Are Australian Labradoodles Hypoallergenic? What You Need to Know
No dog is 100% hypoallergenic, but multigenerational Australian Labradoodles with fleece or wool coats are among the most allergy-friendly dogs available, and most allergy-sensitive households do well with them. The breed was originally created in Australia in the late 1980s for a blind woman in Hawaii whose husband was allergic to dogs, and the entire breeding program has been refined over decades to produce dogs that shed minimally and produce less dander. The reaction someone has to a specific Australian Labradoodle still depends on the dog’s coat type, generation, and individual genetics, plus the severity of the person’s allergies. At Bestland Australian Labradoodles in Rome, GA, our co-founder Marcela has severe allergies, which is part of why we chose this breed and why we test every parent dog for the Improper Coat (IC) gene to keep coats consistently fleece or wool.
Here is what you need to know about how dog allergies actually work, why this breed is one of the safest options for allergy households, and how to test your own reaction before bringing a puppy home.
What "Hypoallergenic" Actually Means
The term “hypoallergenic” is misleading when applied to dogs. It does not mean allergen-free. The word was originally coined in the 1950s cosmetics industry and meant “below normal” or “slightly” allergenic. When applied to dog breeds, it simply means a dog produces fewer allergens than average and is less likely to trigger reactions in sensitive people, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
Every dog produces some level of allergens. The difference between a “hypoallergenic” breed and a non-hypoallergenic one is the volume of allergens produced and how those allergens are released into your environment. Some breeds, including Australian Labradoodles with fleece or wool coats, produce far fewer airborne allergens than the average shedding dog.
If a breeder uses the word “hypoallergenic” to mean “allergy-free,” push back. The honest answer is “allergy-friendly,” not “allergy-proof.”
Dog Allergens 101: It's Not the Fur, It's the Dander, Saliva, and Urine
A common misconception is that people are allergic to dog hair. They are not. The actual allergens are proteins produced by the dog’s body, primarily:
- Can f 1: The most common dog allergen, found in saliva and dander (dead skin flakes). About 50 to 75% of people with dog allergies react to this one.
- Can f 2: Found in saliva and skin cells; about 20 to 30% of allergy sufferers react to this.
- Can f 3, 4, 5, and 6: Less common but still relevant proteins found in saliva, urine, and skin.
These proteins stick to dog hair and dander, then travel through your home as the dog moves and sheds. The fur itself is just the carrier. A dog that sheds less releases far less of those proteins into the air, onto furniture, and onto bedding. That is why a low-shedding dog is easier on allergies, even though no breed is truly allergen-free.
Saliva and dander matter more than fur. A dog that does not shed still produces allergens, but those allergens stay closer to the dog’s body instead of floating through the air.
Why Australian Labradoodles Are Considered Allergy-Friendly
The Australian Labradoodle was developed specifically with allergy sufferers in mind. The original cross in 1989 happened because a blind woman in Hawaii needed a guide dog and her husband was severely allergic. Wally Conron at the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia crossed a Labrador with a Standard Poodle to produce the first Labradoodle, and the breed was born from that allergy-friendly mission.
Over the next several decades, breeders at Tegan Park and Rutland Manor in Australia refined the line by introducing English and American Cocker Spaniel and additional breeds, then breeding multigenerationally to lock in the allergy-friendly coat. Today’s multigenerational Australian Labradoodle is the result of all that selective breeding.
What makes them allergy-friendly:
- Low to non-shedding coats. Most Australian Labradoodles produce fleece or wool coats that shed minimally.
- Reduced dander production. Less shedding means less dander released into the environment.
- Consistent coat genetics. Multigen lines have been bred specifically to eliminate the shedding hair coat.
- Saliva variability. Even allergen levels in saliva can vary between individual dogs, and many allergy sufferers find Australian Labradoodles tolerable where other breeds are not.
Coat Type Matters: Wool, Fleece, and Hair Compared for Allergies
Not every Australian Labradoodle is equally allergy-friendly. Coat type is one of the biggest variables. Our complete guide on Australian Labradoodle coat types covers each in detail, but here is the short version for allergy purposes:
Coat Type | Allergy Friendliness | Why |
Wool | Best | Tight curls trap dander close to the body; least shedding |
Curly Fleece | Excellent | Soft spirals retain dander; very low shedding |
Wavy Fleece | Excellent | Low shedding; some movement releases slightly more dander |
Hair | Poor | Sheds noticeably; dander spreads through the home |
If you have significant allergies or asthma, ask your breeder about wool or curly fleece specifically. If your allergies are mild to moderate, any fleece or wool coat is likely to work well.
Multigen Lines vs. Early Generations for Allergy Sensitivity
Generation matters as much as coat type. The further a puppy is from the original Labrador and Poodle cross, the more reliably allergy-friendly it tends to be.
- F1 Labradoodle (50% Lab, 50% Poodle): Coat type is unpredictable. Some F1 puppies have a Labrador-style hair coat that sheds heavily and triggers allergies.
- F1B Labradoodle (F1 backcrossed to a Poodle): Lower shedding than F1, but still inconsistent. Often more “Poodle” than “Labradoodle” in look.
- Multigenerational Australian Labradoodle (F3+ Australian Labradoodle to Australian Labradoodle): Coat is reliably fleece or wool. The shedding hair coat has been selected out over many generations.
If allergy concerns are part of why you are looking at this breed, multigen Australian Labradoodle lines from a breeder who tests for coat genetics are far more predictable than first-generation crosses. Our explainer on what makes a multigenerational Australian Labradoodle walks through generation labels and what they mean.
The Improper Coat (IC) Gene and Why It Matters
There is a specific DNA test for coat genetics that responsible breeders run on every parent dog. The Improper Coat (IC) gene controls whether a puppy will inherit the desired furnishings (the longer hair on the muzzle and eyebrows that gives the breed its signature look) and the allergy-friendly coat texture.
- A puppy with two clear copies of the IC gene will have a fleece or wool coat.
- A puppy with one clear and one IC-affected copy (a carrier) will still have a fleece or wool coat.
- A puppy with two IC-affected copies will have a hair coat that sheds and is not allergy-friendly.
When two carrier parents are bred, about 25% of puppies will end up with the IC-affected hair coat. A breeder who tests every parent for IC and never pairs two carriers will not produce hair-coated puppies. This is why genetic testing matters for allergy households. Our overview of Australian Labradoodle health testing covers the full DNA panel and why it should be part of every responsible breeding program.
How to Test Your Reaction Before Committing
Before you bring any dog home, especially with allergies, test your reaction. A few practical approaches:
- Visit the breeder in person. Spend an hour or more with the parent dogs and any puppies present. Adult dogs give a more accurate reaction read than young puppies, since puppy coats can change.
- Bring a piece of fabric home. Ask the breeder if you can take a clean cloth that has been with the parent dogs and puppies for a few days. Sleep with it on your pillow for a few nights and watch for reactions.
- Ask about the dog’s grandparents and great-grandparents. Coat genetics are inherited. The lineage tells you what to expect.
- Schedule an “allergy visit” with the breeder if they offer one. Some breeders set aside dedicated time for allergy-sensitive families to test their reaction.
- Talk to your allergist. If you have severe allergies or asthma, your allergist can help you weigh the realistic risk of bringing a dog home.
If your reaction is mild or non-existent during a long visit, a multigenerational Australian Labradoodle is likely a safe choice. If your reaction is significant, this breed may not be the right fit, and a reputable breeder will tell you so.
Practical Tips for Allergy-Sensitive Households
Once you bring an Australian Labradoodle home, a few habits make a big difference in keeping allergens manageable:
- Bathe your dog every 2 to 4 weeks with a gentle, dog-specific shampoo to wash dander off the coat.
- Brush 2 to 3 times per week to remove loose hair and dander before it spreads through the home.
- Schedule professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat at a manageable length.
- Use HEPA air purifiers in rooms where you spend the most time, especially the bedroom.
- Keep the dog out of bedrooms and off bedding for the first few months as you assess your reaction.
- Vacuum and dust regularly with a HEPA-filter vacuum to capture airborne dander.
- Wash dog bedding weekly in hot water.
These practices, combined with the right coat type from a tested multigen line, are why so many allergy-sensitive families do well with this breed.
Why Allergy-Friendly Coats Are Personal at Bestland
Marcela, our co-founder, has severe allergies. That is why we chose this breed in the first place, and why we are unrelenting about coat consistency. Every Bestland parent dog is DNA tested for the Improper Coat marker, and we selectively breed for non-shedding wavy fleece coats, which we have found to be both manageable and allergy-friendly for the families we work with. Allergy-sensitive families are welcome to visit our farm in Rome, GA, spend time with our adult dogs, and test their reactions before committing.
If you are still deciding whether the breed is the right fit overall, our guide on whether an Australian Labradoodle is right for your family covers temperament, exercise, and lifestyle considerations beyond allergies.
Test Your Reaction With a Real Multigen Australian Labradoodle
📞 Call or text 770-709-8497 to schedule a visit, ask about our parent dogs’ coat genetics, or talk through your allergy concerns. With 15 years of breeding experience and ALCA-aligned standards, we serve families across Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and nearby areas. You can meet our parent dogs, view current and upcoming litters, or start the adoption process when you are ready. Domestic delivery is available to major U.S. airports for families farther out.
Once you bring an Australian Labradoodle home, a few habits make a big difference in keeping allergens manageable:
- Bathe your dog every 2 to 4 weeks with a gentle, dog-specific shampoo to wash dander off the coat.
- Brush 2 to 3 times per week to remove loose hair and dander before it spreads through the home.
- Schedule professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks to keep the coat at a manageable length.
- Use HEPA air purifiers in rooms where you spend the most time, especially the bedroom.
- Keep the dog out of bedrooms and off bedding for the first few months as you assess your reaction.
- Vacuum and dust regularly with a HEPA-filter vacuum to capture airborne dander.
- Wash dog bedding weekly in hot water.
These practices, combined with the right coat type from a tested multigen line, are why so many allergy-sensitive families do well with this breed.