any medium to large dogs suitable for asthma/allergy sufferer (not a Labradoodle) as they look too girly !?

Answer 1

You should make sure you spend some time with the dog before you decide on buying it. While many dogs are supposedly "hypoallergenic," no dog is really fully hypoallergenic. It is not the fur of dogs that causes allergies, but dander. You can keep this to a minimum by bathing/grooming frequently, but there are no gaurantees that the dog will never give you allergic symptoms. The only way you can tell is by spending time with the dog. If you get symptoms, you shouldn't buy it.

Check out this website (#10 on the list.) good luck finding a pup!

http://hometown.aol.com/tara8000/Myths.html

Answer 2

How about a Chinese Crested?

They're probably a little on the small side but the only hair that they have is generally on the top of their heads, tails & legs.

For some reason, they remind me of the punk rockers of the late 70's.

They might be a little bit too girly though, as I believe that you may have to put suntan lotion on them during the summer so that they don't get burned. Also, in cold weather, they may need to wear coats ... though I suppose if it was a tough denim jacket, rather than a pink knitted woolie thing, then they'd just look a bit butch, rather than girly.

I've put a link below that should have more information about them.

Somehow though, I don't think that this is quite the sort of dog that you really had in mind, lol.

More seriously, I think that no dog is totally non-allergic & that you need to be prepared to live without one ... but hopefully not before giving it a good try.

Rather than rushing straight out & getting a puppy, why not contact breeders of your chosen breed first. Ask them if they will consider letting you come around & spending a time with their dogs to see if it triggers an allergy in you?

I'm sure that there must be some breeders out there who will be willing to allow you to do so. After all, far better for you to 'test the waters' as it were before buying a puppy off them, only to have to return it (or rehome it yourself) just after youi've had enough time to fall in love with it.

Anyway, I understand that it is generally the dander on the dogs that causes the allergy problems & that single coated dogs often have less dander. As far as I am aware, these breeds are suggested:

- Airedale
- Schnauzer
- Poodle
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Basenji

I'm sure that there are photos & breed on the link below & there will be a list of breeders (including the counties that they live in) on the Champdogs site.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I hate to hear that you think Standard Poodles and Labra/Golden Doodles are girly! These can be amazing dogs - they have been bred to work (and work smart) for generations. Without the show clip (which, by the way, originated for their water work), most standards are not frou-frou at all! I have a client who has a gorgeous male - he's 28" at the shoulder, black, working clip - and there isn't a thing sissy about either of these guys, I'll tell you!

Labra/golden-doodles were created specifically to provide guide-dog options for the blind with allergy issues ... how can this be a sissy dog?? While I prefer the full standards to the designer breeds, you can't go wrong if you find the right breeder and get a dog that still is from stock where they use their brain!

Final option would be a hairless - now there's a sissy-dog for you! (Kidding, all you hairless lovers!) Good luck.

Answer 4

The best large dog breed for an asthma allergy sufferer would be a standard poodle. They actually are quite butch when the are clipped neatly all over, check them out online.

Answer 5

Don't get any dog since you are too much of a wimp to get a certain breed. You shouldn't choose a breed based on looks in any case, you should choose one based on character and what you can cope with. Any breed of dog might be fine since you may not be allergic to dogs. I am asthmatic and have 7 dogs of all kinds. Also have 12 cats. Animals don't affect my asthma.
Besides, if you need a big dog to show the world how macho you are, you ain't mucho macho at all. Friends of mine breed giant and minin schnauzers. The woman is only small like me, she breeds and shows the giants. Her husband (big Frank) keeps the little teeny minatures. He is huge, plays American footie and rugby. If he stands in a doorway, he fills the gap. Big Frank is HARD!! Yet he will happily walk about with his favourite dog on the lead with it wearing the lilac diamante collar he bought her for Xmas one year. Ain't nobody got the balls to call big Frank a girly.

Answer 6

Goldendoodles and Labradoodles shed like CRAZY! I would look into Standard Poodles, Portugese Water Dogs, Airedales, or Giant Schnauzers.

Answer 7

First, NO dog is hypo allergenic. But there are breeds that are less likely to bother your allergies. We rescued an American Staffordshire Terrier (pitbull) and a Pit mix and neither one sheds much at all. They are single coated dogs and don't bother our allergies. Pits are NOT for everyone though, you must be responsible and realize that most people are completely uneducated about the breed and will judge you and your dog. Look into a rescue dog.. you'll be glad you did! :)

Answer 8

Schnauzers are hypo-allergenic, so you could go with either a Standard Schnauzer or a Giant Schnauzer.

I was reading some of the other responses, and I have to add that just because a dog has short hair it doesn't mean they are hypo-allergenic.

Selectsmart.com has a dog breed selector, and there is an option that you can choose dogs that will be better for your allergies. I hope that helps.

Answer 9

Hypoallergenic dog breeds are those touted as being hypoallergenic; that is, provoking fewer allergic reactions in allergy sufferers.

There are various coat types that are said to produce fewer allergens: single-coated dogs, who do not have a thick undercoat; dogs whose coat continues to grow, like human hair, rather than shedding regularly; and hairless dogs. These breeds usually shed less dander and hair and are, therefore, considered hypoallergenic. However, even hairless dogs can produce enough dander to affect a highly allergic person.

List of hypoallergenic breeds

Single-coated breeds

* Afghan Hound
* Basenji
* Bedlington Terrier
* Bichon (all types)
* Bichon Frisé
* Bolognese (dog)
* Cairn terrier
* Chinese Crested (hairless)
* Coton de Tulear
* Greyhound
* Havanese
* Irish Water Spaniel
* Italian Greyhound
* Kerry Blue Terrier
* Lowchen
* Lhasa Apso
* Maltese
* Poodles (all sizes)
* Poodle hybrids
* Portuguese Water Dog
* Schnauzer (all sizes)
* Shih Tzu
* Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
* Yorkshire Terrier
* Whippet
* Native American Indian Dog
* Border Terrier

Hairless breeds

* American Hairless Terrier
* Chinese Crested (hairless)
* Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintli)
* Peruvian Hairless Dog

Answer 10

When I was young (a very bad asthma/allergy sufferer) the vet advised my parents to get a wire-haired terrier because of my asthma, which they did, and I had no allergic reaction to it. Also dogs with "water-proof" coats are supposed to be OK for asthma sufferers.