Pomeranians are a breed that get a lot of attention thanks to their fluffy coats.
The breed hail from the Pomerania region of northern Poland and Germany along the Baltic Sea.
Pomeranians can be found throughout the world – they’re the 23rd most popular breed in the United States.
The toy-sized dogs come in a variety of different colors, although the fox red is perhaps their best-known shade.
For anyone considering a Pomeranian as a pet but suffer with dog allergies, you’ll want to know whether these dogs are hypoallergenic.
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In this article, we’re going to take a close look at hypoallergenic dogs, whether Pomeranians are considered hypoallergenic and whether they shed a lot.
With our introduction over, let’s take a closer look at the meaning of the word hypoallergenic.
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What is a Pomeranian?
Pomeranian (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Pomeranians are considered to be distant relatives of large working dogs in the Arctic regions.
They’re often described as a Wolfspitz or Spitz, which is a term associated with dogs that have a pointed muzzle akin to wolves.
Pomeranians are thought to have first been bred in Pomerania, which is located in northern Poland and Germany along the Baltic Sea coastline.
However, the breed were made famous by some British monarchs. Notably, Great Britain’s second-longest reigning monarch Queen Victoria was particularly fond of these dogs. She’s credited with having bred down their size to the stature that we commonly associate Poms with in modern society.
The first Pomeranian club was created in England before the breed was registered with the American Kennel Club in 1898.
Poms have often been ranked within the top 20 most popular breeds in the USA, although as of 2019, the AKC ranks them at No23.
What does hypoallergenic mean?
Hypoallergenic was a term that was first used by the cosmetic industry, rather than being coined alongside dog breeds (as you’ll see on Google now).
The cosmetic industry used the word hypoallergenic to denote a product that was less likely to cause an allergic reaction compared to other products.
Although a product may have been hypoallergenic, there’s no absolute guarantee that an allergic reaction won’t occur. It was just less likely!
Let’s take a look at WebMD.com’s definition of hypoallergenic:
If you see “hypoallergenic” on makeup or a skin care label, it means that that maker claims its product causes fewer allergic reactions than other ones. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is allergy-proof or gentler for your skin.
What are hypoallergenic dogs?
The USA is a nation of dog lovers. However, it is thought that around 10 per cent of the American population is allergic to dogs (although more people are allergic to cats). That’s a lot of Americans who are have presumably researched hypoallergenic dogs.
Like we touched upon above, these are dogs that are less likely to cause an allergic reaction rather than a breed guaranteed not to trigger allergies.
Some breeders will claim that their puppies are hypoallergenic but there’s no guarantee that a dog won’t trigger allergies.
The American Kennel Club go to great lengths to explain that there’s no such thing as a 100 per cent hypoallergenic dog breed:
While no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, there are a variety of breeds that do well with allergy sufferers. These dogs have a predictable, non-shedding coat which produces less dander.
If you’re looking for a type of dog that could be a good fit for someone researching hypoallergenic canines, the AKC recommend 19 breeds that have some hypoallergenic qualities.
What causes an allergy to dogs?
To get a better understanding of dog allergies, we need to look a little closer at what are the potential triggers that cause an allergic reaction.
You may immediately think of dog hair, hence why low shedding breeds are often described as being hypoallergenic.
However, the biggest culprit is usually dander rather than dog hair.
Dander are tiny pieces of dead skin that are secreted by dogs. They’re microscopic in size so often go undetected by the human eye.
Let’s take a look at the American Lung Association’s description of dander:
Pet dander is composed of tiny, even microscopic, flecks of skin shed by cats, dogs, rodents, birds and other animals with fur or feathers. These bits of skin can cause reactions in people who are specifically allergic to these triggers.
Other potential allergens are dog salvia and urine, while your dog could bring in pollen from outside on their coat.
What are symptoms of a dog allergy?
If you’re already aware that you suffer with an allergy to dogs, you’ll probably know what symptoms to look out for.
However, you may have no idea that dogs could be an issue if you’ve never been around canines.
If you suspect that you could be allergic to dogs, you should contact your local doctor for a consultation.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology believe 10 per cent of America’s 327 million popular are allergic to dogs.
The organisation list the following as symptoms of dog allergies:
• Sneezing or a runny or stuffy nose.
• Facial pain (from nasal congestion)
• Coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and wheezing.
• Watery, red or itchy eyes.
• Skin rash or hives.
The AKC offer some good advice on how to keep allergens at bay:
There are also ways to prep your home that will help keep allergens at bay when you have a dog. Be sure to wash your pet’s bed often, keep up with his grooming, and don’t let him sleep on your bed. It’s also helpful to remove heavy carpets and drapes that trap dander.
Are Pomeranians hypoallergenic?
Pomeranian ready for her flight (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Pomeranians aren’t considered a hypoallergenic dog breed.
If you suffer with an allergy to dogs, you should think twice before deciding to get a Pom as they don’t have hypoallergenic qualities.
Do Pomeranians shed a lot?
Pomeranians shed at least twice a year, so you can expect to see a lot of hair on furniture and on the floor. Although a Pom’s hair may not be a trigger, it could be carrying dander, pollen or other allergens.
The Spitz breed will need to be brushed at least twice a week to remove dead hair, allergens and debris from their coat.
Pomeranians will usually blow out their coats twice a year at the changing of the seasons.
Hypoallergenic dog breeds
The American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club both offer suggestions for dog lovers looking to find hypoallergenic breeds.
The AKC suggest the following 19 breeds:
• Affenpinchser
• Afghan Hound
• American Hairless Terrier
• Barbet
• Bedlington Terrier
• Bichon Frise
• Bolognese
• Chinese Crested
• Coton de Tulear
• Giant Schnauzer
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Maltese
• Peruvian Inca Orchid
• Poodle
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Russkaya Tsvetnaya Bolonka
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• Schnauzer
• Xoloitzcuintli
The Kennel Club offer a more exhaustive list of 31 types of dogs:
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Spanish Water Dog
• Bouvier des Flandres
• Giant Schnauzer
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Russian Black Terrier
• Hungarian Puli
• Komondor
• Bichon Frise
• Bolognese
• Chinese Crested
• Coton de Tulear
• Havanese
• Maltese
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Lhasa Apso
• Intermediate Mexican Hairless
• Miniature Mexican Hairless
• Standard Mexican Hairless
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Standard Poodle
• Toy Poodle
• Miniature Poodle
• Shih Tzu
• Tibetan Terrier
• Bedlington Terrier
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Glen of Imaal Terrier
• Sealyham Terrier
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Pomeranian mix breeds
If you’ve got your heart set on a Pom as a pet, you may want to consider a mix breed that could be more hypoallergenic.
The most famous Pom mix is a Pomsky, which is a cross between a Siberian Husky and a Pomeranian. However, given neither parent are considered hypoallergenic, it’s very unlikely their offspring will be hypoallergenic.
However a Pomeranian mix that you may want to consider is a Pomapoo. This is a cross between a Pomeranian and a Poodle. The latter is considered a hypoallergenic breed thanks to their low shedding coats that capture dander in their curls.
We recommend contacting a Pomapoo breeder to learn more about whether their puppies are likely to be hypoallergenic before you decide to purchase one of these mix dogs. Usually an experienced breeder will have a good idea of whether their pup will be hypoallergenic between eight and 12 weeks.
Anything else to consider?
If you suffer with an allergy to dogs, you should speak to your local doctor or health expert before you bring a pooch home.
While Pomeranians and Pomskies aren’t a good fit for allergy sufferers, other designer dogs such as Pomapoo have hypoallergenic qualities.
In conclusion
We’ve reached the end of our article on Pomeranians.
As we’ve already discussed, Poms aren’t considered hypoallergenic. So if you suffer from allergies to dogs, you’ll want to avoid this breed.
