20 Best Dog Breeds for People with Allergies
Having pet allergies can seem like something that completely ruins all your prospects of ever owning a dog. That’s not necessarily the case, however. Not only are there breeds that are very easy on people with allergies but there are also things you can do to minimize the effect dogs have on your allergies. So, let’s see which are the Top 20 dog breeds for allergy sufferers.
1 .Poodle
The quintessential and by far most popular of all hypoallergenic dog breeds, the Poodle comes in a few different sizes too. As a gun dog, the Poodle is incredibly intelligent and easy to train, and its social nature makes it an ideal family companion. It’s also one of the breeds most often used for crossbreeds as breeders try to make other dogs with hypoallergenic coats.
2. Lagotto Romagnolo
This medium-sized Italian breed has a very Poodle-like coat and is also hypoallergenic. Rather than for hunting, however, the Lagotto was used for truffle searching, utilizing these dogs’ powerful sense of smell. As such, they have a hound-like interest in smelling and digging but they are much easier to train. They are also perfectly affectionate and sociable with families of all sizes and types.
3. American Hairless Terrier
The easiest way to get a dog that doesn’t shed its fur is to get a dog that doesn’t have fur to shed. The breed does have a coated variety too but the hairless type will have no more than just eyebrows and whiskers. In terms of personality, however, these dogs are true terriers – playful, headstrong, and very energetic.
4. Bichon Frise
This small breed doesn’t look like a low-shedder but it is. Furthermore, its light coat is largely hypoallergenic too and is extra easy to take care of thanks to the dog’s small size. So, if you’re looking for something suitable for an apartment that doesn’t need too much outdoor time and doesn’t trigger allergies, the Bichon Frise is a good choice.
5. Portuguese Water Dog
A water gun dog breed like the Poodle, the Portuguese Water Dog does look like an extra curly Poodle too. Despite all those luscious curls, however, the Portuguese Water Dog doesn’t shed much and it rarely triggers people’s allergies. And, as a gun dog breed, this dog is incredibly social, friendly, and trainable too.
6. Coton de Tulear
You’d be forgiven to mistake the Coton de Tulear with a Bichon Frise. The two breeds do look a lot alike and in terms of their hypoallergenic properties, mistaking the two wouldn’t be a big deal. Originating from Madagascar, the Coton de Tulear is indeed related to the Bichon Frise as well as to the Maltese.
7. Giant Schnauzer
If you want a truly large terrier breed that’s also hypoallergenic and easily trainable, look no further than the Giant Schnauzer. These dogs were also widely used as a working breed, hence why they are so easy to deal with. Their hypoallergenic properties are not the first thing people mention about them but it is true.
8. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is another breed that often gets crossed with other dogs to pass on its hypoallergenic properties. Originating from Ireland, this breed has two coat types – Irish and Heavy. The former and original coat type is lighter and very hypoallergenic. The latter was bred in the US and is much fuller and heavier with fewer hypoallergenic properties.
9. Irish Water Spaniel
As with other water dog breeds, the Irish Water Spaniel has a very Poodle-like coat that’s excellent for people with allergies. This similarity between the water gun dog breeds is not accidental as that has proven to be an ideal coat type for swimming. The fact that it’s also hypoallergenic is just a lucky coincidence.
10. Standard Schnauzer
Like its larger counterpart, the Standard Schnauzer is great for allergy sufferers. The much more manageable size of this sub-breed also makes it more suitable for a lot of people who might find the Giant Schnauzer a bit too much to handle.
11. Xoloitzcuintli
This Mexican breed comes in three size varieties and two coat types – coated and naked, just like the American Hairless Terrier. The Xolo looks similar too and was originally a pack hunter turned family pet and guard dog. These dogs are thought to be related to Chihuahuas but they are considerably larger.
12. Kerry Blue Terrier
Few dog breeds have a more majestic coat and facial hair than the Kerry Blue Terrier. Even though it doesn’t look like a hypoallergenic breed, however, the Kerry Blue Terrier very much is one. In terms of temperament and behavior, this fairly large terrier is not dissimilar to the Schnauzer.
13. Maltese
The Maltese is probably the last breed people would think is hypoallergenic but it’s true. This breed’s coat can be cut to a medium length or it can be groomed into a long and straight haircut. Either way, however, it’s a single-layer coat that doesn’t shed too much and doesn’t tend to trigger people’s pet allergies.
14. Chinese Crested
For a dog with a truly unique look, check out the Chinese Crested breed. This hairless dog breed does have a bit of hair on the ears, head, tails, and legs sometimes but that only serves to make its look even more bizarre.
15. Miniature Schnauzer
The smallest variety of the Schnauzer breed is just as hypoallergenic as its two bigger brethren. In fact, as a smaller dog, the Miniature Schnauzer sheds even less overall simply because it has less dog hair to shed. The breed is also more manageable overall and easier to look after in an apartment.
16. Afghan Hound
Sighthound breeds aren’t for everyone. However, if you’re up for the challenge and you’re looking for a hypoallergenic breed, look no further than the Afghan Hound. A worth addition to our Top 20 dog breeds for allergy sufferers list, the Afghan Hound is a truly spectacular dog.
17. Peruvian Inca Orchid
This Peruvian hairless breed is not dissimilar to its Mexican counterpart and is just as easy for people with allergies. Also called a Peruvian Viringo or Chimú dog, the Orchid often has an adorable toupee on the top of its head. And, even though it may look wild, it makes for a fantastic family pet.
18. Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington terrier is one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds because of its unique head shape. What earns it the spot in our Top 20 dog breeds for allergy sufferers, however, is how hypoallergenic its white and curly coat is.
19. Spanish Water Dog
Like all the water dog breeds above, this Spanish gun dog breed has a very hypoallergenic and adorable curly coat that should be pretty easy to live with if you have dog allergies. Grooming will still be needed, of course, as is always the case with such a fluffy coat.
20. Wire Fox Terrier
Another terrier breed and another breed that’s often crossed with others in order to pass its hypoallergenic genes. The Wire Fox Terrier has a very classic and adorable look too and is a great family companion.
As awesome as these 20 breeds are, there are still a few key things to remember if you’re suffering from pet allergies:
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There is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog. So, if your allergies are very bad, even a Poodle might not be good enough.
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Allergies can subside after a while as your immune system gets used to the allergies’ trigger. So, there is a point in waiting for a couple of months to see if things get better. However, always talk with your doctor first before you do something like that.
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You can help alleviate allergy problems with excellent coat care, grooming, and regular vacuuming. Doing this will minimize the amount of dog hair, dandruff, and saliva particles in the air and will make your allergy issues much more manageable.
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The 20 breeds above are all purebred dogs but there are many crossbreeds derived from these dogs that can also be hypoallergenic. Poodles, in particular, are constantly mixed with other popular non-hypoallergenic dogs to produce hypoallergenic crossbreeds with them.
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Always make sure that you have a backup plan for the dog in case your allergies don’t get better. This means having someone who is willing to take the dog if you can’t keep it, being able to return it to the shelter, or something similar. The worst thing to do is having to throw the dog on the streets because your allergies didn’t get better.
All in all, finding a pet dog can be a bit complicated if you have allergies but it’s not impossible. With enough preparation and effort, as well as a bit of luck, you can certainly have success in finding a great pet that doesn’t turn your sinuses inside out.
