German Shepherds Dogs (GSDs) are one of the most magnificent dog breeds around. However, if you have allergies, you need to know how getting one will affect your health. Are German Shepherds hypoallergenic?
German Shepherds are not hypoallergenic. All dogs in this breed are excessive shedders, losing their hair year round, with the heaviest shedding during the fall and spring as the temperature changes significantly. Individuals with dog allergies may experience added discomfort during this period.
The rest of this article will look at why German Shepherds are not hypoallergenic. You’ll also learn the best tips for living with one if you have dog allergies.
Why German Shepherds Are Not Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic dogs are breeds that are allergy-friendly compared to other dogs.
Breeds that are heavy coat-shedders, such as German Shepherds, can’t be hypoallergenic. This is because the excess fur shed around living spaces increases the amount of animal dander released into the air.
Animal Dander
Contrary to what some might think, a dog’s fur isn’t the cause of the allergic reactions you get when you’re around dogs.
Animal dander—which refers to microscopic bits of skin—is the main culprit.
Dander spreads faster via shed fur, and since German Shepherds shed their fur all year, they are heavy distributors of animal dander in the home.
German Shepherds Are Heavy Shedders
German Shepherds are such heavy shedders because they have thick fur, which can be traced to their breeding history as herd dogs.
They needed the heavy coat to deal with the cold weather hence the double coat. The undercoat keeps the dog warm and dry, while the longer outer coat keeps out snow and ice.
To maintain a balance, these dogs shed their fur all year, but most heavily just before winter and summer every year. As parts of the fur fall off around the house, the amount of dander in the environment increases.
For people with allergies, living with such a heavy shedding dog can be problematic.
This is because, with excess dander in the environment, it’s harder to avoid touching it and breathing it in. For some people, this means an outbreak of rashes, coughing, and other such symptoms.
Tips On Living With A German Shepherd For Families With Allergies
You can still live with a German Shepherd if you have mild to moderate allergies. Here are some tips on what you should do:
Get Tested And Buy Prescribed Medication
The first thing you should do is get an allergen-specific test to confirm your allergy is caused by animal dander.
In some cases, you’re only allergic to spores and pollens brought home by your pet which can be eliminated by managing where your dog goes when outside.
If you get a test and confirm that you’re allergic to dander from your German Shepherd, your doctor may recommend some medication to manage it.
The medication might be antihistamines, nasal steroids, or decongestants.
Groom Your Dog Regularly
While medicine can help alleviate your symptoms, you can also control your German Shepherd’s shedding if you keep it well-groomed overall.
Brush the coat daily and bathe it as often as possible. If your allergy is strong enough to keep you from doing this yourself, enlist the help of a family member without the problem.
Weekly visits to a dog-groomer can also work, if you can afford the additional cost.
Grooming your dog regularly reduces the amount of dander spreading all over your home. It won’t get rid of allergens completely, but it will help a great deal.
Get Rid Of Center Rugs And Carpets
Carpets and rugs trap animal dander and in most cases, it’s almost impossible to get rid of all the dander once you allow your dog to rest on the rug.
So, if you have a beautiful hardwood or laminate floor you can show off, it’s a good idea to remove the rugs and carpets completely.
If getting rid of the carpets is not practical, it’s best to make sure you vacuum as often as possible. This will keep the dander in the house to the barest minimum.
Always use a mask during the process to avoid inhaling flying dander.
Don’t forget your couch and blankets. Dander can get caught in them too. Clean them as often as possible to make sure the dander doesn’t pile up on them.
Keep A Separate Wardrobe
You can have a separate wardrobe for clothes you’ll wear when interacting with your dog. If you’re always around the dog, then this wardrobe should hold your house clothes.
Once you’re done interacting with the dog, you can switch to fresh clothes.
With this approach, you won’t get dander on your work clothes or nightwear. You should also avoid washing your dander-laden clothes together with those that are dander-free.
Keep the wardrobes as far apart from each other as possible, otherwise, you’ll end up with dander on everything in the wash.
Buy Air Filters
The best filters to purify the air in your home and keep it dander-free are the High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) variants. In addition to dust and pollen, they are good at capturing pet dander in your home.
There are many brands available in the market. Below are three examples from Amazon:
- BLUEAIR Blue Pure 411: This air purifier filters 99.97% airborne particles, like dander, viruses and bacteria. We currently have 3 of these in our home. Highly recommended
- Medify MA-25 Air Purifier: This HEPA filter can clean up to 1000 sq. ft. (92.90 sq. m.) in an hour and runs quietly.
- Honeywell HPA 300: This model can clean up to 465 sq. ft. (43.19 sq. m.) in thirty minutes and circulates the air in a room up to 120 times per day.
These filters are typically rated 99% effective, so they won’t capture everything. Therefore, it’s a good idea to use them in addition to other approaches we’ve covered here.
Wash Your Hands Frequently
If you can keep dander out of the air, the only other way to get it onto your body is through touch. Washing your hands frequently with soap and warm water reduces the chances of spreading danger through touch.
Using soap and water rather than hand sanitizer is the best option.
Maintain Pet-Free Rooms
You can reduce your contact with allergens by limiting access for your German Shepherd to certain rooms. The higher the number of rooms you allow the dog in, the more difficult it is to keep away from allergens.
At the very least, your bedroom should be a dog-free zone because you spend almost a third of your time there.
Final Thoughts
German Shepherds are not hypoallergenic. If you get severe reactions from dog dander, you should consider other breeds.
If you already have a German Shepherd you’d like to keep, your focus should be on keeping your environment as dander-free as possible.