusting are all inexpensive ways to reduce the allergens in your home. Consider HEPA air filters for your vents or use HEPA air cleaners throughout the home.
It is possible to manage your allergies and live happily and healthily with your poodle mix. If severe allergies are a concern, spend some time with a poodle mix before you take on the responsibility of adopting or buying a poodle mix.
Some ideas you could try include:
- Borrow” a poodle mix from a friend and have them stay at your house for a couple of days.
- Volunteer at an animal shelter to test out how your allergies will react and what helps best relieve your symptoms.
- Spend a night or two at a friend’s house who has a poodle mix.
If you do adopt a poodle mix and your allergies worsen, making the dog a danger to your personal health, please take the time to responsibly find a loving home for your dog. This could mean personally finding your dog a new home or finding a no-kill shelter in your area to surrender your animal.
If your allergies to your poodle mix are a true emergency and you need to get your dog out of the house immediately, ask a friend or a neighbor to foster your dog while you find your poodle mix a good home. You can even find foster networks online. There is never a good reason to abandon an animal.
I live with cats and dogs, and I am mildly allergic to both, but I could not imagine not having my pets in my life. For more information on living with your pet and allergies, check out the Humane Society’s website.
The Importance of Grooming Your Poodle Mix to reduce shedding
It is important to remember that choosing a low-shedding dog breed does not mean you are choosing a low-maintenance dog breed. Poodle mixes are dogs that require regular grooming to keep their coat clean, healthy, prevent matting, and control shedding.
Here are some reasons why it is so important to regularly groom your poodle mix.
- Their hair can grow pretty long, especially if their coat resembles a poodle coat. This can result in matted fur if not washed and trimmed regularly. Matted fur can be uncomfortable for your pet and unhygienic.
- It reduces allergens. Because a poodle mix’s coat can trap hair and dander within itself, your poodle mix can become a walking, barking allergen. Regular baths can prevent any allergens from spreading to you or your home.
- Nail trims and more. As with any breed, your groomer provides essential services like trimming your poodle mix’s nails and the hair around sensitive areas like the face, eyes, and paw pads in a safe and clean environment.
- Neglecting to regularly groom or bathe your poodle mix can greatly reduce some of their hypoallergenic benefits, not to mention reduce their quality of life. Just think about it, how do you feel when you’ve missed a shower, forgotten to brush your teeth, or haven’t brushed your hair all day?
Can you Adopt Poodle Mixes?
Yes. You can absolutely find a poodle mix to adopt at your local animal shelter. Animal shelters contain a mix of mutts, purebred, and mixed-breed dogs. You can find a poodle mix at a lower cost than a breeder, and help out your community as well by adopting your dog instead of purchasing one.
If you do purchase your poodle mix, make sure to research your chosen breeder. By choosing to adopt or only purchase animals from reputable breeders, we can do our part in the fight against puppy mills and animal cruelty.
How do you know you are working with a responsible breeder? Here are the qualities you should be looking for in your dog breeder.
Dealing with Poodles Shedding
Poodles require a great deal of grooming.
Since Poodles are minimal shedders, grooming them is not about brushing out a heavily shedding coat.
What hair a Poodle does shed may get caught in the curly coat, but it is the maintenance of the coat itself that requires a good amount of time and attention.
A Poodle’s coat requires daily brushing and combing to keep it from matting. If you keep your Poodle in its full coat, you will need to go down to the skin with your grooming tools to prevent mats.
Home groomers use a variety of tools, including
- slicker (or pin) brushes
- steel combs
- scissors, and
- electric clippers.
Many Poodle owners prefer to clip and trim their dog’s coat in a short cut, rather than keep it long.
Grooming your Poodle at home can be difficult and time-consuming for many owners, which is why many prefer to take their dog to a professional groomer.
You can set up a regular schedule with a groomer to bathe your dog and clip its coat. Many owners find that once a month grooming works well.
There’s a wide variety of Poodle haircut styles to choose from. Here’s a brief overview. Cutetoypoodleonline.com
Poodles Haircuts
Poodle haircuts have a long history. They can range from practical to classic to extremely fancy. How you choose to groom your Poodle is a matter of personal preference.Cutetoypoodleonline.com
There are many different types of Poodle cuts, but here are a few of the most common.
- The puppy clip is used on Poodles under one year of age, but many owners like it for adult Poodles as well. In this cut, the hair on the body is trimmed with scissors and the hair on the head, paws, and tail is shaved, but not too closely.
- The sporting clip is very similar to the puppy clip. Shaved vs trimmed areas are similar in these two cuts, with a puff left on the top of the head and a pompom on the tip of the tail in the sporting clip.
- A fancier Poodle haircut is called the continental clip. Certain areas of the body are shaved very closely, while others are left very long and fluffy. There are pompoms on the legs, tail tip, and hips.
- The English saddle clip is somewhat like the continental, but there is less close shaving and more areas of the body are trimmed and sculpted.
- An increasingly popular cut, especially among miniature and toy Poodle owners, is known as the Asian style. This type of cut is designed to bring out a dog’s cuteness, like a teddy bear or an anime character.
Do Poodle Mixes Shed? Here’s How to Tell
Poodle mixes are popular breeds of dogs and it’s easy to see why. Poodles are an intelligent breed and are considered hypoallergenic as their coat does not shed. This anti-shedding nature is one of the main reasons you may be considering a poodle mix as a pet, but what if the poodle is mixed with a breed that sheds a lot?
How do you tell if a poodle mix will shed? Although it is impossible to tell before the poodle mix is born, the more coiled hair your poodle mix has, the less likely it is to shed. The coiled hair of a poodle grows and sheds more like human hair. The Coils trap stray hairs, resulting in your poodle mix shedding less.
Of course, there are variables when it comes to the specific dog breed that is in the poodle mix. I did some research to find out exactly how to tell if a poodle mix will shed and more essential information about poodle mixes.
How Can You Tell if a Poodle Mix Will Shed?
Every single dog breed sheds. However, some do shed more than others. To gauge whether your poodle mix will shed, it helps to understand why poodles don’t shed as much as other dog breeds. It’s all in the type of hair that poodles grow.
Poodle hair is able to grow relatively long without shedding and is very similar to the way human hair grows and sheds. Unlike other breeds, poodle hair continues to grow instead of growing to a certain length, falling out, and being replaced. Thanks to their curly or coiled hair texture, any hair that does shed is likely to be trapped in their coat instead of ending up in your home.
If your main reason for choosing a poodle mix is due to your allergies, check their coat. A poodle mix with a hair texture closer to a standard poodle’s hair is less likely to shed.
A poodle mix that retained, for example, a hair texture that is more similar to a Labrador is more likely to shed. It is impossible to guarantee the coat texture of a poodle mix’s litter.
Just keep in mind what breed of dog is being mixed with the poodle. Mixing a poodle with another low shed dog will produce a low-shed poodle mix. Mixing a poodle with a high shedding breed of dog is more likely to produce a moderate or high shedding poodle mix.
Do Poodles Shed Too Much?
Any excessive shedding in a Poodle could be a sign of a health problem, so be sure to take your dog to the veterinarian if you see a lot of shedding.
Even though Poodles are low shedders, remember that there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog.
Poodles can be a good choice for owners with pet allergies, but you should always spend plenty of time with Poodles in their home environments before getting one of your own.
A final point to keep in mind is that with Poodles, low shedding does not mean low maintenance.
Expect to spend a considerable amount of time grooming your Poodle…or be prepared to take your dog to a professional groomer on a regular basis.
Are you a Poodle parent? What are your experiences with shedding and allergies? Tell us about your dog in the comments!
References and Resources
- The Poodle Club of America.
- Myers, P., Hair, Animal Diversity Web.
- Moriello, K.A., Hair Loss (Alopecia) in Dogs, Merck Veterinary Manual.
- Pellettieri, J.H., 2004, Why are Poodle Haircuts So Weird? How Their Coifs Once Helped Them Hunt.
