Did you know that more than 10% of the population in the United States suffers from sort of dog allergies that can be considered either minimal, mild, or severe?
Of course, we have questions, and we want to know certain things before deciding to adopt a new dog, and I completely understand, and I’m on the same page.
Growing up, I had terrible allergies to dogs, cats, and just about any animal and still have mild allergies to this day to dogs and cats.
Before I adopted my Jack Russell, I was curious as to how much a Jack Russell would stir up my allergies and what I could expect.
More specifically, I wanted to know, do Jack Russell’s cause allergies?
Yes, Jack Russell’s can cause allergies to an individual who typically has allergic reactions and symptoms to dogs. Jack Russell’s are not considered hypoallergenic dogs and are moderate shedders. Jack Russel’s also are known to produce a minimal to moderate amount of dander. For someone with severe allergies, a Jack Russell may not be the best dog breed to adopt.
Clearly, if you have severe allergies to dogs, the answer above is about all you need to know on this topic, but for individuals like me with minimal to moderate allergies, we have plenty more to cover in this post.
It’s important to understand that allergies can be kept at minimal levels and that you have things you can do reduce shedding dramatically and make your dream and aspirations of owning a Jack Russell much more feasible.
It’s also what I plan on discussing and covering during the rest of this brief 2-3-minute blog post.
The goal is to give you a full-scope overview of allergies that can be triggered by Jack Russell Terriers and what you can do to minimize the allergies and live without issue with your new dog and member of the family.
I’ve also created easy to navigate links directly below that will allow you to skip to any specific section of this post that you desire to learn more about.
Here is what I plan on covering for you today:
- Do Jack Russell’s Cause Allergies Recap
- Are Jack Russell’s Hypoallergenic?
- Reduce Shedding for Best Results
- Final Thoughts
- Share Your Thoughts
Like mentioned previously, if you need to get limited information or you are in a hurry, feel free to skip around in this post using the links directly above.
Otherwise, give me about 2-3 minutes, and I’ll break down everything you need to understand about Jack Russell’s and the allergies they may cause you if you decide to adopt one soon.
Here is what you need to understand.
Do Jack Russell’s Cause Allergies Recap
Alright, let’s kick off this conversation making one thing clear right out of the gates, so we don’t have any confusion.
Yes, Jack Russell’s will shed.
Depending on the length of the hair of your Jack Russell, they may shed moderately or slightly more.
It’s not severe, and this is coming straight from someone who currently owns a Jack Russell.
The shedding is nothing and not nearly as bad as the shedding my yellow lab.
Now, that doesn’t mean much of anything for individuals with severe allergies.
If you have severe allergies, a Jack Russell may still not be the best bet.
Unless you’re like me.
I tend to have severe allergies to any animal, but after about 48 hours, my body becomes accustomed to the animal, and the allergies go away.
I know plenty of people who are like this as well.
If this is you, you will have no issue adopting a Jack Russell.
Your allergies will suck for a day or two, and then you will be fine.
If you aren’t like this, you should be considering a hypoallergenic dog breed instead.
Overall, Jack Russell can produce allergies, but for most people, it’s not going to be much worse than other dog breeds you can choose to adopt.
With some common sense and some of the tips I’m going to lay out further into this post, you can continue considering adopting a new Jack Russell without worrying about allergies.
Let’s start moving into those topics now.
Are Jack Russell’s Hypoallergenic?
People considering a Jack Russell tend to ask this question frequently.
Are Jack Russell’s hypoallergenic?
No, Jack Russell’s are not considered hypoallergenic. Hypoallergenic dogs are classified as dog breeds that shed minimally and produce limited to no dander. Jack Russell’s are known to shed moderately and can produce dander.
This question was simply to answer it for anyone who was curious.
The answers provided previously in the post are the important details to understand and how Jack Russell’s can impact your allergies.
What we haven’t discussed up to this point is how someone with allergies like mine that are considered less severe can still look forward and be excited about adopting a new Jack Russell in the future.
Let’s dive into those details next.
Reduce Shedding for Best Results
Let’s assume that you know you have allergies and you are dead set on adopting a Jack Russell.
I was the exact same way, and yes, I did adopt a Jack Russell.
In fact, that’s why Terrier Owner exists.
What can we as the potential owners and caregivers of these Jack Russell’s due to help our allergies and allow us to have the best of both worlds?
For starters, I’d recommend reading my post about Jack Russell’s and shedding that you can see here.
It will detail the steps you can take to reduce shedding, which can include things such as the following:
- Brushing daily with a rubber sided brush
- Reducing and limiting baths to only necessary times
- Ensuring a proper diet is always provided
Doing these things are going to help keep the Jack Russell’s hair and skin in check.
What you want to avoid is overly dry skin that can produce additional dander and shedding.
This is typically caused by unbalanced diets, lack of brushing, and too frequent baths.
Limit these baths, brush your Jack Russell and ensure a strong and healthy diet, and your Jack Russell will be much better suited for cooperating with your allergies than you may believe.
Trust me, as I said previously, my allergies can be bad at times, but outside of the initial few days with my JR, I haven’t had any allergy problems since.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, no, Jack Russell’s are not considered hypoallergenic, and yes, a Jack Russell can cause allergies for individuals.
Nonetheless, they make more fantastic family pets.
They are affectionate dogs, and if you know you can handle the allergies with a Jack Russell, I highly recommending adopting one if you are currently undecided or on the fence.
Luna and I wish you the best of luck with your journey.
Share Your Thoughts
As always, I encourage the readers and Terrier Owner community to add any insight, if possible, for the readers to effectively become better terrier owners.
What else do you believe is necessary for the readers to understand when it comes to allergies and owning a Jack Russell?
Would you do anything differently to help control allergies while owning a Jack Russell?
Be sure to share those thoughts, stories, and concerns by dropping a comment below.
As always, Luna and I appreciate you stopping by.
Thanks again, and we will see you next time.
