Don’t Get Your Dander Up!
There are Hypo-Allergenic Dog Breeds for Dog Lovers with Allergies
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This little allergy sufferer has found her
perfect pooch!
A Miniature Poodle - one of the
hypo-allergenic dog breeds. |
Dog lovers with allergies are always
looking for that special breed of dog that will not cause an
allergic reaction. Unfortunately, there are NO non-allergic dogs.
All dogs can cause an allergic reaction; it has little to do with
how much hair they have and more to do with their diet and how often
they are groomed. However, there are some
hypoallergenic dog breeds
(in general, the female of the breed is better); breeds
that are hairless, breeds that naturally don’t shed hair, and breeds
that shed very little hair. But, since cats are responsible for
about two-thirds of allergens, your chances are better with a dog.
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The Connection between Dander and Allergies:
Allergies are not a direct result of too much hair, and
even dogs with fur like human hair can cause allergies. The sebaceous
glands are the culprit. Dogs, like other animals and humans, secrete an
oily lubricant (sebum) through their sebaceous glands, which keeps their
skin supple and their coat (hair) shiny. The allergen in the secretion
causes the allergic reaction and is present in dog’s saliva and dander.
As a dog ages and the skin dries, more sebum is produced and the scaly
bits of dried skin are released, resulting in dander (or dandruff in
humans). It’s important to be careful when buying a puppy because you
might not have an immediate allergic reaction. Puppy’s skin is supple and
sebum isn’t released so they have no dander, but, you might eventually get
an allergic reaction as the puppy ages and dander forms. |
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A Few Suggested Breeds of
Dogs for Allergy Sufferers:
 Basenji
Shed little or no hair, have no doggy smell and they groom themselves like
cats; however, they do not do well with non-canine pets. They are
energetic and easily trainable.
 Bichon Frise
Shed little or no hair but must be groomed once a month. They are
affectionate, intelligent and independent. They love people and children
and are easily trainable.
 Chinese Crested
Shed little or no hair, have no doggy odor and are not prone to ticks or
fleas. They are affectionate, lovable, energetic and easily trainable.
They are not barkers.
 Poodle
Shed little or no hair and are intelligent and easily trainable. They have
a good temperament, but if untrained, they tend to bark a lot. Also, be
careful with the mixed breeds. Poodles come in three sizes, the
Toy
Poodle,
Miniature Poodle and the
Standard Poodle.
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 Schnauzer
Shed little or no hair, are great house pets and love children. They will
bark and make good watchdogs and mouse catchers. Schnauzers come in
three sizes; the
Miniature Schnauzer,
Standard Schnauzer and
Giant
Schnauzer.
 Shih Tzu
Shed little or no hair and is alert and spunky. They make good watchdogs
even though they are small.
 Yorkshire Terrier
Shed little or no hair, but their temperament is that of the Terrier
breed. They are good watchdogs but tend to be snappish if teased or
surprised. They are easy to train, but a little stubborn.
 Xoloitzcuintle
Also called the "Mexican Hairless Dog", this hairless breed sheds no hair and the coated breed sheds very little. They
come in three sizes and are very intelligent and easily trainable.
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Cost for Hypo-Allergenic Dog
Breeds:
It is difficult to find a price range for any of the
hypo-allergenic dog
breeds above without going to each breeder’s site and requesting information,
but, suffice it to say that pure-bred dogs will cost you several hundred
to a few thousand dollars, depending on the breed. You can, however,
check with your local Humane Society and other dog adoption shelters because it
is estimated that about forty percent of all dogs in those shelters are
pure-bred dogs.
If you love dogs, please don’t refrain from getting one because of
allergies. There are so many dog breeds to choose from and so many allergy
medications on the market that will help ease your suffering.
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