Yes, it’s true. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. I am not really sure who came up with this one, maybe dog breeders looking to sell more puppies by advertising their dogs as “allergy free”, or possibly it is the result of a whisper-down-the-alley effect of a doctor’s consultation with a patient.
Regardless of its origins, the story and existence of hypo-allergenic or allergy-free dogs is a complete myth.
Truth is, all dogs and cats are allergenic (allergy causing) to people with allergies to animals. There are some noticeable trends with domesticated animal allergies as cats tend to be more allergenic than dogs for allergic people, although like all allergies, this is not true for everyone and will differ greatly from person to person. Dogs with soft hair that is constantly in a state of growth (think Poodle or Bichon Frise) may be less irritating to some allergic individuals, and these canines are often given the designation of being hypo-allergenic. There is no medical reason for this, in fact, most physicians specializing in allergy and immunology believe this is due to the fact that these types of breeds are often bathed and groomed more frequently. One dog or cat of a particular breed may be more irritating to an individual allergy sufferer than another animal of that same breed.
What is the exact source of irritation for people with pet allergies? Glands in every animal’s skin secrete tiny allergy-triggering proteins, known as allergens, that not only linger in the animal’s fur, but also become airborne. Allergens are also present in the animal’s saliva and urine, and may become airborne when saliva dries on the fur. The severity of reaction to these allergens varies from one person to the next, ranging from mild sniffling and sneezing to life-threatening asthma, which can be complicated by simultaneous allergies to other irritants in the environment.
It is important for allergy sufferers to spend some time with a pet they wish to adopt, preferably in a closed space for a period of time lasting more than 20 minutes to judge how sensitive they are to the dog; cars work well for this type of test. Remember, no dog is truly allergy free, and your choice as someone with known allergies to live with a pet should be considered seriously prior to bringing a new family member home. Not only could a mistake be dangerous to your health, it could also harm the dog if he/she needs to be surrendered because of your allergies.
Below is a list of dogs typically considered to cause less problems with allergies for allergy-prone individuals (sorry, no bulldog or pit bull breeds are listed):
* Airedale Terrier
* American Hairless Terrier
* Barbet
* Basenji
* Bedlington Terrier
* Bergamasco
* Bichon Frisé
* Bolognese
* Border Terrier
* Bouvier des Flandres
* Cairn Terrier
* Chacy Ranior
* Chinese Crested
* Coton De Tulear
* Dandie Dinmont Terrier
* Fox Terrier (Wire)
* Goldendoodle
* Greyhound
* Havanese
* Irish Water Spaniel
* Italian Greyhound
* Kerry Blue Terrier
* Labradoodle
* Lagotto Romagnolo
* Lhasa Apso
* 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
* Toy Poodle
* Welsh Terrier
* West Highland White Terrier
* Wirehaired Dachshund
* Yorkshire Terrier
* Xoloitzcuintle
I have an american hairless terrier and have had no issues for those with allergies at all. I understand what you’re getting at here, I’ve had numerous other breeds in my home and the AHT truly is “hypoallergenic”. Not allergy proof…but hypoallergenic for sure.