So is there a dog for us?

[asdx2]

Have wanted a dog for years but waited because we had five children and a busy household and wanted the kids to grow up a bit first.
The youngest is now eight, the oldest three are now adults soon to be flying the nest and ds is 16.
So we have space and time, an enclosed garden looking out onto a park and a stones throw from a trail.
I'm at home during the day and there's a full house most evenings.
There has to be but doesn't there? Dd is hugely allergic to animals with fur cats, rats, rabbits, dogs but is absolutely fine with the mongrel over the road (lurcher cross I think) and a friend's yorkshire terrier.
So we'd like a non moulting small to medium sized dog, quiet and placid, not wanting hours of exercise but happy with a couple of walks and much chasing of balls.
I'd like a poodle but dh says no and no to a yorkie so nothing too girly.
Any ideas?

what about a westie?

We have a lovely 2 year old one called Alfie, he is such a character but never any problem. We walk him in the morning and at night for bout 15 mins then go for longer walks at the weekend.

My friends husband is allergic to dogs but never has a problem coming round

Why does your dh say no to a poodle?

Because he doesn't want to walk a poodle A poodle would be my first choice after growing up with one who was the smartest dog I've ever met

Poodles look pretty tough when they haven't had silly haircuts

And they are very clever

I might try showing him photos of them without the top knots or pompom tails because they don't look all that girly then do they? Dd and I could compromise on the haircut I suppose The one at the bottom here is adoreable and maybe the one above would make a good companion.

A staffie.

They have close fur and IME dont seem to moult.

And they are amazing dogs. Very loving, very funny and playful, like a bit of a walk / run but then love to curl up in a warm house with lots of cuddles.

Sadly there are alot of them in resuce centres because of the massive misconceptions surrounding them.

Get one, I promise you wont regret it.

What sort of coat does the Lurcher x have that your dd is not allergic to? It's odd that she is not allergic to a Yorkie, I'd always thought they have quite long hair?

I don't think it's fair to consider a dog without checking whether she would be allergic first. Visit your nearest rescue center and let her play with some of the dogs.

Has she had allergy tests?

If your wanting a dog who doesn't need much exercise you'd be best of looking at sighthounds i.e. Lurchers, Whippets and Greys. Or an older (4+) Staffordshire.

I agree with PrinceHumperdink. We've got a standard poodle too, and they are fabulous, people-orientated dogs. No-one guesses ours is a poodle either, since we just clip him to the same length all over, no shaved muzzle, tail-base or paws, and in fact most days someone will ask me what he is.

The lurcher cross (well that's what its owner assumes it is) an RSPCA rescue has long hair like a horses tail. The yorkie has hair as well but she reacts badly to anything that feels like fur so a GSD and a labrador she reacted almost immediately with hives, swollen face and scalded looking skin where she had touched the dog whereas she can lie with the mongrel and the yorkie, and does, with no reaction whatsover.

sorry going to be a voice of caution here. a good friend of mine was allergic to dogs when she was younger. she has always been ok visiting my house (3 short haired dogs) and she thought she must have grown out of it. my son has allergies so my house is always reasonably dust free and all soft furnishing washed at 60c etc. son is ok with dogs but not with cats.

anyway when i was involved in rehoming a short haired small dog friend thought she would be ok to rehome her as she had had no reaction whatsoever visiting my house over the years. she rehomed dog and had an allergic reaction. her gp prescribed her steriods and she tried various alternative therapies as well. her 3 dcs and her were very attached to dog. after a few weeks her gp told her that he couldnt prescribe her steroids indefinitely due to their side effects if she kept coming into contact with the allergen ie dog

we had to look for another home for the dog. she is now with a friend of mine (who has 4 dogs and didnt plan any more!). her dcs were very upset

so despite being ok visiting my house and undertaking similar allergy control methods that we do she was still unable to live with a dog full time. the whole family were very distressed and it was only through my contacts of doggie friends that we were able to find a good home for the dog

why dont you think about fostering for the poodle rescue? i looked at your link - some lovely dogs - and they are asking for fosterers. this way you could help a dog without a home, persuade dh of the wonderful qualities of poodles and check without making a permanent commitment how the allergies are with a dog living in your house

as you are probably aware your dd could still have an allergic reaction even to non moulting dogs and the efficacy of allergy testing is not without medical controversy especially amongst the allergy specialists. we have been to numerous allergy clinics, nhs and private, over the years and i believe in your situation the only way to know for certain if you can have a dog in the house full time without dd having an allergic reaction is to trial it

good luck. your circumstances otherwise sound great for a dog

Another vote for poodles here, have had them all my life in all sizes and currently have a standard and a toy. Our standard is only a puppy and I've done her first trim on her and she doesn't look too poodley, but then again I love poodles in full show trim so she will eventually look much nicer than she does now. When I was a groomer I was asked to do poodles in lots of different styles and some of them did not look like how most people imagine a poodle should look.

If you were to go with a brown standard most people will mistake it for an Irish Water Spaniel if left longer and untrimmed. You have such a variety of clips to choose from that your husband should be happy, and you never know what he gets to love a poodle personality he may even agree to a more poodley trim and be proud of the dog as a poodle! Anyway it takes a real man to walk to a poodle!

Kennel Club publish a list of (supposedly) non moulting dogs here:
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2100

I think the issue of the allergy is to find the right dog that suits your daughter, rather than a non moulting one, IYSWIM? Staffies do moult, quite a lot IME, although manageable as its very short hair - you dont get tumbleweeds, like with a Collie.

I second what Dooin said, DD is going to have to be a guinea pig and hug dogs until you find one that doesn't make her swell up.