The Best Dog Breeds for Allergy Sufferers

If you’re an allergy sufferer but would really like a dog, don’t give up hope of owning your own fur baby. You may still be able to fulfil your dream of being a pooch-parent by adopting a hypoallergenic dog.

While it’s important to note that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic there are dog breeds that are better suited to those who suffer from allergies. Dog allergies are often triggered by dander in a dog's hair. Hypoallergenic dogs tend to have a non-shedding coat, or no hair at all, so the dander that could aggravate your allergies isn’t discarded all over your home.

6 non-shedding, hypoallergenic dogs

1. Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise’s have a tightly curled coat, so the only time dead hair and dander will be released is when they’re being groomed.

2. Poodle

Probably one of the best-known hypoallergenic dogs is the poodle. Like the Bichon Frise, these water-loving dogs have a tightly curled coat that traps hairs and dander, meaning it’s less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

The great news is that poodle crosses, like Labradoodles, Cavoodles, and Cavapoos often share this non-shedding trait. This makes them a great choice if you don’t want a pure breed toy or standard poodle.

3. Schnauzers

While Schnauzers shed, they don’t tend to shed in great amounts at a time. This makes it easy to keep their coat under control with regular grooming.

4. Komondor or Puli dogs

While not as common, you’ll no doubt recognise a Komondor or Puli when you see one. They’re easily identified by their corded coats caused by their curly overcoat and undercoat growing together into cords. Any hair they shed gets trapped in one of these cords rather than being spread around the house.

5. Hairless Chinese Crested dog

One way to reduce the risk of allergens in a dog is for them to not have hair. The Hairless Chinese Crested dog, for example, has very little hair, leading to very little shedding. However, what hair they do have should be regularly groomed.

6. Portuguese Water Dog

These pooches come with former U.S. President Obama’s presidential seal of approval and have a single coat of curled hair that doesn’t shed. Like the other dogs on this list, you still want to make sure they’re regularly groomed to keep their coat in good condition.

What else can I do to reduce allergic reactions?

Because no dog is truly hypoallergenic, it’s still important to take extra care to ensure you aren’t exposed to allergens unnecessarily.

Helpful steps include:

• Grooming your dog regularly.
• Washing your dog regularly with an anti-allergen shampoo.
• Washing your dog’s bedding regularly.
• Using a pet-grade vacuum cleaner in your home.
• Consider installing air filters to help filter any dander out of the air.
• Using antihistamine, or other appropriate drugs, to reduce your allergy symptoms

Before you decide which hypoallergenic dog to adopt, you may still want to test them out to see if they trigger your allergies. Everyone reacts differently and, as none of these breeds is completely hypoallergenic, it’s important to make sure you choose the best breed for you.