The Best Dogs for Allergy Sufferers

With approximately 10% of Americans suffering from allergies, and at least one dog living in almost 50% of US homes, if you do the math you'll see that there's a lot of demand for dogs who are less likely to produce an allergic reaction in the humans it shares it's life with!

What exactly are 'hypoallergenic dogs'?

Well, first of all they're not allergy free dogs! There is no such thing. But they are dogs from breeds that have been proven to produce a less severe allergic response in humans. In some cases, and in some people, they may not cause any allergic reaction at all. Whether or not someone has an allergic reaction to a particular dog breed is often very specific to that individual, and even to a particular dog within a breed.

Allergy to dog hair or dog dander?

Contrary to popular belief, it's not necessarily dog hair that causes you to sneeze and your eyes to water. In fact, dog dander (tiny flakes of dead skin) and dog saliva, are much more likely to cause your symptoms. Of course, dog hair does play a role, as the more hair a dog sheds, the more dander he sheds too. You may not see the dander, but you will see the hair.

Hypoallergenic Breeds

There is a pretty good-sized list of dog breeds generally considered to be hypoallergenic. These breeds are more likely to produce limited or reduced allergic reactions in people with dog allergies. But it's important to remember that each dog breed, (and each individual dog within that breed), and human allergy sufferer, is a unique combination. Just because you allergic cousin has no problems with her little Maltese, it doesn't necessarily mean that a Maltese is right for you. Before deciding on a puppy or dog from a particular breed, it's advisable to try a 'trial run' if at all possible. Visit the breeder that you're buying from and spend some time around the dogs before you commit. If you can't go to the breeder, at the very least try and find some exposure to the breed you're interested in (maybe through friends or relatives), so that you can gauge your response. If you're getting a dog from an animal shelter or rescue, ask if you can take him home for a few days to see how you react. Many shelters allow this.

Some of the more popular hypoallergenic dog breeds include:

Airedale Terrier

Basenji

Bedlington Terrier

Bouvier des Flandres

Cairn Terrier

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested (Powder Puff and Hairless varieties)

Cockapoo

Coton De Tulear

Italian Greyhound

Labradoodle

Maltese

Malti-Poo

Old English Sheepdog

Poodle (and most Poodle mixes such as Labradoodle, Malti-Poo etc.)

Schnauzer (all sizes)

Yorkshire Terrier

Breeds Better Avoided!

Although, this is not written in stone, there are some dog breeds that have been shown more likely to produce an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. Heavy shedders such as Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are among these 'trigger breeds', some of the others include :

Afghan Hound

Basset Hound

Dachshund

Doberman Pinscher

German Shepherd

Springer Spaniel

It would be a perfect world if every dog-lover could have the dog of his/her dreams! Although this may not be practical, or possible for all allergy sufferers, if you use common sense and are willing to investigate, explore and compromise, there is often an answer to your dilemma among the hypoallergenic dogs of this world.

Check out Hypoallergenic Dogs for lots more information on choosing a dog for allergy sufferers.