Best and Worst Dog Breeds for People with Allergies – Allergy Center – Everyday Health.
With the election of our current President, the country was introduced to the concept that people could be allergic to dogs. Most people knew about cat allergies, but an allergy to dogs was almost unknown. Partly due to this media frenzy over the selection of the new White House dog, a pet for the President’s daughters, a few breeds have been touted as preferred for those seeking hypoallergenic options. This conclusion has been based mainly on on the fact that they tend to shed less than other breeds.
“But health experts contend that some hypoallergenic hounds are built up on hype more than helpfulness. It’s a little more complicated than you might have thought.”
“Most people are not actually allergic to dog fur. Rather, they’re allergic to pet dander (flakes on the dog’s skin) or pet saliva. Fur does have something to do with it, though. Sometimes other indoor allergens, like dust, or outdoor allergens, like pollen, can build up on a dog’s coat and trigger allergy symptoms.”
Take a look at the article we have linked on this post. You will notice that one of the breeds is a mix of Labrador and Poodle. They are hailed as better for allergy sufferers due to the clean and dust-repelling nature of their coats. (The very traits that make them such good hunters and swimmers.) Our beautiful labs do shed a bit during seasonal change.
However, my experience is that Labrador Retrievers are clean dogs that bring in less dirt and mud than my husband on the average day. Heck, I have even thought that my dog must be allergic to me, considering all that I drag with me into the house!
There are a few things that really help this, though. Keeping dogs off the furniture (my friend says this is why it is called fur-niture), using the baby wipes we mentioned in a previous post, brushing your dog regularly (which they love and helps you and your dog bond), and giving them an occasional bath with shampoo that is specifically for dogs and their type of fur.
As mentioned here and in the linked article, follow a few simple steps to keep everyone fairly sneeze-free.
