Dog breed for allergy sufferers!

[Woopy5]

My husband has pet allergies but we are both so desperate for a dog.

Have looked into poodles, cavapoos, other hypoallergenic dogs and all the reviews online are mixed.

Are there any allergy sufferers here with advice on what breed works for them? I know everyone is different but would be good to get ideas.

Nothing is truly "hypoallergenic" as you could be allergic to fur, to pet dander, to pet saliva, even fur-less dogs will still have pet dander. Many poodle crosses end up in rescue because they've still triggered allergies.

Do you know what your husband is allergic to?

If you are allergic to dogs, I think you have to go into dog ownership accepting there will be some form of allergic reaction and you may havr to take long term anithistamines. If there isn't a reaction then it's a bonus but if there is, at least you go in with your (itchy) eyes open.

As pp says, it is hugely variable even within the same breed and and I've even know there to be variation within the same litter. i.e one dog triggered a friend's allergic reaction but another from the same litter did not. (They all ended up friends with the other litter mates families, so often had get togethers).

How bad are the allergies? I have a short haired breed that sheds a lot, I take a supermarket antihistamine every day and I’m fine. I get very itchy if I forget so definitely helps.

There is no such thing as a hyperallergenic dog. That phrase is just the result of marketing for cross breeds with some poodle in them.
Research non moulting (pure) breeds. Try to then spend some time in the company of the ones you like and see if they trigger a reaction.

Can you settle on a breed and spend some time around them? Maybe some friends or family have one
If not you could try and contract the breed club, they have shows & meetings often in an outdoor environment.

There you can put your feelers out and see if one of the breeders is willing to let you visit their home so you have a bit more contact with the dogs dandar and saliva.

Be also aware that a puppy coat is different from the adult coat!

No such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.

Have you thought of a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier? They are a non shedding dog. Their coat requires lot of care though.

Don’t get a poodle cross.

poodles are less likely to trigger allergies because of their coat. If you cross it with a bog standard breed the resulting puppies will be more likely to trigger and allergic reaction.

never could work out why people seem to thing crossing a poodle somehow magically makes them less of an allergy trigger. Bit like homeopathy, reducing the qualities you want somehow makes it more effective…

so poodles, there are other breeds like Yorkshire terriers who have “hair” and don’t shed. Best approach is to find some breeders or owners where you can spend some time with the breed and see how you react.

A breed that malts being crossed with a poodle, doesnt automatically mean you get non shedding dog. I knew someone who got a labradoodle wanting just that and the dog had a full lab coat and malted like, you guessed it, a lab. Which is a lot.

I suggest a miniature poodle. Our family has allergies but no one has reacted to our dog. She’s also utterly adorable. 🐾❤️