Are Bolognese Dogs Hypoallergenic?

A hypoallergenic dog refers to a dog that is less likely to cause an allergenic reaction compared to others. All dogs can cause allergies in humans, but some breeds have been specially developed to trigger fewer allergic reactions.

If you want to know if Bolognese dogs are hypoallergenic, check out the following sections.

What Makes a Dog Hypoallergenic?

Essentially, the allergic compound (a protein) is found in the dog’s saliva and urine. When the dog grooms itself, this protein binds to its fur and skin. When the dog sheds, this allergy-causing protein is released into your environment, triggering the allergies.

Consequently, a hypoallergenic dog usually has a double coat that is made of hair (not fur). When the hair gets loose, it gets trapped in the double-layered coat, so they shed minimally in the environment.

Some hypoallergenic dogs’ coats usually require more maintenance, so frequent brushing and combing help to eliminate the dander before it gets into your environment and causes allergies.

Is the Bolognese Hypoallergenic?

Yes, the Bolognese is a hypoallergenic dog. The Bolognese sheds much less than other breeds. The fluffy, wooly coat helps to trap the allergy-causing dander, hence leading to fewer allergic reactions.

In this regard, it is similar to other Bichon-type breeds like the Bichon Frise and Havanese.

Are Bolognese Crossbreeds Hypoallergenic?

Whether the Bolognese crossbreed is hypoallergenic or not depends on the mix. For instance, Bolognese is a hypoallergenic dog, but the resulting puppy after mixing with a Beagle, for instance, will most likely not be hypoallergenic because the Beagle is not either.

To have a hypoallergenic Bolognese crossbreed, you need to make sure that the other parent is also a hypoallergenic dog. Otherwise, the hybrid puppy may trigger more allergic reactions than expected, especially as the resulting hybrid may inherit the other parent’s coat and skin qualities, or maybe a combination of both parents.

How to Minimize the Risk of a Bolognese Allergy

Thankfully, there are several things you can do to minimize the risk of a Bolognese making allergies worse.

1. Stringent Grooming and Bathing Routine

To keep allergies to a minimum, make sure you spend enough time caring for your pooch. It has a wooly, puffy coat, which must be brushed daily. This prevents the release of the dander that causes allergies into the environment and also keeps your puppy tangle-free and healthy.

In addition to this, frequent bathing further helps to eliminate the allergy-causing dander. However, you should not bathe your puppy too often, as this will strip all the oils from its coat and skin and exposes them to skin infections and other health conditions.

2. Short Haircut Style

In addition to this, opting for a short haircut (such as a puppy cut) will help reduce the risk of a Bolognese allergy. This is because a shorter cut will further reduce the amount of shedding, so there will be fewer allergens in your home.

3. Vacuum Frequently

To keep your environment clean, make sure you vacuum your home as often as possible to remove allergens. Also, you should always clean your hands as often as possible after playing with your puppy or cleaning up after it, so you remove the hair and allergenic particles from your hands.

4. Consider Getting a Dog Bed

It may also be a good idea to get your Bolognese puppy used to sleeping in a pet bed, rather than the couch or your bed. This may help to reduce the amount of hair on these surfaces, so you will be exposed to fewer allergens.

5. Get an Air Purifier

Finally, to reduce the number of allergens in your home, an air purifier can be of great help. In addition to removing the dander, these also contribute to improving the air quality in your home by eliminating odors, dust, and other particles that could trigger allergies and asthma.

3 Hypoallergenic Alternatives to the Bolognese

If you are looking for hypoallergenic alternatives to the Bolognese, here are the top three breeds you may want to consider.

1. Poodle

The poodle comes in three sizes and is one of the main hypoallergenic breeds. You can also pick the size you prefer, ranging from toy to miniature and standard poodle. The coat is curly and sheds minimally, as you may expect. This breed is an excellent choice regardless of your lifestyle; it is smart, trainable, and extremely versatile, so it can adapt to any family and household without hassle.

2. Shih Tzu

The Little Lion Dog is small but surprisingly sturdy. The coat is often very long, but it has hair, not fur, which is why it is considered hypoallergenic. A Shih Tzu is the perfect lapdog, ideal for smaller households.

They don’t need much exercise, they are not very vocal, and make great friends with kids and other pets alike. With proper grooming and a healthy diet, Shih Tzus enjoy quite long lives.

3. Mini Schnauzer

The mini Schnauzer typically reaches between 12” and 14” and up to 20 lbs. It is a healthy breed, living up to 15 years on average, and is extremely obedient and outgoing. It is a top choice for many families thanks to its personality. The mini version can live in any space, whether it is an apartment or a large country house.

The standard and giant Schnauzers are also great alternatives as they are minimal shedders and hardly drool, so they are still considered hypoallergenic. All sizes are quite active and friendly, and easy to train.

Summary

If you are prone to allergies, a Bolognese dog may be just perfect for you. It is known for its low-shedding coat, but you can also employ many strategies to further decrease the number of allergens in your home, including opting for a short haircut, frequent brushing and bathing, and even getting an air purifier to improve the quality of the air in your home.

We’ve also considered three other hypoallergenic breeds – Shih Tzu is a small but sturdy companion, while Poodles and Schnauzers come in a variety of sizes while keeping their hypoallergenic status.