I want a small dog,but which breed for an allergy sufferer?

Question

I live in an apartment and my partner has allergies to certain fibres and long haired animals.
We've decided to buy a dog after thinking about it for a long time.
I've not had experience with dogs as pets, I'm willing to take it walking everyday and clean up and care for it but I'm stuck for which breed to try and find.
I've researched small dogs and terriers have been suggested.
Any ideas welcome.

Answer 1

Different dogs cause different reactions to people with allergies. Once you've decided on a breed, find a breeder who is willing for you to spend at least half a day with their dogs to see if your partner has a reaction to the adult dogs. This is a list of hypo allergenic breeds:

Airedale Terrier
Basenji
Bedlington Terrier
Bichon Frise
Border Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Chinese Crested (hairless)
Havanese
Kerry Blue Terrier
Maltese
Miniature Schnauzer
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
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
Do not waste your money on a so-called designer breed. They are nothing but a way of selling crossbred pups at above pedigree prices and you have no guarantee as to which of the parents the pups will take after.

Answer 2

Wow, someone who FINALLY knows what their talking about as far as animal allergies! The major dog allergen, called Can f 1, is primarily found in dog saliva. Unlike cat allergen, which is found in the dander from sebaceous glands in the skin, the skin of dogs does not appear to be a major source of Can f 1. That being said, you're still going to be more comfortable with a dog that doesn't shed, NOT one that "has short hair." Certain shorthair breeds actually have excessive dander and allergy triggers compared to longhaired breeds. You can adopt any terrier mix from a shelter. There's no reason to go looking for a purebreed puppy. (And even then, depending where you live you could easily find one in your local shelter) Dogs with wiry hair usually don't shed at all and don't produce much dander. Their coat may need to be stripped yearly by a groomer, but you will not have to worry about brushing or daily shedding. Look for curly, wiry hair, Poodle mixes...etc. It's usually fairly obvious which dogs shed and which don't. Just scratch and pet the dog vigorously to find out. Also, there are some great ways to can reduce your allergen exposure: • Ensure the dog is spayed or neutered • Bathe the dog twice a week (more than that can dry out the skin and cause MORE dander) • Wiping the dog with a damp cloth or "between bath sheets" as needed • Vacuum frequently with a HEPA-equipped vacuum cleaner (I recommend the Dyson Pet Vacuum) • Purchase a HEPA room air purifier for use in the bedroom and/or other parts of the home • Change all air filters often • Keep your entire dog clean (ears, teeth, feet...etc) I used to be allergic to dogs AND cats, but after repeated exposure to them (ie. getting a dog and a cat) I gradually got over them completely. I now even have a dog that sheds and I'm fine. Good luck!

Answer 3

I swear by the Bischons. I have very bad allergies and my allergist suggested a Bischon. I contacted a reputable breeder and discussed the situation. After chatting with her for while I went to visit her dogs for a while and to see if I had a reaction to them before purchasing one. What a horrible situation if you were to purchase one, take it home and discover your allergic... Once I visited with the dogs (on two occasions) I brought home my little Jazz. She is a very intelligent, alert, loving dog (their name translated means curly lap dog, and it is very true to the breed). I actually have had a litter and sold only to allergy suffers following the same routine of home visits first to make sure the puppies new owners were not allergic, and every puppie went home with the understanding that if there were ANY problems with the puppie, allergies or otherwise, that they could return the dog to me and I would give them a FULL REFUND. Although it may take you longer to find a breeder who has such a policy, it is ALWAYS better to purchase from someone who allow you to visit and refund your money if it doesn't work out. These breeders are concerned about your well being and happiness as well as the dogs, and typically will not be a puppy mill type breeder.

Good luck with your search... If you let me know where you live, I may be able to help you find a reputable breeder you will be comfortable with.

Answer 4

Poodles and Yorkies are usually recommended for the allergy sufferer as they do not shed much and do not have the "under coat" that holds more dander which is what normally causes the allergies.

I saw a book at PetsMart the other day that was titled something like "Dogs for Allergy Sufferers" or something like that. You may want to go there or your local book store.

Also try checking the AKC website. www.akc.org

Answer 5

If they have allergies I suggest the bichon frise, they have poofy curly hair, and DON'T SHED so they are great for people who want a pet but have allergies!!! Plus they are small dogs and work well in an apartment. Another breed to try, if you want is to adopt a retired greyhound racer. Yes they are big dogs but are generally LAZY and only need to be walked once a day. Just a suggestion!

Answer 6

Basenji-medium

Bichon Frise

Border Terrier-small


Cairn-medium size



Chinese Crested (hairless)-medium size

Havanese

Kerry Blue Terrier-medium size

Maltese

Miniature Schnauzer

Portuguese Water Dog-medium size

Shih Tzu

Spanish Water Dog-medium size



Standard Schnauzer-medium size



Tibetan Terrier-medium size

Poodle

West Highland White Terrier-medium size


Wirehaired Fox Terrier-medium size



Yorkshire Terrier

Their are "hybrid" dogs that are also are good pets for people with allergies. These dogs have less or no dander. Here are some to consider.

Cockapoo

Labradoodle

Yorkipoo

Answer 7

many poodles are supposed to be good for allergy sufferers because they don't shed. They came in lots of sizes from teacup to standard. They are also very smart so can be a bit easier to train. An acquaintance got a breed called a Coton de Tulear. It is a toy breed which came to the u.s. in 1971. It is originally from Madagascar. They weigh about 8 lbs.. The coat is long and "cotton" like. Hence, the name Coton. These cute dogs are sweet, loyal, affectionate and hypoallergenic.
My friend paid $1,000 for hers. They are a bit hard to come by, but are becoming more popular all the time.

Answer 8

There are several hypo allergenic breeds.
Bischons, Yorkies, Poodles, Westies to name a few. I think the best apartment dog is the Shih Tzu. Very sweet, smart, loving and hypo allergenic! Good luck! Do research on each breed so you will know what you are up against.

Answer 9

The best dog for someone with allergies is a Chihuahua they are very devoted little dogs. I have 2 of them and I am a severe asthmatic. I highly recommend them. The myth of the dog being and ankle bitter and a barker is just that a myth. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 10

why not go for a whippet? beautifully elegant breed of dog, with a very fine, silky single coat, doesnt shed much, very sweet natured and very clean! yes it is classed as small/medium sized, and yes they ARE suited to apartment living as long as you give them the excercise that they require.

its not whether the dog does or doesnt shed-all dogs shed whether they have curly, long, short or 'poofy' hair, they all have to be groomed and when you groom a bichon or poodle the loose hair is ALWAYS on the grooming implement! AND ALL curly/poofy haired dogs need to be taken to the groomers at an extra cost every 6-8 weeks! it is however down to the fact that ALL dogs have DANDER which is the cause of many pet allergies and NOT the dogs hair!