Over the years, I’ve worked with many families dealing with allergies, and each case has been different. There are rarely any absolutes, but just trial and error, patiently listening to and working with each individual to discover what they can and can’t tolerate.

Many severe allergy sufferers and asthmatics will choose from F1B litters of Goldendoodles with curlier, wavier, softer coats that are less likely to shed.

By working closely with each family, we’ve learned that there’s always hope. Here are some stories that highlight the diversity of experiences we’ve encountered.

Stories:

I’ve had folks with allergies who are allergic to one pup in a litter and not another. In fact, one day, I had two families doing bath tests at the same time from the same litter. Both reacted to their chosen pup. The next day, they came back (time needed for reactions to resolve), switched pups, and both were OK.

Here’s another example where the outcome was unexpected:

Someone was allergic to an F1B straighter coat, but not an F1 wavy coat.
A poor couple, where the husband was allergic to so much in life, couldn’t have children and desperately wanted a dog. He waited a year to get allergy testing done to find out if he could get a dog. The test said he was not allergic to dogs, but as it turned out, he was allergic to every Goldendoodle he tried. Later, I discovered he had tried a poodle and a bichon frise and was severely allergic to them all.

In another case, a boy became ill with flu-like symptoms after having the F1B Goldendoodle pup come into their house, which was a reaction to the dog. (He didn’t tell the family he wasn’t feeling well when they did the bath test.) He was so sad he had to return the dog, and he came with him to return him. He was in very close contact. He later landed in the hospital with anaphylactic shock. Afterward, his grandma got a different F1B from another litter, and the boy was able to tolerate him!

One man with allergies took the flat-coated dog in the litter, and he never had a problem with him, even though the dog shed a lot.
I’ve also had someone drive 8 hours home with their new pup, and she had no issues. But after a couple of days, she was having trouble breathing. She wasn’t allergic to the dog but to all the allergens on their coat from being outside in the grass and pollen.
In yet another case, I had one pup remaining in a litter, and three allergy sufferers tried the bath test with the same pup over a couple of weeks. The first two clients had reactions, but the last one didn’t!

Key Learnings:

• Different coats can cause different reactions.
• Dander or saliva may be the allergy, and in those times, often, the coat type doesn’t matter as much.
• Allergy tests don’t always predict real-world outcomes.

90-95% of people with severe allergies who do the bath test and are honest about their reactions, either within the hour or the next day, get to take a pup home and keep it. However, the odd person who has delayed reactions isn’t as successful, especially if there is no reaction for days. Asthma can be trickier to work with.

I am always willing to work with people to help them find another pup if one doesn’t work. I realize how hard it is on the heart, but I am happy to help where I can.

Everyone who wants to experience the gift of a dog should be given the opportunity to try, and I love being a part of that journey to help accomplish those dreams.

Through trial and error, and with patience, I’ve been able to help many families find the right pup, even in the face of severe allergies. It’s a joy to be a part of this journey and help make dreams of owning a dog come true.