I'd love a dog in my life but can't get one- ideas?

[paddleboardingmum]

One of dcs is allergic so having a dog at home is out of the question. But I always had dogs growing up and really miss them! anyone got any bright ideas?

My husband is allergic to most dogs but we have a Labradoodle and he is hypoalergenic.

Look at Borrow my Doggie !

My friend belongs to Borrow my Doggy. She walks a local person's dog occasionally. Her dog died and for various reasons she didn't want the commitment of another dog but really wanted to have regular dog contact.

Volunteer for dog walking through the Cinnamon Trust. They help elderly people that can't care for their pets due to age related illnessness and volunteers really make a tangible difference to the human and dog lives.
https://cinnamon.org.uk/how-can-you-support-the-trust/become-a-cinnamon-trust-volunteer/

Assuming non of the hypoallergenic breeds would work for your DC - can’t remember specific breeds, but remember the Obamas had one type - you could take someone else’s dog for a walk? I think there’s some websites / apps to connect people with other local people with dogs who need walks and I know some people who have formed quite a connection with a dog as they always take the same one. (It crosses my mind some walking / help might also be appreciate at local dog shelters, but I have no idea what rules might apply to that.) I hope you find a furry friend - i got a dog a couple of years ago having been brought up with them and not been able to have one myself as an adult due to work and I had forgotten how lovely it can be.

Could you volunteer as a walker at a rescue?

borrow my dog

I was going to suggest this or volunteer to walk dogs at your local RSPCA.

Contact The Cinnamon Trust who help pet owners who are housebound (for various reasons) or in hospital etc. They help keep the pets with their owners so they aren't rehomed or pts.

https://cinnamon.org.uk/how-can-you-support-the-trust/become-a-cinnamon-trust-volunteer/

Edit - hah, someone beat me. Otherwise contactblocal dog rescues and see if they need a regular walker.

Thank you for these ideas. The Cinammon trust sounds like a lovely idea I am going to sign up for that and look into borrow my doggy.

People with allergies who have got a dog like @Shmoigel - how did your husband work out he wasn't allergic to that type? I'm worried it would be too much of a gamble to try this in case the allergy was triggered and we had to rehome it.

There is another thread at the moment with someone who got an allergy friendly dog as she is allergic. She didn't react the two times they visited the dog but are now a week in and is suffering greatly. There are no dogs that are absolutely safe for someone with allergies. The mixed ones (doodles and poos) all have a breed that isn't allergy friendly (spaniels/labradors/goldens etc.) so you won't know until you have lived with the dog for a while and if you get a puppy they might be fine at first but not as an adult. I think pure bred poodles is a safer bet but there are no dogs that are 100% hypoallergenic.

Thanks @Mauro711 do you know what board that thread is on? That sounds very concerning. I think getting my own dog is just a no-go sadly.

I’m allergic to certain types of dog coat/dander. Through interacting with friends’ dogs I realised that I’m absolutely fine with spaniels, so we have a cocker spaniel. I can’t go anywhere near labradors or anything crossed with them. Same with terriers, sight hounds anything like that with a sleek short coat! It’s not the hair I’m allergic too so supposedly non-shedding/hypoallergenic is meaningless to me.

It’s trial and error so maybe the volunteering stuff already mentioned could help with the research!

I still react to so called “hypo allergenic dogs”. Just because they shed less doesn’t mean they don’t trigger allergies

It's the saliva of some breeds that contain certain proteins that some are allergic too.
Most bull breeds make me itch something rotten if they lick me, however I have 2 staffords and am completely fine with their kisses. My sisters staff x mastiff, unfortunately not.

Here's the thread @paddleboardingmum https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5468054-new-puppy

What about finding out whether it’s the dander or the saliva that he’s allergic to, then chose a breed which fits. We have a Samoyed which doesn’t have much dander, so often described as hypoallergenic but their saliva does contain some of the protein people can be allergic to
Portuguese water dog is another, poodles - there are others which may fit your needs depending on allergy testing

Are there any guide dogs on heating dog centres near you? They’re sometimes looking fur volunteers to help with training and walking. Also, rescue centres.

Alternatively get a cat?

I came here to suggest this. I used to volunteer for them and met some lovely people and dogs.

Loads of people pay others to walk their dog. There's an old lady near to me who can't walk her dog anymore. If I haven't seen it out for a while I offer to walk it for her. I know she'd love someone who could walk it once every day but sh can't afford to pay them much.

Join Rover app. You get to interact with dogs, take them on walks, look after them while helping your local neighbours

Please put her in touch with the Cinnamon Trust https://cinnamon.org.uk

I've been doing this again since 2020 and walked a lovely westie for the past 5 years for an elderly lady in my village👏 highly recommend and they are short of volunteers nationwide

Look into Australian labradoodles. They were bred as low/no allergen dogs for people who needed a guide dog but were allergic to dogs

I have a family that "borrow my doggy" and I also used it previously before getting a dog myself. It works well for us and we have become friends which is lovely.