What is the best type of dog for people with allergies?
February 18th, 2005 by admin
brooke_558 asked:
My husband and 3 year old have pretty sever allergies, but my son LOVES dogs. We want to get him one, but want one that will cause him the least amount of discomfort. We DO NOT want a Chihuahua. Any suggestions?
My husband and 3 year old have pretty sever allergies, but my son LOVES dogs. We want to get him one, but want one that will cause him the least amount of discomfort. We DO NOT want a Chihuahua. Any suggestions?
- Posted in Allergies
February 21st, 2005 at 3:00 pm
dogs with curly hair don’t shed. like poodles and airdales. also, i’ve heard that airdales are very, very smart and gentle…
February 22nd, 2005 at 5:32 pm
Honestly, no dogs are great for people with allergies. I would reccommend one that does not shed a lot because ALL dogs shed.
I have allergies but I also love dogs and have learned to live with them. My Boston Terrier gave me hives at first but now I am totally over it.
Good luck!
February 22nd, 2005 at 7:22 pm
I’ve always heard that poodles are good for people with allergies.
February 23rd, 2005 at 2:31 pm
toy poodle!
February 27th, 2005 at 1:00 am
Chinese crested have little of hair
February 28th, 2005 at 12:31 am
Portuguese Water Dog! They are smart, super sweet, and great with kids. They do not shed and come in wavy and curly coat varieties. They are relatively quiet dogs who do not drool as well. Heck, if they didnt poop, they’d be perfect!
March 1st, 2005 at 7:56 am
It’s not the “dogs” as such. IMHO, do not get a dog.
March 3rd, 2005 at 7:40 pm
the only ones I can think of at the moment are the Shih Tzu and Cocker Spaniel, they dont shed much hair…but they do require a lot of grooming
March 4th, 2005 at 4:49 pm
If you have people w/ allergies to dogs .. forget the dog.. There is no dog that doesn’t at least cause some discomfort to people with severe allergies. You don’t want to buy a dog and then have to rehome the dog cause you find that it’s bothering the allergy sufferer too much to keep the dog in the home.
March 6th, 2005 at 9:04 pm
shih tzus do not shed
March 9th, 2005 at 5:12 pm
Here is a list of Hypoallergenic Dogs. If I have missed any I do apologize.
American Hairless Terrier
Basenji
Border Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Chinese Crested (hairless)
Havanese
Kerry Blue Terrier
Maltese
Miniature Schnauzer
Portuguese Water Dog
Shih-Tzu
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Spanish Water Dog
Standard Poodle
Standard Schnauzer
Tibetan Terrier
Toy Poodle
West Highland White Terrier
Wirehaired Fox Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
i have a yorkie terrier myself and he is so sweet and loving and he doesnt shed 24/
to be completely honest i havent seen my dog shed at all!
please note that not all dogs in the ‘hypoallergenic’ breeds are considered 100% allergy free
EDIT:
yorkie’s hair/coat grows like our hair - continuously therefore less dander caused by undercoats
–> i guess thumbsdown fairies are coming around — i dont know why i got a thumbs down –
March 10th, 2005 at 10:48 am
Do not believe it when you’re told that ____Poos or _____Doodles (Anything mixed with a poodle basically…) are “Hypoallergenic”.
All dogs produce dander, which is what people are usually allergic to. Don’t fall for the designer dog craze because someone told you that the dog is hypoallergenic! “Designer” breeds have been created by Puppy Millers and BYB’s because a non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog is a good marketing ploy.
Single coated breeds tend to produce less dander than double coated breeds - It really all depends on the severity of the allergies.
March 12th, 2005 at 6:53 am
Everyone responds differently to dogs and dander, but my daughter and I had a cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle) and neither of us had a negative allergic reaction (like I do with cats).
Wonderful disposition, very energetic (ours was a rescued 2 yr old), just plain cute, loveable, loyal and wonderful.
Good luck!
March 15th, 2005 at 6:49 am
Stuffed dogs
If your husbands allergies are sever you do not need a dog.
And at three your son does not need a dog either. He is to young for a dog as a pet.
Most likely what will happen is that after you get the dog you will find out that you do not have the time required to train and deal with the dog your husband is not going to want to work with the dog as it will make him feel miserable.
Your son may also have allergies as well.
Chis are NOT dog that do well with children, they are an adults dog not a goodpet with small kids.
March 18th, 2005 at 4:49 pm
I hear that for most people with allergies plastic dogs work best.
March 19th, 2005 at 9:36 am
There are a few breeds that may be OK. generally speaking breeds that have hair that continually grows do not shed. most commonly known are poodles, bichons, shih tzus and lhasa apsos, you should probably stay clear of westies, cairn terriers, scotties and cockers. they don’t shed as much as short haired breeds but they tend to have a lot of dander and that is where the allergic reactions come from. hope this helps.
March 21st, 2005 at 4:52 am
I too am allergic to everything! I cant go to any of my friends’ houses that have animals for more than 15 minutes but I always wanted a dog.
I was in a house with a yorkie (but the yorkie was in a back room) for two hours until I knew that they owned a dog. I was amazed! I played with this dog for the rest of the night and didnt sneeze once!
I have had a yorkie for about a year now. He has hair, not fur, and no undercoat. It was a perfect match for me!
March 22nd, 2005 at 3:20 pm
the best dog for people with allergies is a bichon frise and they are great natured dogs and they are great with kids. they dont shed. hope you lil boy gets a dog soon
who suggested a chihuahua? they are not good for people with allergies and are not good with kids, but are great dogs i have 2 lol.
March 25th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
Poodles are very smart, sweet dogs that do not shed. I had one for nearly 16 years and he was truly awesome. Now I have Maltese (3) and they are great too. Maltese don’t shed either but you either have to keep their coats trimmed short or brush them at least 2-3 times a week. With the Maltese you have to be careful with very small children because they can hurt a tiny Maltese playing too rough or dropping them. A miniature poodle gets about 15 pounds and would be a little more “durable” for small kids.
March 29th, 2005 at 5:16 am
If you are looking for a big dog - there is a hybrid breed called Goldendoodle. It is a cross of a standard poodle and a golden retriever. I love this breed, very smart and social. They produce much less dander than other dogs. I would still test your son out with this breed first before making a purchase.
March 31st, 2005 at 7:28 am
It’s safest not to get a dog at all, but when my little sister wanted a dog .. she had asthma! Our doctor told us that Schnauzers are one of the best dogs for allergies/asthma.
Try anythiing short-haired ..Or A hair Chinese Crested or Hairless Amerian Terrier.
March 31st, 2005 at 6:32 pm
Please do not believe this nonsense about hyper allergenic dogs, curly haired dogs, etc.
All dogs have skin, and it is the skin that has the dander which causes allergies - not the fur.
If you truly have allergies, don’t get a dog - or cat.
It would be cruel as you would end up getting rid of the dog sooner or later.
The mythical non-allergenic dogs are dreamed up by back yard breeders and just plain greedy ones who want to make a buck and don’t care what happens to you or the dog once they have your money. They prey on clueless, gullible people who desperately want a dog, but it usually doesn’t work out, no matter what the breed, or combination “designer” dog.
All dogs can cause allergies, as can cats, ferrets, etc. It all depends on what you are allergic to, not the breed of dog.
April 1st, 2005 at 2:28 pm
If your husband and son have severe allergies, I would not recommend just getting a dog. It would not be fair to your son, who wants one so badly, or to the dog, which may not be able to stay in your home. You may want to consider a couple other options: 1) you could volunteer as a foster home for a dog rescue organization. Then, you will get an idea what it is really like to live with a dog and whether your husband and son will be able to cope healthwise. Your son will have the experience of living with a dog for some amount of time. However, it will start out with the understanding that it is a temporary arrangement, and you will be able to bow out more easily if the allergies are too bad.
2) you could offer your son an alternate pet. Probably something that lives in an aquarium is best, whether it is a frog, snake, fish, or lizard. Avoid rabbits, ferrets, and other furry animals, since there are likely to be allergy issues with them, too.
April 2nd, 2005 at 1:15 am
Lhasa Apso’s or Maltese’. I have a mix of the two, she hardly sheds at all.
April 2nd, 2005 at 5:26 pm
There is no such thing as a non-allergenic dog.
What coat-type makes the difference?
There are two coat types that produce a lesser amount of allergens: single-coated dogs, who do not have a thick undercoat, and hairless dogs. However even hairless dogs can produce enough dander to to affect a highly allergic person.
Hair-less Dog Breeds
* Xoloitzcuintle (Mexican Hairless)
* American Hairless Terrier
* Chinese Crested (Hairless)
* Peruvian Inca Orchid
Some of Single-Coated Dog Breeds
* Chinese Crested (Powder Puff)
* Poodles (all sizes)
* Schnauzers (all sizes)
* Portuguese Water Dog
* Bichon Frise
* Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier
* Coton de Tulear
* Kerry Blue Terrier
* West Highland White Terrier
* Bedlington Terrier
For the record Chihuahuas do shed so are not recommended for those with allergies.
Good luck with your dog search, and I would recommend that you expose your husband and child to the breed you are considering BEFORE you purchase one to be sure they can handle it.
April 4th, 2005 at 4:28 am
I have maltese and they are none shedding. I also have asthma. I asked my veterinarian this question. His response was that the saliva is the major thing that people react to. They can also react to the hair or dander but that is not the only concern. I would borrow a pet from a friend for a few days, if possible, just to see is he is able to tolerate the allergens. You might, or might not get lucky it may be that he is unable to be around dogs. That would be better to try first so that the puppy or the family does not end up with a dog that would have to be relocated.
April 7th, 2005 at 2:50 am
Poodles are good. They hardly shed. My brother is mildly allergic, and we have two. He’s fine with them!
April 9th, 2005 at 1:30 am
I am a professional dog groomer and I can say that all dogs have dandruff even if they do not shed.
April 9th, 2005 at 12:07 pm
Shih-tzu’s are hypoallergenic. And they are soo adorable and lovable and friendly and did I mention adorable. They will give you soo much love! Also they don’t shed.
April 11th, 2005 at 3:33 pm
Chinese Cresteds Are Good Dogs for People with allergies
April 13th, 2005 at 9:59 am
I have very bad asthma and allergies, but I have had dogs that I tolerated very well. I have owned a Lhasapoo (Lhasa apso-poodle mix) and a miniature schnauzer and did well with both. But, please, if you want to get a dog, first spend a lot of time around the breed of dog you are thinking about, play with them and even put your hands up to your face to see if it irritates your allergies. Not at a pet store because the puppies are generally filthy and around other breeds (so may have their dander on them), but at a breeder or someone who owns that breed of dog. The worst thing you could do is bring the pet into your home, bond with each other, and then part with it because it makes your family sick. Sad for you, sadder for the dog. And when you find a dog that you can tolerate, make sure he is bathed and kept clean, especially in the spring when pollen gets on the dog’s coat. I never let them spray my Lhasapoo with the cologne at the groomer since it irritated my breathing, and I kept his coat relatively short. He was a joy for many years of my life.