To buy a family dog for Christmas?

[VTechnophobe]

We all want one but I'm allergic and have asthma. We have 2 DC (5&3), DH works from home and garden is over an acre so not worried about dog's welfare but will I be constantly ill?

Never get a dog for Christmas! FFS how are there still people who think this is a good idea?

All the disruption, noise, strange food, visitors etc are bad news for a new puppy. Plus most decent breeders won’t sell puppies at Christmas time, so you’d be getting it from a dodgy backyard breeder which is always a bad idea.

Getting a pet you’re allergic to is also a terrible idea!

@Littup they aren’t a breed. They’re a cross. And no breed is hypoallergenic. They got lucky.

Are you actually that stupid? The idea is ridiculous. Get yourself a teddy bear or something. No living creature should be purchased at Christmas....especially if the owner has allergies. Chump.

One of my friends recently registered to be a puppy walker for guide dogs, after 8 months, the dog had to move on early. She is allergic and though she would cope with the dog, but she became so unwell that they had to stop the placement early.

Really, if you are allergic and react to other dogs, don't.

I'm asthmatic, we got a Schnoodle ( mini schnauzer/mini poodle ) and afternoon apart from a tiny bit of wheeziness in the first couple of weeks ( but we got her in hay fever season so it could have been that too) I've been absolutely fine. However, I know her brother and he does set me off slightly. My pup doesn't moult at all, her brother does.

Look at an Australian labradoodle. They are bred to be hypoallergenic but this is not always the case as you can be allergic to saliva, hair or dander. Some breeders will let you visit the dogs to see if you have a reaction before committing. Puppies and adult dogs can cause different allergic reactions.

N.B an Australian labradoodle is a mix of 6 dog breeds (poodle, cocker, Irish water spaniel, curly coated retriever, American cocker, Labrador ) and not the Labrador/ puddles cross you come to expect.

I don't know if there's actually anything scientific behind it or not but my allergies seem to be far less problematic around my own pets. We have cats and a dog and these days I don't even need to take antihistamines at all at home.

Ive always been far more allergic to cats and whenever I go to someone else's house with cats, I wheeze, get runny eyes and am sneezing constantly. Fine around my own though and we have multiple...!

But I doubt the above is the same for everyone so I'd definitely see if you could volunteer looking after / walking someone's pooch first and see how you get on. The last thing you want to happen is to have to re-home the poor thing because you can't cope with your allergies.

Nah .. don't make yourself ill for years .. doesn't matter if your family want a dog .. it's your health and well-being OP .

3 & 5 year old and puppies are not a good mix. 10 & 12 year olds maybe.

@Wolfiefan yes, they are a registered breed, now. And yes they are also classed as hypoallergenic. They didn't bet lucky they done their research, as should you before you comment.

No. A cross isn’t a predictable thing. I know cockerpoos that are cocker and some that are pure poo!
Plus dogs can’t be hypoallergenic @LittUp. It’s not just the fur that people are allergic to. It’s irresponsible to suggest that buying a certain breed or cross guarantees no reactions.

Littup where are they registered as a breed? They are not a breed, they are a crossbreed and registered as such on KC. They cannot take part in crufts, but can take part in scruffs as a crossbreed. Unless I am missing something?

Friends of ours have a cockerpoo because they were told they're hypoallergenic, they spent a fortune on him which is a little mad because as crossbreeds they don't count as an actual breed - I think it makes it a little harder to know exactly what you're getting, too.

Christmas is a terrible time for a dog to descend on your home. Get Christmas and NY out of the way, clear up and then when things are calmer, consider it properly. Spend some time with the particular breed you want, get to know the people you'll be buying from and for goodness sake don't do it unless you're absolutely certain you're able to commit; the amount of dogs in our local dogs home is heartbreaking because people underestimate how much time goes into loving and raising a dog.

I have absolutely and completely nothing against cross breeds. But to sell them as hypoallergenic is stupid and irresponsible.

Searching "cockerpoo" on the UK Kennel Club website just brings up a link to crossbred dogs, so where are they "registered"?

Irish water spaniels are good for people with allergies. My friends husband is very allergic, but he’s fine with the IWS. They are a bit bonkers though.

Not cockerpoo.
PP claimed a Zuchon was a breed.

The thing is that no one breed will ever be ok for every single person with allergies. You can’t guarantee it. That’s why I spent so long asking people if I could snuggle and wipe my face around their Irish Wolfhounds. Yep. Mad woman alert.
I have asthma and eczema by never reacted once. One of my cats on the other hand?

What the fuck is a Zuchon?! I don't even need to try search for that to know it's bullshit.

What an excellent idea. Your children will be delighted. Just make sure you choose one which doesn’t affect your allergies. I have 2 dogs. I got the first one when my children were 2, 3 and 8 and just got the second one this year. He will no doubt pull the baubles if the tree. The first one did fir the first 3 years!! They bring a lot of joy to the household. They are hard work no matter what time of the year you get them.

Bichon crossed Shih Tzu

And on what fucking planet is that a "breed"?

Btw I am asthmatic and so are 2 of my children and my dogs are both labs. It doesn’t affect us but I was slightly concerned about that before I got my first one

The puppy farmer told them it was?!
I have nothing against cross breeds but to pay a fortune for one from a puppy farmer or backyard breeder because it has a “cute” name, looks sweet or will be hypoallergenic? That’s criminal. Well it should be.