Euro Puppy BLOG

Nature rewarded me with a love for dogs and an allergy for cats. Had it been the other way around, I might not be writing this article right now. Yet, although I steer clear of cats – for mostly this reason- I would find it unbearable if I were allergic to dogs. Yet some people are not so lucky, since they are allergic to dogs as well. For those dog lovers out there who suffer from allergies, upon high-fiving a doggy-paw, there really is a cure. A cure? Well…..apart from the anti-histamine tablets and nose-drops to alleviate post-nasal drip, the trick really lies in finding the right dog - and more correctly, the right dog breed - for you.

What are the reactions that cause humans to suffer from allergies? The allergic response is triggered when our immune system reacts to a perceived threat. Some people have a bad reaction to dander (flaky dead skin cells), saliva or secretion from the sebaceous glands of their dogs. Allergy sufferers can also react to the dust, pollen and dirt that gets caught up and spread around by their dogs.

So what is a hypoallergenic dog breed? Well, hypoallergenic dog breeds, are those breeds that are considered the most suitable for those who suffer from allergies. Although they do produce some dander, the amount is so small that very few people experience allergy symptoms when in contact with these breeds. Hypoallergenic dog breeds are usually single-coated, non-shedding (or low-shedding), generally smaller dogs, those dogs that retain the dander due to their curly coat, or are naked!

A list below shows those breeds that are best suited for allergy sufferers. If you have your sights set on another breed, then the best test to determine whether your allergies will be affected, is to spend 20 minutes in a closed off and confined area with the dog. Cars tend to work well for this. This is a simple test which can save the owner from heartbreak in the future.

However, do bear in mind, that no dog is completely 100% hypoallergenic. The ones below only have a much lower dander producing and shedding activity than the other 100 or so breeds and are thus recommended.

• Airedale Terrier
• American Hairless Terrier
• Barbet (a.k.a: French Water Dog)
• Basenji
• Bedlington Terrier
• Bergamasco (a.ka: Italian Shepherd Dog)
• Bichon Frisι
• Bolognese
• Border Terrier
• Bouvier des Flandres
• Cairn Terrier
• Chacy Ranior
• Chinese Crested
• Coton De Tulear
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Fox Terrier (Wire)
• Greyhound
• Havanese
• Hungarian Vizsla
• Komondor
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Italian Greyhound
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Maltese
• Miniature Poodle
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Peruvian Inca Orchid
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Puli
• Samoyed
• Scottish Terrier
• Shih Tzu
• Silky Terrier
• Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
• Spanish Water Dog
• Standard Poodle
• Standard Schnauzer
• Tibetan Terrier
• Tibetan Mastiff
• Toy Poodle
• Welsh Terrier
• West Highland White Terrier
• Wirehaired Dachshund
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Xoloitzcuintle

It seems God does indeed work in mysterious ways, since he realized that to create hypoallergenic dog breeds would be like designing sugar-free chocolate for diabetics. At Euro Puppy, we are proud to help dog lovers, who also happen to be allergy sufferers by offering “allergy-friendly”, hypoallergenic puppies for sale. If you suffer from allergies, take a moment – between popping that antihistamine tablet- and wander through our breed infos. If you happen to be an allergy sufferer and a dog lover at that, we are here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us.