#26
Posted: 4/26/09 at 11:31am
Anything mixed with a poodle doesn't shed, right?
That's not necessarily true. Just as it's not necessarily true that a lot of the supposed hypoallergenic cross-breeds are actually hypoallergenic. It depends a lot on the person, and how severe their allergies are, and of course, on how far cross-bred the dogs are. Supposedly, if you breed them far enough down the line, they will stop shedding entirely, but I don't know if that's really a rule to go by -- especially for people who want non-shedding dogs due to serious allergies.
If you want a dog that doesn't shed because you have allergies, the best thing you can do before you decide is to spend a lot of time with the dog you're considering -- not just the breed, but the actual dog -- to see how you fare. Dog allergies are not really clear-cut. They can have sort of unexplained varieties or exceptions to the rule (Jane is a perfect example -- she says she has had reactions to dogs that are known to be "non-allergic -- and I am allergic to dogs, but I can be around them with absolutely no problem, however, I can't live with one unless it's a hypoallergenic breed). A lot of figuring it out if you want to avoid extensive testing is simply trial and error. But, of course, you don't want to bring a dog into your home and then not be able to keep it because you turn out to be allergic. So do your homework.
That being said, the (pure) dog breeds that are closest to being non-allergic are Poodles (of any size), Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises, Wheaton Terriers, and Portuguese Water Dogs. Dogs that are almost universally considered "non-allergic" are breeds that don't shed -- most people with dog allergies are allergic not to the hair, but to the dander, which is why people with allergies can often not be allergic to dogs that do not shed. (With cats, it's their saliva, so it's virtually impossible to find a hypoallergenic cat.) And all of that being said, if you want a small breed that doesn't shed, you're looking at Poodles, Bichons and Shih Tzus. Personally, I like Poodles. They're very smart, and loyal. Shih Tzus can be really great pets, but they get a reputation for not being very bright, and Bichons are generally very sweet, but some of them can be quite stubborn and a little too high strung to tolerate.
A work of art is an invitation to love.
That's not necessarily true. Just as it's not necessarily true that a lot of the supposed hypoallergenic cross-breeds are actually hypoallergenic. It depends a lot on the person, and how severe their allergies are, and of course, on how far cross-bred the dogs are. Supposedly, if you breed them far enough down the line, they will stop shedding entirely, but I don't know if that's really a rule to go by -- especially for people who want non-shedding dogs due to serious allergies.
If you want a dog that doesn't shed because you have allergies, the best thing you can do before you decide is to spend a lot of time with the dog you're considering -- not just the breed, but the actual dog -- to see how you fare. Dog allergies are not really clear-cut. They can have sort of unexplained varieties or exceptions to the rule (Jane is a perfect example -- she says she has had reactions to dogs that are known to be "non-allergic -- and I am allergic to dogs, but I can be around them with absolutely no problem, however, I can't live with one unless it's a hypoallergenic breed). A lot of figuring it out if you want to avoid extensive testing is simply trial and error. But, of course, you don't want to bring a dog into your home and then not be able to keep it because you turn out to be allergic. So do your homework.
That being said, the (pure) dog breeds that are closest to being non-allergic are Poodles (of any size), Shih Tzus, Bichon Frises, Wheaton Terriers, and Portuguese Water Dogs. Dogs that are almost universally considered "non-allergic" are breeds that don't shed -- most people with dog allergies are allergic not to the hair, but to the dander, which is why people with allergies can often not be allergic to dogs that do not shed. (With cats, it's their saliva, so it's virtually impossible to find a hypoallergenic cat.) And all of that being said, if you want a small breed that doesn't shed, you're looking at Poodles, Bichons and Shih Tzus. Personally, I like Poodles. They're very smart, and loyal. Shih Tzus can be really great pets, but they get a reputation for not being very bright, and Bichons are generally very sweet, but some of them can be quite stubborn and a little too high strung to tolerate.
