This article is contributed by guest writer, John Woods (dog trainer and member of the association of professional dog trainers).
Five Best Hypoallergenic Dogs For Families
If you love dogs, finding yourself constantly sneezing around them, or having itchy eyes can be really annoying when all you want to do is cuddle them, but that doesn’t mean you have to rule out owning a dog.
Whilst no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, there are plenty of breeds available which shed less than other dogs. The things that cause an allergic reaction to a dog include dander, saliva and urine.
Choosing a dog which produces less dander and doesn’t slobber much is the best choice for allergy sufferers.
Here is a list of our five favorite hypoallergenic dogs.
1. Bichon Frise
This small happy dog has a white fluffy hypoallergenic coat. It is soft and velvety to touch, and their dark eyes, black nose and lips give them a teddy bear like appearance.
These dogs get on well with other dogs and children, and are quite easy to train.
These beautiful dogs often have long life spans and can live until they’re around 17 years old. They also remain playful well into their older years.
This might not be the right choice for you if you’re not at home much as they dislike being left along and are known for suffering from separation anxiety.
They’re also quite high maintenance and will need to be groomed every four to six months.
2. Teacup Maltese
Weighing only 4lb, the Teacup Maltese is the smaller version of the already tiny Miniature Maltese.
This breed is perfect for people who live in apartments or small homes, they also don’t require as much exercise as a larger dog so make ideal companion dogs for older people.
There cute little dogs are known for their friendly personality and loving nature. They have white hypoallergenic coats which require little maintenance other than a brush every week or so.
Unlike most other small dogs, they’re very unlikely to develop a yappy bark, but they might be nervous around other new dogs and environments.
3. Tibetan Terrier
If you suffer with allergies from dogs, you might expect a long haired dog to be your worst nightmare; however the Tibetan Terrier is a low shedder making a great dog for an allergy sufferer.
They are a medium sized dog, standing at around 13 inches high, and weighing around 24lb.
Their coats will need frequent brushing to avoid any tangles developing in their long coats, or alternatively, you can choose to trim their coat which makes maintenance easier.
If you want to introduce this dog into a family home, they do better in homes with older children who know how to treat a dog properly.
Tibetan Terriers are quite easy to train as long as positive reinforcement is used; treats, praise and play all work well.
This dog needs plenty of love and attention so if you have a busy work life and he’ll be left home alone a lot you might want to reconsider.
4. Basenji
The beautiful Basenji has a short fine coat which is usually chestnut red, black, tricolor or brindle. This dog keeps himself extremely clean and doesn’t have that typically doggy odor.
They only shed dander around once a month which helps to keep allergens to a minimum. This is a great breed choice if you don’t want to have to do much maintenance to your dog’s coat.
If you want to keep this intelligent and independent hound, you’ll need a lot of patience and a good sense of humor!
As a hound, as soon as he catches sight of anything, whether its rabbit or a squirrel, he will instinctively want to run after it and develop selective hearing!
This dog will require plenty of early socialization and training to ensure he grows into a well-rounded dog.
5. Schnauzer
These dogs are a really common choice for people who suffer with allergies. Schnauzers come in three different sizes; miniature, standard and giant. This means there is a breed to suit pretty much anyone in terms of how much space you have in your home and the amount of time you have to exercise them.
These dogs are great with children and are easy to train. It won’t come as a surprise to hear that it is the 10th most popular dog breed in the world.
They come in a variety of different colors including black, white and silver. Their coat is thick and wiry and they have non-shedding coats making them perfect for allergy sufferers.
Schnauzers are loyal, playful and intelligent dogs who are devoted to their families.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to remember that not all allergies are triggered by dander; some are triggered by the proteins in saliva or urine.
There is not one breed that is 100% guaranteed not to flare up your allergies.
That’s why it is important to make sure you spend some time with the dog before you decide to bring the dog home with you.
You might also want to consider fostering the specific breed of dog you’re interested in before committing to providing him with a life-long home.