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?

I think we've had to reluctantly decide that we can't really move forward on this. There is too much uncertainty.
The dc will just have to make the most of playing with other people's dogs. We are really sad but it's best for DH's health and of course any poor dog which may have had to be rehomed if things hadn't gone to plan.

Thank you all so much for all your useful points which really helped us make a more informed decision.

Just saw this post and thought it may be worth mentioning my recent experience. I've been highly allergic to cats and most dogs since I was a teenager, I've generally been ok with rough haired dogs e.g. Border terrier. Anyway DD's boyfriend has a golden retriever who has been living with us since February and I have had no reaction to him at all. Everything I've read online says they are not recommended at all for allergy sufferers however they have a very oily coat which may influence the dander, I'm not sure. I would normally have flu like symptoms after a few hours with a dog. Anyway I suppose what I am saying is don't give up hope because there may be a dog your DH can tolerate at the very least.

Also he is the gentlest calmest happiest most friendly dog I have ever known! All the love for Retrievers!

Try making contact with the Labradoodle Trust [[https://www.doodletrust.com/]]

My DH was very mildly allergic to dogs (just makes him sneeze a bit) so we got a doodle puppy because he met all our other requirements in a dog, and we were very clear that if DH did turn out to be allergic to the pup once he'd grown his adult coat he was in for 12+ (hopefylly!) years of taking antihistamines and hoovering, the dog was staying.

As it turns out DH is completey fine with the dog hair and we don't hoover much although he does set off one of our friends' allergies.

If you talk to Doodle Trust they may have a suitable adult rescue dog that you could spend some time with and see if his coat triggers your DH or not. They don't tend to have many dogs (despite the frequently made assertion on here that doodles are overbred and there are 100s languishing in rescue centres...) but a friend's parents have had 2 wonderful pets from there.