Hi there, human! My name is Charlie, and I’m a Corgi. Although we’re well known for being British, we are very popular dogs in the United States.
I know that many dog owners ask themselves a series of questions before they commit to adopting their new best friend. One of those questions might be whether the dog you’re considering is a hypoallergenic dog breed.
For allergy sufferers, a dog allergy can get in the way of being a Corgi owner and having a cute pup in your home. Afterall, you don’t want to bring home a dog just to find out that he triggers your allergies. That’s a sad situation for you humans as well as for us dogs!
If you are allergic to dogs, I feel really bad for you! We always want to be your friend, but we definitely never want to hurt you. Luckily, not every dog has to trigger your allergies, so you might still be able to adopt one of us as a loyal companion.
Well, if you’re looking to adopt a little Corgi like me, and you find yourself asking “Are Corgis hypoallergenic?,” I will answer that question and all of your other Corgi questions today!
Keep reading to learn:
- More about Corgis.
- What it means for a dog is hypoallergenic.
- Whether Corgis are hypoallergenic.
- What to do if you do have allergies.
Let’s jump right in!
What Makes Corgis Great Pets?
Before I answer the question of whether or not Corgis are hypoallergenic, let me tell you a little about my family history, as well as charm you with my best qualities.
It is a little unclear where the Corgi breed originated from, but we were first found in the present day United Kingdom thousands of years ago.
Like most Corgis, I can trace the beginning of my family history to Wales, where my ancestors helped farmers and helped farmers herd cattle.
If you ask me, what characterizes us are our big smiles, beautiful eyes, small stature and of course, our fluffy booties.
Thanks to our herding history, we are very energetic. Don’t let our little legs fool you, we have a lot of stamina! We prefer to get at least one hour of exercise a day.
We make great family pets and we love to play outside with kids. We also get along with other dogs — I’m always open to making new friends!
As you may be aware, there are two types of Corgis: Cardigan Welsh Corgis and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. Both breeds have similar names, and we even look similar, but we’re actually not related at all.
Also, although we’re both from Wales, we actually came to different parts of Wales at different times in history.
As for myself, I am a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Don’t worry, I will try not to be biased while explaining the two types of Corgis.
Cardigan Welsh Corgis vs. Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Cardigan Welsh Corgis are actually 2000 years older than Pembroke Welsh Corgis. We’re actually one of the oldest British dog breeds. We were likely brought to Wales at around 1200 BC.
Back then, we were jack of all trades — we herded cattle, guarded livestock, guarded families, and worked as hunting dogs. We may do a lot less of those things today, but we still have a lot of those same qualities!
Pembroke Welsh Corgis are popular for being your human queen’s favorite type of dog. I hear that she’s had over 30 of them!
They originally lived in the area that is now Belgium, and traveled to Wales in 1107 upon invitation from King Henry I. There, they helped herd cattle and sheep for weavers as they settled into their new home.
For a long time, both Pembroke Welsh and Cardigan Welsh Corgis were interbred, and were at one point even considered a single breed. However, that led to confusion, and so they have since decided to separate us and consider us different breeds. Yay for individuality!
When humans complain about what a difference 5 pounds makes, I understand. Us Cardigans are bigger than Pembrokes in terms of weight, weighing up to 8 pounds more, and boy, can you see the difference!
We also have a wider range of coat colors. But one of the most noticeable differences is in our rear. While us Cardigans usually have our tail intact, Pembrokes usually have their tails clipped as short as possible. Ouch!
I know that I still haven’t answered whether or not Corgis are hypoallergenic, but I promise that I am getting to that soon!
What Does Hypoallergenic Mean?
Before I tell you whether or not I am hypoallergenic, let me first explain to you what being hypoallergenic means.
Although the term hypoallergenic is most commonly associated with pets, the term actually comes from the cosmetics industry to describe beauty products that cause allergic reactions. The label is actually still used on products today.
Something that is hypoallergenic technically means that something is common or less common to cause a reaction. However, it doesn’t mean that that product (or pet) will cause an allergic reaction. Make sense so far?
Now, let’s talk about dogs.
Almost 10% of the American population suffers from some type of dog or pet allergy. If you are one of those unlucky few, you’ll want to find a breed that won’t trigger a severe allergy. This is why people are always asking which dogs are hypoallergenic.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog. There are, however, a few dog breeds that are more hypoallergenic than most dogs. Some of these dogs include my friends Schnauzers, Poodles, and Irish Water Spaniels.
There are various factors that determine how hyperallergic a dog is. One of the most common one that you humans consider is how much us dogs shed. From what I understand, this is why humans love poodles (they kind of think of them as snooty in the dog world).
Yes, a dog that sheds a lot can be a problem for humans with severe dog allergies (or if you’re a pet owner who wants to avoid regularly grooming their pooch — I get it), but dog hair is a small part of the problem.
The main culprit of dog allergies is dander. What is dander? It’s microscopic bits of dead skin that can enter the air and enter your nose and lungs. That doesn’t sound fun at all!
There is a correlation between dog hair and dander when it comes to human allergies. Dog hair can carry a lot of dander, as well as pollen, salvia and other allergens.
So when some humans say that they are allergic to dogs, that isn’t entirely accurate. Sometimes you aren’t allergic to us, but we are guilty of bringing the allergens to you. Sorry!
Salvia can be another trigger for humans who are allergic to dogs, but luckily us Corgis do not drool more than the average dogs. Stay away from those bulldogs, though!
Are Corgis Hypoallergenic?
I’ve stalled long enough. Now that I’ve explained what makes me a great pet, and explained what hypoallergenic means, I will get to the point: no, Corgis are not hypoallergenic.
Unfortunately, we tend to shed a lot. We’re supposed to shed our coats once a year, but for some of us, it often turns into a year-round habit. We can’t help it!
Pembrokes especially tend to shed a lot at the change of the season in early spring and late summer. This is because they have a thick double coat that sheds regularly. They’ve got a soft inner coat to keep them warm, while their outer coat is more versatile to keep out the elements.
During that time, they need daily brushing to keep their shedding in check, or else you might find yourself quickly covered in Corgi hair every day!
Us Cardigan Corgis, on the other hand, don’t have quite as bad a reputation for shedding as the Pembroke Corgis. Were considered moderate-to-high shedders, however, so we do shed more than the average dog
Cardigans primarily shed with the changing of the seasons, unlike Pembrokes who shed all year round. For this reason, we require a weekly brushing to maintain the appearance and health of their coats. But if I’m being honest, we just genuinely like being brushed by you humans.
Excessive shedding is just part of who we are, but this is one of the main reasons that we are not considered hypoallergenic. It’s hard to avoid triggering your allergies when there is so much of our hair all over your house.
However, it is important to note, humans, that just because you have allergic reactions to dog hair, it does not mean that you are allergic to Corgi fur. That means that there’s a chance that we can still be friends!
Although this may be the case, it’s best to go see your human vet to make sure that it isn’t Corgi fur that triggers your allergies. They may determine that your allergies are mild, and they may even be able to give you medication to keep your allergies under control. All you need is to bring a sample of my hair to a professional, and I don’t mind donating some!
Mixed Breeds
If you really want a corgi, but think that you may be allergic, there is one more option that you can try. Some of my cousins who are mixed breeds might shed less than I do, and so they might not trigger your allergies as much.
There are plenty of corgi mixes available that may have lesser shedding compared to a purebred. This requires you to do some research on other breeds and mixing.
One example of a mixed-breed Corgi is the Corgi Poodle. Due to their low rate of shedding, poodles are commonly bred with a variety of different breeds to make them hypoallergenic.
Corgi Poodles are often labelled as hypoallergenic, but it ultimately depends on whether they take after their Corgi or Poodle parent’s coat.
Essentially, as long as the fur gene is inherited from the non-corgi breed, the mixed-breed dog will follow similar shedding patterns if it’s a dominant trait. Isn’t science cool?
If you adopt an adult mixed breed corgi, you will probably already have an idea on how to get a better idea of how much it sheds from the breeder. If you adopt a puppy, it will be harder to tell how much they will shed when they get older.
Even so, you won’t know to be 100% sure whether your dog sheds or whether you will be allergic to it until some time has passed. There may be mixed shedding, so you’ll want to be careful.
Hypoallergenic Dogs and Corgis
Although I maintain that Corgis are the best breed, I understand that not all of you humans will be able to adopt one of us. So because I think every human deserve a fury companion, here are a list of some dogs that have been deemed hypoallergenic:
- Poodle
- Bichon Frise
- Shih Tzu
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Chinese crested
- Maltese
- Shih Tzu
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Basenji
- Afghan Hound
- Bedlington Terrier
- Havanese
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
There may be a hypoallergenic dog breed that appears to be a good fit, especially if you’re a human with a pet allergy. However, it doesn’t mean they’ll be the perfect dog for you. Just like you humans, each individual one of us is different.
Even if you do decide to get a Corgi, your new pet MAY not trigger your allergy. But please consult your human vet to assess your allergies before trying to adopt one of us. You don’t want to take a chance and adopt one of us, only to find out that we trigger your allergies!
I hope that I’ve answered your question of whether Corgis are hypoallergenic, but also given you some hope if you are allergic to dogs and still want to adopt one of us.
