Allergic to Dogs
Parent Q&A
Archived Q&A and Reviews
Non-allergenic dog
Feb 2007
I would like to buy a dog for our family, but my daughter has an allergy to dogs. We thought about buying a hybrid breed, but after reading the ''designer dog fight'' article in the New York times we are against it. We logged on to Puppy Haven's website and could not believe our eyes. How terrible! Any suggestions for a non allergenic pure bred dog other than a poodle or bichon? anon
My wife is allergic to many kinds of dogs. We got a Westie (West Highland White Terrier) and she did fine with it. Another terrier breed that is supposed to be hypo-allergenic is the soft- coated wheaten terrier. When we were looking for a dog, I found a couple of websites that helped identify which breeds were hypo- allergenic. Terrier fan
Tibetan Terriers are great non-allergenic dogs! They do not shed, and their fur is more like hair. They are 25-30 lbs, very smart and loving. They do need alot of grooming. Deirdre
You might try a small whippet or a large, muscular Italian Greyhound (at least 15 pounds-the smaller ones might be too delicate for some children). These dogs have very little hair and do not get dry skin easily, so there is little dander from dead skin. Also, because their coats have little natural oil, they can take frequent baths, which makes them even more hypo-allergenic. They love the warm water, and my sons always loved bathing them. They dry quickly. They also have very little odor and are super-loving. DuBose
I would also consider if your daughter has allergies to pollens, grasses, etc (or the severity of her allergies) because dogs manage to bring in much of that other stuff after a romp at the park. That NY Times article was insane indeed! always vacuuming
There is no such thing as a non-allergenic dog! This website explains the situation best, and has good advice about breeds. It's a very short article--just a couple of paragraphs--but very important to read, because unfortunantly many people give up new dogs that they had thought would not be a problem, allergy-wise.
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogbreeds/a/hypoallergenic.htm
In short: ''What does ''hypoallergenic'' really mean? To be hypoallergenic is to have a decreased tendency to cause allergies. Hypo means less, not none. Hypoallergenic dog breeds will still produce allergens, but because of their coat type, will typically produce less than others. People with severe allergies and asthma will still be affected by a hypoallergenic dog.'' If the allergies are mild, many breeds are suggested on the website. Please research carefully
My allergic (but rich) friend has a French bulldog. Short fur or hair, low sneeze factor, but very expensive since they are an unusual breed. Very loving, sweet, don't need huge runs or exercise needs, stay under 25 pounds generally. In later age, or if you have stairs, lower back problems can develop since these dogs are short-legged. Frenchies can be overbred and you could get a really dumb one, but my friend's dog was wily and darn funny, trainable, and they are eye-catching/odd/handsome dogs. No dog in my life now though
We have a wire haired fox terrier because of my husband's allergies. They are so cute but hard to train! Crazy about my allergin free pooch
Some dogs have ''hair'' not ''fur''. Consider a Portguese Water Dog (curly or wavy hair) - very active. Poodle (toy, miniture or standard) - very gentle with kids or Bichon Frise. Hair continues to grow like hair on your head. Will knot if not combed or brushed, but does not have the same alergy components as fur. We have a toy poodle and she is just great! Lots of fun and no shedding. Also hair dogs don't have such a ''dog smell'' as other dogs. Poodle Mom
I just wanted to give my two cents regarding ''non allergic'' dogs. My daughter was at a home and was playing with a poodle. Her skin became very red and itchy. Of course, everyone looked at me and said ''what food did you give to her?'' When I mentioned it may be the dog, the owner was rather insulted and the response was...NO...people are not allergic to this type of dog because it does not have fur. Well, another episode (much worse) and emergency room later....it WAS the ''non allergic'' dog. The doctor told me that it is not hair or fur, but the dandruff from the skin and to keep her away from all dogs at that point. She is allergic to most animals, some more than others. So, something to keep in mind when told that an animal is ''non allergic.''
Hello! Sorry for the delay, I didn't see the post until today. Years ago I did some research on ''hypo-allergenic'' dogs. But what makes you allergic, might not make the next person allergic. After visiting with a few different breeds, we fell in love with border terriers. Their coats did not set off my husband's allergies. I don't have a problem with their coats either, but their salivia makes my skin itchy and red. So I don't let the dogs lick me and I'm fine too. The best thing to do is find families with a few breeds that interest you and see if they'll let you spend some play time with their dog. Hope that helps, Robin Robin
Dog breeds that are hypo-allergenic?
July 1999
I've heard that schnauzers, Westies, and poodles are hypo-allergenic dogs.
We have friends who are allergic to dogs and cats but did some research and found that standard poodles (the big ones!) are the best/most non allergenic type of dog. Standards are also very intelligent and probably great with kids. Our friends finally found one and now have a terrific pet and no problems with allergies. I think standard poodles can be quite expensive though. Good luck! -- Lisa
If you are thinking of a dog for a asthmatic child w/acute allergies to fur there are only two breeds to consider -- Poodles being one of these. My extended family acquired one over a year and a half ago and have not experienced any of the asthma/allergy problems they had experienced previously with other furry animals. If acquired from a reputable breeder, you may be surprised to find that they do not necessarily fit the sterotype they've been given as yapping, puffballs of hair. And if you don't cut/groom your poodle as a show dog they look like anyother cute hairy dog. One other great thing about poodles (bred in three sizes: toy, miniature and standard) is that they do not shed (they do need to be brushed daily, etc.). Consult your Allergist; and for info on poodles, see the American Kennel Club website, http://www.akc.org/poodle.htm -- Eleanor
This is in response to Melinda who asked about pets for her daughter. I have a friend who has had forever had allergies to dogs. About 5 years ago, my friend bought a Portugese Water Dog--it kind of looks like a hairy version of a standard poodle. I don't know a lot about them, but Portugese Water Dogs apparently have hair instead of fur. So, they don't shed like most dogs. And my friend had no allergic reaction to them. I understand there are several similar breeds that do not cause allergic reactions in people who are severely allergic to dogs. Good luck. --Diana
I am also someone who considered herself allergic to dogs for many years, starting from childhood. My aunt's pit bulls would slobber all over me and I'd immediately swell up and get welts where their saliva had touched me. BUT! I eventually as a 40 year old, after spending a bit more time around dogs here and there, realized I am NOT allergic to all dogs. I can't be around slobbery ones (goldens, labs, pits) and the really short hair ones (pits, chihuahuas) because their skin and saliva causes a reaction in me. I can be around wire hair dogs and the really great news is we adopted a dog in 2020 after I haunted Petfinder for months looking for one that seemed to have the right type of fur for me. I get a reaction from him once in a blue moon, and usually if it's something like I've been rubbing his tummy and then I touch my face. Our dog is a total mutt but the DNA test showed 1/3 wirehair daschund - the point being, you can tell from photos if a dog is scruffy, and that kind of dog is ok for my allergies! Hopefully yours too! His shelter referred to him as a "low shedder" but it still is a fair bit of hair around, and we don't allow him to sleep on my bed. Poodles and maltese are supposed to be relatively hypoallergenic too.
All that said, I would highly recommend that if you are single mom of a 4 year old, to put off dog ownership for a few years. It was a huge learning curve for me and my husband, and our kids were 9/almost 10 and 12 at the time. The 12 year old was moderately helpful with dog walking. The 10 year old actively undid our training attempts and to this day, has not walked the dog more than 10 times in her life. Neither of them is proactive about things like cleaning the dog's butt, trimming nails, cleaning up vomit, etc. There is a reason why shelters recommend adopting households not have kids younger than 10 or 12! It's a lot of work, and sounds like it would all fall to you. If you could dogsit a friend's dog for a day once in a while, that might be a great way to scratch the itch for now.
My family has a mini-poodle - they are while no dog is 100% hypoallergenic poodles are definitely well suited for the allergy sufferer. I'm allergic as is my FIL (it triggers asthma and itchy eyes for me), and we have no issues having her in the house/bed/snuggling/all the love. Other options are Yorkshire Terriers, Bichon Frise, Maltese, and Schnauzers. We love our mini poodle, highly intelligent, wants to please, food motivated for training and is just all around the sweetest most loving animal I've ever had the pleasure of owning. I would recommend doing your research on some of these breeds - training needs, grooming needs etc., before making your final choice, but I highly recommend the mini-poodle.
Ours is 14 lbs, we brush her about 1-2 times a week, take her to the groomer every 8 weeks (sometimes we go a bit longer in the winter when it's a bit chillier), she loves going for walks and hiking - don't let her small size deter you from your runs/hikes...she'll go forever (poodles are sporting dogs). Feel free to ask me any more questions!
We have a similar situation for a cat and dog. Tricks that help us: No pets allowed on the furniture. No pets allowed in the bedrooms. Wood floors. Robot vacuum runs daily. Minimal soft furnishings like pillows, rugs and curtains in the areas where we allow pets. Dog was taught not to lick. Pet beds are thick canvas instead of soft fluffy dander/fur holding materials.
It's made it so no one needs allergy meds, but it does require being quite strict and often having baby gates for bedrooms that kids forget to close the door for.
Four of the five members of our family are very allergic to dogs and even more allergic to cats. After much research and experimentation, we eventually decided to get a mini-poodle. There is no completely hypoallergenic breed, and we found that we were fairly allergic to some breeds that were touted by some as being hypoallergenic (like lhasa apsos and schnauzers), but you'd need to see if this is true for you. Two of us still take allergy medicine most nights, and we don't allow our dog to sleep in our beds, but it's mostly fine. Interestingly, size matters - bigger dogs produce more allergens! And non-shedding breeds are better than any that shed (it's great not to have dog hair floating around in any case). Good luck! We've been very happy with our choice and love having a dog in the family.
A good friend of mine did a lot of research and got an Australian labradoodle.Make sure they are a legitimate breeder and they have the right paperwork.He drove to somewhere near Sacramento to get the dog.She is a wonderful dog and he has had no problems with his allergies.
Googling "hypoallergenic dog" is helpful. Some sites also say female dogs are less allergenic due to something about the dander. Of course a little dog has less skin. I am allergic and never got a dog until recently. I am very allergic to German Shepherds (my office mate had one). We adopted a 13 pound Jack Russell Terrier mixed breed female dog. I am allergic to her. I run an air cleaner and take Allegra. The best days for getting uninterrupted sleep are the days when she has just been washed and I have just washed my bed sheets. She has been great and my kids love her. What the other posters are saying is true, poodles, labradoodles, maltese and some other breeds are considered hypoallergenic. She is a lot of work. But as I said, the internet has a ton of information about dogs.