Can people be allergic to certain breeds of dogs?

Question

For example, a friend of mine had a mastiff. I pet him then my arms would itch like crazy. Another had a great dane and nothing. Both breeds have very fine hair.

Same thing with someone's chihuahua. No reaction but when I hug my llasa apso (spelling??) my arms get a slight rash.

Answer 1

It has to do with the dander on the animals' skin. Different animals shed differently, have different types of fur, hence, different danders. Aminals who shed more and have more fur tend to have more dander. The dander is what floats around in the air and is what irritates your skin. Mastiffs have more hair and great danes are very short-haired dogs, so they don't have as much dander floating around as a hairy mastiff. Same thing with your lhasa... more dander. The reason you may get a slight rash with her is because your skin is semi-adapted to her dander.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hybrids are not an option here, as the only real hybrid in the dog world is a wolf-dog hybrid. Intentionally bred mutts are often referred to as "hybrids" (though hybrids are actually different species mating, like Donkey X Horse, Lion X Tiger, and so on) because the term is "happy". Hybrid makes people think of a clean, streamlined images (like hybrid cars, for one thing) that is very hip, popular and up-to-date. But the term does not apply here anyway, as wolf-dogs are too big. Small dogs are also not guard dogs. They are yappy (and often aggresive, due to overbreeding w/o temperment as an issue and lack of training), but are not guard dog material. The dog would get hurt--so you're good there. Hypoallergenic dogs are, again, more of a myth, named because of the image it produces. Because most people with allergies are allergic to dander rather than hair, an anti-shedding dog (of which there are *few*) isn't always the solution. Please, read up much more on dogs before you make your decision. Personally, I would look into a Chinese Crested or a Xoloitzcuintli, but a shelter may be the place to go. Make sure you mother meets any and all dogs, to ensure the allergy isn't a problem.

Answer 3

Yeah, some people are allergic to short hair and not long hair or the other way around. Also, some dogs, like a bichon frise, poodles, dogs that don't shed are hypoallergenic. Some new breeds of dogs that are called hy-brids are non allergenic to some people.

Answer 4

Are you allergic to other things? POssibly it's a product the owners put on the dog, rather than the dog itself. Like flea powder, or a certain shampoo they washed the dog with.

Answer 5

som,e dogs dont shed really and then you wouldnt be allergic to them im allergic to my golgden retriver but not my dauchsoun

Answer 6

totally normal - My husband is allergic to some cats but not all cats.