The Pug is a popular breed in the U.S., and as a result, I see lots of questions in the forums asking if the breed is hypoallergenic. The short answer is no. The Pug is a breed that is distinctly non-hypoallergenic. Although it has short hair, it sheds a decent amount, and as such, it’s not in the hypoallergenic category.
Related: Complete List of Small Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds – Toy Breed
The Pug – A Cutie but Not for Those With Allergies
I can see why so many people are scouring the web to find out if the Pug is hypoallergenic. This is a great breed! This breed is equally happy to have a short game of tug of war as it is to binge watch Netflix on the couch with you. The breed craves companionship, and don’t even get me started on that face. The Pug is cute squared. However, it’s not hypoallergenic.
Even hypoallergenic dogs aren’t hypoallergenic in the truest sense of the word. Rather, a hypoallergenic dog is one that doesn’t shed or that sheds very, very little. While most people think that dog hair is what they’re allergic to, that isn’t true. Dog hair on its own is relatively benign to a person with dog allergies. What gets allergy sufferers like myself is what sticks to the hair.
What we allergy sufferers are actually allergic to is a dog’s saliva, skin cells, and urine. Unless you let your dog lick you all the time, the majority of these offending allergens are trapped on your dog’s fur. With a shedding dog, those allergens are introduced into the air of your home and onto your home’s surfaces. When a dog sheds, skin cells are also sloughed off. That dog hair is also covered with dried microscopic droplets of saliva and sometimes urine, depending upon where the hair was shed from. When this hair sheds, the allergens are introduced into the air and onto furniture. So a shedding dog is no bueno for anyone with allergies to dogs.
The Pug is Cute, but it’s Not Hypoallergenic
All of this brings us back to the Pug. This cutie patootie may be the most adorable breed you’ve ever seen, but it’s a nightmare for someone with allergies. The pug sheds, and those fine, pointy hairs stick to everything. Which means that you have allergens well and truly ground into every part of your house.
If you’re looking for an adorable dog that lives for human contact and is just as happy to play as it is to chill on the couch, then the Pug is for you. If you’re looking for a canine companion who won’t set you into an allergic downward spiral, look to another breed other than the Pug. =(
