Are you allergic to dogs but love to have one or more? Well, no worries. You certainly can be a dog owner! What you should do is choose dogs that don’t shed as much hair and dander. These dogs are commonly known as hypoallergenic dogs.
These dogs are not new breeds. In fact, they have been around for quite some time before the classification came to be. They were not bred to be hypoallergenic either. This was just a label given to them when people notice that allergy sufferers can be around them and not get affected at all.
They are also not rare breeds. You can find them in shelter or animal rescue places. I personally have adopted my three dogs from the shelter and they are all hypoallergenic as I have asthma.
As I mentioned before, hypoallergenic dogs don’t shed much or they have no hair at all. There are dogs that have hair that grows continuously. However, they don’t shed much and so the dander is trapped in their coats and hence are not easily released into the air.
Think of a dander like a dandruff. It is dead skin. Dogs shed their fur and renew their top skin layer every 21 days and when this occurs, the dander is then release in the air. It then sticks to furniture, linen, in every nook and corner of your home. Oftentimes, this causes problems for people with allergies.
Doctors, however, say that there is no such thing as a purely hypoallergenic dog because if you have a dog allergy, you may exhibit allergy symptoms even with dogs that don’t shed. The severity may be much lesser though.
Below is a list of some hypoallergenic dogs in alphabetical order:
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Let’s a take a look at 10 of these dogs.
HAVANESE
Havanese are small, gentle, sweet-natured dogs. They usually weigh 10-14 pounds and has long, silky and wavy hair. They also get along well with children as well as with other small pets. There are Havanese who are colored black, black and tan, white, cream, silver, blue, gold, and chocolate. There are also part- and tri-colored ones.
BICHON FRISE
The Bichon Frise dog breed has a soft coat which hardly shed and are 
easy to maintain. However, the dog requires grooming so that its coat won’t be matted or tangled. They also are quite good with children and has a happy and calm disposition. They are generally easy to train as well.
BOLOGNESE
The Bolognese is an excellent family pet and companion. They don’t shed, of course, and are odorless. They can be funny as they love to twirl as if they are dancing. Bolognese are also very intelligent, charming, playful and quite endearing.
SHIH TZU
The Shih Tzu makes an excellent pet for seniors and novice dog owners alike. They also are good
for apartment dwellers. They are loyal, affectionate and while they can be good watch dogs, they also can be friendly with strangers. They don’t shed frequently but their coats need regular grooming.
YORKSHIRE TERRIER
Also known as Yorkies, these dogs are small with a long coat that need to be brushed to keep it from getting tangled. They rarely shed and while they are sociable, they are very territorial and possessive. Yorkies are considered a toy breed and yet, they are independent and stubborn as well as smart and entertaining.
CAIRN TERRIER
These spunky and loyal dogs are originally from Scotland and are double coated. The outer coat is rough while the undercoat is soft and furry. While their coats generally do not need trimming, they need to be brushed frequently. The hair especially around the ears and eyes have to be trimmed. Some people say that they are good with older kids but not with very young ones.
SOFT-COATED WHEATEN TERRIER
Like most terriers, they are quite active but affectionate. They are not really aggressive but are protective of their family. They are medium-sized dogs with a soft and fluffy fur. Even though the soft-coated Wheaten Terrier do not shed much, they still need to be groomed to avoid rashes on their skin and their coat from being clumped. They were originally bred as farm dogs and has agility and tracking skills.
IRISH WATER SPANIEL
Well obviously, these dogs are not terriers or a toy breed. In fact, they belong to the sporting group. As their name implies, they absolutely love water. Swimming to them is natural. Interestingly, their coats even repel water! These dogs are probably not suitable for novice dog owners since they can be stubborn and independent. Not all are good with small pets.
MALTESE
This dog is a toy breed and while its hair requires a lot of maintenance, it doesn’t shed. Maltese are quite fragile so they are not for everyone, especially for families with small children. They are gentle and affectionate, lively and playful and are more suitable for indoor living.
CHINESE CRESTED
There are two types of the Chinese Crested dog – the hairless and the powderpuff. The former has hair around their head, feet and nails while the latter has hair on its body but do not shed. These dogs are quite happy and are known to hug you when you pick them up. They are friendly and affectionate with family members but may turn a cold shoulder to strangers.
