They say small is beautiful — and that’s very much the case where mini hypoallergenic dogs are concerned. However, if you or someone in your home suffers from pet allergies, you may be unsure what tiny breed is a good choice for your family.
The good news is choosing one of the miniature hypoallergenic dog breeds means your allergies won’t get in the way. So, if you were hoping to bring a fun-sized fur-baby into your life, check out our top five mini mutts that won’t trigger sneezing, itchy eyes, or a runny nose.
Hypoallergenic Mini Dogs — Content
What Is a Miniature Dog?
Miniature Hypoallergenic Dogs — What to Think About
Hypoallergenic Miniature Dogs FAQs
Top 5 Miniature Hypoallergenic Dogs
Granted, no dog can be described as being entirely ‘allergy-free’ — every pooch expels dander. However, a hypoallergenic dog won’t lose their fur or hair frequently enough to be releasing problematic amounts of dander into the air. Hypoallergenic mini dogs are also not known for excessive drooling.
To help you in your doggie quest, here are our top five fun-sized, fur–friendly K9 companions:
Miniature Schnauzers are not super tiny hypoallergenic dogs, but they are pretty small. The average weight is between 11 and 20 pounds, and they rarely grow taller than 14 inches.
These pooches make the hypoallergenic list because they rarely shed their fur. Bearing a short, double coat, the outer layer has a coarse/wiry feel, whereas the undercoat is made up of much softer hair.
While a Miniature Schnauzer sheds their soft undercoat slightly, the fur gets trapped in the outer wiry coat. This means the loose hair is contained, and the dead skin cells aren’t released into the air. However, you will need to brush your mini bow-wow weekly to free the dead hair and skin.
Miniature Schnauzers have a friendly, playful, and spirited temperament. They’re also good-natured, obedient, and respond well to puppy training. This is why they’re the ideal furry friend for families, particularly those with young children.
Yorkshire Terriers — or ‘Yorkies’ — are mini hypoallergenic dogs known for being bundles of energy and playful. Their coats have a likeness closer to human hair than animal fur. It’s straight and will grow very long without regular grooming.
Yorkies are the perfect example of a pocket-sized pooch, their average weight is only 7 pounds, and they only grow to be around seven to 8 inches tall. Due to their micro stature, they could happily live in an apartment, providing they receive a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise per day.
If you have dog allergies, a Yorkshire Terrier might be the perfect dog for you. Yorkies don’t shed seasonally, and their coat grows similar to human hair, it doesn’t fall from their body regularly with large amounts of dander attached.
3. Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a low-shedding and low-drooling miniature dog. They make playful and affectionate furry friends and won’t take up much space in your home.
Weighing on average between six and 12 pounds, these mini mutts stand around 12 inches in height. Their small size makes them a great choice if you live in a compact apartment or have a busy house full of young children.
The Bichon Frise has a double-layered coat and, like the Schnauzer, any hairs shed from the undercoat get stuck in the curly outer coat. This does mean you’ll need to brush out your bow-wow regularly to release the loose hair.
To stay healthy and thrive, Bichon Frise dogs require daily 30 minute walks — minimum. These mini dogs are playful and enjoy learning new tricks. A Bichon will love to please you, this can make them very receptive to puppy training.
4. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are another miniature dog with a hypoallergenic double coat. They won’t shed very often, and when they do, the dander and hair will get caught up in their long topcoat.
Like Yorkshire Terriers, Shih Tzus have long human-like hair and not fluffy dog fur. Weekly brushing to remove any dead hairs is advisable and you may also want to groom your pooch regularly to keep their coat tidy.
Their small size — weighing between nine and 16 pounds, and reaching heights of 10 inches. Plus, the fact they only require a small amount of exercise each day, makes Shih Tzus the pawfect doggy for seniors.
Shih Tzus make lovely companions. They’re a miniature hypoallergenic dog with a friendly and playful temperament. What’s more, their low shedding means allergy sufferers can enjoy the companionship of a Shih Tzu completely symptom-free.
5. Toy Poodle
Toy Poodles are one of the most adorable hypoallergenic miniature dogs you can find. As you would imagine, these tiny tail-waggers have a coat full of curls, and some have shorter curls than others.
Like the Standard Poodle, the Toy Poodle is hypoallergenic as they rarely shed their fur — and when they do, the dander gets caught up in their curls. Their adorable appearance and friendly temperament mean they’re a popular breed for people with allergies who are looking for a family dog.
If you want a tiny teddy bear dog, Toy Poodles only weigh between six to 9 pounds and grow to a maximum of 10 inches. If you love the idea of owning a Poodle but don’t have the space, a Toy won’t aggravate your allergies and is a compact and cuddly canine that will fit easily into the smallest of homes.
If you think all good things come in small packages — dogs included, you may wish to know what defines ‘miniature.’ In this case, there are two types:
- The dog is a smaller version of a large breed. For example, the miniature Poodle or teacup Yorkshire Terrier.
- Breed is naturally tiny or small — such as a Chihuahua.
Owning a miniature dog is like having a puppy-sized pooch forever. These fun-sized fur-babies are very popular, but there are many factors soon-to-be doggy parents need to consider beforehand.
Grooming
A miniature dog doesn’t always necessarily mean less maintenance. Some hypoallergenic miniature dogs require frequent grooming, such as the matting-prone Bichon Frise. In contrast, others with shorter coats will only need the occasional brush through.
Decide on how much time — and money — you are prepared to put in for either trips to the groomers or bathing and brushing DIY style.
Exercise
All dogs require exercise, yet some demand more than others, depending on their activity levels — even miniature breeds. Hence, think about how often, or how much time you can dedicate to walkies before deciding on your mini K9 companion.
Health Issues/Conditions
While they may be adorable, miniature dogs are also fragile fur-babies. All breeds can develop diseases and health complications, yet smaller pooches seem more susceptible to certain issues. Pancreatitis, intervertebral disc disease, and respiratory conditions are very common in these tiny tail-waggers.
Shedding
Those with allergies will need to know how much a breed sheds to keep their symptoms at bay. Some dogs will have thick coats but shed very little, while others have a finer coat but trigger allergies because they shed more.
Dog dander is the dead skin that flakes away from your dog’s body, often attached to their fur. It’s a protein in the dander that triggers the allergic reaction, and the more fur your dog sheds, the more dander they will release into the air. The allergy-inducing proteins found in the flakes of dead skin are also found in saliva and urine.
If you have allergies, take into account, both how frequently your chosen breed will shed, and how heavy they drool.
Conclusion
Small hypoallergenic pooches are pawsome pets for dog lovers who are short on space and short on tolerance to dander! These dogs rarely shed or drool, so there will be no dander particles floating around your home and, putting allergies to one side for a moment — they’re the most adorable little bundles of love and energy.
If you suffer from dog allergies, we hope this article has shown you that there are plenty of mini hypoallergenic dogs that won’t set off your allergy symptoms. Whether it’s a playful Bichon Frise or a protective and loyal Yorkie, the perfect teeny-weeny tail-wagger is out there for you.
“What Is the Smallest Hypoallergenic Non Shedding Dog?”
There are a few small dog breeds that are non-shedding or shed very little. Check our out small hypoallergenic dogs here.
“Are Teacup Dogs Hypoallergenic?”
If a pooch is classed as a teacup dog, it doesn’t mean it will also be hypoallergenic. That said, the following teacup breeds are hypoallergenic:
“What Is the Calmest Hypoallergenic Dog Breed?”
Breeds with a chilled out temperament include:
“Are Miniature Dachshunds Hypoallergenic?”
Dachshunds are not considered hypoallergenic, but the amount that they shed will very much depend on what kind you have. There are smooth-coated, long-haired, and wire-haired dachshunds.
“What Is the Cutest Hypoallergenic Dog?”
To learn more, why not check out our guide to the top Cute Hypoallergenic Dogs.
