12 Best Hypoallergenic Dogs for Allergies — our top picks
Standard Poodle
Standard Poodle: very low shedding and very high grooming needs — a low-shedding coat that puts far less dander into the air. Intelligent, athletic, and hypoallergenic. The original Poodle size, bred for water retrieval with exceptional trainability. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Standard Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Miniature Poodle
Miniature Poodle: very low shedding, very high grooming needs and small-sized — a low-shedding coat that puts far less dander into the air. Medium-sized Poodle with all the intelligence and athleticism in a more manageable size. Excellent family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Miniature Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle: very low shedding, very high grooming needs and very small-sized — a low-shedding coat that puts far less dander into the air. Smallest variety of Poodle with intelligence and athleticism in a tiny package. Hypoallergenic and highly trainable. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Toy Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Maltese
Maltese: very low shedding, very high grooming needs and very small-sized. Ancient toy breed with flowing white coat and gentle demeanor. Playful and affectionate companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Maltese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise: very low shedding, very high grooming needs and small-sized. Cheerful white powder-puff with hypoallergenic coat. Playful and adaptable companion with minimal shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bichon Frise needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dog: very low shedding, very high grooming needs and medium-sized. Curly-coated Portuguese fishermans dog. Intelligent, athletic, and excellent swimmer. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Portuguese Water Dog needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: very low shedding, very high grooming needs and medium-sized. Irish terrier with silky wheaten coat. Happy, friendly, and less aggressive than most terriers. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Maltipoo
Maltipoo: very low shedding, high grooming needs and small-sized. Maltese and Poodle cross creating small, affectionate companion with reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Maltipoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Schnoodle
Schnoodle: very low shedding, high grooming needs and medium-sized. Schnauzer and Poodle cross combining intelligence with low-shedding coat. Comes in multiple sizes. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Schnoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzer: low shedding, high grooming needs and small-sized. Small, spirited terrier with distinctive beard and eyebrows. Alert, friendly, and adaptable companion known for intelligence and low-shedding coat. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Miniature Schnauzer needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu: low shedding, very high grooming needs and small-sized. Flowing-coated toy breed bred to be a companion. Friendly and outgoing with all people. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Shih Tzu needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier: low shedding, very high grooming needs and very small-sized. Small terrier with silky coat and big personality. Brave, determined, and sometimes bossy despite their tiny size. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Yorkshire Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or take the free quiz for a ranking based on your own answers.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for allergy sufferers
Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a popular choice, but very high shedding put it at odds with allergy sufferers. On top of that, the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a popular choice, but very high shedding put it at odds with allergy sufferers. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Siberian Husky needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a popular choice, but very high shedding and large-sized put it at odds with allergy sufferers. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Bernese Mountain Dog needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
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Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the best dog for allergy sufferers?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Standard Poodle ranks as the top choice for allergy sufferers, followed by the Miniature Poodle and Toy Poodle.
- How was this list of dogs for allergy sufferers chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for allergy sufferers — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for allergy sufferers?
- The Shiba Inu, The Siberian Husky, The Bernese Mountain Dog all rank near the bottom for allergy sufferers despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.