Last updated on March 21st, 2023 at 03:39 am

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Are Border Collies Hypoallergenic?

A dog’s love and companionship are unlike anything else in this world, but they can be costly for individuals with allergies. Allergic reactions from dogs are sometimes assumed to be caused by shed fur, but the truth is they contain dried skin fragments – dandruff – and saliva it’s not always the fur. So, what about Collies? Are Border Collies hypoallergenic?

Quick Answer

Border Collies are not hypoallergenic dogs. However, they blow seasonal coats. Seasonal shedding is an effort to cope with the environmental temperature. Shedding habits also depend on the coat type, and most coat blowing continues for a few weeks. Having double coats, they modify it for temperature requirements.

By Being a Border collie owner, you will be curious to know their shedding habits and how to deal with them. So, let’s discover more about their shedding pattern and ways to deal with it.

Let’s dive in!

Hypoallergenic Dogs – Are Border Collies Hypoallergenic?

When a dog is labeled as hypoallergenic, it means it’s less prone than other dog breeds to cause allergic reactions in humans. No dogs are fully hypoallergenic. Border Collies are not classified as “hypoallergenic” dogs. 

Border Collies are often thought to shed very little or none at all. However, it’s not the case. These adorable dogs have a double coat they are shedders indeed. Long-coated Border Collies, according to some, have just as many shedding concerns as any other breed of dog.

Colors	Brown, Chocolate, Yellow, Gold
Coat Length	Short, Medium
Coat Patterns	Bicolor, Tricolor, Sable, Tuxedo
Dog Breed Group	Herding Dogs
Intelligence	High
Activity	Super Active

Border Collies Coats

A long-haired “double coat” with a stiff outer coat and smoother, fluffier undercoat distinguish the breed. These two layers function together to wipe off rain and lock in body heat during the breed’s well-known lively, quick running at incredible velocities.

Border Collies have two coat types, similar to the classic Collies:

• Smooth coat
• Rough coat

A smooth-coated Border collie will appear sleeker, with hair that drapes straight down, whereas a rough-coated Border collie would have more volume and loft. The rough coat sheds more aggressively than the smooth coat, at a much faster rate, although both might be problematic for persons with dog allergies. Be sure to research what kind of Border Collies you want as per their coats and shedding as it differs. 

Do Border Collies Shed a Lot?

Yes. Border Collies shed their hair occasionally. Because of their double-coated long hair, some shedding is unavoidable due to changing weather conditions.

Border Collies appear to shed the most in the spring and autumn seasons before the onset of winter and summer to combat the changing weather conditions and regulate their temperature.

Coat Blowing in Border Collies

Non-hypoallergenic dogs like the Border collie sheds little to none hair each day, just like humans who lose hair strands every day to make place for new growth. This is a good and standard procedure for them since it keeps their coat lustrous and healthy while allowing their skin to “inhale” at the pore level.

When the temperature rises, a double-coated breed like Border Collies encounter an issue:

The coat that keeps them wonderfully warm all winter quickly becomes a sweaty burden that threatens heating and weariness. The evolutionary response is a coat blow, which is another name for shedding a winter coat and replacing it with a summer coat. Shedding helps those keep their body temperature regulated, maintaining the homeostatic environment.

Coat Blowing Season

Coat blow season is a nightmare at the onset of summer, especially if they’re the ones experiencing pet allergens. Border Collies, for example, will begin to shed excessively and lose their winter coat in favor of a thinner, summer-ready one.

It’s crucial for the temperature regulation that they shed as much of their previously-insulating coat fur as swiftly as possible, which means their owners must be extra vigilant with the dog brush, vacuum, and lint roller – as well as allergy treatments.

Can Grooming be a Solution for Coat Blowing in Border Collies?

While it may sound good to take your Border Collie to the groomer for a haircut, bear in mind that the shedding and coat-growing process are created by nature to keep a dog cool by adding or removing additional fur on the skin. It’s possible that removing this natural mechanism will make it more difficult for your dog to stay calm. As a result, if you’re thinking about doing something like this, see your veterinarian first.

Dealing with Coat Blowing and Allergens in Border Collies

Even if you are allergic to dog shedding but still need your canine fellow by your side all the time.

Here are a few ways to keep the environment healthy, both for you and your lovely doggie:

• Frequent Combing

To combat shedding, this is the most important factor to consider. If shedding is what acquaints allergies with their current situation, proactive planning will be significantly reduced.

• Brushing

Brushing your Border collie’s hair regularly can benefit both you and your pet; wear gloves to protect your skin from residue and dander.

A normal pet brush, preparation glove, or undercoat rake are all effective tools for removing hair and undercoat and restoring a smooth collie coat. Fewer stray hairs and allergens require more combing.

Removing the loose fur and stray hair frequent combing also helps keep hair from matting.

• Cleaning Up

When your Collie is shedding its coat, there are fewer exposed places, which means allergens have fewer chances to attack. Cover sofas and seats where your dog likes to sit with throw covers that you can wash in hot water regularly.

To keep things even cleaner, choose Collie beds or container cushions easily cleaned whenever possible.

• Use a Hair Blower

You might think that the groomer’s powerful hair blower on your Border collie is merely there to dry him after he’s been washed. However, it can be put to a lot more than that. These blowers are quite effective in removing loose hair and dander. While these are appropriate gadgets, you can also purchase a blower to use on your dog.

However, if you don’t want to use the blower indoors, you can keep a safe distance from it.

If you do, you’ll blow all of that dander and hair all over the place. As a result, after washing your dog and drying him outside, plugging one blower into an accessible power source is a great idea. If you do this regularly, your dog’s shedding will decrease.

• Don’t Let Your Dog in Bed

Train your dog not to enter your room or step on your bed. If you have allergy problems, this will be a safe way to have an allergen-free environment and breathe properly.

• Playing with Your Dog Outdoors

If you’re used to playing with your Collie inside, you should try to spend more time outside. If you don’t want your pet rolling around on your carpet, shedding the whole time, you would like it to happen outside in the grass.

The more time you spend outside playing, the more dander and fur you shed, and the less it bothers you. This is also good for your bond and your pet’s overall health, both physically and psychologically, if it leads to you getting out and playing more with your dog.

• Medical Treatment

While proper grooming and thorough housekeeping will reduce allergy flare-ups over time, they will not eliminate them. If you’re still having trouble with your symptoms but want to live in peace with your dog, talk to your doctor about your prescription alternatives.

Some allergy sufferers can get by with simply a daily over-the-counter medicine during coat blow season, while others may benefit from periodic allergy shots to keep their symptoms under control.

Is Fostering Your Border collie in Shedding Season a Good Option?

If your allergies are severe, examine the benefits and drawbacks carefully. If feasible, foster a Border collie at your local shelter, or the absolute least, visit a rescue or pet store that specializes in Border Collies to see how you react.

Make sure you spend enough time with the dog and wait a few hours to see if any symptoms occur, as allergies don’t often manifest themselves right away. Because we all know our own bodies best, after you spend time with this breed – that is, if you see yourself cohabiting happily with a four-legged partner of the Border Collie sort – after all, we don’t adopt lovely canines to foster them.

Conclusion – Are Border Collies Hypoallergenic?

Border collies are one of the many dog breeds that could suit a variety of owners in terms of appearance, personality, and medical conditions. They are not hypoallergenic, only blow coat dogs before the onset of summer, making them wonderful dogs. If you are also a proud parent of Border Coolie or wish to get one, they are pretty safe for everyone, and you will enjoy your time together.