arf

May 8, 2008 2:49 PM

What's the best dog for someone who's allergic to dander?

My boyfriend is allergic to pet dander, but he loves dogs and would like to get one someday. Is there any dog that's less irritating for people with allergies?

posted by showbiz_liz to pets & animals (34 comments total)

I've heard that Labradoodles (labrador retriever + poodle) can be allergy-friendly.
posted by CKmtl at 2:58 PM on May 8

This is the American Kennel Club's list. Go for the Soft Coated Wheaten, because they're awesome.
posted by Nelsormensch at 3:02 PM on May 8

I have a friend with crazy pet allergies, and he and his wife have a bichon.
posted by sbrollins at 3:03 PM on May 8

Sometimes individual people react differently to individual breeds, so work with the hypoallergenic lists, but make sure to spend time with the breeds or specific mutt-y dogs you're considering.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:08 PM on May 8

My friend got a Welsh Terrier because they are hypoallergenic.

If you do decide to get a Labradoodle, Cockapoo or Goldendoodle, keep in mind that it is due to the Poodle genes that it is allergy friendly, so might as well just get a Poodle to be 100% sure.

I don't know your budget, but I'd suggest getting a dog from an AKC breeder.
posted by spec80 at 3:22 PM on May 8

Seconding the soft-coated Wheaten. They have great personalities in addition to being good for allergies.
posted by weezetr at 3:24 PM on May 8

Poodles are non-shedding and dander-free so a poodle or a poodle cross. As other have noted, you can't be 100% sure with a poodle cross but if someone with allergies handles the puppy for a few minutes then I think you'd have some idea whether that particular dog will be tolerable.

Note that the downside of a non-shedding dog is that you have to get them trimmed ever so often or learn to groom them yourself.
posted by GuyZero at 3:30 PM on May 8

We don't have enough information about who you are, where you live and what you want in a dog to make a dog recommendation. I adore Portuguese Water Dogs and they are hypoallergenic, but they aren't right for everyone. The same is certainly true of Poodles and even more so of large terrier breeds such Welsh Terriers and Wheaten Terriers (hint: they are terriers).

In short, hypoallergenic is important, but it's by no means the only factor you should consider.
posted by The Bellman at 3:42 PM on May 8

Keep in mind that dander comes from saliva rather than hair so shedding isn't always the issue. A non-shedding dog will certainly spread less dander but that doesn't automatically make it dander free (all saliva has glycoproteins in it, all dogs have saliva). This probably is more of an issue with cats as they spend more time licking themselves, spreading that spit around, but you still need to take more than just hair-type into consideration for dogs too.

The allergenic properties of glycoproteins in the dander and other proteins in the hair is determined by the dog's genetics (hence the breed list), and how you react to it is determined by your genetics, so I second the idea of spending some time around the dog(s) you're thinking of adopting to see how your boyfriend reacts. It's likely that if he doesn't react to individuals of a certain breed then all of that breed will be fine, although not 100% guaranteed.

There are other ways of mitigating the issue too, like really regular vacuuming and not letting the dog sleep on your bed. With a combination of the right dog and the right routine you guys should be able to get a dog that works for your boyfriend.
posted by shelleycat at 3:47 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]

When I was growing up, we had Wire Haired Fox Terriers because of my Dad's allergies.

They were wonderful dogs - loyal and sweet... though a bit hyper... I loved 'em.
posted by twiggy at 3:54 PM on May 8

TheBellman- the dog being hypoallergenic certainly isn't the only factor he'd consider, but it is the most important. If it came down to having a non-hypoallergenic dog and not having one at all, I think he'd probably choose to get a lizard or something. He's VERY allergic, he'd be miserable all the time.
posted by showbiz_liz at 4:04 PM on May 8

The best dog - from an allergy standpoint - may be the one he has the least reaction to (or at least a tolerable reaction to). A dog becomes part of the family, so it's just as important, probably more important, that the personality be a fit as well. We have four dogs and occasionally host folks who want to get a sense of the breed in their natural habitat (the family room) as well as get a sense of their allergic reaction to the breed, if any. For what it's worth my wife is allergic to birds and cats and many dogs - but other than a smidge extra sensitivity to puppy slobber, she's essentially symptom free WRT to our dogs. Find some "low allergy" breeds you both like and then meet a passle of them.
posted by cairnish at 4:05 PM on May 8

It depends on the style and personality that you want. We wanted a larger dog that was mellow and not yappy. Our first was a standard poodle (low key personality which fit into our family well). Only downside is that you have to careful about the side effects of inbreeding in standard poodles (or any dog that is purebred) for our second dog we went with a labradoodle. You really need to check out the breeding on labradoodles - the best orginated with two breeders in Australia who bred for both good temperment and no dander. A first generation cross between a poodle and a lab could end up taking after either parent (and you don't a lab shedding all over your house). Our current dog is 3/4 3rd gen labradoodle and 1/4 standard poodle. We checked out his breeders as well as his breeding to make he had gotten a good start in life. Not cheap but we got a healthy, playful, eager to please dog with no shedding and since labradoodles are not bred for appearance (for show) I think they tend to be healthier. Also, not as hyper or persistant as the terrier breeds.
posted by metahawk at 4:07 PM on May 8

Liz: Yes, that was what I meant -- within the spectrum of hypoallergenic dogs there is considerable variety. Without knowing more about what he wants, where you live, how much time you have to devote to the dog etc., it's hard to give specific advice.
posted by The Bellman at 4:31 PM on May 8

Agree with the poodle mixes. My g/f has major pet allergies, but has been able to live happily for 14 years with her poodle/yorkie mix. And while I've never been fond of poodles, her little Kirby is indeed a lovable pup, full of energy, very smart, etc. I've since changed my mind about poodle hybrids.

BTW: The official term for this breed is, apparently, "yorkie-poo," but I much prefer to refer to Kirby as a "porkie."
posted by davidmsc at 4:58 PM on May 8

Shih tzu for the win! We have one and I couldn't imagine having any other dog. He's lovable, friendly towards everyone, and doesn't shed at all. He does require grooming around once a month at the groomers, but other than that he's totally low maintenance. You don't need a huge yard to keep a shih tzu. You might find this link helpful.
posted by theantikitty at 5:08 PM on May 8

Seconding the bichon. My brother is very allergic to everything and ours doesn't bother him at all. They're kind of foofy but have a lot of energy to run around and play.

What we did when looking for a dog: every potential dog was placed in my brother's lap for a few minutes. He had a couple of miserable days of sneezing, but it certainly proved that our Gizmo didn't bother him. I'd take a couple days of allergies over 15 years or so.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:19 PM on May 8

The Irish Water Spaniel is on that AKC list of dogs good for people w/allergies. You can find a list of breeders here. I never thought I'd get a dog from anywhere but the pound, but I can't say enough great things about the community connected to the breed. I've had my dog for several years now. Everything in the AKC description has been true for me - these are goofy dogs!
posted by belau at 5:36 PM on May 8

Greyhounds are alleged to be good for usually allergic people. They're great dogs, too. Just make sure whatever dog you choose, you go through a reputable breeder, a reputable breed rescue organization, or a shelter.
posted by cooker girl at 5:47 PM on May 8

arf
thanks for asking
I was going to so this is great.
My sister in-law, who is a veterinarian, recommends Shih Tzus, but they are a bit small for me.
posted by caddis at 5:59 PM on May 8

I had a Maltese and my sister-in-law, who was allergic to everything, wasn't allergic to it. Although Maltese are small, white, fluffy, and tend to have top-knots (top-of-the-head pigtails tied with a fancy bow), they are actually quite sturdy, without the frailness of some lap-dogs. We kept ours shaved pretty close, like a little white polar bear (with no top-knot).
posted by dreamphone at 6:28 PM on May 8

We have a bichon-poo. Awesome dog... cute, smart, doesn't shed and no allergies.
posted by pearlybob at 7:11 PM on May 8

Holy oh my wow are there some insane completely off the mark answers here. I guess I shouldn't say that without knowing more of the temperament your boy might look for in a dog. Does he want a dog to fetch with? Cuddle with? Swim with? Scare away people?

Next, and this is hardcore personal conjecture, but the only thing worse than the adamant pushing of purebred dogs is the adamant pushing of flipping designer dogs. Back in the day, these dogs were called something else---something far more appealing: mutt. Labradoodles and Puggles and all these fun new "breeds" are someone who's far smarter than I figuring out how to make a zillion dollars off mixed breed animals because their breeding pool is too shallow and sparse to continue breeding "Quality" purebreds. There area few considerations anyone when purchasing a dog (yuck, buy a dog?):
1. someone who is merely requesting money to make sure the dog goes to a caring home and not a mill---these people will generally want a couple hundred dollars or less.
2. an actual real breeder who can give you at least 2 generations of pedigree on both sides (ideally 4+) to prove no inbreeding, plus a known champion bloodline either for conformation or work. The bitch should be on premesis, ideally the Sire is observable. The breeder should allow you to observe all puppies together, and allow you to handle or interact with any/all of them. These dogs should be in the thousands of dollars.
3. Any dog between about $250 and $800 is, for the most part, an amateur breeder who gets by with people who don't know what questions to ask and what to look for. Ideally your breeder should have a true breed fancy, and should ask you lots and lots of questions about what you would do with their pup.

Just a few things to point out about dander:
Short haired dogs generally have less dander. Generally. Single-coated dogs generally have less dander (A Lab is a single coat animal, a Golden Retriever is essentially the same dog with a double coat and long hair. Lots of professional search trainers refer to goldens as "Swamp Collies." I digress.), and there are dogs with hair and dogs with fur. (Poodles have fur.)

Poodles bite pressure is harder than a GSD, Malinois, Tervuren, or Giant Schnauzer---the dogs generally used for police work around the world. Yes, it's harder even than a pit bull or boxer.

The asian breeds (Shiz Tzu's, Shar Pei's, Pugs, etc) are generally the most inbred with the least genetic difference. They were basically bred entirely for appearance above all else.

I'll shut up before I tick anyone else off, but please please post what he might like to DO with the dog and I'll be happy to throw in my 2 cents. I do SAR, freestyle obedience, CGC, and agility work with dogs, they're important to me.
posted by TomMelee at 7:41 PM on May 8 [3 favorites]

Doh, forgot one thing: allergies progress. My girlfriend is allergic to everything...I'm pretty sure she's allergic to thinking about allergies even. We've got a Border Collie Mutt Mix, a rescued Golden, and a wacky French breed you've never heard of that I adopted from a fella a few months ago. She's allergic, she sniffles. However, it's not uncommon to have at least 2 of them in bed with us. The first few months were rough, but she's fine now.

One more thing: You never, ever, ever pick a dog. The dog picks you. Pick the dog that DOESN'T pick you---and you'll be miserable.
posted by TomMelee at 7:45 PM on May 8 [1 favorite]

Don't forget to check Petfinder! Many breed-specific rescue organizations post dogs available for adoption here. If you're interested in rescuing a dog, but want a specific breed, it's worth looking at.
posted by invisible ink at 7:45 PM on May 8

Anecdotal: I am crazy insane allergic to all animals and had a poodle as a kid. She gave me hives, but not too bad.

Then I discovered a friend's chihuahua did nothing to me. NOTHING. He could lick my eyeball. Sleep in the bed with me when took care of him. I was pretty stoked on discovering this and now stalk the chihuahua adoption boards.

Until he gets around the animal you're thinking about and lets that critter lick him, chew on him a little, sit on him, and play with him for a bit, you just can't know how he will react, though, allergies-wise, and TomMelee is the voice of wisdom here.

I've heard the whole "Oh but I read X dog is good for allergies!" or "My dog has short hair!" stuff my whole life, and I was always reactive to all of them, which sucked.

Until the chihuahua revelation.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 8:41 PM on May 8

Couldn't you just get any dog and a box of Claritin?
posted by pieoverdone at 5:55 AM on May 9

I know the Rat Terrier rescue will only adopt American Hairless Terriers to people with a note from the doctor. My RTs have fur and are awesome little buddy dogs. AHTs are RTs without thick hair...their hair is more like a human might have on an arm.
posted by foxydot at 8:17 AM on May 9

Seconding a maltese, my college room mate had one and he was a spunky, whip smart lil' shit--but loveable.

We were allergic to anything, but not having dog hair everywhere really made things nice.
posted by dearest at 8:26 AM on May 9

TomMelee- I'd say he just wants a dog he can play with, something friendly and fairly energetic but not insanely so.

pieoverdone- BF takes three allergy medications daily and most dogs still bother him.
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:57 PM on May 9

My Yorkie doesn't bother my roommate who is very allergic to both dogs and cats.
posted by thebrokenmuse at 6:38 PM on May 9

showbiz...what about size? There are big calm dogs and small nutso dogs. Big enough to carry a tennis ball in its mouth? Big enough for two? (My Golden can carry an easy 3.)

There are a lot of dog recommendations in this thread I wouldn't recommend to a young guy, especially one who wants to get out and get muddy with his four pawed friend. I wouldn't recommend any dog below about 30 lbs, actually. On top of that, I wouldn't recommend really any of the asian breeds either. I know someone's going to tear me up for that, but it's the truth.

If he wants smaller (<3> beagle-type mixes, rat-terrier mixes, border collie mixes (some people aren't allergic to them at all, some very much so. None of my allergic friends are allergic to mine.), a min-pin, or a dachshund. I would NOT recommend pugs, yorkies, pomeranians, or small poodles.

Every one of those dogs comes w/ a caveat. Most of them are stubborn as hell. Min Pins think they're 80lbs. Border Collies are insanely intelligent, and can be difficult for newbies to train, and dachshunds are known for being mouthy (nippy.) Dachshunds tend to either be very intelligent or very, very stupid.

Medium sized dogs(30-60lbs): I love hounds. I'll always have a softspot for them. Redbone/bluetick/heeler/black and tan---they're all fun dogs that aren't very dandery and don't shed a lot. They're also very family devoted and intelligent. Labs are also a good choice, as are potentially Aussies (Shepherds and Cattle Dogs.) You have more of a chance of allergy issues w/ the Shepherds and CD's though. (Cattle dogs are awesomely fun dogs though.)

Caveats: Hounds can be bull headed, but are usually strong, quiet, fun dogs. Labs (while the most popular dog in America, even ahead of Goldens) are also the most often given up for adoption....because they're crazy. I get them confused, but I *think* you'd be better off with an American lab, as they have the less dense coats. In my experience, chocolates are the most nutty, followed by black's, with yellow's being the least nuts. They're extremely devoted and loving and fun dogs though, and you can quite often find a 1 or 2 year old Lab that's already housebroken and basically trained for next to nothing.

Big Dogs (60+ lbs):Danes are great, Portuguese Water Dogs have fur (I'm pretty sure...), Bouvier de Flanders have fur (I think), as do I think Newfoundlands. Not sure about the hypoallergenic nature of any of those though, but they're not known to be dandery dogs IIRC. Mastiff's are pretty user friendly too.

Caveats: You need to make a commitment to train big dogs young. Failure to do so makes you a miserable big dog parent later in life. Dogs of Flanders, Newfs, and Mastiffs tend to be pretty low key dogs though, as do a lot of Danes. Big pawed gangly puppies are awesome too.

My brain is half melted today, sorry if I didn't come through there. Let me know if you want any more of my (humble) opinions.
posted by TomMelee at 7:26 PM on May 9

hmmm...make that "smaller (< 30 lbs)
posted by TomMelee at 7:28 PM on May 9

nthing a Bichon. We grew up with two of them because my dad's allergic, and he never had any trouble.
posted by Quidam at 1:22 AM on May 11