Best Dog Breeds for People With Allergies

Got Allergies?  How to choose a hypoallergenic dog

For people that love dogs, yet have allergic reactions to them, choosing a "hypoallergenic" dog is the best alternative. These are dogs that generate less (hypo) allergens (allergenic) in the air, which has a lot to do with the dog’s physical size and length of its fur. For allergy sufferers, finding an allergy-friendly dog is the most reasonable choice. This doesn’t mean that the dog will be completely allergy proof, but it does mean that this type of dog tends to generate less amounts of allergy-causing elements. It is impossible to find a dog that causes no allergens.

Allergy reactions from dogs can consist of skin rashes, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing and a stuffy nose. More serious reactions are wheezing, asthma attacks and not being able to breathe deeply. If you suffer severly when in contact with dogs, you should not buy one - however sad this makes you feel. Many dog lovers who suffer with allergies find this a hard fact to accept.

The reason some people suffer from simple pet hair is because of their immune system. They are hypersensitive to the components found on the dog hair. Many people think it is the animal hair that causes the problem, but in reality it is what attaches itself to the pet hair. The dog’s hair picks up pollen and dust attaching itself to the hair follicle. With normal movements, the elements are distracted on whatever it comes across.  Hence, larger and longer haired dogs have a tendency to generate more allergens than smaller and shorter haired dogs

If choosing a dog from a breeder, try spending at least 30 minutes playing with the dog and being in the dog’s area to see how you react to it. If you have a severe reaction in that amount of time, then you can be assured that having it as a live-in would not be a good idea. If you’re choosing a breeder who lives a substantial distance away, send a clothing item to the breeder and ask them to place it near the dog for a day and send it back to you in a plastic bag. Wear the clothing item or breathe in the smell and see how you react. If no reaction, you might want to consider visiting the breeder in person.

Here are a few breeds to consider if you are looking for a family dog:

• Bichon Frise
• Irish Terrier
• Poodle

These dogs enjoy family surroundings, they’re excellent with children and they make great watch dogs. They also have low shedding levels.

These breeds are more suitable for adult - perhaps single person - households:

• Chihuahua
• Portuguese Water Dog

These dogs are happy with minimal people surroundings and tend to bond with one person rather than several.

Here are a few dogs to AVOID due to their high shedding ability. They are:

• Cocker Spaniels
• Irish Setters
• Dachshunds
• Basset hounds
• German Shepherds
• Afghan Hounds

If you choose an indoor dog, it’s best to choose one that can be groomed regularly or that you can bath easily, up to once a week to reduce pet dander. Taking care of your dog’s hair is an important part of reducing the components that cause allergies.

What about a hairless dog? Some people object in principle to hairless dogs because of their strange looks, but if you don't you might consider these:

• Chinese Crested
• American Hairless Terrier
• Mexican Hairless

Remember that most people find that certain breeds cause more of an allergic reaction than others. In choosing a breed, be open to find the best one that fits your lifestyle and don't assume that because a particular dog is right for your allergic neighbour, it is right for you!