subject: Are There Any Really Hypoallergenic Dogs? [print this page] There is a great deal of speculation and debate about dogs for allergy sufferers. Are there really any hypoallergenic dogs? Probably not. All dogs do produce saliva and dander, regardless of their coat type. Saliva and dander are the main causes of allergic reactions in those who are allergic to dogs. However, allergy sufferers can vary greatly in their reactions to different breeds of dogs and even to individual dogs. This means that if you are allergic to dogs and you wish to own a dog you may be able to find an individual dog you can live with, if you are willing to do some extra housework.
There are a number of breeds and crosses which are usually suggested for allergy sufferers. Some of these breeds have single coats which are reputed to be easier for allergy sufferers to live with since this kind of dog hair tends to be more like human hair. Please remember, however, that this list is only a starting point. You cannot expect to go out and obtain any dog of one of these breeds and live with the dog without any problems.
- Affenpinscher
- Bedlington Terrier
- Bichon Frise
- Boston Terrier
- Chinese Crested
- Coton de Tulear
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Greyhound
- Goldendoodle
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Italian Greyhound
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Maltese
- Poodles
- Poodle hybrid
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Puli
- Schnauzers
- Shih Tzu
- Silky Terrier
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Welsh Terrier
- Xoloitzcuintli
- Yorkshire Terrier
If you are interested in one of these breeds you should identify some possible breeders. Do not try to visit them in person. As an allergy sufferer you would probably be miserable visiting the home of a breeder since they most likely have multiple dogs living in their home. However, you can see if you would have a reaction to a particular puppy or dog. Take a clean article of your clothing and put it in a large ziplock bag. Send it to the breeder. Ask the breeder to rub the piece of clothing on the puppy or dog that is being considered for you and return it to you in the mail. When you receive the article of clothing back you can touch it and sniff it to see what kind of reaction you have to your puppy/dog's dander and saliva. If you have a strong negative reaction then you should rule out that particular puppy/dog. If, however, you can touch and sniff the article without having a bad reaction then you may wish to meet the puppy/dog in person at a neutral place, i.e., where there aren't other dogs.
Once you have found the puppy or dog that you can live with you will need to resign yourself to the fact that you must do some extra housework to live comfortably with a dog. Daily vacuuming is recommended. Change your sheets and pillowcases frequently. Give your dog a bath often to reduce the saliva and dander he carries on his coat. Daily brushing for your dog is also necessary so his hair won't spread in the house.
While there may not be any truly hypoallergenic breeds of dogs it is possible for allergy sufferers to enjoy the companionship of a dog just like everyone else. Good luck with your search!
