Are Jack Russell Terriers Hypoallergenic?

Jack Russells are generally not hypoallergenic dogs, however some people only have mild allergies to dogs. If you have a mild allergy then it Means that there are only certain types of dog fur that you are allergic to, so JRT's might not effect you.    It has been proven that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, but some breeds shed a lot little that others, i.e the short, smooth haired types. If you are looking for a Hypoallergenic dog then try a poodle, however if you are not to keen on poodles then there are different poodle cross breeds. You can get a JRT(Labrador + poodle), JRT (Labrador spaniel + poodle), JRT (golden retriever +poodle). If you suffer from very serious allergies to dogs then you could get a hairless dog such as the chinese cress dog.    If you have your heart set on a JRT and you are allergic, then there are ways around it. You can get a 'Allerpet'. You put the allerpet on your dog and it stops them from shedding fur and dand, however you have to brush them every other day as you need to get any loose fur off (best to brush outside!).

I have a JR and a 5 yr old son. Both get along very well. My son is allergic to dogs- even short hair beagles- he has not shown any signs of allergies since we got the Jack Russell. My son provides the energy for "Buddy" to expend his high energy days. The jack russell is a great family dog.  Best thing to do is take kids to see some breeders that carry one breed of dog and see if children have reactions after getting friendly with the pups.  Good luck.

I have a JRT with a broken coat.  He definitely sheds but not as much as a short hair.  He  can be very stubborn and is very territorial with his food.  My children (10 and 12) both have allergies but have gotten used to his dander, I guess, because it isn't much of an issue.
We don't have much carpet so that helps.  He is a high energy dog but we have a radio fence on about an acre for him to run around on so once he is inside, he calms down.  The 6 year old might be a little young for a JRT.  The main thing is to establish dominance with the JRT whether it is the parent or the child.

My apologies, I too am new to the site & did not see the extrapolation you posted with your question. Here's a full answer.... I can't resist pointing out that children raised with pets from infancy have been shown to develop much greater resistance to airborne allergens than other children (my baby-sitter was a German Shepherd, can't imagine a family without a dog). It's not the fur that's the problem....it's the dander, or shed skin cells. That said, unless your oldest son's allergic reactions are severe enough to pose significant health risks, by all means add a puppy to the family!

All dogs shed (even poodles). Some less than others. Wire coats the least, short smooth coats the most, though both shed at a fairly constant rate. Long-haired dogs shed their entire undercoats in the spring, but only for those few weeks. Allerpet works beautifully, but for any dog brushing every few days will be necessary. Hypoallergenic filters for your air & heating ducts are a great idea, and the Dyson "Animal" vacuum is a godsend. On the flip side, some of the long-acting prescription antihistamines can work wonders...I had a client with who bought a Pug, developed violent allergic reactions (we're talking anaphylactic shock), and the combination of Allerpet and Nasonex solved the problem completely.

CAVEAT: A Jack Russell Terrier is probably a bad idea for boys that young. They are extremely high-energy, need a great deal of exercise (as in running a few miles a day), can bark excessively, are stubborn as boxes of rocks, smart as whips, fearless, and too fast for you to catch. Terriers were made to kill badgers, weasels, gophers, and so have a strong prey drive, dominant personality, Napolean complexes and little patience. JRT's in particular were bred as horse companions, barn guards, and vermin killers, so are best suited for very active adult owners. I wouldn't trust one not to bite a 6 year old.

I AGREE - a Jack Russell is a very strong willed dog and once it sets it's mind to something, it is very difficult to redirect. I have a smooth coated JRT and she sheds like nothing I have ever seen. If anyone out there has a solution for both the shedding and getting that white barbed hair our of upholstery, I would love to hear it. I brush her daily and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Hi there, I have always had pets, dogs and cats - presently have 2 cats and a border collie who don't affect me at all allergy-wise.  However when I got a JRT about a year ago, immediately on picking her up my arms started to get a rash and itch... But only the parts of my body that touched her, so no itchy eyes or asthma related allergy. Can anyone explain this - its can't be the dander because she even sleeps on the bed but I'm not affected,  ONLY when I physically pick her up. I now have to put on long sleeves if I want to hold her!

There is really no such thing as a "hypoallergenic" dog. All dogs shed hair, and dander (skin cells, these are usually the source of human allergic reaction), some more than others. Smooth-coated JRTs will shed more than the rough coated....in general, short haired smooth coated dogs shed at a fairly constant rate year-round (long-haired dogs shed their undercoats only in the spring). There is a product called "Allerpet" that works very effectively to prevent the shedding of hair & dander, and resulting allergic reactions.....fur stays on the dog until brushed off. You can pick it up at most pet stores & vet offices.

Their not, they shed. Sorry. :I

WELL I DISAGREE BECAUSE THE POODLE IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLERGIC TO DOGS AND THEY DO NOT SHED I HAVE A POODLE, AND A VET TOLD ME THESE DOGS ARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ALLERGIC MINE NEVER SHEDS

I think all Jack Russells are good dogs and have high frequency deflection based controllers.c

Not considered a breed good for allergies usually and definintly not a breed that everyone can handle. Many people actually have their Jack's shaved down by a groomer to help reduce the amount of hair all over even when they are a smooth coat. The wire coats actually usually shed a little less and the broken's go either way.  :-)
There are many dogs which have hair as opposed to fur and are considered non-shedding. It is important to consider that these dogs NEED regular trips to the groomer. If you attempt to grow the hair out longer your pet may require weekly professional visits and a lot of work at home as well and usually at some point you have to shave them due to a mistake or they got wet or were bathed or were a little under whether and were laying on their hair too much a certain way. The average is about every 4 to 8 weeks and that can add up. Some breeds can go a little longer (usually a more wiry coat) like to 10 or 12 weeks. It is also important to know that non-shedding means hair like ours and can also break off like ours (some people shed more than others :-). Care, diet, hair type (just like us, some have finer hair or some other difference) and health can be a factor with this. Some breeds are:
Yorkie, Shih-Tzu, Schnauzer's (ALL), Poodle's (ALL), Westie's, Cairns, Scottie's, Soft Coated Wheaten's, Bouvier des Flander's, Lhasa Apso, Havanese, Welsh Terrier, Airedale, Kerry Blue, Skye Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Affenpinscher, Brussel's Griffon (and many other Griffon's), Irish Terrier, Water Spaniel, Silky Terrier, Chinese Crested, Wire Fox Terrier, Coton De Tulear, Tibetan Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Old English Sheepdog and those are a few. There are many, many more. There are also some breeds that can shed less (care and diet is always a factor) like Italian Greyhounds, Basenji's, Weimariners, Viszla's and dogs with coats like that but it can get a bit confusing if you don't know what you're looking for.
It is important to note that many consider a non-shedding breed to be hypoallergenic. While that definantly helps and it is best to look at non-shedding or low shedding breeds as they do produce less dander (we're back to care and diet again it really does factor into almost everything), chemistry matters and some breeds may bother you and others may not depending on the dogs chemistry. It is also important to note that if someone has allergies they will usually react, even mildly, in the beginning until they build up a tolerance to the individual dog. There isn't usually a quick fix and no reaction at all and they (the dog) may also have been around dogs with a lot of dander, only time helps if the reaction is not a danger or severe. There are dander reducing products on the market and making sure you see your groomer at the appropriate times helps. Over time their own individual dog probably won't bother a person with allergies at all but everyone else's still may even of the same breed :-).
A good high quality diet can help with shedding (and many if not all health issues) in any dog and it is also very important to be sure the breed you pick is right for you in personality, trainability, maintenance, family life, experience and common health problems. No breed is right for everyone.  :-)

www.therealjackrussell.com
www.dogfoodanalysis.com

I believe Puppywiz hit everything on the head with her final response. All dogs do shed, even poodles, some less than others, but it is the dander that people are most commonly allergic too. For a 6 year old, JRT might not be the best choice