Why am I allergic to pitbulls but not other dogs

Are Golden Retrievers Hypoallergenic? What You Need To Know

Updated: June 1st, 2022

If you are a pet lover, nothing can be as frustrating as having a furry friend that causes allergies. You cant enjoy interacting with them when you have symptoms of an allergy. This is why many owners want to know whether their golden retrievers are hypoallergenic.

Golden retrievers are among the most popular dog breeds in the United States. Their calm nature makes them great family pets, but there is still the question, are golden retrievers hypoallergenic dogs? Is it possible to have a golden retriever if dogs trigger your allergies? Lets find out!

Definition Of A Hypoallergenic Dog

The term hypoallergenic is borrowed from the Greek word hypo, which means low. That means that a hypoallergenic dog usually releases a low amount of allergens.

People who are allergic to dogs are usually allergic to a protein found in the dogs saliva, urine, and dander. Pet dander refers to a skin flake released when your dog sheds. Hypoallergenic dogs, therefore, are dogs that dont shed a lot and so do not trigger an allergic reaction as easily.

Its important to note that its not actually the fur that causes allergies in dogs, but the proteins in the body fluids such as urine and saliva. The coat and dander are only carriers of these proteins. In most cases, then, if your dogs breed sheds more its more likely to cause allergies since there will be more proteins in the air.

Are Golden Retrievers Hypoallergenic Dogs?

Before we find out if golden retriever puppies are hypoallergenic, its essential to understand that no dog breed is completely non-allergenic. What differs is the amount of dander produced by a given dog species. All mammals, including humans, have the dead flakes of skin known as dander when they sweat, grow, or heal from wounds.

Even dogs considered to be hypoallergenic still produce a considerable amount of dander. The only reason they dont cause a lot of allergies is that their fur quality doesnt allow the proteins to escape from the skin. An excellent example of such fur is that displayed by breeds such as the bichon frise and poodle.

Given that information, is a golden retriever hypoallergenic? The answer is no. While golden retrievers are great pets, they are among the many dog breeds that shed excessively during certain times of the year. As we get close to summer and winter, these dogs shed their existing coat and prepare for the growth of a new jacket. As golden retrievers shed, more dander accumulates in the air.

Golden retrievers also have what is called a double coat. The inner coat is usually soft and thick, and its role is to regulate the dogs body temperature while protecting its skin from harsh UV rays. The inner coat sheds more than the outer coat as it responds to the temperature and other factors in the environment.

During winter, this inner coat turns dense to protect the dog from the cold, which traps a lot of air and dead skin cells around the dogs skin. When it sheds, the dander that causes allergies also falls off.

The outer coat is typically long and smooth. Its waterproof, coarse, and doesnt shed as excessively as the inner coat.

Do Golden Retrievers Produce The Same Allergens?

Not all golden retrievers produce the same allergens. Dogs produce six different types of allergens, so if you are only allergic to one allergen you can still find a golden retriever to keep.

For instance, only male golden retrievers produce the type of protein (Can f 5) that causes a third of all allergies. If you are allergic to this protein, you can get a female golden retriever without fear.

Can I Keep A Golden Retriever If I Suffer From Dog Allergies?

Does that mean you shouldnt buy golden retriever puppies because theyre not hypoallergenic? No! This doesnt mean you cant keep a golden retriever. All you need to do is take the necessary precautions to keep the dander in your home to a minimum.

Suppose you have already decided to acquire a golden retriever, and you or your family members suffer from dog allergies. In that case, there are some steps that you can take to make your environment more allergy-friendly. These include:

Grooming

Using a gentle dog shampoo to wash your dog can reduce the amount of dander produced by your golden retriever. You can also reduce the shedding by taking your canine friend to a professional groomer. Removing the long hair and the shed undercoat will prevent unnecessary tugging on the healthy hair follicles.

This way, you can keep the shedding to the minimum. To keep the allergens level low, you should wash your dog at least twice a week. Washing can minimize one of the main allergen proteins (Can f 1) by up to 84%.

Ensure that you use a sensitive skin shampoo to reduce the drying your dog is likely to experience from these frequent baths. This is important, as too much bathing can strip the coat of its beneficial oils. After bathing your golden retriever, you should brush them to remove excess fur, using a good quality dog brush.

Environment

You will need to keep your environment clean. Ensure that you regularly clean the furniture that your golden retriever comes into contact with to get rid of dander.

Remember that its easier to clean the smooth-fabric furniture, rugs, and furniture covers than the fluffy ones. You will need to put a good house cleaning regimen in place that includes carpet steam cleaning every month.

You should avoid having carpets in the best-case scenario, as these are likely to hold dander. Ensure that you can stick to your cleaning plan long-term.

You may also need to have a room in your home that is off limits to your golden retrievers. This will provide you with a relaxation spot without having to be wary of whether or not you will react to your dog.

Air Filter

Installing a HEPA air filtration system can help to preserve indoor air quality. The filter will capture most of the allergens before triggering an allergic reaction; however, you must remember to clean the filter, too. Consider dander as dust and apply the same cleaning regimen you use to get rid of that.

Pest Control

Golden retrievers have long hair, making them the perfect breeding ground for ticks and fleas. Their long coat provides pests with the right places to hide, breed, and reproduce. When they bite your dog, the scratching causes more dander to fly off the skin into your home.

It is best to work with your vet to put a good pest control regimen in place to stop the cycle. This could be medication or topical treatments and accessories, such as a flea collar once a month.

Interactions

You should be careful about how you interact with your golden retriever. You should not allow the golden retriever to kiss you, as the dogs saliva can also trigger an allergic reaction.

If you suffer from dog allergies, you also shouldnt allow your golden retriever to sleep on your bed. The dander will accumulate on the sheets causing an allergic reaction.

Instead, it would be best to get them a comfortable dog bed. By creating an allergen-free zone, you can reduce the number of allergens you encounter.

Medical Treatment

There are certain drugs such as antihistamines that can help to reduce an allergic reaction. Its advisable to work with a doctor who understands your desire to keep your golden retriever; they can advise on things you can do to reduce the effects of your allergy.

Nutrition

Its also helpful to promote the overall health of your golden retriever through good nutrition.If you feed your furry friend a high-quality diet made of natural ingredients and consisting of formulas backed by science, it can help to eliminate food-related sensitivities, coat issues, and excessive shedding.

FAQs

Here are frequently asked questions on whether golden retrievers are hypoallergenic:

Can I Keep A Golden Retriever If I Have Asthma?

Most people with asthma are allergic to dogs, so its not recommended to keep a golden retriever if you have asthma.

How Do I Know If Im Allergic To Golden Retrievers?

The signs of allergic reactions to a golden retriever often take the form of:

• Itching or swelling around the nose membranes or around the eyes
• Skin redness
• Coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing within 30 minutes of exposure to the golden retriever
• Rashes on the face, neck or chest

Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?

Most goldendoodles are hypoallergenic, as they do not shed. This makes them a good choice for people with allergies.

Final Thoughts

So is the golden retriever hypoallergenic? No, but this doesnt mean that you shouldnt keep one, especially if your allergies are mild. According to the American Kennel Club, no dog is entirely hypoallergenic so even choosing a different breed might not eliminate your allergy suffering completely.

If you are allergic to dogs and you still want a golden retriever, we advise that you talk to your doctor. Your physician may conduct tests to determine how severe your allergies are and therefore how well you will manage with a golden retriever.

Its also essential for you to know how to interact with your dog and measures to take to reduce dog allergies. You can use the above steps to ensure that you can keep the cases of allergies caused by your golden retrievers low.

Why Do Pitbulls Attack Other Dogs?(+10 Solutions)

As Pitbulls were originally trained for dog fights due to their muscular body and aggression, this breed has continued to have an impression of fearful and aggressive dogs. Most often, we hear cases of Pitbulls attacking humans.

But why do Pitbulls attack other dogs? The lack of socialization and poor training are the most common reasons. As Pitbulls are territorial, they will bite any other dog that comes into their territory. While some Pitbulls have aggressive instincts, others might bite dogs when ill because they see other dogs as a threat. Dogs that have faced abuse from a larger dog also feel threatened and bite stranger dogs.

Although Pitbulls are highly dangerous, they also have a soft side and show affection to people and other dogs around. Lets unveil more information about Pit bulls attacking other dogs.

Why Are Pitbulls Aggressive To Other Dogs?

Pitbulls are friendly towards humans. But when they see other dogs, their friendly nature can turn into ferocious giants in a matter of minutes.

The reason why Pit bulls are aggressive to other dogs often lies in the fact that it was originally trained for dog fights. When such dogs come into the street and see another dog, they will definitely see it as prey due to its training. So, such Pitbulls can be aggressive towards other dogs due to their training and also their genes.

However, some Pitbulls also become aggressive to other dogs because they are territorial. Having wild instincts, Pitbulls dont like others coming into their territory. So, most Pitbulls show dominance to keep other dogs away from their territory.

Why Do Pitbulls Attack Other Dogs?

Several reasons can encourage a Pitbull to attack other dogs. Lets discuss all of them.

Lack of socialization

As mentioned before, the lack of socialization is often the most common reason behind a Pitbull attacking another dog. This reason is not only specific to Pitbulls, but all other dog breeds also show aggression or fear of seeing stranger dogs.

As your Pitbull would have never seen a dog before or didnt bond well with the ones it met, the negative effect can make it aggressive. Such dogs often feel afraid of seeing another dog, which convinces them to defend themselves.

So, the Pitbull will attack the other dog thinking of it as an enemy.

Training

Sometimes, Pitbulls are punished for attacking other dogs, but the owner is at fault. Such owners train their dogs for dog fights. When these dogs see another dog, be it the fighting competition or a nearby park, they will quickly attack it.

Pain or sickness

Sick dogs or those in pain understand that they are vulnerable to predator attacks. So, they generally activate their defense mechanisms and see every other dog as a threat.

As large dogs also take advantage of those in pain and try to show their dominance, sick Pitbulls try to attack other dogs. They attack to show their strength to the other dog, so it wont feel the Pitbull is weak.

Breeding

All Pitbulls are not aggressive. Some will be extremely aggressive, while others will go along with strangers. When breeders breed an aggressive Pitbull with another aggressive Pitbull, the resulting offspring will also have aggression in its genes.

So, some Pitbulls might attack other dogs due to their instincts.

Territorial nature

The reason why Pitbulls blend well with humans but not with other dogs is often because of their territorial nature. All Pitbulls like staying the leader of their pack. If they see another dog coming into their territory and showing dominance, they will attack it to show theirs.

Are Pitbulls Good With Small Dogs?

Whether the Pitbull is good with small dogs or not is linked to its socialization and training. If the Pitbull is not trained to fight and was socialized while young, it can be good with small dogs.

As all Pit bulls dont show the same aggressive instincts, owners can train their Pitbulls to be good with puppies. However, its always better to keep a check on your Pitbull when leaving it with small dogs for the first time.

Some Pitbulls will not like socializing with other dogs, and seeing a small dog as easy prey, they will attack it.

Why Do Pitbulls Attack Small Dogs?

Although small dogs may not pose a threat to Pitbulls, here are the reasons why your Pitbull might still attack one.

It doesnt like other dogs

Some Pitbulls dont like going along with other dogs, and theres nothing you can actually do about it. They enjoy their own company, and whether its a small or large dog, your Pitbull will get annoyed seeing one. So, it might attack to keep the dog away.

It is territorial

Territorial Pitbulls dont like any dog coming into their territory. They also see small dogs as a threat and might attack only to keep them away from the things special to them.

Aggressive instincts

As mentioned before, some Pitbulls have been bred from two extremely aggressive parents, and they have aggression in their genes. Whether its a small or large dog, such Pitbulls will bite or attack them to satisfy their instincts.

How Do I Get My Pitbull To Stop Attacking My Other Dog?

If you have dogs in the house and one is a Pitbull, the chances are the Pitbull wont go well with them. So, heres what you can do!

1. Socialize them

Socializing the Pitbull with the other dog is a good idea to make them friends. But never leave them alone in the beginning. You can start by making the dogs greet from a distance so that they know another dog is present in the house as well.

You can make them understand each other slowly, which will eventually help to make them friends and stop the attacking behavior.

If any of your friends or family have dogs as well, you can organize playdates for your dogs. This way they will learn to be tolerant around other dogs.

2. Take them out to different places

Just like people, your Pitbull might feel uncomfortable and scared when walking in a new location. It might make your dog feel scared and, as a result, defensive.

To avoid this behavioral pattern, make sure you take your dog out on a walk to not just your local park, but maybe to a dog-friendly supermarket or shop. Bear in mind, this approach is best for puppies, not adult dogs who can potentially hurt others around them.

3. Spray water

If your Pitbull doesnt miss a chance of attacking the other dog in the house, you can break the fight and spray water immediately on the dogs face. As Pit bulls dont like making their owners angry, they will understand that attacking is bad.

4. Make them exercise

As Pitbulls have a lot of built-up energy, they might get rid of it by attacking other dogs if you dont exercise them properly. Exercising both the dogs together while maintaining a distance between them is also a good idea to make them friends.

When the Pitbull has spent all the energy on exercise, it wont have the energy to fight.

5. Encourage positive reinforcement

Its never a good idea to scold or punish your Pitbull if it is aggressive toward other dogs. This way you risk having a completely opposite effect. If you scold it sometimes and not the other times, it will confuse the dog about whats right and whats not.

Thats why consistency is important while training your Pitbull. You should always try to teach it that aggression is bad and praise it when it behaves nicely around other dogs. Doggy treats and other tasty things will be your best friends on this journey.

6. Separate them by a barrier

If none of the methods work in stopping the attack, you have to admit that your Pitbull doesnt like the company of other dogs. Its natural in dogs, and you cannot do anything about it. So, its better to separate them using a barrier.

7. Know your dogs character

Our furry friends all have different personalities, just like we do. So not all dogs were created to love other dogs and want to play with them. If you can see that your dog prefers spending time with your rather than other dogs, let it be it. But your dog still needs to be able to tolerate other dogs around it. You can consult a dog behavioral specialist, which we mention in the next step.

Never force your dog to socialize with other dogs when you can see they clearly dont enjoy that.

8. Enroll it in obedience courses

If you fail to train them properly when young, there is a very high chance your dog will carry on being aggressive toward other dogs in the future. If you cannot solve this problem yourself, its better to enroll your adult Pitbull into an obedience training course. The professionals will guide it and help stop the biting behavior.

9. Keep the distance

If you still cant make your dog get along with others, thats not a problem. As discussed earlier, not all dogs love and enjoy interacting with other animals. When you are out on a walk, make sure you always have your dog on a leash and that you keep a safe distance from other dogs in the street and in the park.

This way you and your buddy will be able to enjoy the walk and not disturb anybody. Also, watch out for the dogs who are unleashed. Make sure to avoid being too close to them and choose an alternative route instead.

10. Neuter or spay your dog

Your Pitbulls behavior can be negatively affected by the desire to mate, making him more aggressive towards other dogs. This is our last recommendation. If none of the steps above have helped you, consult with your vet first to make sure the procedure will be safe for your dog, and then go ahead and neuter or spray your dog. This should make it way less aggressive.

You can do this starting from the time when your pup is 6 months old. But we think its best to try to train your dog first using the above methods before performing any kind of surgical procedures.

Related Posts:

Do Pitbulls Get Along Well With Other Dogs? (+Training Tips)

16 Ways To Stop Pit Bull From Biting(Puppies&Adults)

Final Words

Pitbulls attack other dogs for many reasons, and most of them are common in other dogs as well. However, the training methods and genes also play a significant role in the attacking behavior of Pitbulls.

If you keep a Pitbull in the house or near other dogs, its better to avoid training it for dog fights. Such dogs dont blend well with humans or other animals and always pose a threat to them.

My name is Katie, and I have had different pets at home for as long as I can remember. While I can definitely say I love all animals in general, my heart belongs to cats and dogs. I know you are supposed to choose one or the other, but I could never really decide. Ive also owned hamsters and fish when I was a kid, and they filled my childhood with very delightful memories.