As I mentioned in the previous post, my best friend has been looking for ways to bring a puppy home. She isn’t terribly picky about the type of dog, I mean she wasn’t raised a fierce fan of say chows or anything. She just likes pups. This is good, because there aren’t a lot of dogs that are allergy friendly.Her list actually has more than five (in case you don’t like my five, I want you to know there are more options out there) but I’m picking my favorites from those five.

Now the thing about people who are allergic to dogs is, they aren’t actually allergic to the dog. They are allergic to the pet dander. Some people think that pet dander comes from just the fur and so a dog without fur is the only option. Not true. Pet dander is found in the saliva, urine, and skin. Luckily some dogs produce less dander making them a better choice for people who are allergic to dogs (or dog dander as the case may be). Ok, here we go.

• Yorkshire Terrier – this is my favorite because they are so freaking cute. Even when they are full grown you can get a ‘puppy cut’ and they will always look like puppies, and who doesn’t love puppies? Very small (max weight is about 7lbs) and fairly intelligent. A great choice for an apartment.
• Lagotto Romagnolo – These little ringleted darlings love water and are very smart. Easy to train and friendly. They are a much bigger dog and can weigh up to thirty pounds. A great choice for a water loving family.
• Bichon Frise – These dogs kind of look like poodles but in my opinion have a better temperament. They usually get along well with other dogs, cats, and even children. They are a medium sized pup that can weigh up to about 13 lbs. Great choice for a family that already has other pets.
• Airedale Terrier – this is one big dog. Depending on the breed they can weigh anywhere from 35-100 pounds. They are cute and very intelligent but they can also be a bit on the stubborn side when it comes to training. They love to play and are very physical and are an excellent choice for someone who wants a dog’s dog (read big and manly, no sissy dog here.) and likes to be outside.
• Poodles – I almost didn’t include this one because it is the dog for people who are allergic to dogs. Everyone knows about them, right? Yeah, but dang they are versatile. I mean you can get them in three sizes; small, medium, and large. Convenient, huh? Their smart and cuddly and cute.

Remember that even though these are the dogs that are typically good for people who are allergic to dogs, that doesn’t mean you won’t be allergic to them. Before deciding on a dog make sure you spend a half an hour to an hour for a few days with the breed to make sure everything is good. It may sound like a lot of time, but if you buy the dog you are making a long term commitment and it is best to make sure you can stick to it. An ounce of prevention and all that

What is your favorite hypoallergenic dog?

Photo Credit .Bala

My best friend absolutely loves dogs. She has wanted a dog as long as I’ve known her (about fiveish years now). Unfortunately, she also wants to keep her husband. Hmm…that didn’t come out exactly right. I like her husband, he’s a great guy, there is just the little problem of him being crazy allergic to dogs. Seriously, he makes my seasonal allergies look like a nose tickle. He has to take antihistamines just to be around a person who has dogs. If he has to go into a house with dogs the medicines make it where he isn’t instantly miserable to the point of leaving, but he still suffers. Without the medications? Yeah….bad.

The symptoms for a person who is allergic to dogs are similar to those for a person with seasonal allergies. They include:

• Coughing
• Itchy eyes
• Runny, itchy, and/or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Wheezing

Because of the similarities a person with seasonal allergies may not realize he or she is also allergic to dogs. After all, if you have seasonal allergies like I do (that last practically all year long) it may not register that there is something else that is messing up your breathing. Ah well, my friend’s husband doesn’t have bad seasonal allergies so he’s known for quite some time about this whole dog allergy deal. So, do you know what my friend did? She has become obsessed with finding dogs people with allergies can own. I’m going to share some of her findings next time, so be sure to come back!

Do you have dog allergies? Have they kept you from owning a dog?

Photo Credit Bill Rhodes Photo