Desperate for dog but DH allergic

[Grandadwasthatyou]

My 2 dc ( 14 and 11) have been desperate for a dog for a long time. I have always put them off, citing other commitments which would make the household unsuitable.

However, I now have no excuse, have taken early retirement and am at home all day, available to be there for company, long walks etc.
I would also love a dog but have found out that DH is allergic. ( the strange thing is that when we met I was allergic to dogs and therefore his mum offered to take his dog to live with her until it sadly died).

However the tables have turned, I appear not to be allergic anymore, whereas DH gets sore eyes if he even stops to stroke a dog in the street.

The answer would be to get a non-allergenic breed of dog but I am loath to go to a breeder ( labradoodles etc) and would much rather get a rescue dog. I don't know how easy this is going to be. Have looked through all the local rescue centres ( online) and there are many lurchers, whippets, staffy type dogs, none of which would suit our household for obvious reasons.

Any suggestions please?

Wirehaired vizlas fit your brief for long walks in the woods, OP, and can work well for some people with allergies.

You mentioned whippets upthread - I have friends who got a whippet b/c one of them was allergic, and it seems to have worked fine. They said the breeds which might suit them were poodles, Bedlingtons or whippets. Whippets do like a good walk but are also very happy on the sofa the rest of the time! But in some ways they seem quite delicate - need special broad collar, warm overcoat etc and they have a tendency to take off and chase things so my friend's dog is usually walked on a leash. Lovely-natured dog.

Have just had a look online Somerville ... they look lovely and to be honest I had never heard of that breed.

Wellhonestly ..my dsis has a whippet from a rescue centre.
She answered the front door one day and he shot out from behind her and killed the next door neighbours cat!

Yes WHV are lovely dogs. So affectionate and eager to please, and gentle with kids. And don't shed at all.

My friend breeds them and DH is desperate to get one, but they need too much excercise for my liking. Fine when he's around to do it but sometimes he works away. For a very active family they are great.

We really wanted a larger size family dog which we could take for long walks in the woods.
Sadly that rules out westies, Maltese etc ( I think anyway but am prepared to be corrected.)

My yorkie can walk happily for hours. Enjoys the woods as he can go off hunting for rats and rabbits. Lots of small dogs can walk for hours easily.

A westie is a pretty solid dog that likes long walks.

A pure Poodle will have the right kind of non shedding hair that you're hoping for in a labradoodle. They are also energetic and love exercise.

My husband is allergic to dogs and we have one. You do habituate to your own dogs allergen so he has less of an allergic reaction to our dog than other dogs.

We do the following:
Don't let dog in bedroom/on bed
Hoover weekly with a pet hoover with filter
Dog has its own fleece sofa throws and fleece dog bed covers that are changed weekly and washed/tumble dried to remove hair.
We have short haired dog so wipe dog down with damp cloth after walks and shower every 2-3 weeks.

Person who is allergic doesn't do the hoovering or dog bed changing and doesn't sit on the dog sofa blanket.
Person who is allergic washes hands after stroking dog and doesn't let dog lick face etc.

BTW I don't think its to much too take an antihistamine regularly, I have to do that may - october for pollen.

I think he's be fine.

Irish water spaniels dont shed and are allergy friendly. They are gorgeous friendly dogs, the largest of the spaniels. There are dedicated rescues around the country.

www.irishwaterspaniels.org.uk/Rescue.html

Meet some pure breed poodles (see when the breed club has its next show) but reality is the allergy is usually to the dander not the fur itself. So non-moulting may not be of any help at all.

Poodles are intelligent, energetic, trick dogs, that would thrive on long woodland walks and being trained to do various tricks. Also many are kept in a clip that makes them look more "normal" dog like (and poodles in that clip get confused with labradoodles and cockerpoos, depending on which size poodle they are), so please don't think poodles are poofy, silly looking things that are just to look pretty prancing around the show ring. They are fantastic dogs.

Definitely do not buy a cross breed puppy.

You can get used to an allergen. Or the situation can escalate and you may have to rehome.

I have a Bichon Frise they are supposedly hypoallergenic. They do come up for re-homing occasionally. Mine is still a puppy but he is rather adorable.

Wolfie.. that is what I am worried about.

Hi Grandad, poodle owner here. I am less surprised that you were allergic and are now not allergic, as I was the other way round! Was never allergic to any animal when younger but when I hit my 40s, started to react to most shedding dog breeds and all cats - I reckon it's to do with hormonal changes. That's how we ended up with a poodle and I have no reaction to him at all, even when he is right in my face, and he sleeps on my bed. We got our boy from a breeder as there were no suitable dogs in rescue - and we looked for ages - but if we ever went for a second one, I'd go to Poodle Network. They rehome all over the UK so you might want to give them a try - their dogs are in foster so you might be able to visit and see how your DH reacts before committing. Good luck!

Thos sounds super harsh OP buy I'm sure you understand that to get a dog when a family member is allergic is super irresponsible.

On the balance of probability it'll end up with the dog getting rehomed and the fact youve even posted this thread means you're a sensible person who doesn't want to cause any hurt to human or animal.

Please don't do it OP. Too risky.

Foxes me too! I have suddenly become really allergic to horses, some cats and some dogs. I suspect one of my cats slept on my pillow the other night. Woke up to my eyes swollen almost shut. It's not pleasant.

Wolfiefan it's a bugger, isn't it? We really wanted to rescue a staffy but after having two on foster with us for a rescue as a 'test run' and dealing with the itchy eyes, itchy skin and clogged throat, we had to have a rethink! Such a shame as there as so many breeds I love but will never be able to have as they shed!! Presumably. you're not allergic to your own dog?

My husband has a dog allergy, allergic to fur, dander and saliva. We really wanted a dog, but were unable to get a rescue, due to his allergies and the unknown origin of dogs in rescue.

We have a 14 month old wool coat labradoodle, and she's been great. We met the doggie parents and the puppy when she was 1w old, no significant reaction - got slightly itchy where he was licked, but no breathing issues or hives. Then we visited 3 more times together, and again very mild allergy (normally he is wheezing, eyes watering, hives on anywhere licked etc). Sometimes he had shower on getting home, but mostly was OK.

Decided to go for it, we kept the puppy in one room (open plan living area), and kept part of the house "dog free" (study, bedrooms). He had several showers a day at start, especially if puppy licked/scratched him.

He has gotten MUCH better, doesn't really react to her, BUT if the pollen count is high or another allergen about she will set him off sneezing etc (last straw). Having the dog free parts of house is great for this. We "babysat" our dog's sister from same litter, she has a fleece coat and he was extremely allergic to her...

And he absolutely adores her, and dotes on her (as do we all!). So it can be done, but meeting the parent/dog is important, as each dog can be different. If I had my time over, I'd probably go a full poodle, as they are great dogs and less chance of allergy from shedding, which you can get from labradoodle.

I had my time over, I'd probably go a full poodle, as they are great dogs and less chance of allergy from shedding, which you can get from labradoodle

Why didn’t you? Genuine question as i really don’t understand why people would choose a doodle or poo when a poodle would be even less risk of allergy- if you’re allergic to a labrador and not a poodle, what is the logic behind the cross?

I dont seem to react to my dog but then much of the time I'm itchy etc anyway so it's hard to tell.

We looked for a local poodle breeder and couldn't find one (we are not UK based)! Most poodles where I live are flown in... hence not meeting parent/puppy, which we wanted to do. I have since found one local breeder, but that's all any poodle owner has told me about, all the rest are "imports" as people couldn't find a local breeder.

There should be a breed club. Try contacting them.

I wouldn't risk it.

My brother is allergic to cats.

We've just spent two weeks with our mum who has two cats, my brother visits her regularly and doesn't suffer too bad at all usually.

Having to unexpectedly rush off to hospital at 11 at night because my brother suddenly couldn't breathe (after being alright around the cats for years) was not fun.
Allergies can and often do escalate if your in constant contact with the allergen...

Please don't get a dog until you have ascertained for certain that your DH isn't allergic to it. He is opting for feeling as though he's got constant bad flu. Not sustainable!