The Internet is a wonderful place to play around and search for various and sundry things. Sitting at my computer and wondering what helpful information I would like to write about for our post today . . . it hit me. I sneezed.
My dear neighbor had just been over for a visit and she always has her beloved cat in tow. I truly love seeing them both and always enjoy the company, but I’m also somewhat allergic to cats. I absolutely adore the furry creatures, but they definitely affect my breathing.
So, for those of you out there who suffer more severely with pet allergies, but adore being around four-legged friends and are perhaps even considering a canine companion, we decided to compile a list of dog breeds that are kinder to dog lovers with allergies than most.
In reality, there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. All dogs have allergens (hair, dander, saliva) that can aggravate or cause a reaction in people who suffer from such allergies. Totally hairless, long-haired, and wire-haired dogs that don’t shed nearly as much as other dog breeds are generally considered to be more tolerable to allergy sufferers, but they still produce allergens and can bring additional allergens in from the outdoors (pollen, dust, mold).
That being said, the following list is compiled using one of our favorite resources for general information on dog breeds since 1998, The Dog Breed Info Center®. Each of the breeds links to the respective page from that resource:
- American Hairless Terrier
- Airedale Terrier
- Basenji
- Bedlington Terrier
- Bergamasco
- Bichon Frise
- Bichon/Yorkie
- Bolognese
- Border Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Chinese Crested (hairless)
- Cockapoo
- Doodleman Pinscher
- Giant Schnauzer
- Hairless Khala
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Labradoodle
- Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
- Maltese
- Malti-Poo
- Miniature Poodle
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Puli (Pulik)
- Schnoodle
- Shepadoodle
- Shichon
- Shih-Tzu
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Spanish Water Dog
- Standard Poodle
- Standard Schnauzer
- Tibetan Terrier
- Toy Poodle
- West Highland White Terrier
- Wirehaired Fox Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
If you suffer from allergies and are looking to consider one of the breeds above we’d also recommend spending time with the dog or puppy prior to taking him home to gauge the severity of any reaction. Some dogs (not just the breed, but the dog itself) can be more allergy-friendly for you, specifically. Chemistry?!
And be sure to get a dog you can easily wash. Bathing the dog often should help keep your allergies at bay, too.
Perhaps one day soon I’ll see if we can compile a list of hypoallergenic cats, cat breeds that are more allergy-friendly than others. That way, if Lucy ever goes to cat heaven I can get Alice a new best friend that’s easier on my nose.
7 Comments
Thanks for the good information , because today allergies are maybe the most common disease… and it is not fair that allergies should prevent us from having a pet!
Thank you for the list. I have a friend that will enjoy this very much, she is older and does not have a computer, I will print this for her.
So I have a yorkshire terrier and the list above said they have digestion problems. I have noticed this with her, but I can’t afford the fancy pet foods that would probably be better for her. I want to give her the best food possible without spending a fortune! I usually shop at Petco because there prices are good, does anyone know of any good dog food for Yorkies at Petco? Thanks!
This is great to know…I volunteer at an animal shelter and people are always asking me this question. I didn’t know there were so many breeds that were allergy-friendly. I would love to find out about cats…I heard there were a few breeds that were allergy-friendly as well.
This list is really helpful. I don’t have any specific allergies though but I can suggest this information to my friend who loves to take care of dogs yet has problems with certain allergies. This is such a big help!
Your post is systemized and informative in a great way. We were just researching what breed to buy and the links made the choice so much easier. Thank you!
The list and this article is really helpful in helping me decide on what kind of breed to choose.