Allergies & shedding
Hypoallergenic dogs: the honest truth
We'd love to tell you there's a dog that's safe for every allergy. There isn't. What we can show you are the breeds that shed least and drool least in our data — the best starting point if someone in your home reacts to dogs — and how to find out, kindly and safely, before a puppy comes home.
- Every breed here has the lowest shedding score in our data.
- We sorted by shedding, then by drool, then by how much grooming the coat needs.
The lowest-shedding breeds in our data
Italian Greyhound
Tender, elegant and deeply attached. House-training, cold weather and fragile legs are the less photogenic parts of life together.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very low
- Size
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€2,000
Whippet
A sofa dog with a sprinter's body. Quiet, affectionate and remarkably easy to live with.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very low
- Size
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,000–€1,700
Australian Labradoodle
Sociable, trainable and usually carefully selected for companionship. It remains a developing type, so breeder transparency matters more than the label.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very high
- Size
- Moderate
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,700–€3,000
Bichon Frise
A small white cloud with a cheerful streak. Sociable, bright and happiest with people around.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very high
- Size
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,000
Havanese
Sociable, funny and adaptable, provided company is part of the deal. The long coat is a choice between daily work and regular clipping.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very high
- Size
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Lhasa Apso
Self-possessed, watchful and loyal on its own terms. A Lhasa is less eager to please than its small size suggests.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very high
- Size
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
Maltese
Tiny, lively and devoted. A Maltese fits small spaces easily, but the coat, teeth and need for company require steady care.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very high
- Size
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,100–€2,000
Maltipoo
A tiny, sociable companion that likes learning and being included. Fragility, barking and coat care are the practical realities.
- Shedding
- Very low
- Drooling
- Very low
- Grooming
- Very high
- Size
- Very low
- Typical yearly cost
- €1,200–€2,100
What actually causes dog allergies
The main dog allergens come from skin flakes and saliva, not the hair itself. Hair spreads them around the house, which is why low-shedding breeds help some people — but every dog carries allergens, and people react differently even to dogs of the same breed. Before you commit, spend several hours with adult dogs of the breed, ideally over more than one visit, and speak to an allergy specialist.
The two short-coated sighthounds, the Italian Greyhound and Whippet, are the easiest on grooming and cost roughly €1,000–2,000 a year in our data. The fluffy low-shedders — Bichon, Havanese, Maltese, Maltipoo, Lhasa Apso — need professional grooming and run to about €1,100–2,100, with the Australian Labradoodle up to €3,000.
Please don't choose from this list if…
- Someone at home has severe allergies or asthma and you haven't talked to an allergy specialist.
- You can't arrange time with adult dogs of the breed before you decide.
- You're hoping for a guarantee — no breed can give you one.
Questions people ask us
Is any dog 100% hypoallergenic?
No. Every dog produces allergens in its skin and saliva. Low-shedding breeds can mean fewer allergens spread around the home, but reactions vary from person to person.
Which low-allergy dog is best for a family?
In our data the Havanese and Bichon Frise combine very low shedding with a gentle, child-friendly nature. The Australian Labradoodle suits more active families, if the individual dog's coat is right.
How can I test whether I'm allergic to a breed?
Spend time with adult dogs of that breed indoors, ideally on several visits, and notice how you feel over the following day. An allergy specialist can also test you for specific dog allergens.
Your week is the other half of the match
A list can only get you so far. The Find My Dog quiz sets your home, your hours and your limits against every breed, and shows you the reasoning behind each score so you can judge it for yourself. It takes two minutes and it's free.
For when your dog comes home
DoggMatch+ helps with the practical side of the first year: training week by week, food portions worked out from your dog's weight, a care calendar and a printable Dog Pack. It's entirely optional, and everything on this page stays free.
See what DoggMatch+ includes