Best Breeds for Allergy Sufferers

Best Breeds for Allergy Sufferers
The American Kennel Club’s Lisa Peterson gives us the low down on dealing with dog allergies


While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, there are many breeds with consistent and predictable coats that the AKC suggests for allergy sufferers. These breeds have non-shedding coats, which produce less dander. It’s actually the skin dander attached to pet hair that causes most pet allergies in humans.

Top things allergy sufferers can do around the home to reduce symptoms, regardless of breed they have:

Try and vacuum daily, as well as mop hard floors and dust with a damp cloth. This will help prevent you from stirring up settled allergens. It also helps to frequently wash your dog’s bed. Make the bedroom a dog-free area to limit the amount of exposure the allergy sufferer has to the dog.

Reconsider fabrics. Certain fabrics in the home may be more or less likely to hold pet hair and dander. For example, wood or tile floors and leather or vinyl furniture will be easier to clean and less likely to hold onto hair and allergens than carpeting and upholstered furniture. Also try and avoid fabric curtains.

Frequent bathing does not help make your dog less allergy inducing.

If you have a shedding breed, a bath tends to loosen hair and promote shedding. For the single-coated dogs that are better for allergy sufferers, a daily brush and even a wipe with a damp cloth will help to remove allergens from the coat that the dog may have brought in from outside, such a pollen, molds, and dust. The best tactic would be to have someone in the family who is not allergic do the grooming. Grooming your dog frequently can really help ease reactions.

From the happy-go-lucky Bichon Frise to the ancient and rare Xoloitzcuintli, the American Kennel Club recognizes these 11 breeds as hypoallergenic.

Photos Mary Bloom © AKC

1. Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced SHOW-low-eats-QUEENT-lee) 2. Bedlington Terrier 3. Schnauzer (all sizes) 4. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 5. Kerry Blue Terrier 6. Poodles (all sizes)
7. Portuguese Water Dog 8. Maltese 9. Bichon Frise 10. Chinese Crested 11. Irish Water Spaniel

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Comments (2)

How about the Bouvier des Flandres?
Fri, 08/03/2012 - 13:11
Greyhounds should be on this list.
Tue, 11/18/2014 - 10:47

Dog of the Week!

Meet: Bubbles