hypoallergenic family dog
July 5, 2012 9:15 AM   Subscribe

Suggestions for friendly, hypoallergenic, not too big, not too small dog?

Situation: Teenage boy: has always wanted a dog, loves animals, has always gravitated toward the dogs of family and friends. Has tested negative for dog allergies, but there was this one incident with an asthma flareup as a very young child which might have been due to dog exposure, might have been something else. Asthma has been absent for last eight years or so. Mom: inexperienced with dogs, perhaps even a little afraid. She said the same thing about cats, but then loved my cat that I had when we were married (but not her hair, sleeping on the bed, or bad bathroom habits in her elderly years). She is currently home, but seeking employment. Me: had dogs as a kid, love dogs, but never really trained one and have no real adult ownership experience.

If it were just for me I would pick one from the pound and stop worrying. My favorite dog would be a Springer Spaniel perhaps because of my beloved dog growing up, but also they are a good size, energy level, and temperment etc., but not so hypoallergenic. My wife worries about the allergy so something toward the hypoallergenic end of the spectrum is preferred. My son would prefer something larger than a toy size, and my wife would like something not too large because she is just unsure of dogs. A friendly, not too rambunctious breed would be best. My son has agreed to do all the work, but let's just assume he does none of it, and I travel a lot. My wife thinks a Labradoodle might be good, but but perhaps most of these are bigger and more energetic than she is ready for, but not being a standard breed there is a lot of variability here. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
posted by caddis to Pets & Animals (29 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
It sounds like you might want a miniature Xoloitzcuintle.
posted by MuffinMan at 9:22 AM on July 5, 2012


Perhaps a Bichon or a Coton de Tulear? Both are around 20lbs, very friendly, and the more hair-like fur that people associate with dogs being "hypoallergenic".
posted by kaseijin at 9:22 AM on July 5, 2012


A medium poodle, aka a moyen poodle/klein poodle/small standard poodle would be great for you. They're usually 20-30 pounds.
posted by medusa at 9:32 AM on July 5, 2012


Maltese have regular hair, not fur, and so are [allegedly] easier on any allergies. Of course, ymmv (as with all living creatures). My suggestion is to go on petfinder.com and look for a breed-specific rescue group in your area. It's quite likely that their animals will be currently located in foster homes, which can typically give you a good idea of the dog's temperament and personality, and whether a specific dog would be a good fit for your specific family situation.

Please, please don't buy a dog from a pet store or a backyard breeder or Craigslist. Rescue one. There are breed-specific rescue groups for every kind of breed imaginable if you decide you must have a particular breed.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 9:35 AM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


I just got a border terrier a few weeks ago. He is an awesome little guy.

Size: typically range in size around 13-15 lbs

Allergy factor: low. They are low/no-shed. I'm allergic to dogs (and cats and grass and trees and dust and most things) but I bury my face in him and breathe deeply pretty regularly (puppies smell good, ok?) and so far I haven't had any issues. I'm also on Claritin and Singulair, though, but that hasn't stopped me from having the occasional attack in high-allergen situations.

Pros: Very smart, adorable, easy to train, small but not teensy, ballsy, happy to run around like crazy or chill in your lap, are more chill than other terrier breeds, but still active and bouncy. Long lifetimes with few health problems.

Cons: Expensive. The breed is pretty well-controlled. You won't find them in shelters. You'll have to go through a breeder (and you may even get put on a waiting list).
posted by phunniemee at 9:36 AM on July 5, 2012


I'm thinking any dog with fleese instead of hair. So your -oodles, Bichons, or even a Portuguese Water Dog (a nice doggie, but on the big side.) Perhaps even a Chihuahua would be a good choice--if a shivering, yapping dog is your idea of a good time. Yorkies and Silkies would be good too, although more on the shedding side of things.

If I get a vote, Standard Poodle with a puppy cut.

There are lots of rescue groups dealing with these kinds of dogs, so please check them out before you get a purebred or designer dog from a breeder.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:40 AM on July 5, 2012


Yes, a medium poodle. Our poodle is so clean I tend to forget what other dog owners are putting up with. No hair anywhere. No smell. I wouldn't have believed it. She is very smart, loving, and playful without being too energetic. If you don't want to spend $1,000, or if you just want to give an existing dog a home, check out poodle rescue. That's what we did.

On preview, don't be put off by how people clip their poodles. You don't have to make them look silly (although personally I like it.) A puppy cut will make them look like a regular-type dog that won't embarrass your son.
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 9:43 AM on July 5, 2012 [4 favorites]


So, just to confirm: medical tests have shown that your kid isn't allergic, but your wife is convinced he's allergic because he once had an asthma attack almost a decade ago?

Not relevant to my answer, but I'm curious to understand the situation nonetheless.

Anyway. I would not recommend any intentionally-bred mutt. Sure, you might get a dog with a certain kind of hair, but you'll also get a dog with no guarantee of personality type, and you could get the same kind of hair in any number of purebred dogs. I have no problem with mixed-breed dogs in general, mind you, but if you're getting a puppy (which I'm assuming you are) I would recommend you look in the direction of a purebred from a reputable breeder.

You may want a terrier. Your son wants a bigger dog, but your wife wants a smaller dog. Terriers are brave, whip-smart, and always ready to follow you into adventure, while also being travel-sized for your convenience.

Consider: Bedlington terrier, border terrier, cairn terrier, kerry blue terrier.

The soft-coated wheaten terrier and standard schnauzer may also be worth looking into. They are a little bigger, but not much.

Finally, take a look at a portugese water dog or american water spaniel. They are larger-framed, but are more fine-bodied than, say, a labrador or golden retriever. Some people who are wary of bigger dogs are okay with dogs who are skinnier like this, because they appear less intimidating.

Best of luck finding a good fit for you.
posted by Urban Winter at 9:49 AM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Some friends of mine have a maltipoo. He's super cute, relatively smart AND hypo-allergenic. They're on the smallish side, though.
posted by janepanic at 9:49 AM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


I have a cockapoo. He is 19 lbs and does not shed. I think he acts like a bigger dog, and is super friendly, happy and reasonably smart. He also has a little less energy than most terriers, which I think is nice.

I also considered a medium sized poodle, and still think that would be a fine choice too. Poodles and poodle mixes are nice dogs.
posted by mjcon at 10:11 AM on July 5, 2012


My brother is allergic (bad asthma) to anything that has fur or feathers, grows out of the ground, or emits a strong odor. However, he didn't have much of a reaction to the cockapoos we had as kids. He still had *some* reaction, but his asthma was pretty bad... I'm sure if your kid has a slight case of asthma, cockapoo or poodles are a good bet.
posted by patheral at 10:25 AM on July 5, 2012


Poodles come in a large range of sizes and colours and they are pretty hypoallergenic. They are very smart and often come up in lists of top 10 smartest dogs. A poodle with a puppy cut is super cute too, which would make the dog less threatening looking if your wife is nervous of dogs, it's hard to be scared of a dog that looks like a teddy bear. Being so smart they would be up for learning all sorts of tricks or doing agility if your son was interested, but they also love to just hang out with their family and don't need huge amounts of exercise if you get a smaller one.

A lot of very nice poodles end up in rescues though no fault of their own, people moving and the like and a slightly older dog might reassure your wife more as the personality will be set and it will be a lot calmer than a puppy. A lot of breed specific rescues foster their dogs so you can know a lot more about how the dogs act in a household environment. Really the only down side to a poodle is that they do need regular trips to the groomers or you need to get a pair of clippers and learn to do it yourself.
posted by wwax at 10:26 AM on July 5, 2012


We have a bischon poo and a Shi-Pom Poo. Both around 11 lbs, both the best dogs ever. Smart, sweet, don't shed... great with our little ones and look like stuffed animals. We'll always get poodle mixes from now on...so clean...
posted by pearlybob at 10:54 AM on July 5, 2012


The labradoodles I have met are the kindest, sweetest dogs on earth. I'm with your wife on this one.
posted by zug at 10:58 AM on July 5, 2012


Soft-coated wheaten terrier!!!
posted by futz at 12:09 PM on July 5, 2012


If you really want "not too rambunctious" I have to put in a word against all these terrier suggestions. Yes of course they can be great dogs and some are even be calm ones, but in general: not.

Wilson is a Lhasa/King Charles mix and the calmest (and cutest) dog in the known universe, and lives with a human allergic to fur, with few problems.

Poodle, Labradoodle, Bichon, Lhasa mixes are my suggestion. I would not suggest a breeder, but I would suggest a breed-specific rescue. They might not have a baby puppy, but they will have young dogs that would love to live at your house!

[Please update with picture when you choose.] Good luck!
posted by Glinn at 12:12 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Portugese water dog --- after all, their daughter's bad allergies is why Pres. & Mrs. Obama chose the breed. Medium-ish sized and playful.

I've got to vote against any mixed breeds, terriers of vairous types or labradors: they've all kicked my own allergies into high gear. Ditto poodles, no matter how many times poeple assure me THEIR poodle is hypoallergenic. Pure-bred Maltese are safe, but as a small & fluffy lapdog, your teen boy might not like them as much --- they're not very macho!
posted by easily confused at 1:20 PM on July 5, 2012


Havanese are in the Bichon family and they have the qualities that you are looking for. Mine is a rescue and is trained as a therapy dog because she loves people and is incredibly mellow.
posted by kamikazegopher at 1:20 PM on July 5, 2012


easily confused: "Pure-bred Maltese are safe, but as a small & fluffy lapdog, your teen boy might not like them as much --- they're not very macho!"

:-) A friend has a Maltese puppy who is still learning the ropes as far as house-training. He keeps his fur trimmed shorter for two reasons: 1) It's somewhat less grooming required (and less need to wipe the hangy pooplets off his butt), and 2) Shorter hair make him look a little less fluffy and more like a "manly beast".
posted by SuperSquirrel at 1:33 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Cockapoo. From most accounts they to be quite lovably lazy (though no guarantee yours will be.)
posted by The ____ of Justice at 1:59 PM on July 5, 2012


And seriously, after having poodle mixes, either poodles or a mixed poodle will be our choice of dog from here on out. They seem to have absolutely beautiful temperments.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:02 PM on July 5, 2012


My wife has allergies so our search had to be for a mostly hypoallergenic dog. We spent a lot of time looking at local rescue dogs seeking one with the right personality and apparently breed, then started going to see them at local events.

In the end we fell in love with a little terrier-mix pup (and a puppy was SO NOT our intention) but still used some basic precautions: we met him at the Saturday event and spent a good half hour walking around and interacting with him. We found out what event he'd be taken to the next day and, before we left, my wife gave him a good nuzzle and inhale.

The theory being we see what degree of reaction she has to this extreme exposure and, if it's not bad, we go adopt him the next day.

That's what we did, and it's been a wonderful three months so far. The above folks telling you a terrier is high-energy aren't lying. It's not a constant thing; Casey spends plenty of the day sleeping like a lump, as all dogs are wont to do, but when he has an energy surge it can be something to behold. He's also a serious chewer; it took some time to get him to keep off the shoes and use the nylabones instead. We still need to keep an eye on him when he's roaming free.

So my point is, shelter dogs aren't necessarily a choice you need to rule out just because of allergy concerns. You can adopt an older dog and have a better assurance of their personality as well.
posted by phearlez at 2:03 PM on July 5, 2012


Argh...and sorry to keep butting in here, but check Craigslist. If you scour over a period of time, you ALWAYS find people who can no longer keep their dogs and need to rehome. There are amazing, amazing dogs to be found, which is how we got our dogs. A good alternative to going to the pound or purchasing, if those don't get you far.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 2:08 PM on July 5, 2012


May want to read this article. I'm sure that some breeds might be better than others, depending on what your son is actually allergic to, but no dog is actually hypoallergenic.
The study found that the quantities of dog allergens in homes with supposedly hypoallergenic breeds are no different from those in homes with dogs widely considered non-hypoallergenic.
posted by Quack at 4:32 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Yeah, there is No such thing as a hypoallergenic dog (and for that matter, the term hypoallergenic itself is up for debate...). More broadly, this concern - based on one incident that may have happened ten years ago - is not really legitimate. Sounds like your wife doesn't want a dog and is rooting round for excuses. I would try to address the cause of the objection rather than finding a "goldilocks" dog that's just right first. It can be a hard household for an animal where one person hates it.

I, too, would question selecting a terrier if you're after "not too rambunctious". The problem with these questions is that most everyone loves their dog, and will accordingly recommend it if it's remotely appropriate. The good news is that it just shows most dogs can be great regardless of breed by and large, the bad news is, it may not be the most appropriate dog for you.
posted by smoke at 5:25 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Ditto to above. I highly recommend you find a reputable local rescue agency, meet with them and discuss what your family is looking for. Larger organizations often have coordinators who specialize in certain dog groups (toys, hounds, sporting dogs, etc). They can keep an eye out for the ideal match for your family based on all your criteria. Dog trainers also conduct screening tests to understand the dogs' personalities, helping ensure you can find dogs good around children. The rescue agency staff want to make sure they find a dog a "forever" home and will be committed to make it a good match. Pat Miller, a highly reputable dog trainer, as a great book "Do Over Dogs" about rescuing dogs; it is extremely helpful and a must-read.
posted by apennington at 8:29 PM on July 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks all, much great info here.
posted by caddis at 4:14 AM on July 6, 2012


Response by poster: Just a follow-up: We have welcomed a wonderful Golden Doodle puppy into our family. We looked at a bunch of the options that people mentioned here (thank you all so much) but in the end it kind of came down to finding a breeder with whom we were comfortable. The Doodles have a nice temperament, shed little and might even be hpyo-allergenic. Ours is on the large side. He's a great dog and we could not be happier. Thanks again all.
posted by caddis at 12:39 PM on August 24, 2012 [2 favorites]


Yay!!!! Seriously, once you go -oodle, it's my belief you never go back.
And photos, please, if you have them.
posted by The ____ of Justice at 1:06 AM on August 25, 2012


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