Is the French Bulldog Hypoallergenic?
Are French Bulldog hypoallergenic dogs? Unfortunately, this breed is not hypoallergenic. With their high shedding, dander, and drooling levels — their short hairs spread easily and can cause serious issues for those with dog allergies.
French Bulldog Quick Facts
Understanding Hypoallergenic Dogs
The French Bulldog’s Coat
How much Do French Bulldogs Shed?
How To Stop A French Bulldog From Shedding?
French Bulldog Hypoallergenic Alternatives
Hypoallergenic French Bulldog FAQs
If you have specific questions about the Dog Name breed, check out our FAQ section.
A hypoallergenic dog is more than a tail-wagger with little or no fur. For a canine to be classed as hypoallergenic, they will have a few key characteristics such as:
- Low drooling.
- Fur that sheds very little, if at all.
- Many have coats that grow continually, like our hair — rather than shed like dog fur.
To find out more, check out our article What Is a Hypoallergenic Dog?
The coat of a French Bulldog is short and fine, yet on their loose and wrinkled skin — around the head and shoulders — it’s shiny in appearance.
So, are French Bulldogs non shedding? No. While their coat has a soft texture, the Frenchie is a shedding breed.
French Bulldogs come in various colors and can almost be any color apart from solid black, liver, mouse, and black with white or tan.
Even with such smooth and short coats, French Bulldogs shed — they’re a high molting short-haired breed. This is particularly noticeable during the summer months when they need to get rid of their winter coat.
Thicker hairs develop during the colder seasons to keep them warm until summer comes around. Hence, you’ll notice they shed excessively to try and reduce their body temperature as this breed does not cope well during hotter months.
There are a few ways to help reduce the amount of shedding from your Frenchie. But bear in mind, it’s something you can never fully prevent — it’s part of the characteristics of the breed.
1. Brushing and Grooming
French Bulldogs are fairly easy to groom and only require occasional brushing to keep them healthy. They need familiarizing with brushing from an early age, and luckily are generally quite a clean breed — only needing a bath when they’re visibly dirty!
2. Using the Right Tools for the Job
During high-frequency shedding seasons, you can use special shedding brushes and tools. This helps remove the hairs before they spread everywhere in your home.
You may find you prefer to use a deshedding glove to reduce your French Bulldog’s fur fallout. Another option is to opt for a high-velocity hair dryer to blow out any loose hairs within their coat and save you some time.
3. Be Aware of Allergies
French Bulldogs allergies are quite common, in fact, they’re very prone to reactions. Another issue is due to a large number of folds present all over their body, they can easily form irritation and even infections, which can induce shedding. Hence, closely monitor them for any signs of sensitivities. You can find out more about the symptoms in our Dog Allergies section.
4. Looking After Their Coat
Hair loss isn’t always due to shedding, dry skin or poor coat condition can also be to blame. So this step may be the key to reducing your Frenchie’s shedding.
A high-quality vitamin coat conditioner can help improve the health and oil balance of your Frenchie’s coat. These canine coat care products contain high levels of soothing and beneficial vitamins that nourish their skin and coat — and leave a nice scent too.
5. Evaluate Your Frenchie’s Diet
Take a closer look at your French Bulldog’s diet and make sure they have all the required vitamins and minerals to keep them in good health. You may wish to include some beneficial extras such as omega-3 fish oils for dogs.
You may also find your pup benefits from some oily meat, fish, or even liver to give them a boost of vitamins as a healthy, pup-friendly snack.
The French Bulldog has fast become a highly popular breed, and it’s easy to see why with its unique features, cuddly rolls, and friendly temperament. But, unfortunately, for allergy sufferers, this breed isn’t suitable due to its high shedding frequency.
That said, it doesn’t mean you should get upset if you had your heart set on this quirky companion. Here are some hypoallergenic-friendly alternatives.
The Bull Terrier is a great French Bulldog hypoallergenic alternative and addition to any family, especially those with older children. These dogs are strong, playful, and incredibly loving. But also, be aware they can be quite stubborn. They have a slow-growing coat and shed very little.
Bull Terriers and French Bulldogs are of similar height and weight, as well as both carry a smooth coat — if that’s the look you have in mind for your four-legged friend.
Another great alternative is the Schnauzer, with similar energy levels, trainability, and friendly nature — they’re an ideal family dog breed.
They may not have similar physical characteristics to the French Bulldog although they do average the same height. However, the Schnauzer has a lot of the same personality traits as the Frenchie — alert, friendly, and playful — without the worries of shedding or allergy-irritating dander.
You may just fall in love with the highly playful and inquisitive American Hairless Terrier (AHT). As the name suggests, this allergy-friendly animal is hairless, so has low dander levels, and drools very little.
The AHT is slightly smaller than the French Bulldog but shares the same extremely affectionate character and is relatively easy to train. They’re also low barkers but do make average watchdogs.
If you’re suffering from pet allergies, it can be heartbreaking to think you can’t enjoy the companionship of a Frenchie furry friend. However, as we’ve seen, there are other possibilities — from the Schnauzer to the American Hairless Terrier. Plus, there are steps to try and reduce French Bulldog allergies in your home.
So is the French Bulldog hypoallergenic? Unfortunately not, but there are breeds out there that will provide you with the same temperament and size, yet won’t aggravate your allergies.
Do Hypoallergenic French Bulldogs Exist?
Unfortunately for those of us with our hearts set on this breed, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic French Bulldog. There are other breeds that may be more suited to allergy sufferers — take a look at our French Bulldog Alternatives.
Do French Bulldogs Shed a Lot?
Despite the smooth, short coat, the French Bulldog is a high molting short-haired breed. This is particularly prolific during the summer months, when they need to get rid of their winter coat.
Are Mini French Bulldogs Hypoallergenic Dogs?
Although miniature French Bulldogs are smaller, they still shed making them a non-hypoallergenic breed. That said, due to their smaller size, they will shed less hair, but still can trigger pet allergies.
What Medium Hypoallergenic Dogs Are There?
There are a wide variety of medium-sized hypoallergenic dogs, such as:
Don’t see a pooch for you? Take a look at our complete list of Medium Hypoallergenic Dogs.
Are Any Bulldogs Hypoallergenic?
No bulldogs are considered hypoallergenic. Although, there may be some crossbreeds that may be better for allergy sufferers.
