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Small Hypoallergenic Dogs
The Perfect Solution for Those with Dog Allergies... Or Are They?
Hypoallergenic dogs are technically a modern day myth, small breed or otherwise. However, many people with dog allergies can tolerate certain types of dogs, but the breed and level of tolerance is not the same for everyone.
Dander isn't the only culprit. A lot of people with dog allergies are actually allergic to a protein in dog saliva, mucus, urine, etc., so when a high-shedding dog licks it's fur and then sheds it, he drops contaminated fur and allergens around the house.
A non-shedding dog can be more hypoallergenic simply because the saliva contaminated (and dander contaminated) dog hair is less scattered and less likely to be covering furniture, etc.
Small Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
Looking at the non-shedding breeds first makes sense for the reasons stated above.
A few of these include:
- Affenpinscher
- Bichon
- Cairn Terrier
- Lhasa Apso
- There are potentially hundreds of small hypoallergic dog breeds and mixes that might work for you, starting with the non-shedding breeds.
Non Shedding Dog Breeds Aren't the Only Option
Along with researching the small hypoallergenic dogs in all the breed groups, including non shedding, hairless and mixed breeds, follow the steps listed below to help reduce your symptoms.
Non-shedding dog breeds aren't your only option.
And keep in mind, just because you're allergic to one dog doesn't mean you'll be allergic to all dogs. And just because one non-shedding dog breed didn't cause your allergies to flare doesn't mean that you'll be able to tolerate any non-shedding dog.
Here is just one example of my own allergy experiences.
My son's dog is a mongrel. I can't be around him for more than a few minutes and my nose starts to itch terribly, I start sneezing and just feeling miserable in general.
He's
adorable and he knows I love him, so he insists on being my best friend
when I go to visit.
I have pretty severe allergic reactions to him... Yet, I live with several pets (which even included a hairless rat I'd rescued at one point) and not all of my pets are non-shedding.
I currently have a mini Australian Shepherd who leaves a mess of her beautiful everywhere. She is definitely NOT nonshedding, but I could literally eat her fur (and trust me, it ends up in my food quite a bit) and I still do not have a reaction to her.
I've had several non shedding dogs in my lifetime including Yorkies, Chinese Cresteds, bichons and poodle mixes, etc. I've never had allergic reactions to them.
I went to an allergist. Using the scratch test, it was determined that I am, in fact, allergic to dogs to a moderate degree, not a high degree, but also not the lowest. I've only had reactions to certain dogs, no particular rhyme or reason why.
You could be the same.
How to Reduce Dog Allergy Symptoms
Whether mild or severe, test these practices to reduce your dog allergy symptoms.
- Vacuum Daily
- Bathe your dog or rinse in plain, warm water once/week.
- Invest in an air purifier
- Keep your dog out of your bedroom
- Keep dog off of furniture
- Confine your dog to one room only
- Talk to an allergist about the possibility of allergy shots and/or otc medications.
- Click here to learn why treating alleries in your dog may actually help reduce your own allergy symptoms.
And if you haven't yet considered a mixed-breed...
You've probably heard of hybrid dogs or 'so-called' designer
dogs. Labradoodles, for one. But
please don't get sucked in by the false advertising of greedy dog maters (calling them breeders implies a legitimate vocation). There is no one who can guarantee that breeding 2 dogs will result in eliminating the bad traits of one or both breeds.
Unless you're one of those people who just likes to be taken advantage of, don't let yourself be tricked into paying high prices. These same mixed-breed, small hypoallergenic dogs (potentially) are dying by the thousands in shelters every day.
If you've ever even considered a mixed breed or hybrid dog, adopt one! Save the life of a Shih-tzu/Chinese Crested mix and call it a Shih-tzu-nese Crested or rescue a Schnauzer/Bichon Frise mix and call it a Schnau-chon Frise. It would be the same exact thing. Find almost any mix of dog on petfinder by selecting just one breed and all of the dogs with that breed in the mix will come up as well.
Small Hypoallergenic Dog - Success Story!
A while back , a friend of mine who happens to have a pretty severe dog allergy adopted a mixed breed dog that another friend was fostering for a rescue group, a chihuahua mix.
She discovered this phenomenon very casually. Just being around this friend and even sitting in the car where the dog would typically ride didn't cause her to sneeze or wheeze and in fact, she had no allergy to this dog whatsoever.
The allergen or protein that caused her sympoms didn't exist in this dog, and this can actually happen for several reasons. So, don't give up! Consider all of your options.
There was a very happy ending here! The dog got a forever home... and of course, I was happy for my friend as well! :)
Regular bathing can help wash off loose skin cells called dander and saliva and other allergens that contaminate the fur. One
advantage is they are much easier to come by and you could very easily
test your tolerance with one by contacting a rescue group. The dog would
need bathed first if it lives in a house with other dogs.
Call the shelters and resuce groups surrounding you and explain your allergy situation. Once you've discovered the best breed for your lifestyle ask if there are any breeds, with even just a partial mix to the breed that interests you at the shelter. Let them know that you'd like 'alone time' with that dog, away from other dogs to test your tolerance.
If you do find a breed that causes you fewer allergy symptoms or if you decide that owning a dog is worth the inconvenience, no matter what symptoms you might experience, there are actually a lot of ways that you can reduce these symptoms or even diminish them altogether.
Are Hairless Dogs Hypoallergenic?
There is also the option of hairless dogs, like the American Hairless Terrier, Xolo or Chinese Crested. Again, when bathed regularly and being kept off of furniture, along with these practices, might be the perfect solution!
Don't let allergies stand in the way of living your best life... One that can include your favorite four-legged friend!
When you do decide on a breed, we sincerely hope you'll consider saving a life by adopting. Many people are surprised to know that rescue groups exist for every breed imaginable... and yes that means purebreds including the hypoallergenic (non-shedding) dogs listed on our site. Learn more about dog adoption and how you can help put an end to the torture of all dogs in puppy mills.
Learn more about me, my art, the mission of this site and Rescue Dogs Are Better here.
We also welcome you to contact us if you have any questions about anything you saw or read on this site.
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