English Bulldogs are adorable in their grumpiness. That’s because that grumpiness is only a look. In fact, English Bulldogs are full of spirit and can be prone to bouts of goofiness to rival any other breed. What English Bulldogs are not is hypoallergenic. They couldn’t be more non-hypoallergenic, in fact.
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English Bulldogs are Decidedly Allergenic
If you ask most people, they’ll tell you that English Bulldogs are one of those breeds that are so ugly they’re cute. From their squished up faces to the “rope” of skin around their noses to their jowls, these guys are adorably ugly. <3 Unfortunately, they are not for anyone who has an allergy to dogs. In fact, if you’re allergic to dogs you never, ever, EVER want to own this breed.
Not only is the breed not hypoallergenic, they are decidedly allergenic. Recall what I’ve said so many times about hypoallergenic dogs. There are none. Hypoallergenic is a misnomer. No dog is actually hypoallergenic. There are only breeds that are less likely to trigger an allergic response than other breeds. This is mainly due to shedding.
While we aren’t actually allergic to dog fur, we are allergic to what sticks to it. People who are allergic to dogs are actually allergic to the dog’s saliva, dead skin cells, and urine. In a hypoallergenic dog, this allergy is held in check due to the fact that the dog doesn’t shed. That means that most of the allergens stay on the dog, and all it takes is a weekly bath to keep your dog clean and your allergens in check.
Not so with English Bulldogs. This breed sheds. Not only does it shed, it sheds short, pointy hairs. These hairs get trapped in everything from the cracks between your hardwood flooring planks to the fabric of your couches to the bed sheets. That mean that not only are allergens floating around in the air of your home, they’re ground into the very fabric of you life. Literally. That’s not a great thing for a person who’s allergic to dogs.
As if that weren’t enough, English Bulldogs drool. They also snort. This leads to a dog that may be adorable, but that is horrible for people with allergies on several levels. Not only do you have shedding, you have drooling (saliva), and you have possible nasal discharge, which is also great for firing up allergies.
Try one of these instead: The 5 Cutest Hypoallergenic Dogs in the History of the Universe
I Love English Bulldogs, but I Can’t Have Them
As an allergen sufferer and lover of English Bulldogs, I feel your pain if you’re aching for one of these adorable guys. I would love to have a house full of English Bulldogs, but after 7 years of working at the vet, I can say with utter certainty that it would kill me. When clients with Bulldogs came through the door, I was guaranteed to have a rash from my fingers to my shoulders, and I always did. That’s because I had bulldog drool all over my skin!
If you’re thinking about English Bulldogs as an option but you have allergies, don’t do it! They are great animals. They’re one of the best breeds, in fact, but you just cannot coexist with them if you have allergies. English Bulldogs are great, but for a person with allergies, they are a 10 year sentence to an allergen nightmare. Sorry. =(
Do you have an English Bulldog? What do you love about this breed? Tell us in the comments!
