Stokeshire Designer Doodles

Are Doodles
Hypoallergenic?

The honest answer is no. No dog is. But the useful answer is more nuanced - and for many allergy-sensitive families, a well-bred doodle with the right coat genetics is the closest thing available.

The Short Answer

No dog is truly
hypoallergenic.

The word "hypoallergenic" means a reduced likelihood of triggering an allergic response. It does not mean allergy-free. Every dog, regardless of breed, coat type, or shedding level, produces the proteins that cause allergic reactions in humans.

The allergen is not the hair. It is a protein called Can f 1, produced in saliva, dander, and skin secretions. Low-shedding dogs do not produce less of it. They simply disperse fewer allergen-carrying particles into the air and onto surfaces.

This is a critical distinction. Research has found that homes with Poodles or Labradoodles do not consistently show lower levels of airborne Can f 1 compared to homes with high-shedding breeds. In some studies, the hair of so-called "hypoallergenic" dogs contained higher concentrations of allergen than shedding breeds.

What makes doodles better tolerated by many allergy-sensitive families is not that they produce less allergen. It is that their coats trap it. Dead hair stays in the coat instead of falling onto your couch, your bed, and your clothes. That reduces the volume of allergen dispersed throughout your home - which, for many people, is enough.

The Proteins

What actually causes
dog allergies.

Canine allergens are proteins, most belonging to the lipocalin family. They are produced in saliva, skin, urine, and dander. When a dog sheds hair or skin cells, these proteins hitch a ride into the environment - onto furniture, into air ducts, and onto clothing.

Understanding which proteins trigger your specific reaction changes the entire calculation of which dog you can tolerate.

Can f 1
Saliva, dander, skin
The primary canine allergen. Affects over 90% of dog-allergic individuals. Highly adhesive and remains airborne for extended periods. Present in all dogs regardless of breed.
Can f 5
Prostate gland - intact males only
Affects 20-30% of dog-allergic individuals. Produced only by intact male dogs. Absent in females and neutered males. For individuals sensitized primarily to Can f 5, a female or neutered male dog of any breed may be well tolerated.
Can f 2, 3, 4, 6
Saliva, blood, skin, dander
Secondary allergens with varying prevalence. Can f 3 shows high cross-reactivity with other mammals. Can f 6 cross-reacts with the primary cat allergen (Fel d 4).

If you or a family member has dog allergies, ask your physician about component-resolved testing. Knowing which specific protein triggers your reaction can determine whether a female dog, a specific coat type, or environmental management strategies will be effective - before you commit to a puppy.

The Genetics

Four genes decide
how a doodle sheds.

Shedding is not one gene and it is not a guess. Four inherited markers work together. One decides whether the coat holds loose hair or releases it. One decides how tightly it curls. One decides how long it grows. And one decides how fast the follicle lets hair go in the first place.

The published research is clear that these markers interact rather than act alone. A dog can carry the furnishings gene and still shed more than its littermate because of what it inherited at the shedding gene. That is why a single result, or a look at the parents, is not a coat prediction.

Most breeder websites name three of these four. The one they leave out is the one that explains why two puppies from the same litter, with the same furnishings result, do not shed the same.

Every Stokeshire breeding dog is tested at all four loci before a pairing is planned, and the results are published on the pairing page rather than summarized into a marketing word.

The Furnishings Gene
RSPO2 · F / I
The largest single influence on how much hair reaches your floor. Produces the beard, eyebrows, and moustache, and is linked to the loss of a shedding undercoat. One copy or two makes a dog furnished. No copies makes a dog unfurnished, with a coat closer to the Bernese, Golden, or Australian Shepherd side of the cross. Furnished dogs hold loose hair inside the coat instead of releasing it. That is containment, not an absence of shedding, and it is why a furnished coat needs more brushing rather than less.
The Shedding Gene
MC5R · C / T
The gene most breeder pages never mention. MC5R is expressed in the sebaceous glands and influences how quickly the hair cycle turns over and how readily hair leaves the follicle. In the largest canine genome-wide association study of its kind, MC5R and RSPO2 were both significantly associated with shedding, and the two were shown to interact: heavy-shedding breeds carry the ancestral form of both, while medium shedders carry the reduced-shedding MC5R form alongside the ancestral RSPO2. This is the marker that separates two unfurnished littermates who look identical at eight weeks.
The Curl Gene
KRT71 · C / T
Sets coat texture, and it is incompletely dominant, so one copy and two copies look different. Two copies of the curl variant produce a dense wool coat. One copy produces the wavy fleece coat most families picture when they picture a doodle. No copies produce a straight or soft-wave coat. Tighter curl traps more loose hair and more dander inside the coat, which lowers what is released into the room and raises what must be brushed out of the dog.
The Coat Length Gene
FGF5 · G / T
Governs how long the growth phase runs before hair is released. The long-coat form keeps hair growing rather than reaching a set length and dropping, which is why furnished doodles need trimming rather than seasonal blow-outs. A puppy carrying the short-coat form can look markedly different from a littermate with identical furnishings and curl results.
A note on the letters
Read the gene, not the letters
Three of these four genes report a "T," and two of them report as C and T. A result of C/T means a wavy coat at KRT71 and an intermediate shedding rate at MC5R. They are unrelated findings that look identical on paper. Any breeder handing you genotypes without naming the gene beside each one is handing you something you cannot check. Every Stokeshire result is published with its gene attached, in that order, on every pairing page.
Three Coat Types

Each coat traps allergens differently.

Wool
Poodle-like, tight curls
Dense, coarse curls that hold nearly all dead hair and dander inside the coat. The most effective at containing allergens. Preferred for families with severe allergy sensitivity. Requires the most grooming of any coat type to prevent matting.
SheddingMinimal
Allergen containmentHighest
Grooming demandHigh (3-5x/week + every 4-6 weeks professional)
Fleece
Wavy, "teddy bear" texture
Soft, wavy to loosely curled. The signature doodle look. Low shedding in most individuals, with loose hair held in the coat rather than released into the room. Compatible with most allergy-sensitive families. Watch for the puppy coat transition between six and twelve months, when soft puppy hair tangles with the incoming adult coat.
SheddingLow
Allergen containmentGood
Grooming demandModerate (2-3x/week + every 6-8 weeks professional)
Hair / Flat
Unfurnished, retriever-like
Carries no copy of the RSPO2 furnishings gene. Resembles the non-Poodle parent breed and does not hold loose hair the way a furnished coat does. How much it sheds varies with the MC5R result, so two unfurnished littermates can land in different places. Not recommended for allergy-sensitive households and never sold as allergy-friendly. Lowest grooming burden of the three.
SheddingModerate to high, by MC5R
Allergen containmentLow
Grooming demandLow (weekly + every 8-10 weeks professional)
The Stokeshire Shedding Index

How much each coat
actually sheds.

Levels below are relative to one another, not absolute measurements. The Bernese Mountain Dog sits at the heavy end as the reference point, because it is the parent breed families most often ask about. Note that unfurnished appears twice. That is the MC5R result doing its work.

Wool, furnishedRSPO2 furnished · KRT71 two curl copies
Minimal
Fleece, furnishedRSPO2 furnished · KRT71 one curl copy
Low
Soft wave, furnishedRSPO2 furnished · KRT71 no curl copies
Low to moderate
Unfurnished, intermediateRSPO2 unfurnished · MC5R one reduced copy
Moderate
Unfurnished, heavierRSPO2 unfurnished · MC5R no reduced copies
Moderate to high
Bernese Mountain DogReference breed
High
MinimalLowModerateHigh

All dogs shed to some degree, and no dog is guaranteed hypoallergenic. Furnished coats generally release less visible hair because loose hair is retained in the coat, but they require regular brushing and professional grooming. Unfurnished dogs usually shed more than furnished littermates, although individual shedding can vary with genes such as MC5R, coat structure, health, season, and environment. If allergies are a concern, meet an adult dog with a similar coat and consult an allergy professional before committing.

Breeder Tool

One pairing.
Eighty-one coats.

Two parent dogs, four coat genes, and the number of genetically distinct outcomes runs into the dozens before colour is even considered. This is the arithmetic behind every Stokeshire pairing, and the reason a photograph of the parents is not a coat prediction. Change the parents below and watch the number move.

Load a real Stokeshire pairing
Enter the parents

Sire

Dam

Every square, gene by gene
What this pairing can produce
81

genetically distinct coat outcomes across four tested loci

Visible coat types
24
How many outwardly different coats a family could actually see standing in the whelping room.
Hidden behind each look
3.4×
Average number of different genotypes that produce the same visible coat. This is the part you cannot see, and the part that carries forward into the next generation.
Loci tested in both parents
4 of 4
A locus left untested is not a neutral gap. It is an outcome nobody in the transaction can predict.
0

Coat genetics alone: 81 distinct outcomes.

A responsible pairing is not the one with the fewest outcomes. It is the one where the breeder can name every outcome before the litter is born, has tested for each of them, and tells the family exactly which one they are looking at. That is the whole of it.

This calculator applies standard Mendelian inheritance to four independently assorting coat loci. It reports what a pairing can produce and in what proportion. It does not predict which outcome an individual puppy will receive and it is not a substitute for testing the puppy. The colour multiplier assumes three genotypes per heterozygous locus and is offered as illustration of scale, not as a prediction for any specific pairing. Stokeshire publishes the full panel for every breeding dog and the expected split for every planned litter.

The Coat and Allergy Library

Everything else on this subject
sits under this page.

This is the parent page for shedding, coat genetics, and allergy suitability at Stokeshire. The pages below go deeper on one piece of it. If two Stokeshire pages ever disagree with each other, this one is the version we stand behind.

01 Start here The three pages that carry the science
The Genetics Behind Shedding in Doodles RSPO2, MC5R, KRT71, and FGF5 taken one at a time, with what each result does and does not tell you. Read What Is an Unfurnished Doodle? The coat we breed on purpose and never market as allergy-friendly. Read this before choosing a smooth-faced puppy. Read Best Low-Shedding Dog Breeds How doodles compare against every other commonly recommended low-shedding breed, including the ones we do not raise. Compare
02 By breed Same science, applied to one cross
Australian Mountain Doodle Coat Types Genotype outcome tables, merle safety, and the four coat expressions seen in AMD litters. Read Are Bernedoodles Hypoallergenic? Fact and fluff separated for the Bernese cross specifically, including what the Bernese side contributes. Read Do Bernedoodles Shed? The long-form answer, generation by generation, with what to expect through the coat change. Read
03 By household Size, children, and generation
Best Hypoallergenic Dogs for Kids Coat suitability read alongside temperament, tolerance, and the realities of a house with children in it. Read The Stokeshire Doodle Size Standard What each size class actually means here, since coat and size are chosen together rather than separately. Read Doodle Generations Explained F1, F1B, F2, and multigen, and why generation predicts consistency rather than guaranteeing a coat. Read
04 For breeders The work behind the prediction
Our Breeding Dogs Every Stokeshire parent dog with its published Embark panel, including the results that are not flattering. View Planned and Current Litters Each pairing page carries the parents' full coat panel and the expected split before a single puppy is reserved. View Resources for Breeders Testing standards, pairing documentation, and consulting for programs building toward the same standard. View

Older Stokeshire pages on this subject are being folded into this one. Where an older page still says something this page does not, treat this page as current and tell us what you found.

Generation Matters

Shedding predictability
by generation.

The percentage of Poodle genetics in a doodle influences how predictable the coat outcome will be. Higher Poodle percentage generally means lower shedding, and also higher grooming requirements. Generation narrows the range of outcomes. It does not eliminate it, and it never replaces testing the parents.

Generation Poodle % Shedding Predictability Allergy Suitability
F1 ~50% Variable. Most shed minimally but outcomes range. Moderate. Individual testing recommended.
F1B ~75% High. Most produce low-shedding coats. Good. Preferred for allergy-sensitive families.
F1BB ~87.5% Very high. Near Poodle-like coat. Strong. Most consistent for allergy needs.
F2 ~50% Low. ~25% chance of unfurnished puppies. Not recommended for allergy-sensitive homes.
Multigen Variable Highest when parents are DNA-tested for RSPO2 and MC5R. Strong if the breeder selects for furnishings.

The F2 generation carries the highest risk for allergy-sensitive families. In an F2 cross, both parents may carry a single copy of the RSPO2 gene, giving each puppy a 25% chance of inheriting no copies and producing a shedding coat. Learn more about doodle generations.

The Trade-Off

Low shedding requires
high maintenance.

The same coat structure that traps allergens also traps dead hair. Without regular removal, dead hair tangles with live hair, tightening over time into dense mats that pull on the skin, trap moisture, and create conditions for infection.

For low-shedding doodles, grooming is not cosmetic. It is essential care. Neglected coats can cause hot spots, parasitic infestations, chronic pain, and in extreme cases circulation loss requiring veterinary intervention.

Families choosing a doodle for allergy reasons must budget for and commit to a grooming regimen. This is the trade-off: the coat that protects your allergies requires consistent maintenance to protect your dog.

Coat TypeProfessional GroomingHome BrushingAnnual Cost (est.)
WoolEvery 4-6 weeks3-5x per week$1,000 - $1,800
FleeceEvery 6-8 weeks2-3x per week$800 - $1,400
Hair/FlatEvery 8-10 weeksWeekly$400 - $800

The puppy coat transition occurs between 6 and 12 months of age, when soft puppy hair becomes tangled with the emerging adult coat. This period requires daily brushing to prevent mats that may require the dog to be shaved. Plan for this window and increase grooming frequency accordingly.

For Allergy-Sensitive Families

Practical strategies
that actually help.

Breed selection is one variable. Environmental management and informed medical decisions are the others. The families who succeed with doodles despite allergies combine all three.

01
Get component-resolved allergy testing
Know which specific protein triggers your reaction before choosing a dog. If Can f 5 is your primary trigger, a female or neutered male of any breed may work. This single test can change everything.
02
Ask for RSPO2 and MC5R on both parents
Furnishings alone is half the answer. Ask for the shedding result too. A breeder who can produce both, with the gene named beside each genotype, is a breeder who has done the work. Avoid F2 crosses if allergies are a concern.
03
Spend time with an adult dog of the same coat type
Puppy reactions do not predict adult tolerance. Allergen production increases as dogs mature. Visit a home with an adult doodle of similar coat type and generation before committing. Some breeders offer scent-exposure testing, but this is not clinically validated.
04
Manage the environment, not just the dog
HEPA air filtration, hard flooring instead of carpet, frequent washing of dog bedding, and regular bathing all reduce airborne allergen. These interventions are often more effective than breed selection alone.
05
Commit to the grooming schedule
The coat that traps allergens only works if you maintain it. Neglected coats release more dander as mats form and break. Professional grooming every 4-8 weeks plus regular home brushing is not optional in an allergy household.
06
Discuss immunotherapy with your allergist
Allergen-specific immunotherapy can desensitize you to canine proteins over time. This may be worth pursuing even with a low-shedding dog, and is a conversation for your physician rather than your breeder.
Common Questions

Doodles and allergies.

Are doodles hypoallergenic?
No dog is truly hypoallergenic. Doodles with furnished coats shed less, which means fewer allergen-carrying particles disperse into the home. This is why many allergy-sensitive families tolerate doodles well. However, the primary allergen, Can f 1, is produced in saliva and skin rather than hair. All dogs produce it. Consult your physician before committing if allergies are a concern.
Which doodle is best for allergies?
F1B and multigenerational doodles with wool or fleece coats offer the lowest shedding and the least environmental allergen dispersal. These generations carry higher Poodle genetics and are more likely to have two copies of the RSPO2 furnishings gene. F2 crosses carry a 25% chance of producing unfurnished puppies. Regardless of generation, individual responses vary.
Do doodles shed?
All dogs shed to some degree. Furnished doodles shed significantly less because their hair grows continuously and dead hair remains trapped in the coat. Unfurnished doodles shed more noticeably, similar to their non-Poodle parent breed. Generation, coat type, and individual genetics all influence shedding level. Regular grooming is essential to remove trapped hair and prevent matting.
How many genes control shedding in a doodle?
Four. RSPO2 determines furnishings and whether the coat holds loose hair or releases it. MC5R influences how quickly the hair cycle turns over. KRT71 determines curl, which affects how much shed hair and dander stays inside the coat. FGF5 determines coat length. In the largest canine genome-wide association study of its kind, MC5R and RSPO2 were both significantly associated with shedding and were shown to interact rather than act independently. A single result, or a look at the parents, is not a coat prediction.
Why do two unfurnished littermates shed differently?
Because furnishings is not the only shedding gene. Two puppies can both be unfurnished at RSPO2 and still land in different places on the scale depending on what they inherited at MC5R. A puppy carrying one copy of the reduced-shedding MC5R variant will generally shed less than a littermate carrying none, even though the two look identical at eight weeks. Individual DNA testing is the only way to tell them apart before the adult coat comes in.
What causes dog allergies if it is not the hair?
The primary allergen is a protein called Can f 1, produced in saliva, dander, and skin secretions. It adheres to hair and skin particles and becomes airborne when shed. Low-shedding dogs do not produce less Can f 1. They disperse fewer particles into the environment, which is why they are often better tolerated despite not being allergen-free.
What is the RSPO2 furnishings gene?
RSPO2 is the gene responsible for doodle facial hair and is linked to the absence of a shedding undercoat. Dogs with at least one copy are furnished and shed less. Two copies means the lowest shedding. No copies means unfurnished. Reputable breeders DNA-test for RSPO2 before breeding.
What is the MC5R shedding gene?
MC5R is expressed in the sebaceous glands and influences the rate at which the hair cycle turns over and how readily hair is released from the follicle. Published research found that heavy-shedding breeds carry the ancestral form of MC5R alongside the ancestral RSPO2, while medium-shedding breeds carry the reduced-shedding MC5R form. Most breeders never mention MC5R, but it is the marker that separates two unfurnished littermates who look identical. Stokeshire tests and publishes MC5R for every breeding dog.
Are female doodles better for people with allergies?
For some individuals, yes. About 20-30% of dog-allergic people react specifically to Can f 5, produced only in intact male prostate glands. Females and neutered males do not produce it. Component-resolved allergy testing from a physician can determine if Can f 5 is your trigger, which may significantly expand compatible options.
How often do doodles need to be groomed?
Wool coats need professional grooming every 4-6 weeks with brushing 3-5 times weekly. Fleece coats need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks with brushing 2-3 times weekly. Unfurnished coats need grooming every 8-10 weeks with weekly brushing. This is not optional. Neglected coats cause matting, skin infections, and pain.

References

Cadieu, E., Neff, M. W., Quignon, P., Walsh, K., Chase, K., Parker, H. G., VonHoldt, B. M., Rhue, A., Boyko, A., Byers, A., Wong, A., Mosher, D. S., Elkahloun, A. G., Spady, T. C., Andre, C., Lark, K. G., Cargill, M., Bustamante, C. D., Wayne, R. K., & Ostrander, E. A. (2009). Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes. Science, 326(5949), 150-153. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1177808

Hayward, J. J., Castelhano, M. G., Oliveira, K. C., Corey, E., Balkman, C., Baxter, T. L., Casal, M. L., Center, S. A., Fang, M., Garrison, S. J., Kalla, S. E., Korniliev, P., Kotlikoff, M. I., Moise, N. S., Shannon, L. M., Simpson, K. W., Sutter, N. B., Todhunter, R. J., & Boyko, A. R. (2016). Complex disease and phenotype mapping in the domestic dog. Nature Communications, 7, Article 10460. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10460

Bauer, A., Hadji Rasouliha, S., Brunner, M. T., Jagannathan, V., Bucher, I., Bannoehr, J., Varjonen, K., Bond, R., Bergvall, K., Welle, M. M., Roosje, P., & Leeb, T. (2019). A second KRT71 allele in curly coated dogs. Animal Genetics, 50(1), 97-100. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12743

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals. (n.d.). OMIA:002750-9615: Reduced hair shedding, MC5R-related in Canis lupus familiaris. University of Sydney. https://omia.org/OMIA002750/9615/

Vredegoor, D. W., Willemse, T., Chapman, M. D., Heederik, D. J. J., & Krop, E. J. M. (2012). Can f 1 levels in hair and homes of different dog breeds: Lack of evidence to describe any dog breed as hypoallergenic. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 130(4), 904-909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2012.07.033

Find the Right Fit

Transparency builds
trust.

We will never guarantee that a Stokeshire puppy will not trigger an allergic reaction. We will tell you exactly what the genetics predict, what the coat type means, and what you can do to manage your home for the best possible outcome.

See Planned Litters Furnished vs Unfurnished