Don’t Get Your Dander Up!
There are Hypo-Allergenic Dog Breeds for Dog Lovers
with Allergies
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This little allergy sufferer
has found her perfect pooch!
A Miniature Poodle - one of the
hypo-allergenic dog breeds.
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Dog lovers with
allergies are always looking for that
special breed of dog that will not cause
an allergic reaction. Unfortunately,
there are NO non-allergic dogs. All
dogs can cause an allergic reaction;
it has little to do with how much hair
they have and more to do with their
diet and how often they are groomed.
However, there are some
hypoallergenic dog breeds (in general,
the female of the breed is better);
breeds that are hairless, breeds that
naturally don’t shed hair, and breeds
that shed very little hair. But, since
cats are responsible for about two-thirds
of allergens, your chances are better
with a dog.
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The Connection between Dander and Allergies:
Allergies are not a direct result of
too much hair, and even dogs with fur like human hair
can cause allergies. The sebaceous glands are the culprit.
Dogs, like other animals and humans, secrete an oily
lubricant (sebum) through their sebaceous glands, which
keeps their skin supple and their coat (hair) shiny.
The allergen in the secretion causes the allergic reaction
and is present in dog’s saliva and dander.
As a dog ages and the skin dries, more
sebum is produced and the scaly bits of dried skin are
released, resulting in dander (or dandruff in humans).
It’s important to be careful when buying a puppy because
you might not have an immediate allergic reaction. Puppy’s
skin is supple and sebum isn’t released so they have
no dander, but, you might eventually get an allergic
reaction as the puppy ages and dander forms.
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A Few Suggested Breeds of Dogs for Allergy
Sufferers:
Shed little or no hair, have no doggy smell and
they groom themselves like cats; however, they do
not do well with non-canine pets. They are energetic
and easily trainable.
Shed little or no hair but must be groomed once
a month. They are affectionate, intelligent and
independent. They love people and children and are
easily trainable.
Shed little or no hair, have no doggy odor and are
not prone to ticks or fleas. They are affectionate,
lovable, energetic and easily trainable. They are
not barkers.
 Poodle
Shed little or no hair and are intelligent and easily
trainable. They have a good temperament, but if
untrained, they tend to bark a lot. Also, be careful
with the mixed breeds. Poodles come in three sizes,
the
Toy Poodle,
Miniature Poodle and the
Standard Poodle. |
 Schnauzer
Shed little or no hair, are great house pets and
love children. They will bark and make good watchdogs
and mouse catchers. Schnauzers come in three
sizes; the
Miniature Schnauzer,
Standard Schnauzer and
Giant Schnauzer.
Shed little or no hair and is alert and spunky.
They make good watchdogs even though they are small.
Shed little or no hair, but their temperament is
that of the Terrier breed. They are good watchdogs
but tend to be snappish if teased or surprised.
They are easy to train, but a little stubborn.
 Xoloitzcuintle
Also called the "Mexican Hairless Dog", this hairless
breed sheds no hair and the coated breed sheds very
little. They come in three sizes and are very intelligent
and easily trainable.
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Cost for Hypo-Allergenic Dog Breeds:
It is difficult to find a price range for
any of the hypo-allergenic dog breeds above without going
to each breeder’s site and requesting information, but,
suffice it to say that pure-bred dogs will cost you several
hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the breed.
You can, however, check with your local Humane Society and
other dog adoption shelters because it is estimated that
about forty percent of all dogs in those shelters are pure-bred
dogs.
If you love dogs, please don’t refrain from getting one
because of allergies. There are so many dog breeds to choose
from and so many allergy medications on the market that
will help ease your suffering.
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