Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I have 2 Mini Schnauzers, I did not know that the were good for people with allergies...Good to know!
I DO know that they are wonderful friends and love sharing my home with them.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I have two cairn terriers, and a yorkshire terrier. Not only are they "hypoallergenic" they also are a no shed breed -which makes me very happy!! Regular brushings keeps their skin and coat healthy, and matt free. I would not have so many dogs if they were shedding fur all over the house. My cairn terriers are the best dogs with every child they have ever met, including my 10 month old baby! They also love my three cats, and love the constant stream of foster animals I have come through my house. Make sure you do your research and either rescue, or buy from a REPUTABLE breeder. Dogs of poor breeding often have major behavioral issues. We had a pet store(Pet store dog =puppy mill bred) cairn terrier when I was a child that we had to put to sleep because he was aggressive and bit several people. Heart breaking for three young children. Rescues will temperament test, and will help find you a dog that will meet your family needs. There are many pure breed rescues as well.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I have a Shih Tzu, he does not shed & their fur is close to human hair - no allergic reactions.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

Maltese are not good pets for children. (nor are Yorkshire Terriers). They are too fragile......you should choose a more mucular dog as the 2 mentioned above. Good Luck!

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

Many terriers and schnauzers are NOT good with cats unless carefully introduced- make sure the cats have tall cat furniture to get away from the dogs. Also, ask the kids,"Who exactly is going to clean up the dog poop every single day, and not fight about it, and walk the dog, etc.." I think kids see the clever dogs on television and want a dog like that- not realizing it takes A LOT of work to get a dog to do those things.( p.s. I always had dogs as a kid, so I am not anti-dog. It just seems like these kids want a dog, until they actually have to take care of one... :-) ...)

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

My husband and I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - a dog to which my husband happens to be highly allergic. A vet and friend of mine, Dr. Laura Pasten, offered the following information about dogs and allergies:

1) People are not allergic to the fur, hair or feathers of pets; they can be sensitive to the dander, saliva and urine. There is no pet or breed of pet which won’t cause allergies (my guess is that the dogs with hair rather than fur tend to produce a lot less dander).
2) Double-coated dogs seem to have excessive allergens, and therefore cause more allergies (Akitas, Collies, German Shepherds, Samoyeds, and Shetland Sheepdogs). As stated in this entry, some dogs are known to have less dander and therefore cause fewer allergies: Poodles, Bichon Frises, Maltese, Kerry Blue, Bedlington and Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers and Portuguese Water Dog.
3) In general a neutered male pet produces fewer allergens than an intact male or a female (male hormones can produce more allergens).

If you do suffer from pet allergies, the best course of action is to vacuum frequently (use a vaccum with a HEPA filter) and whenever possible keep the pets out of the rooms where you spend the most time. Wash your hands immediately after direct contact with your pet and weekly, wipe your pet down with an allergy relief solution (Allerpet, Dander-Off or AllerFree). My husband has found that washing his hands as soon as possible after playing with Jade and vacuuming regularly has definitely helped minimize his allergic reactions.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I applaud the person who wrote suggesting that if a dog is adopted, that a rescue should be a first consideration.

As to care of dogs, and placing that burden on CHILDREN....I am a senior citizen, but...I still remember when my Mom had a dog put down because "she couldn't afford the medical procedure it needed." I'm sure this was true, but...even at the tender age of six, I blamed myself because I hadn't looked after the pooch as diligently as I thought I could have.

Message: Kids are kids...and I don't believe it realistic to place care-giving burdens on the young ones. Guess I'd either "suck it up" and take care of the pet myself...or....put off adopting. Addendum: There are a HUGE amount of good dogs waiting to be rescued...waiting for their "forever" homes.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I don't have an allergy free dog, but they are very loved and I have a Home Health Bissell to clean their hair up and my Siberian loves to be vacuumed, so that fixes that problem.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

Sorry my opinion of the Shih Tzu is different. My mother-in-law had a full sized Shih Tzue and he had terrible skin problems and dander out of this world. Mom has COPD and kept ending up in the hospital and had to find homes for him and her 2 birds all bad news for COPD suffer's. I have two other friends that have had mini's and said they had problems with keeping them from smelling bad too. Mom does have other dogs but they are mixes with poodle and shes had them for over 7years and they don't seem to trigger her attacks. Good luck with the kids.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

As an owner of one of the larger supposed "hypoallergnic" breeds, the Portuguese Water Dog, I agree with atticus and her vet friend-no breed is allergen free. All dogs have dander some less than others, as in the case of single coated breeds. This is just a marketing ploy used my backyard breeders. A reputable breeder is up front about the facts about their breed. My breed is becoming popular due to the hype on hypoallergnic and because it is a larger breed. Another ploy that is used is non shedding. Sorry anything with hair or fur sheds, simple fact of life. Single coated breeds are technically termed "in-shedders" meaning they shed into their coat vs outward shedding or blowing coat like a double coated breeds. Hence the high maintenance grooming needed on in shedders due to lack of losing coat. Mats glore on the single coats if regular grooming isn't done or completely shaved off. The best way to test sensitivity to a particular breed is to spend several hours with multiple dirty dogs. My breeder makes anyone who wants one of her dogs and has a sensitive household member come over an spend a couple of hours with her unbathed dogs. That way the dander is not washed away and sensitivity can be gauged. She has had to send away some disappointed people who ended up reacting. Also be aware that senstivity can increase with more exposure to the pet.
Lets cut out the hype and know the true facts about breeds and breeders.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs ...Mine Is

There is another breed that is COMPLETELY allergy free ... It is a Hairless Chinese Crested. My Gizmo is hairless except for his head, feet and tail (it is hair not fur). He has no dander problems. He has a wonderful temperament and loves to play. So how about some recognition for this wonderful breed.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I have absolutely no objection to dogs. I love dogs and wish each and every one a happy home. But aside from the dog allergy issue, please consider your cats in all this as well. I would have a dog or two myself if I thought my multiple cats would accept them. Like your's, some of my cats are in constant battle with each other. To keep the stress down amoung them and out of hiding, I often keep them separated. Their quality of life is important to me. The last thing you'd want is your cats constantly in hiding. People often think that cats in hiding rarely to seen is sort of normal. It's not. It's a sign that the cat is not comfortable in their surroundings. It's a poor quality of life. Ultimately I wouldn't count on the kids helping out with the dog chores any more than they do with the cat chores either. Also, children do get older and as they do, these days, tend to become involved in more and more activities that take them out of their homes. Their schedules are more hectic than most adults I know. There are some special children who do become and stay very attached to their pets, but it's been my observation that for most of them, pets out of sight are also out of mind. The novelty wears off. In light of these things, consider that it will ultimately be YOUR dog and YOUR responsibiliity. It is possible that your cats and the dog will get along on their own. If not, there are things you can do to train them all to better tolerate each other. But again, it will be work and it will most likely be your work. Good luck!

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds

You left Silky Terriers off the list. I have one and wouldn't trade him for the world. He doesn't shed and is terrific with kids (my friend's 18 month old smacked him hard on the top of the head with a train and his reaction was 'what did I do?' and not retaliate).

What people are saying is true - it's about the dander, and these dogs produce less of it. One other thing that you can do to reduce the dander is to bathe your dog regularly. I bathe Riley about every 2 weeks - when his hair stops being silky and starts feeling dirty. And when I bathe him, I mean I take him in the shower with me and wash him then. He hates standing in water, but doesn't mind the shower at all.

I used to have bad cat allergies and somewhat bad dog allergies - with cats, dander in the eye would swell it shut, with dogs, any time they'd lick, I'd get a rash/hives, with both my asthma would act up and it would be hard to breathe, runny nose, itchy eyes/ears. What I did to fix it was NAET (Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique). It's a combination of Eastern and Western medicine, non-invasive (no needles or pills) and it gets rid of the allergy. I no longer have any of those symptoms around cats and dogs. (It also helped eliminate allergies to mold, dust, peanuts, just to name a few...). So you might look into that for your 3rd child.

And litter boxes are a little different than doggie poop. I've had to clean up both and I'd take doggie poop any day of the week.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

I have a hairless Chinese Crested, and Shih Tsu, also a Cocker spaniel. They are groomed and don't shed. They are all great breeds for people with allergies. I have many and am not bothered by them. Also teh Xolo is a hairless and I have heard that they are good for people with allergies. In my house the dogs have more allergy proclems than their humans.

Re: Allergy-Free Dogs

The most recognized hypoallergenic breed is the 3 varieties of the Poodle; toy, miniature, and standard. I haven't a clue why the Poodle is missing from the list. I have a Toy Poodle and a Yorkie. I love my Yorkie to pieces, but in my experience, Poodles are more tolerable as far as temperament and barking goes. So, people who want a Yorkie should consider their constant yapping problems and socializing them at a young age.