A Note from the Mayo Clinic:
While some dogs may cause fewer allergy symptoms than others, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog breed. Many people think that pet allergies are caused by a dog's or cat's fur, but the real source of pet allergies is often a protein that's in the saliva and urine of dogs and cats that sticks to the dead, dried flakes of skin (dander) from your pet's skin.
Some dog breeds, such as the soft-coated wheaten terrier, or mixed breeds such as the goldendoodle, are marketed as hypoallergenic dogs because they don't shed fur or shed very little. Because these dogs don't shed, the allergy-causing dander that sticks to their fur doesn't get released into the air or onto the floor as much as it would with a shedding dog. While you may have fewer allergy symptoms with a so-called hypoallergenic dog than a shedding dog, no dog breed is hypoallergenic.
If you're allergic to dogs, but still want to have one, there are some things you can do to reduce your allergy symptoms:
- Choose a smaller dog, which will shed less dander than will a larger dog.
- Keep your pet out of your bedroom and other rooms you spend a lot of time in.
- Keep your pet outside, if weather permits.
- Bathe your pet weekly to remove dander from its coat.
- Choose carpet-free flooring, or shampoo your carpet regularly.
- Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) air purifier and vent filters to help reduce airborne pet allergens.
Potentially Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
- American Hairless Terrier
- Airedale Terrier
- Basenji
- Bedlington Terrier
- Bergamasco
- Bichon Frisé
- Bolognese
- Border Terrier
- Bouvier des Flandres
- Cairn Terrier
- Cavachon
- Chacy Ranior
- Chihuahua
- Chinese Crested (hairless)
- Chinese Crested (powder puff)
- Cockapoo
- Coton De Tulear
- Giant Schnauzer
- Greyhound
- Havanese
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Italian Greyhound
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Komondor
- Labradoodle
- Lagotto Romagnolo
- Lowchen
- Maltese
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Native American Indian Dog
- Norfolk Terrier
- Old English Sheepdog
- Peruvian Inca Orchid
- Poodle
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Puli
- Shih-Tzu
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Spanish Water Dog
- Standard Poodle
- Standard Schnauzer
- Tibetan Terrier
- Toy Poodle
- Westhighland White Terrier
- Wirehaired Fox Terrier
- Xoloitzcuintli (very old and rare breed)
- Yorkshire Terrier
Hybrid Dogs and Mixed Breed Dogs
Hybrid dogs are the result of controlled cross-breeding. Dogs such as Labradoodles and Goldendoodles are crossed with Poodles and tend to take on their hypoallergenic qualities. Dogs that are mixed with known hypoallergenic breeds can sometimes be considered low-allergy, but one never knows the true makeup of a mutt. If you suffer from allergies, but find a mixed-breed dog that you think might be hypoallergenic, try spending some time with the dog to see how you react.
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