It seems like more and more people are looking for a hypoallergenic pet. I wonder about Greyhounds.
Are Greyhounds hypoallergenic? No. Unfortunately, they shed and will trigger allergies so they cannot be hypoallergenic.
Let’s take a look and see if we can answer this question in a more detailed way. First, let’s take a look at these amazing dogs.
Table of Contents
Are Greyhounds Hypoallergenic?
A Look at the Greyhound
Greyhounds are noble, gentle, and independent. They require daily exercise and need a safe place to run full out as often as possible. Greyhounds will stop at nothing to chase perceived prey.
Whether a ball, squirrel, rabbit, tennis ball, or the neighbor’s cat. So, be sure to keep them safely secured in a large, fenced yard.
This breed can be challenging to train. They were bred to work independently of humans and still like to be independent.
Early socialization is key. It is best to keep training sessions short, to keep your Greyhound from becoming bored. Greyhounds prefer to do things with you vs doing things for you.
Greyhounds are medium shedding dogs and require little grooming. Weekly brushing and an occasional bath are all that is required. Daily brushing might be advisable if you have allergies.
Hypoallergenic? What Does it Mean?
Before we can understand if Greyhounds are hypoallergenic we must first understand what hypoallergenic means.
A lot of people assume that a hypoallergenic dog will not cause an allergic reaction. This is not true. Hypoallergenic means: less likely to cause a reaction. So, if you are highly allergic to dogs even a hairless breed or a Poodle could set off your allergies.
What Causes an Allergic Reaction?
Proteins are the usual culprit of allergic reactions. This is certainly true with people who are allergic to dogs. Dogs create a couple of proteins, Can f 1 and Can f 2, that cause the allergic reaction.
These proteins are concentrated in the saliva and urine of dogs. It is also present, to a lesser extent, is dog dander. The dander can stick to fur making fur a potential threat to allergic individuals.
Now that we know the meaning of hypoallergenic, where allergic reactions come from, and that greyhounds are medium shedders. I think we can say that they are not hypoallergenic.
Especially if we take their size into account. The bigger the dog the more fur and dander it has to leave around the house.
Tips to Reduce Dander
If you are an allergy sufferer here are a few tips to reduce dander:
- Brush your dog daily, outside
- Do not touch your mouth or eyes after petting a dog
- Vacuum daily with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter
- Have a few dog-free rooms
- Don’t let your dog on your furniture or your bed
Conclusion
So, are Greyhounds hypoallergenic? Sadly the answer is no. Greyhounds are tall, independent, and super fast, but they are not hypoallergenic.
This is because Greyhounds are large dogs that shed at a medium rate. Not a ton of shedding but also they do shed.
The shed fur and dander of a Greyhound contains a protein that will cause an allergic reaction to those prone to allergic reactions.
You can take steps to reduce dander, however.
Resources:
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/greyhound/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321420.php#medical-treatment
https://www.archviewlabradoodles.com/2018/09/06/the-truth-about-hypoallergenic-dogs/
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/132/supplement_1/s12.1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1364166/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/hypoallergenic-dogs-dog-myths-debunked/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/hypoallergenic-dog-breeds/
https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/dog#treatment