top 5 hypoallergenic dogs
Best Dog Breeds for People With Allergies
So, you want a dog but you seem to have an allergy attack whenever youre around one? Youre not alone! Its estimated that 10 and 20% of people are allergic to cats and dogs, causing many prospective puppy owners to wonder which dogs are hypoallergenic. Spoiler alert: none of them are.
Thats right: no dog is 100% hypoallergenic. No, really. Well say it one more time for the people in the back: There is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog. No mixed-breed dog, no purebred dog, and most definitely not any so-called designer dog, is truly hypoallergenic, no matter what people claim or try to sell you.
That said, it is possible to find less-allergenic dog breeds that are better suited for people with allergies. These purebred dogs have a predictable, non-shedding coat that produces less dander. Dander, which clings to pet hair, is what causes most pet allergies in people. Even though dogs that are hypoallergenic dont truly exist, many breeds make it possible to enjoy the companionship of a dog, even if you suffer from allergies. That predictable coat of a purebred dog is key: you know what kind of coat these breeds will have, and there wont be surprises that end up making you sneeze.
There are also ways to prepare your home to help keep allergens at bay when you have a dog. Be sure to launder your pets bed often, keep up with their grooming, and consider not letting your dog sleep on your bed. Its also helpful to remove heavy carpets and drapes that can trap dander. Vacuum cleaners for pet hair and pet air purifiers also help remove allergens, and some can even groom the hair and dander right from your dog.
Afghan Hound
The Afghan Hound is known for being aloof and dignified. They require regular exercise and grooming. They should be bathed and brushed twice a week.
American Hairless Terrier
The American Hairless Terrier is a lively, friendly, and intelligent companion. The breed does well with children and is also good for city dwellers due to their minimal exercise needsregular walks and indoor playtime will do. They also need regular bathing and nail trimming.
Bedlington Terrier
The gentle, loveable Bedlington Terrier is known for its curly, wooly coat that resembles a lambs. The breed doesnt need intense exerciseregular playtime and daily walks will do.
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a naturally gentle, happy, playful dog that loves activity. The Bichons hair continually grows and doesnt shed, so regular grooming is important to prevent mats.
Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is an alert, playful dog that thrives on human companionship. They are small and do well in families with gentle children. Cresteds shed little to no hair.
Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear is a small, hardy dog that is happy, eager to please, and loyal. The breed gets along well with other dogs and children. Their long coat requires daily grooming.
Giant Schnauzer
The Giant Schnauzer is intelligent and can be territorial, naturally feeling protective of their family. The breed needs a lot of exercise and loves having a job to do. They require regular grooming.
Irish Water Spaniel
This strong, intelligent breed is the clown of the spaniel family. Irish Water Spaniels are active and energetic, needing daily exercise. Their water-repellant double coat requires brushing every few weeks.
Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier is energetic and fun-loving. The breed enjoys being part of an active family that can provide daily exercise. Their coats need regular brushing and trimming.
Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolois a happy dog with tons of energy, needing plenty of activity. They are affectionate and devoted to their owners. Their thick curly coat is similar to that of a Poodle. They require trimming and regular brushing to prevent mats.
Maltese
Though small, the Maltese is known for being brave, playful, and fearless. They have long, silky white hair that needs to be brushed daily to prevent mats.
Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer has a natural protective nature that makes them a great watchdog. The breed is smart and cheerful. They adapt well to different living environments, and their double coat requires clipping.
Peruvian Inca Orchid (Hairless)
The Peruvian Inca Orchid can be hairless or coated (the hairless variety does well with allergy sufferers). They also come in three different sizes (small, medium, and large). The breed is loyal and protective of its family. They also have a great deal of energy, needing regular activity. They have minimal grooming needs.
Poodle
The Poodle comes in three size varieties (Standard, Miniature, and Toy).The breed is exceptionally smart and active, needing daily exercise. Their trademark coat requires regular professional grooming.
Portuguese Water Dog
An athletic breed, the Portuguese Water Dogneeds vigorous daily exercise and would do best with a very active family. PWDs are intelligent, loyal workers. Their waterproof coat requires regular maintenance.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
This happy dog is active and needs plenty of exercise daily. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier adapts well to city, country, or suburban living, and does well with children. They have a silky, soft coat that needs regular grooming to prevent mats.
Spanish Water Dog
The Spanish Water Dog is a lively, hardworking dog with natural protective instincts. They are a high-energy breed that does best with an active family. They require little grooming for their curly, wooly coat. No brushing is needed, but at least once a year, they should be shaved down.
Standard Schnauzer
The Standard Schnauzer is a sociable, affectionate breed that has a fondness for kids. They are athletic dogs that need daily exercise. Their beard and leg hair should be brushed often to prevent mats.
Xoloitzcuintli
The Xoloitzcuintli comes in three sizes (Toy, Miniature, and Standard). They also come in two varieties, hairless and coated. The hairless has smooth, tough, protective skin and the coated has a short, flat coat. Theyre calm, tranquil, and attentive, and can also be aloof. They have moderate exercise and grooming needs.
Choosing a Purebred Dog for People With Allergies
With all of these purebred dogs with predictable coat types, shedding, and dander levels to choose from, theres no reason for people with allergies to avoid getting a dog that works for their lifestyle (and their immune system). You can learn more about the activity levels, size, sociability, trainability, and types of sports these breeds may excel at by visiting our AKC.org breed pages, or using our Dog Breed Selector to see which of these less-allergenic dog breeds might be the perfect choice for you.
Hypoallergenic Dogs
Who doesnt love the attention and love from our four legged family members? Can you imagine not seeing that wagging tail and nose pressed to the window when you pull into the driveway? Well, unfortunately, there are many people whom will never know that love due to allergies. The dander our dogs produce is highly irritating to a great number of people so today we are going to look at the top 5 breeds of hypoallergenic dogs. Whenever you are in the market for a new fury friend, always look for a reputable breeder or adoption establishment. You can always do your own research or talk to your veterinarian for a recommendation.
Firstly, what does it mean when we say hypoallergenic? Some people are allergic to the dander, saliva or urine a dog produces. No dog is 100% hypoallergenic. Obviously all dogs produce these things. Some breeds just produce less than others. So here are our top 5 breeds of hypoallergenic dogs for those who would love the companionship, without the sneezing. For a full list of hypoallergenic Dogs visit. https://hypoallergenicdog.net/
The Poodle is the first to make our list of hypoallergenic dogs. Along with being hypoallergenic, they have a very low shedding level. There are a few sub-breeds in the poodle family. The Standard Poodle grows to about 15 at the shoulder and weighs in from 40 55 pounds. This is the largest breed of poodle. The Miniature Poodle can grow between 10 15 inches at the shoulder and get to between 12 and 15 pounds. The Toy Poodle is the smallest of the breed staying under 10 inches and between 5 and 10 pounds. With these size differences, you can find a Poodle that fits your living arrangements.
The breed is also known for being playful, child friendly and very affectionate. This breed does require attention both socially and physically. They need to interact often on a social level. They can become destructive if they are left alone for long periods and become bored. Poodles also have to be groomed frequently, every 4 6 weeks to be exact. The coat can get out of hand quickly, so if youre up to the work, they make a great hypoallergenic addition to the family. Poodles are highly intelligent and very trainable. Even though Poodles are somewhat territorial, they generally are well tempered and get along well with other dogs and cats.
Poodles have a natural sense of humor and love being the center of attention. They love to play fetch and run with children. The smaller breeds, the Toy and Miniature, need less room and exercise than their larger counterpart but still all of them require some form of outdoor activity to keep them happy. Poodles can be a lot of work in regards to grooming, but they make a great companion and are a wonderfully social animal. To get more Poodle information, visit http://www.poodleclubofamerica.org/.
- Grooming Level: Above Average
Next on our list is the Portuguese Water Dog or Porties as they are sometimes called. This breed of hypoallergenic dog is extremely energetic. They require a great deal of exercise. They will take all the running you allow them to get. They, too, are a very intelligent breed of dog. They are very compatible with other dogs and cats. The Porties also get along very well with children, making them a great family dog. The size of these dogs has a pretty big range. You can be looking at a size of between 17 and 23 inches to the shoulder. Their weight can range from 35 to 60 pounds. The males tend to be a bit larger than the females.
The Water Dog, as the name suggests, loves to play in the water. This was the breed that fishermen used to use to drive fish into their nets. Porties are highly trainable and quick to be house broken. These dogs make wonderful watch dogs, but do have a good stranger compatibility for when you have company over. The Portuguese Water Dog does is susceptible to some health issues. Hip dysplasia is one of the common problems with this breed. They are also known to have eye issues which can be diagnosed with a simple eye exam from your veterinarian. The grooming needs for these dogs is above average.
They have a curly coat that needs attention more often than other breeds, about every 6 8 weeks. They are a bit of a rarer breed in the dog community, but, being a hypoallergenic breed of dog, are becoming somewhat more popular. To find more information go to http://www.pwdca.org/.
Airedale Terrier
- Grooming Level: Above Average
- Social Needs: Above Average
And to the Terrier family we go. The Airedale Terrier is next on our hypoallergenic dogs list. This breed of dog is a little more independent than the last two on our list. They do not require as much social interaction, but their independence makes them a bit on the stubborn side. They are very intelligent and get along with children very well. They do not, however, get along well with other dogs and cats. They are territorial dogs which makes them great watch dogs but not very friendly toward strangers.
With the breed growing up to 23 inches at the shoulder and between 45 and 60 pounds, they need to be monitored when you are having guests to the house that are not regular visitors. These dogs are very trainable, due to being very smart. They are very playful and require a good amount of exercise. Be aware, if you let him or her out in a fenced yard, they love to dig holes. This Terrier also has a very strong prey drive and is likely to give chase to squirrels, rabbits and other animals that they may encounter.
They are a very loving breed and will protect their family circle should they need to. Hip Dysplasia is a health concern for this breed, but not a common occurrence. Weekly brushing with 8-10 week grooming is what is recommended for the upkeep of the coat. They are a short haired breed, but do shed. They made our hypoallergenic list because they have a very minimal dander production which makes them low on the allergen scale. For more information you can visit http://www.airedale.org/.
West Highland White Terrier
- Grooming Level: Above Average
- Social Needs: Above Average
In keeping with the Terrier family I introduce you to the West Highland White Terrier. As one of our smaller breeds on the top 5 hypoallergenic dogs list, the West Highland White Terrier comes in at a height of around 11 inches and weight between 15 and 20 pounds. This little breed is a lot of pep in a small package. These pups need plenty of exercise, and are always up for it. They have a pretty good amount of energy, but are a great family dog. They are great with kids and adults alike. Loving dogs that get along with everyone, but will still make a great watch dog.
They are also good if you have a dog or cat already, they are compatible with other pets. The Westie also possesses a lot of brains. They are a very smart breed which makes them highly trainable. These guys do have a hunter mentality as they were bred for fox hunting originally. So they will give chase to smaller animals if not leashed. They are independent dogs which means they may be destructive if not cared for and socialized properly.
Unfortunately, Westies are prone to some health issues. Legg-Calv-Perthes disease, is a hip disorder disease common to the breed. They also can suffer from atopic dermatitis, a skin infection, which is also common. Some other health concerns are aggression, dry eye, Addisons Disease, juvenile cataracts and craniomandibular osteopathy which is a juvenile bone deformity. Grooming is a little more involved for the Westie too. Puppies under age 1 can be brushed once a week and be groomed every 4-6 weeks. Adults require daily brushing and more frequent grooming. This would be a good time to brush up on your grooming skills and do this yourself with some quality dog grooming tools to avoid a costly expense at a professional groomer. For more information on the Westie, visit http://www.westieclubamerica.com/.
Well, isnt he a cute little ball of cotton? Rounding out the top five hypoallergenic dogs is the Bichon Fris. The Bichon is bred to be a companion. They are intelligent dogs and moderately trainable. These little guys are great with other house pets like cats and dogs. They are ok with children but may need a little more watchful eye around tiny ones. They can be a bit nippy if they are irritated. Standing an impressive 10 15 inches and weighing in at around 15 pounds, they have a low need for exercise making them great for an elderly person or apartment living. Bichons are very affectionate but do require a lot of attention.
They are people pleasers, but expect the same love and attention in return. They do require a little more attention to training when it comes to nipping and yapping, but it must be done gently. You dont want to turn the little guy into a mean little pup. Bichons are generally healthy but, like most dogs, can develop some health issues. Cataracts, hip dysplasia and Legg-Calv-Perthes disease are the most frequent but, again, not very common. Like most small breeds though, dental hygiene is important. Small breeds can develop dental problems more frequently than larger breeds.
If left untrimmed, the Bichons coat will grow long and white. Daily brushing with a pin brush from day one is recommended to get them used to being brushed. Be prepared to clean around the eyes daily as well. This will prevent the rust colored tear stains on that bright white coat. For more information please visit http://www.westieclubamerica.com/.
