American Bullies have easily become one of the most popular dog breeds in North America. Unfortunately, not all new dog owners ask “are American Bullies hypoallergenic” prior to adopting one.
While the easy answer is “no,” the dogs are not hypoallergenic, that does not mean that you cannot own one if you have dog fur allergies.
There are steps that you can take that will make it easier to own an American Bully if you or someone close to you suffers from allergies.
We have broken down what it means to be hypoallergenic and whether you can live with an American Bully if you have allergies.
What Is A Hypoallergenic Dog?
Before we dive into the question of are American Bullies hypoallergenic, let’s look at what it takes to make a dog hypoallergenic and what the word even means.
A hypoallergenic dog is a dog that does not shed or hardly sheds at all. They also are dogs that to not produce much in the way of dander.
Hypoallergenic breeds are ideal for people who due suffer from dander-related allergies, because the lack of dander will prevent a reaction and can also help prevent any unwanted health issues.
We also have to acknowledge that there is not a dog that is completely hypoallergenic, because all dogs shed on some level.
But, there are dog breeds that are much less likely to trigger a reaction than other breeds out there, so for allergy sufferers, it is best to go with dogs that are known to shed very little.
What Is Dander?
We use the word “dander” pretty often, but it is important to explain what dander actually is. Dander is the dead skin particles that dogs and cats shed.
A dog or cat will help get rid of their dander by rubbing against the furniture, someone’s clothes, and even the carpet and rugs.
Usually people are allergenic to the dander itself rather than the dog’s fur. The dander comes off with the fur and it spreads itself around through shedding.
The dander will trigger the allergic reaction. Since dogs that don’t shed much don’t spread much dander, they are considered to be hypoallergenic.
American Bully Coats
It is understandable that people might naturally think that American Bullies are hypoallergenic. They have single-layer coats, and their fur is so short that it gives them a smooth appearance.
The biggest explanation as to why American Bullies are not hypoallergenic is because they shed.
They will not shed as much as a dog that has a double-coat, since they only have a single-coat, but it is still enough fur to shed frequently.
Even though it is minimal, this amount of shedding is enough to cause an allergic reaction to people who are allergic to their fur and dander.
Something to remember is that there are also disadvantages to short coats. American Bullies have very short coats but are therefore very cold dogs in winter.
Consider that during the winter months, if you live in a cold climate, you will need to have a sweater for your dog to keep him warm.
It is nice in warmer climates, because your American Bully will not overheat very easily.
Causes Of Shedding
Not all dog breeds shed at the same rate, but there are factors that determine how much a dog will shed.
- Natural Shedding: All mammals go through shedding. As their hair or fur replaces itself, the fur has to go somewhere.
- Stress: Dogs can be overly stressed, which will
- Parasites: Mites and Parasites can also cause excessive shedding as they damage the dog’s skin, resulting in more than normal hair loss.
- Allergies: Some dogs suffer from allergies themselves, which means that their itchy skin will shed a lot more. Dogs can be allergenic to durst, grass, or even certain ingredients within their food and all of them can cause allergic breakouts, resulting in hair loss.
- Dietary Issues: Likewise, if a dog has dietary problems and therefore nutrition issues, then there might also be an increase in shedding issues.
- Skin Issues: Finally, a dog that has a lot of skin issues, which might be related to allergies or it might be just related to dry skin or eczema. Dogs who have skin problems will also scratch more and the dogs will again, shed a lot more than they would naturally.
Shedding Prevention
Of course you cannot stop your dog from naturally losing his hair, but there are some things that you can do to help keep the loose fur from shedding throughout your home.
Brushing
Of course American Bullies do not have very thick coats, so there is not a lot of brushing that is needed.
But you can still brush your dog twice a week to remove any loose fur and to stop dander from accumulating on the fur.
Make sure that you use a brush that is appropriate for the length of fur that your dog has. They have sensitive skin that can easily be harmed if you brush them too much and when that happens, he will lose a lot more fur.
Bathing
Bathing is another way to remove the excess dander off of your dog’s fur. Unless he is very dirty, you likely only need to bathe your dog one a month to help keep the dander in check.
If you bathe your dog too often, there can be a lot more shedding, because it will dry out the dog’s fur by stopping the natural ability to build up oils in the dog’s coat.
Keep in mind that you will want to use sulphate-free and paraben-free shampoos.
It is possible to be allergic to the ingredients in the shampoo, which will cause more irritation, hairless, and as a result, you will wind up with a lot more shedding rather than less.
Diet
You can also stop your dog from shedding too much by feeding him a high-quality diet that is rich in nutrients.
Vitamins and proteins will strength the hair follicles in your dog’s fur, so that he does not shed excessively.
Keeping Your Home Hypoallergenic
If you are asking “are American Bullies hypoallergenic,” and are feeling a little disappointed that American Bullies are not really completely hypoallergenic, don’t worry.
Beyond taking care of your dog to keep his shedding down, you can also help make your home more hypoallergenic, even with an American Bully for a pet.
Here are some quick ideas that you can follow to help you make your home more hypoallergenic.
Air Filtration
The first thing that you can do in your home to help make it more hypoallergenic and keep the shedding and dander down on that end of things.
You should have an air purifier in your home and replace the HEPA filters inside of it frequently enough to really benefit you.
Vacuuming
Keeping your home clean and vacuumed is another way to keep the dander down and ensure that your nearly hypoallergenic American Bully is as hypoallergenic as possible.
It might not be in your realm of possibility to vacuum your house every day, but you can get an automated vacuum that can help keep the dander under control while you are not home.
Flooring
You can also have hypoallergenic flooring, which is materials like wood, tile, and laminate.
Carpet and rugs will hold onto the dander and dog fur, keeping those potential allergies close at hand.
If you don’t use a floor that can hold onto the fur, then you will have a more hypoallergenic home when all is said and done.
Which Breeds Are Considered Hypoallergenic?
About 10 to 20% of the population is allergic to dogs, so hypoallergenic dogs are always in high demand.
Remember that we mentioned that no dog is actually hypoallergenic, because all dogs do shed to some degree or another. But, there are some dogs that are considered more hypoallergenic than others.
These are dogs that are less allergenic for people who suffer from allergies.
Here are a few breeds that are more hypoallergenic than American Bullies.
- American Hairless Terrier: Since this is a hairless breed, it should come as no surprise that the American Hairless Terrier is hypoallergenic. The dog does not have enough fur to shed or collect dander.
- Barbet: The Barbet is a medium-sized dog and is a water dog with what seems to be long and shaggy fur. This is a nice choice if you would like a dog with more fur than the furless dogs have. They do not shed, despite their fur, so they get to keep their ranking as a hypoallergenic breed.
- Bolognese: For more of a lapdog, the Bolognese fits the category. They had white fluffy hair and are a member of the Bichon family. They do not shed, despite the appearance of being furry.
- Bedlington Terrier: The Bedlington Terrier has fur like a sheep, so they do require grooming in the way that a sheep does. But, given the curly nature of their fur, they do not shed and are considered hypoallergenic.
- Giant Schnauzer: The Giant Schnauzer is a much larger dog breed that is considered hypoallergenic. There are other Schnauzers that have similar coats.
So, the American Bully might not be in the same category as those dogs who are considered hypoallergenic, but that does not mean that the breed will still not work for allergy sufferers.
If you can keep your dog healthy and groom him often, you should be able to prevent too much shedding and create a safe environment for you or other allergy-sufferers in your home.