Are Doodles hypoallergenic?
Dog allergies are primarily triggered by dander and/or saliva, and all dogs have both, therefore there's no guarantee that they won't cause irritation to allergy suffers. That said, it's important to understand what hypoallergenic actually means; the dictionary.com definition is "designed to reduce or minimize the possibility of an allergic response, as by containing relatively few or no potentially irritating substances." In other words, hypoallergenic does not necessarily mean allergy free, just less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Poodles are generally considered to be hypoallergenic; again, not because they can't cause allergic reactions, but because they're less likely to do so. Golden Retrievers on the other hand are not hypoallergenic, so what happens when you mix the two? Generally speaking, yes, Doodles will be hypoallergenic, in that they typically generate less of an allergic reaction than most dogs, but they're not necessarily as-hypoallergenic as a purebred Poodle would be.
We breed Goldendoodles and Aussiedoodles that are double-backcrossed, meaning bred back to a purebred Poodle multiple times. While this doesn't guarantee improvement to allergic reactions, it should help. It can also vary a little by puppy; often those with the tighter curls in their hair like a Poodle will be more hypoallergenic than those with the straighter hair, so something to keep in mind if allergies are an important part of your decision. For more information on backcrossing and hybrid generations check here.
In our own personal experience, in a household with multiple allergy sufferers, the Doodles do reduce allergic reactions. If you were to put your face in the puppies hair, you'll probably get a reaction, and some members do from licking as well, but the lack of shedding certainly helps to minimize hair, and therefor dander, in the carpet, furniture, clothing, etc., so if nothing else, the allergy-causing component is more contained.
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