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
Often kids can become tolerant of dogs they’ve lived with since they were babies but react to other dogs. Allergies to things like dogs and cats can also come out later in life. My husband and son are allergic to dogs with fur. Dogs with hair are typically fine because they produce less dander, but you never really know. We have one amazing rescue that has hair and one that we purchased from a breeder after looking around the Bay Area for about 8 months. There are lots of rescues that also specialize in specific breeds so that’s another option. If it’s a rescue they usually give you a window to “test” the dog so that might be useful. Good luck!
We got a dog after DH went gluten free. In his case, his wheat sensitivity was causing ALL sorts of reactions to other things. Once he dropped wheat from his diet: he stopped snoring, stopped rearranging phlegm constantly, and stopped reacting to most all pets. Sure, he still occasionally has issues with a dust-filled cleaning day or some pollen, but removing his big wheat trigger lessened all of his other triggers. Consider if some other allergy is causing your kiddo to react more in some environments.
When choosing dog breeds, you want to think about the temperament of course... and how it fits your lifestyle. How about fostering dogs to see how she does with various shorter-haired breeds? You could do so for a shelter, a good rescue, or a breed-specific rescue. It's a great way to get to know a dog well (and test out allergies)!
That said, if you're interested in a specific breed that's hypoallergenic, what about a poodle? I know doodles are popular, but there is absolutely no guarantee that any doodle will be hypoallergenic. It's just a mix of two breeds and there's no way to know what qualities of each are going to show up. Most people get lucky, but not everyone.
Maybe think about shedding as a good sign of how much fur you're going to have around? I have had labradors... they shed a ton (though short fur). I just fostered a lab/golden mix.... so much shedding ;)
Good luck!
I am someone who considered herself to have severe dog allergies my whole life up until 5 years ago, based on very strong reactions to a family member's series of pit bulls when I was young, and also allergy testing showed that pet dander was a trigger. I assumed that meant ALL DOGS. Happily, after spending time with various dogs I realized that not all trigger my allergies in the same severity, or at all - and we adopted a wire hair dacshund mix from a rescue 3 years ago and he doesn't trigger me at all. For me, pits and goldens are the worst allergens - they slobber a lot, and that's a big problem for me. I can instantly see a rash where their saliva lands. But our dog doesn't slobber, and doesn't shed unduly (all dogs do, to some extent) like goldens. I would strongly recommend spending time with a variety of types of dog, perhaps focusing on wire hair and whatever it is that poodles have, as those are said to be the least triggering for many allergy-prone people. Then try fostering a dog with the fur/hair typology that doesn't trigger your daughter to live with it for a while.
When we were desperate to get a dog in 2020, I talked to many doodle breeders. To overgeneralize, they are very weird and all the genetic focus ended up creeping me out (eugenics!). Our dog is a mutt, meaning he's healthy, and of course we feel good about rescuing him from a life on the street. It is very possible to adopt a dog who is not an allergy disaster.
We've been trying to figure out the same thing -- our kid had no problems with dogs until after our dog died, then started reacting to some but not others. I've read scientific literature on the subject and talked to several allergists and learned that there are no simple answers as there are multiple proteins implicated in dog allergy, most of which are present in dog fur/hair, dander, and saliva. So neither short-haired dogs nor dogs with hair rather than fur (like doodles) are a safe haven. If you're able to find out that your kid only reacts to a particular one of the proteins (can f 5), she might be fine with a female dog, as one of the most common allergens is only present in male dogs (and neutering reduces it).
The good news is that having a dog as an infant/young child is associated with developing fewer allergies later. But it's very common for teens with no dog allergy issues to go off to college and then react to the family dog when they first come home at Thanksgiving break -- essentially, their daily exposure at home was desensitizing them to the dog, and when they went away they lost that desensitization. Our kids likely experienced something similar in terms of losing that daily exposure.
We feel strongly about rescue/adoption rather than going to a breeder, especially as rescues and shelters are overwhelmed right now. So, we're thinking about doing some trial and error with fostering. Looking at shots as well for other allergens plus dog, and following the increasing interest in sublingual therapy, too.
Good luck!
I have read that sometimes the dog allergy is actually a reaction to pollen on the fur. We got a dog from a rescue and I realized I was a little bit allergic to her (runny nose). Luckily she is a short-haired dog and with some training (and lots of chicken), she is willing to let me give her a quick bath in the shower every weekend. The weekly bath and running an air purifier in my bedroom has made my allergy symptoms much better.