Are Miniature Poodles hypoallergenic?’ Without question! These smaller versions of the popular Standard Poodle have a single coat made up of dense, tightly wound curls. Yet like their larger cousins, they rarely shed.
Miniature Poodle Quick Facts
If you have dog allergies, you’ll want to keep to hypoallergenic breeds — those that are low shedding or don’t drool much. This is because proteins found in a pooch’s saliva, urine and dander contain the allergens.
So, a drooly Basset Hound wouldn’t be a good choice, and neither would a heavy-shedding Siberian Husky. However, there are exceptions — Samoyeds shed their fluffy, double coat heavily twice a year, but they’re low dander producers.
Poodles are one of the best dogs for allergy sufferers — they hardly shed, drool, or lose large amounts of dander.
If you’re interested in finding out more, check out our article on What Is a Hypoallergenic Dog?
Just like the Standard Poodle, Minis have a single coat full of tight curls. Poodles of all sizes have hair instead of fur and need to be brushed daily to remove the dead hair. If you don’t have your Poodle’s coat clipped short, it can become matted if not properly groomed.
Poodles were originally bred as waterfowl retrievers. Traditionally, their fur was clipped short in certain areas to make swimming easier but left long over their joints and vital organs. These days, most will sport the signature fluffy pom poms to impress at dog shows or on their daily walks around the park.
Miniature Poodles are perfect for people with allergies as they barely shed. They lose hair, similarly to us humans. In that, a few hairs will fall out every now and then. Dogs with fur are more likely to shed more frequently and, therefore, these breeds release more dander.
The Mini Poodle won’t cover your home in hair, and you won’t need to worry about them blowing their coats twice a year. Any hair your Poodle does lose will just get caught up inside their tight curls.
When you brush your pooch, the amount of dander and hair they release is minimal. Hence, Poodles are one of the most hypoallergenic dog breeds. They’re often used to create allergy-friendly mix breeds.
There is no way of stopping any breed from shedding completely — it’s natural. Your pooch should shed hair/fur, but a longer growth cycle typically means a lower frequency.
Mini Poodles are extremely low shedders, but if you feel they’re losing hair faster than usual, it could be a sign something more serious is going on.
Don’t ignore it.
Instead, check out these tips to help your Mini Poodle’s shedding:
Feed Your Mini Poodle a Healthy Diet
Looking after your dog’s coat starts with looking after their insides. Your dog’s diet and the condition of their skin and fur are more linked than you may think.
Balanced nutrition is essential for good skin integrity and moisture. If your pooch has dry skin, their hair may not be able to grow properly, and the roots can become weak, leading to a higher rate of hair loss.
Ensure you’re feeding your Miniature Poodle a diet rich in protein. Also, your dog’s kibble should have a variety of vitamins, minerals, and the correct amount of carbohydrates. This will all be based on your dog’s age and weight.
As well as the above, your Miniature Poodle needs omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. Omegas help keep your dog’s skin well moisturized and also support a healthy, strong, shiny coat.
To keep your Mini Poodle’s curls looking their best, give them a daily omega supplement or fish oil capsule.
Treat Their Allergies
Our furry friends aren’t immune to allergies, and dogs can have a reaction to many different allergens. They can be over-sensitive to specific ingredients in their food. Hence, if your pooch has a food allergy, your vet may put them on a special diet to avoid another reaction in the future.
Other common allergies that may be affecting your Mini Poodle include dust, pollen, grass, detergents, and other cleaning products.
Allergies can cause excessive shedding because a reaction can result in itchy and inflamed skin. And, if your dog is scratching a lot, they can damage their skin and pull fur from their coat.
If you think your Mini Poodle is suffering from allergies, take a trip to the vet, where they can carry out allergy testing.
Regularly Treat Your Small Poodle for Fleas
A regular schedule for flea treatment is important if you want your canine companion to stay happy and healthy. Just like with allergies, if your dog has fleas, they’ll be scratching a lot, thus creating extra hair loss.
If you’re unsure how often you should flea your Miniature Poodle, your vet will be able to help you develop an appropriate fleaing schedule. Typically, spot-on treatments are applied monthly. If you choose tablets, these can last anything from 30 to 90 days, depending on the dosage.
Take Them to the Vet
Abnormal shedding can be a sign of several different diseases. Miniature Poodles can suffer from Sebaceous Adenitis and Cushing’s Disease. These health conditions have hair loss as a common symptom.
If you’re worried that your Mini Poodle is shedding too much, take them to the vet to be professionally diagnosed and treated.
Reduce Stress
Stress and anxiety can cause your furry friend to start losing hair. If your Mini Poodle is under a lot of stress — for example, they’re left home alone for hours every day, this can lead to excessive shedding.
Miniature Poodles are small dogs with big brains, hearts and personalities. These intelligent canines are easy to train and are known to make gentle and affectionate family pets.
Poodles of all shapes and sizes have a lot of energy and enjoy an active lifestyle. Mini Poodles love to swim and play and then return home for a cuddle with their owners.
Yet, if the Mini Poodle isn’t quite the breed for you, or maybe you’re curious to find out what other dogs possess similar traits — we’ve picked three breeds that make awesome alternatives.
In terms of size, the Border Terrier is on par with the Mini Poodle. They can reach heights of 15 inches and weigh up to 15.5 pounds. These friendly and plucky dogs are a great choice for families, especially if you have children.
The Border Terrier sheds slightly more than the Miniature, but their coat requires less grooming to maintain.
Smart dogs with an eagerness to please, Borders are easy to train. However, this breed is a bit of a digger — a Terrier trait — but they definitely don’t bark as much as the Poodle. They’re also playful, and adapt well, so they could make the perfect apartment pooch in the same way as the Mini.
The Bichon makes an amazing family dog — and like the Miniature Poodle, they’re also great with children.
Bichons have a long, curly coat, but this is often cut short to make it easier to manage, in a similar way to the Miniature Poodle. They’re low shedding, but whether you choose to clip your pup will depend on how high maintenance their coat will be.
The Mini Poodle and Bichon Frise are both naturally playful, and everyone is their best buddy. However, this means that they don’t make the best watchdogs, but they’re adaptable and take change in their stride.
The Mini Schnauzer is a handsome dog with a distinctive appearance due to their big eyebrows and beard. Compared to the Mini Poodle, Schnauzers are similar in height but are often on the heavier side — growing up to 14 inches and weighing anywhere between 11 and 20 pounds.
Schnauzers and Miniature Poodles don’t match in looks, but they do in personality. Both are very affectionate with their family and are a great breed choice if you have children. And, they’re easy to train — with both being eager-to-please doggys.
However, Miniature Poodles shed less than the Schnauzer, who has a wiry double coat.
Conclusion
These smaller-sized Poodles are intelligent, active and make loving pets.
However, they will require regular grooming and this is something important to consider.
But, are Miniature Poodles hypoallergenic? Undeniably. This breed has the ultimate low-shedding curly coat, which is why they’re one of the most popular allergy-friendly pooches around.
Do Mini Poodles Have Hair or Fur?
Miniature Poodles have a single coat made up of hair, not fur. Poodles have human-like hair that continues to grow and will need to be groomed regularly. If you don’t, their hair can become knotted and painfully matted.
Is Poodle Fur Waterproof?
Yes, Poodles have tight curls with a wiry texture. The dense, tight curls are waterproof and work to keep their skin protected when they’re swimming.
What Is the Average Lifespan of a Miniature Poodle?
Mini Poodles have an average life expectancy of 10 to 18 years. To keep your Poodle healthy, feed them a balanced diet, walk them daily and keep up to date with their immunizations and veterinary appointments.
Do Miniature Poodles Shed a Lot?
Mini Poodles don’t shed much and are a hypoallergenic breed. These small Poodles will only lose small amounts of hair, and owners won’t need to stress about fur taking over the house!
What Happens if You Don’t Cut a Poodle’s Hair?
When a Poodle’s fur is left to grow, it can become knotted up at the roots and cause pain and discomfort. To keep your Poodle’s coat in good condition, it’s best to keep up with a regular grooming schedule and avoid letting their hair grow too long. This is why many pet parents clip them short.
How Big Do Miniature Poodles Get?
Mini Poodles are almost identical to the Standard Poodle, they’re just smaller. The full-grown Miniature Poodle weighs between 10 and 15 pounds and reaches no more than 15 inches in height.
