Adorable, small in size, and great for allergy sufferers the Bichon Frise breed has been growing in popularity in the United States and abroad. They possess such wonderful qualities that give their owners joy for years. I’ve been around my fair share of Bichon Frises and am tempted to get one myself as they don’t cause as much of an allergic reaction to me as other breeds.

Are Bichon Frises Hypoallergenic?

Yes, for the most part, Bichon Frises have hypoallergenic coats but people with pet allergies may still be allergic to dander from their skin and their saliva. Bichon Frises do not shed their coat, which makes them better for some allergy sufferers.

The majority of people with pet allergies shouldn’t have an issue with being around a Bichon Frises. It all depends on the type and severity of the person’s allergy. For example, some people are allergic to dog hair while others are allergic to dog dander, or to both.

For someone that is only allergic to dog hair and not to the dander that falls from their skin then a Bichon Frise would be hypoallergenic to them. On the other hand, someone who is allergic to pet dander could have a reaction whether the dog sheds its coat or not.

It’s important to know that the culprit for pet allergies is a protein that’s found both in dander and saliva. So, saliva has this allergen in it as well. The amount depends on the dog and its genetics.

Bichon Coat & Grooming

One of the reasons people are attracted to this breed is because of the type of coat it has. Its coat is non-shedding which makes it great for people with pet allergies. Bichons need to be taken to the groomer, at least, every two months. Their coats require weekly brushing as well. In between visits to the groomer they should be bathed at least once. Overall, they are a low maintenance dog and great for allergy sufferers.

Bichon Frise Temperament & Personality

Bichon Frises will charm your socks off! They are very social and love to be the center of attention. They are great dogs for big families that can give them lots of attention and love. They need their family. Because of this, they may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for too long.

Training a Bichon Frise

Bichon Frises are very intelligent which makes them easy to train but they are known to be stubborn at times. This can be curbed by training them right when they are young. As much as they like the attention they dislike being forced to do something they don’t want to do. Positive reinforcement is the best approach to use in training. They should be rewarded with their favorite treats when they get something right.

What Makes a Dog Hypoallergenic?

First, understand that there is no such thing as a perfectly “hypoallergenic” dog but some breeds cause less of a problem for allergy sufferers than others. Typically, breeds that do not shed their coat are considered to be on the hypoallergenic spectrum. This includes long-haired dogs that need to be groomed regularly as well as hairless breeds that don’t grow hair at all.

Most people are allergic to the protein found in canine dander and saliva. The dog breeds that shed their coat also shed their dandruff with it. So if pet hair sticks to someone’s clothes it’s not only hair but dander. The dander is the most allergic part. So if you are in a house with a dog that sheds a lot of hair there will be more dander, which causes problems for those with pet allergies.

Allergies vary from person to person. It’s not only the dog that determines if there will be an allergic reaction or not. The person’s own biological makeup determines that. So classifying a dog as hypoallergenic isn’t entirely true, but there is a bit of truth to it. Just make sure you understand this.

Dogs that do not shed their coats release much less dander which is tolerable for many people with pet allergies.

Best Dog Breeds For Allergy Sufferers

The best dog for people with pet allergies is a dog that does not shed its coat and sheds very little dander. The amount of drool the dog produces is also a factor. A dog that does not shed its coat and does not drool much is what you want to aim for. The breeds on this list are breeds that are just that and are hairless or have long coats.

• Bichon Frise
• Very loyal to their owners
• Easy to train
• Small in size
• Requires professional grooming
• American Hairless Tarrier
• Highly Intelligent
• Easy To Train
• Lots of Energy
• Great with kids
• Poodle
• Comes in 3 sizes
• Highly Intelligent
• Easy To Train
• Requires Professional Grooming
• Loyal & Gentle Personalities
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Requires Regular Grooming
• Highly active & require vigorous daily exercise
• Best for people that live an active lifestyle
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• Easy to groom
• Great with kids
• Highly energetic
• Needs lots of daily exercises
• Hairless Chinese Crested
• Eye-catching look which some find appealing
• Moderate energy level
• Loyal but also very independent personalities
• Standard Schnauzer
• Loves people
• Gentle & affectionate personality
• Great with kids
• Easy to train
• Need daily exercise

Hypoallergenic Poodle Cross Breeds

The Poodle-mix craze all started in the 80s when Australian Guide Dog Associated attempted to create a guide dog that would be hypoallergenic. They trained Labrador Retrievers to be guide dogs for people with disabilities. They were hoping that breeding a Poodle and a Labrador Retriever would produce the hypoallergenic dog they were wanting.

Well, they were right, and this was the beginning of the “Labradoodle.” Little did they know at the time that this mixed-breed would ignite a Poodle-mix craze in North America and Europe. They took off immediately in popularity and breeders around the world began experimenting with other Poodle-mixed breeds. This resulted in many new mixed-breeds that were hypoallergenic.

Popular Hypoallergenic Poodle Mixed Breeds

The majority of Poodle Cross breeds inherit their coats from the Poodle. This means that they don’t shed their coat and instead must be groomed regularly. I don’t know of a Poodle crossbreed that does shed its coat but that’s not to say they aren’t out there. The ones on this list are mostly hypoallergenic.

Cockapoo

This Poodle and Cocker Spaniel crossbreed has a warm personality, is easy to train, and great around children. They love to play and are good both indoors and outdoors, although they are known to like sitting on their owner’s lap. They are gentle, loyal, and easy to maintain. Training a Cockapoo is a piece of cake! They are people dogs and thrive in environments where they get a lot of interaction with family members. This makes them great with kids.

Goldendoodle

This Poodle and Golden Retriever mix breed is among the most popular. It combines the charming personality of the Golden Retriever and combines it with the intelligence of the Poodle. Golden Retrievers, well, love to retrieve, and this mixed breed inherited this trait. They are a bit more active than a Poodle but mellow once they have a bit of exercise. They are great around older children but might be too energetic around babies and small children.

Schnoodle

The Schnoodle is one of my favorites! This Poodle and Schnauzer mix is high octane and has lots of energy. For those who live active lifestyles and have the time to exercise their dog vigorously, then this breed is for you. They are very affectionate and love to be the center of attention. If you like Schnauzers then you will love this hypoallergenic mix.

Peekapoo

This is a mix between a Poodle and a Pekinese. I had a Peekapoo when I was a kid. They have great personalities but can be picky with who they like and don’t like. When my Peekapoo got older it didn’t want me to pick it up, but my mom on the other hand could pick him up whenever she wanted without a problem. Peekapoos are hypoallergenic. They make great dogs for those who have the time to dedicate them. They may not be the best around children as they are picky about having their tails touched.

Are Bichon Frises Hypoallergenic?

So now we know that Bichon Frises are considered to be hypoallergenic. Just remember that there is no such thing as a dog that will be 100% hypoallergenic, but some dogs are less of a problem for allergy sufferers than others. Overall, the Bichon Frises is a great choice of breed for someone that has pet allergies.

If you are considering getting one and you have allergies be sure to spend lots of time around the breed beforehand, to see how you will react to them. The protein people are allergic to is found not only in dander but also in saliva, so be sure you don’t react too severely if they slobber on you. Depending on the severity of your allergy, and under the supervision of your doctor, you can test this as well.