Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If someone tells you they are allergic to dogs, please stop insisting your dog is hypoallergenic and we should come to your house

105 replies

AllergyPlus · 01/09/2023 13:21

I am allergic to dogs (and cats, but cat people never push the issue). Not to the point of death, but they make me itch all over, I feel my throat constricting and breathing feels uncomfortable and strained, my eyes water, I get a runny nose. It's not the worst thing but it's not pleasant for me, and I just can't be bothered to tolerate it any more. There is no one I like enough who has a pet that makes me want to take an antihistamine.

I have managed to avoid going to people's homes if they have pets, very easily. There are enough pet-free folk to choose for friends that I'm close enough with to want to do house dates with.

So my point is this.

If we are friends, and you have a pet, and I tell you I'm allergic, can you please just drop it. I don't want to go to your home.
I don't believe the hypoallergenic thing, for a start. Maybe some dogs cause less of a reaction than others, but there really is no such thing as an allergy-free dog.
It doesn't matter if you put the dog in another room. It doesn't matter if you vacuum extra well, wash the floors, and open the windows. I of course appreciate being liked enough that you want to invite me over, and go to all that effort, but could people who react like this please just give up. I've told you I don't want to, and I'll accept you saying ONCE "Oh, but Fido is hypoallergenic" or telling me you'll clean better than ever, but if I repeat after this that no, I'm really allergic, can you please just drop it?
I have recently seen an increase in dog-people being really pushy about bringing me to their homes. What's changed?

OP posts:
GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 01/09/2023 13:28

That sounds tiresome. I don't particularly like dogs, and find people are always sure that their particular dog will convince me they're the best thing since sliced bread.

Do you think it's a combination of that - that you'll fall so in love with their dog that you'll put up with your allergy symptoms because they're just so wonderful - and also the post covid reluctance to go out and about instead of staying at home that seems to have taken root?

GeorgeSpeaks · 01/09/2023 13:37

The problem is that dogs are the new children. Everyone has one and they're everywhere.

AdoraBell · 01/09/2023 13:38

I’m a dog owner and I never take my dog someone’s home. Also “Fido” can only be hypoallergenic if it’s a stuffed toy rather than a live animal.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Allergies Dogs
NoSquirrels · 01/09/2023 13:39

Do you invite them to your house instead, or to meet elsewhere?

TheDogMama · 01/09/2023 13:42

Regardless of the issue, people who ignore/dismiss/don’t listen to what you say are not friends. Why do you class people like this as friends?

HermioneWeasley · 01/09/2023 13:44

Agree, I also have reactions to “hypoallergenic” dogs. People who don’t have allergies just don’t get it.

Switchingoff · 01/09/2023 13:46

I own a supposedly hypoallergenic dog and completely appreciate that he is not of course completely allergen free. However, and this will be an unpopular opinion I’m sure, I feel a bit sorry for your friends who are willing to go to all that effort when you say that there is nobody you care about enough that you would be willing to simply take an antihistamine! Slight imbalance in caring there it seems.

Allthegoodnamestakken · 01/09/2023 13:48

Sounds annoying, I have 4 dogs, i'm also allergic to them Blush and my regime of house cleaning and antihistamines mean i'm fine. However if someone told me they where allergic and didn't want to come over I would probably initially offer to lock them outside, suggest we can stay in the garden (weather dependent) and if that wouldn't work then arrange to meet up elsewhere.

Maddy70 · 01/09/2023 13:48

Some breeds are hypoallergenic though. I have a histamine imbalance and I definitely react to some breeds and not others

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 01/09/2023 13:49

l feel your pain. I’m severely allergic. Vacuuming makes no difference as the allergy molecules stick around for ever.

WhyHasAllTheRumGone · 01/09/2023 13:50

I'm pretty sure no dog is hypoallergenic. Even if it doesn't shed hair, it still sheds skin cells.

DisforDarkChocolate · 01/09/2023 13:52

I so know how you feel. I'm extremely allergic to cats. If I had a pound for every person who told me to just take some antihistamines I'd hire a bloody hitman to take some of the annoying buggers out who say this.

Xiaoxiong · 01/09/2023 14:03

I have recently seen an increase in dog-people being really pushy about bringing me to their homes.

Is this just one particular person being pushy? I'm a dog person (eyes new puppy snoring in crate) but I'd never be pushy about this since I'm allergic to cats myself and I know what it's like. I've even had an allergic reaction to a house that hasn't had any cats in it for 4 years.

cocksstrideintheevening · 01/09/2023 14:07

There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. Your friends sound like non friends.

We are a horse and dog family, friend is allergic. They don't come to our house, and I would never suggest it. I wouldn't give a coeliac gluten or an anaphylactic kid peanuts.

MrsApplepants · 01/09/2023 14:12

Don’t worry I prefer to see friends in cafes and restaurants so you’d be fine with me

KVick · 01/09/2023 14:24

There is no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog!

SlightlygrumpyBettyswaitress · 01/09/2023 14:24

People just don't beleive you. I am ridiculously allergic to cats. A colleague who had cat hair on her coat refused to understand that it made me wheeze and my eyes run.
I would never go to cat owners home. I am allergic to some types of dogs but not all. Problem is I can't tell til I meet the dog!

kitsuneghost · 01/09/2023 14:30

MrsApplepants · 01/09/2023 14:12

Don’t worry I prefer to see friends in cafes and restaurants so you’d be fine with me

Except they all allow pets now too

sueelleker · 01/09/2023 14:36

This is like people who serve food with something you're allergic to, and tell you to "just pick it out".

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 01/09/2023 14:39

Maddy70 · 01/09/2023 13:48

Some breeds are hypoallergenic though. I have a histamine imbalance and I definitely react to some breeds and not others

There's no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.

andrainwillmaketheflowersgrow · 01/09/2023 14:40

YANBU OP, and I have a dog and three cats.

I have several friends with allergies (including my mum) and we just meet elsewhere or I go their homes instead. It's never been a problem.

MooseBreath · 01/09/2023 14:42

I'm with @Switchingoff on this one. No, you shouldn't feel obliged to go to a friend's home if it has a dog, but you wouldn't even consider an antihistamine (assuming it solves the problem)? I am allergic to cats, but take an antihistamine if I am going somewhere with cats. It is no skin off my nose and can make life far easier for my friend. You've just come across as haughty and inflexible.

PPQ123 · 01/09/2023 14:52

They're in bloody cafes and restaurants too! We have some acquaintances who come along to all the dinner parties, (WITHOUT FUCKING ASKING IF ITS OK) bbqs etc with their massive golden retriever which absolutely stinks, begs food off everyone and shits in people's gardens.
They had it in the pub the other night where we were all eating and it smelled so bad a couple of people said something. The owners literally said "I don't care" to our faces.

Fucking pisses me off no end.

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/09/2023 14:55

I'm the same with cats and people say certain breeds are not allergic

It's bullshit as they have made me itch - eyes rub - sniffy nose etx

Some not as much but they still do

I feel for you as my friends do understand

I do see them with cats but briefly if have to go to theirs
And always take antihistamine and never touch them if I can help if

Theunamedcat · 01/09/2023 14:58

It's like the so called friend who assured me that my food was gluten free and who was surprised when I started sweating and ended up on her toilet apparently that was really rude of me I should have held it in and left appropriately not used her facilities

We are no longer friends

People who push boundaries like that with intolerance and allergies are not friends