I’ve had an Airedale for years, and I’ve always heard that they’re hypoallergenic. I decided to do some research to see if this was true.

So, are Airedales hypoallergenic? Yes! Airedale terriers produce less dander and shed less than most other breeds of dogs, making them hypoallergenic. It’s important to understand, though, that this does not mean they are allergy-free.

Airedales have long been touted as hypoallergenic dogs, who will create lower levels of irritation for people who are sensitive to canines. This means that certain owners who want a dog but are held back by allergies may look to an Airedale as a good option. While it is true that Airedales do shed less (and that this, along with a few other characteristics, makes them less irritable to sensitive owners), no dog is going to be completely allergy free.

What Hypoallergenic Means

First, it’s important to understand what hypoallergenic means in a dog. In short, hypoallergenic means that something has a decreased tendency to cause allergies. The word can apply not only to pets, but also to skincare products, cleaning supplies, and clothing fabrics.

In terms of a dog, this means that if you’re allergic to dogs, a hypoallergenic breed will cause lower allergic reactions than a non-hypoallergenic breed.

Again, it’s important to note that hypo means ‘less’, not ‘none’. Depending on the severity of your allergies, you still may experience a reaction to something even if it’s hypoallergenic. Also, there’s no strict definition as to what qualifies as ‘less’ allergenic. Especially in commercial products, companies may state that their product is hypo-allergenic even if the difference is negligible.

So, just because something is hypoallergenic doesn’t mean that you’ll have no allergic reaction. There is a good chance, though, that you will have a reduced reaction.

Why Are Certain Things Hypoallergenic?

To understand why some things are hypoallergenic, it’s important to first understand what causes an allergy. Allergies are caused when your body reacts to a certain substance — food, pollen, dogs, etc. — in a negative way. This causes your body to then release ‘antibodies’, which are its natural defence system against anything that your body deems to be bad.

Scientists don’t quite know your body has this adverse reaction to certain substances (or why different people react to different substances), but they do know that the more of that substance you’re exposed to, the more extreme your reaction will be.

When you’re talking about dogs, then, you can make a generalized rule: the more ‘dog substance’ you’re exposed to, the more of an allergic reaction you’re going to have. This substance — which, in this instance, is protein produced by the dog — can come from a few different areas:

• Dandruff: Pieces of skin dead skin that come loose from your dog throughout the day, when they brush against something, or when they’re pet.
• Drool: Dog drool can stick to various surfaces including the floor, couches, or any low tables you have. They might also lick or bite you, exposing you further.
• Hair: Anyone who’s owned a dog before knows how much they can shed. Their hair will stick to carpet, furniture, clothing — anything that the dog comes in contact with, really.

With that in mind, let’s look at what makes Airedales hypoallergenic.

What Makes Airedales Hypoallergenic

So, we can now make the following statement: something is hypoallergenic if it exposes you to less of the substance that you are allergic to. We can also make the claim that, aside from touching a dog, you’ll be exposed to the protein produced by that dog through three main avenues:

• Dandruff
• Drool
• Hair from shedding

It makes sense, then, to claim that an animal that does less of these three things would be hypoallergenic. In the case of Airedales, this is certainly true.

Dandruff

Dandruff is made up of dander, which is essentially just another word for dead skin cells. Because they grow hair and not fur, Airedales are one of the dog breeds that produces lower levels of dander.

This means that when you pet an Airedale, you’ll pick up fewer dead skin cells, thus lessening any negative reaction you might have to them. That’s not the only way that dander spreads, though; it also tends to drift through the air in the form of dust, which can expose it to your eyes, nose, and mouth. A house with an Airedale in it may have lower levels of dander.

Drool

Airedales are very tidy creatures, and they tend to drool very little. Some might drool a bit when they’re excited or hungry (mine does), but for the most part, you won’t have to worry about your Airedale drooling. Because of this, they’ll leave less drool around your house, meaning fewer exposures to them and a lower allergic reaction.

Shedding

Airedales have a short, wiry coat of hair that, as long as it’s properly maintained, will shed very little. However, it’s important to note that ‘very little’ is not the same as ‘never’.

Like most dogs, Airedales will tend to shed their coat as the temperature changes, so watch in the shoulder seasons for more hair than usual. Additionally, petting your Airedale may release some of their hair.

Regular brushing and coat maintenance can help keep the Airedale from shedding. If you live with someone who’s allergic to dogs, this might help lower the irritation they experience from the Airedale.

So, in summary, Airedales have less dander, do not drool very often, and shed less than most other breeds of dogs. This lowers the amount of allergens that they will release, which can cause people to have a lower allergic reaction to them.

Are Airedales Good for People with Allergies?

Given all of that, it might be easy to make the assumption that Airedales make good dogs for anyone who’s allergic but still wants a companion. While a convenient assumption to make, it’s not necessarily the truth.

There are two things you need to consider before you go out and buy an Airedale:

• Once again, hypoallergenic does not mean allergy free
• There are other factors to be considered before you get an Airedale

Hypo vs. Allergy Free

Growing up, my family always had two things: an Airedale terrier, and a very clean house. We vacuumed the floors, lint-rolled our furniture, and dusted all of the surfaces regularly. That being said, whenever I had a friend over who was allergic to dogs, there was about a 50-50 chance that they would still have a reaction.

This does to show that, just because Airedales are hypoallergenic does not mean that they’re allergy-free. You might still have a reaction to an Airedale, especially:

• If you live in a small space
• If you don’t clean regularly
• During the changing of the seasons
• Depending on the dog you get! Every Airedale is different. Some might shed or drool more than others, which can make your reaction worse.

There’s Still the Dog to Consider

Even aside from the allergy considerations, Airedales aren’t for everyone. They’re high-energy dogs that can sometimes be stubborn. They are large and rowdy, and even though they’re extremely family-friendly, they won’t be ideal for every household.

It’s important to consider the entire spectrum of traits when you’re looking for a dog. Don’t make your decision solely based on the fact that you heard Airedales are allergy-free or reduced-allergy dogs. Remember, your pet is a living, breathing organism, not just something that you keep around for your enjoyment.

Other Hypoallergenic Dogs

After a bit of research you decide that an Airedale might not be for you, but you still want a dog that won’t activate your allergies? Look no further! The following breeds are all dogs that are considered hypoallergenic.

The Portuguese Water Dog

Portuguese water dogs are a medium-large dog breed that have a very similar wiry coat to Airedales. They tend to shed very little, although they have high grooming requirements.

Raised for work on farms and, strangely, sailboats, Portuguese water dogs are high-energy creatures. They tend to be very loyal and can make great family dogs.

Fun fact: the Portuguese water dog was the first dog of America for eight years, as President Barack Obama gifted one to his daughter upon his inauguration.

Poodles

Some of the most popular dogs in the world, poodles are great because they come in all different sizes. There are toy, miniature, and standard poodles, with the standard being around 50 pounds fully grown.

Poodles are highly intelligent, medium-energy dogs. They’re great for families. Their tightly-woven coat keeps down on the shedding, and given how prim and proper they are, you can expect to not have to deal with a lot of drooling.

Labradoodle

If you want something about the same size as a poodle but slightly more boisterous and playful, consider looking at a labradoodle. A cross between a poodle and a lab, these adorable long-haired animals keep the shedding down while having a very different look from poodles.

A word of warning about labradoodles: depending on how much ‘lab’ and how much ‘poodle’ you get in the genetic mix-up, the degree to which your dog sheds might change.

Shih Tzu

For people who want something smaller, the Shih Tzu is a classic small dog breed that has very low shedding. These little guys carry themselves with a lot of dignity, so you don’t have to deal with a lot of drooling.