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

[AllergyPlus]

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?

My DH is allergic. He can come back from Tesco wheezing because he has been stood behind some pet owner in the queue. So it’s a hard no in our house. Same with smoking. If someone turned up with a dog they would be told to turn round and take it home. Fuck that. Dogs, or cats, aren’t part of our life and we don’t want them, or their organic detritus dusting around.

I couldn't agree more, I've had allergies all my life, I decided to get a dog about 10 years ago as my kids were desperate to have one and I have built up an incredible immunity to him however other dogs give me all of the symptoms you described plus really uncomfortable hives. I've explained this to friends several times but they just don't get it. A few months my hairdresser brought her supposed 'hypoallergenic' dog to the salon, it wouldn't leave me alone until I showed her my arms that were covered in hives where he had been brushing against me, she soon shut him away!

Well for starters it's 100% true some digs are hypoallergenic: my husband's dog allergy is aa severe as yours sounds to be- difficulties breathing, etc but we have a dog that doesn't affect him at all in any way. If you don't want to visit dog people just say so. If they keep trying to persuade you it's because they really want to see you and want to reassure you it's safe. If they still won't respect your decision you need better friends or you need to learn to be more assertive. I don't know which but it seems a very trivial problem you should have been able to resolve without dragging all dog owners into your complaint.

I also have a dog allergy and completely agree, no dog is completely hypoallergenic. My husband would love a dog but knows it’s not possible. However friends always say, “just got a hypoallergenic one”. I have a friend who has a hypoallergenic dog and I can take an antihistamine and be okay at their house, but a tablet wouldn’t even touch the sides with a normal dog, and if I didn’t take the tablet I wouldn’t be okay at their house either.

I dread the day that I get on a plane and somebody has an emotional support dog sat next to me. Where would I even start with that?

Totally agree! Or worse still bring your dog to my house 🙄 Some people just have zero sympathy /ignorance to how miserable pet allergies can make you feel!