Are Boxers Hypoallergenic?

Hypoallergenic dogs are a wonderful choice for people who love spending time with animals but suffer from allergies. When it comes to finding the right hypoallergenic dog breed, many people ask us “are Boxers hypoallergenic?“

Boxers are not a hypoallergenic breed. While a Boxer may have a short fur coat, it’s still capable of shedding and producing dander. Even though Boxers aren’t hypoallergenic, these dogs are known as allergy-retardant.

If you’re prone to allergies, you need to be careful what dogs you choose to spend time around. On this page, we’re going to discuss what people with allergies need to know about Boxers. Keep reading to learn why these dogs are allergy-friendly, but not hypoallergenic.

If the question “are Boxers hypoallergenic?” brought you to this page, you may not be thrilled to find out these dogs aren’t hypoallergenic. In order to be a hypoallergenic breed, it means that the dog is compatible with people who have allergies. A hypoallergenic dog doesn’t shed or create dander.

Boxers aren’t hypoallergenic, but they are considered allergy-friendly. Most breeds with short coats are considered to be allergy-retardent because they are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. However, someone who has very sensitive allergies to animals and dander may still have a reaction to the chemical composition of this breed.

Fur isn’t the only part of a dog that can trigger allergies. Many people who are interested in hypoallergenic dogs are allergic to the dog’s saliva. The Boxer breed has drooping jowls. This causes them to produce more saliva. They also groom themselves by licking that saliva through their coats. Saliva allergies can often have worse reactions than dander allergies.

A rule of thumb is that if you have allergies, you may not suffer from spending a bit of time around a friend’s Boxer but that doesn’t mean the dog is a right fit for your household.

Can People With Allergies Spend Time Around Boxers?

Whether or not a person with allergies can spend time around Boxers will depend on a few factors.

How severe their allergies are
How clean the Boxer is and its living environment
Whether or not the Boxer has a skin condition

The term allergy-friendly or allergy-retardent can often confuse people. A hypoallergenic dog breed produces fewer allergens, so they don’t bother people with allergies. An allergy-friendly does produce allergens, but it’s more manageable than breeds with long fur.

If the owner bathes the dog frequently and keeps their home clean, you are less likely to have an allergic reaction around their Boxer. This is because any dander or saliva that may have been caught in the Boxer’s fur will be washed away regularly. Since Boxers have short hair, they are easier to keep clean.

If the dog lives in a clean home, it’s less likely to get dust and debris in its fur. This will also mean that it’s less likely to lick itself. However, every individual is different. You should always judge how well you handle being around dogs by how severe your allergies are and the dog itself.

Should People With Allergies Adopt a Boxer?

If you suffer from allergies then a Boxer is not the right choice for your household. A lot of people think that Boxers are a good fit because they have short coarse fur that’s very easy to keep groomed. While all that is true, these dogs are also guilty of triggering allergic reactions.

Let’s focus on that fur for a moment. Sure, it’s short and very easy to keep clean. While that might reduce the number of allergens it’s responsible for, that doesn’t stop them. Boxers are known to shed often and all year round. The shedding is what can trigger a reaction.

Remember what we mentioned earlier about dog saliva allergies? Well, Boxers produce a lot of salivae and prefer to stay clean. This means, they are more likely to lick themselves and that gets saliva on their fur. It’s very common for a Boxer to have saliva dried onto its coat.

Which Dogs Are Hypoallergenic?

Allergies don’t have to prevent you from enjoying the company of a furry companion. There are many great hypoallergenic dog breeds that you can adopt. One of the main differences that set hypoallergenic dogs apart from other breeds is their fur layers. Most dog breeds have a double layer of fur, while hypoallergenic dogs only have one layer.

If your allergies are preventing you from adopting a Boxer, you may have better luck with one of the following breeds.

Poodles
Jack Russel Terriers
Bedlington Terriers
Portuguese Water Dogs
Chinese Crested
Komondors
Pulis
Kerry Blue Terrier
Bichon Frise
Irish Water Spaniel
Maltese
Schnauzers
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog)

Are Boxerdoodle Mixes Hypoallergenic?

Boxerdoodle mixes are not 100% hypoallergenic, but this mix also doesn’t trigger allergies as much as a Boxer would. Poodles are one of the most popular hypoallergenic dog breeds, and it’s also common for these lovely dogs to breed with a Boxer. They end up creating puppies that feature the best traits of both dogs.

However, a lot of people have noticed that Boxerdoodles don’t trigger their allergies. One of the reasons why is that Boxerdoodles shed way less than a Boxer does. If dander is what triggers your allergies, you may not have a problem around Boxerdoodle mixes.

If you suffer from allergies but are headstrong on the idea of adopting a Boxer, a Boxerdoodle mix may be a great alternative. These dogs are similar to the Boxer breed in the sense that they are excellent hunters, very agile, and impressive jumpers. Before committing to adopting a Boxerdoodle, make sure you spend time around the mixed breed to see if your allergies can handle them.

Why Do Some People Think Boxers Are Hypoallergenic?

Everyone has different levels of allergies. One person may think a Boxer is hypoallergenic because it has short fur, so they don’t feel stuffed up or get itchy eyes when they spend time around one. However, there’s one feature of the Boxer dog that is similar to hypoallergenic breeds.

As we mentioned earlier, a hypoallergenic only has a single layer of fur. This is something that Boxers have in common, and often leads people to believe they are hypoallergenic. While most dogs that aren’t hypoallergenic have an undercoat and an overcoat, Boxers just have one.

While Boxers may not shed as often, they still do manage to shed. Since they have short fur, it’s not as noticeable as other dogs when they shed. While your eyes may not notice the shedding on your floors and furniture right away, your allergies could.

How Boxer Owners Can Make Their Home Safe For Guests With Allergies

Let’s say you have a Boxer, but you have relatives visiting from out of town for a few days and one of them is allergic to dogs. Your Boxer doesn’t have to be a problem. You can still invite people into your home that have allergies and keep them under control. If their allergies are really severe, they may have to rely on over-the-counter allergy medication.

As a dog owner, it’s much more sanitary for your home if you have hard floors instead of carpets. Pet fur can get trapped in the fibers of the carpet, which makes it more difficult to get out. Before an allergy-ridden guest visits, always give your floors a thorough vacuum and mop hard floors. Place area rugs in a separate room, the garage, or the basement to reduce allergens.

Make sure you regularly brush your Boxer and wash it to reduce dander built up and clean away saliva. On top of that, you should also sanitize all surfaces the dog has come into contact with. You should also regularly wash linen and bedding, and keep upholstery clean.

Depending on the size of your home, it could be a good idea to have a room or a sectioned-off area that is considered a “no dog zone”. This way, the guest will have an area they can rest in that won’t trigger their allergies. As long as you keep up with the sanitation and cleaning of your dog and home, it shouldn’t bother guests with allergies.

Final Thoughts

Are Boxers hypoallergenic? Boxers aren’t a hypoallergenic breed because they shed and produce a lot of salivae. However, Boxers have short coarse fur so they typically don’t bother people with allergies as much as other non-hypoallergenic dogs would. Boxers only have one layer of fur, so while they do shed, they don’t shed as much. Keeping the dog clean can reduce allergens.

For this reason, many people refer to Boxers as allergy-friendly dogs. Some people with allergies don’t have reactions, while others do. If you love the traits of a Boxer, but don’t want to deal with allergies, consider adopting a Boxerdoodle. When Boxers breed with the hypoallergenic Poodle, they will have Boxerdoodlemix puppies. These dogs aren’t hypoallergenic, but they shed a lot less than Boxer dogs.