People who are looking for hypoallergenic dogs are usually looking for low dander dog breeds. This is because dander is one of the main reasons why people have allergies to dogs. Dander is basically dry skin that falls off the dog and these cells attack an allergic person much like pollen and dust does, which are two other allergens that dog fur collects.
Low Dander Dog Breeds
When looking for low dander dog breeds, you need to look for short haired or hairless dogs. The less shedding that your dog does the less dander you will have to deal with. Another quality you want to look for in low dander dog breeds is a small one. The smaller the dog, the less dander it will have. Makes sense, right? Well, if you need more help with deciding what dog breed has low dander, here are some ideas:
- Chihuahua
- Puli
- Schnauzers
- Terriers
- Poodles
- Maltese
- Airedale
- Xoloitzcuintli
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Chinese Crested
- Bichon Frise
Before going out to buy one of these dogs to make him/her your pet, make an appointment with an allergist to find out exactly what type of allergy you have. You don’t want to buy a dog, get attached and then have to give him/her away because you feel miserable. The most important thing to find out is how sensitive you are to dander and if you can handle a low dander hypoallergenic dog.
Photo Courtesy of: faith goble on Flickr
Wed, Dec 9, 2009
Allergies