Hypoallergenic dogs?

Poodles and most doodle mixes do not shed. I have had standard poodles and cockapoos (cocker spaniel/poodle mix) for many years. One of my sons, now an adult, had severe asthma since the time he was a toddler and my husband developed asthma as an adult. Their asthma was not affected at all by these types of dogs. These dogs do not shed. You will however have to have them groomed about every 6 to 8 weeks. I currently have an almost 12-year-old cockapoo. He has a sweet and loving disposition and gets along great with kids. He is about 18 lbs so not too big as to be able to knock over a child and not so small that it would be easy for a child to trip over him. If you are considering getting a big dog standard poodles are extremely intelligent and make great companions. I remember when the Obamas were in the White House they were promised a dog and one of the daughters was allergic to dogs. Their family ended up getting a portuguese water dog who didn't present any health problems to that daughter and later they adopted another one. I do know a reputable breeder of cockapoos and labradoodles. If you are interested please contact me.

Your husband should start the process of getting allergy shots.   This has worked incredibly well for my husband.  It is a hassle in the beginning, but it is really worth it.  He never has to worry about it in any situation, we have our own dog now, and as a bonus, he never gets hay fever anymore.   Poodle-type hair is supposedly better, but he used to react to it anyway.   You might look for a dog with this type of hair (poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Maltese, etc.) but pursue the shots at the same time.   

We recently found ourselves in the same situation as you. Two members of our family have asthma, and four have allergies. I researched extensively and visited lots of dogs. While there is no completely hypoallergenic dog, we decided to get a poodle (not a poodle mix), because it seemed like the closest to hypoallergenic we could get. Our dog has been absolutely wonderful for our kids; he has certainly helped with anxiety, and has also helped them think about something other then themselves. A dog is always happy to see you and doesn't care if you do your homework or have trouble at school. That being said, my asthma is worse than it was before we had a dog, and another member of the family is having some allergies. Our kids would be absolutely heartbroken if we had to give our dog away, and thankfully I think we can deal with the allergies and asthma. If your husband has severe asthma, I would really think hard before you get a dog. Imagine what it would be like for your son to have a dog for a month or two, and then have to give him away. Good luck!

There are no guarantees about hypoallergenic dogs no matter what a dog breeder tells you. If your husband is very allergic I would suggest you not get a dog. So many dogs are given up for this reason. It’s crushing for the dogs and for the kids who have fallen in love with them. 

Maybe a bunny or rat instead?

Standard Poodles (as well as miniature and toy poodles) have hair, not fur, and are hypoallergenic, non-shedding, and no dog smell!  They're the 2nd smartest dog breed and love to be trained.  They also have an affectionate, empathic temperament and are often used as therapy and service dogs for that reason.  

My son has asthma and have eczema and we both did well with my mother’s mini-schnauzer. The hair that grows and needs to be cut like humans so they don’t really shed is my understanding. I am allergic to other dogs. Perhaps this will work for you. 

The downside was the dog barked a lot.  That may have been because her eyebrows would get overgrown and she couldn’t see so good if she didn’t get a haircut.

They are also great hunters of small rodents, which can be a blessing or really gross, depending on your take on it. Overall, I would recommend this type of dog for allergies and rats!

I recently worked at a humane society, and fully 25% of the dogs were purebreds — even poodles, etc. — who ended up being rehomed, often due to asthma or allergies. Please don’t contribute to this. There is no such thing as a safely hypoallergenic dog. If you do decide that you must have a dog, I recommend that you go to a rescue group or shelter rather than a breeder. They even have puppies and purebreds, if those things are important to you.