I’ve seen so much misinformation out there about allergies. As a sufferer, I’m rather ticked off about it. Today, I’m specifically talking about dogs. There’s been a disturbing trend claiming that there are no true hypoallergenic dogs. Or that all short haired dogs are hypoallergenic.
These are lies.
The misinformation trend began (or perhaps merely intensified) around the time that crossbreeds started touting themselves as hypoallergenic. I suspect it was a push-back response from the breeders and sellers of non-hypoallergenic dogs. As people with allergies sought a dog breed that would NOT leave them miserable, the other breeders saw their income sharply decline and tried to combat this by spreading misinformation. I’ve seen similar tactics used in reptile breeding, it’s not a unique phenomenon. But it is infuriating to be severely allergic and have someone shove a dog in your face claiming that it won’t hurt you ……… as you freaking turn blue in the face because you can’t breath.
But even more insidious are the uneducated or unscrupulous breeders who insist that all dogs with at least one true hypoallergenic parent will be hypoallergenic.
Which is also a lie. Each cross breed has a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting the hypoallergenic type of hair. I’d just like to take a moment to address all of these issues very succinctly.
Point One: Crossbreeds are mutts. When you cross, say, a Poodle with a Labrador, each mutt puppy has a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting the hypoallergenic gene from the Poodle. This does not mean that 1 in 4 dogs WILL be hypo. It just means they had only 25% chance of inheriting the trait to begin with. It’s possible for the entire litter to NOT inherit the trait.
Point Two: There IS a hypoallergenic trait TO BE inherited. Dogs that don’t shed produce a different type of dander. Allergy sufferers are not allergic to this variety. Therefore there ARE hypoallergenic dogs. (That being said, it IS possible to react to dog urine and cat urine. So if you have a poorly trained dog that is going in the house all the time and you are not cleaning it up properly … you’ll have issues. If you’re a good owner, this is not a problem. )
Point Three: The claim that there are no hypoallergenic dogs is based on the idea that dogs bring in allergens from outside in their fur. That has nothing to do with the dog’s fur, dander, or genetics. If the dog is dirty and covered in pollen that is the owners fault. Not the dog. Breeders and information websites should make a much stronger effort to base their statements about allergies on stronger science-based facts rather than supposition.
If you’re allergic to pollen, wash your damn dog.
This has been a Public Service Announcement. Now here’s is a list of Hypoallergenic Dogs. It is not complete by any means, there are many more, but it’s a decent start. Have fun finding the right puppy for you and your family, whether you have allergies or not.
Hypoallergenic Dogs:
Poodle
Bichon Frise
Airdale
Cairn Terrier
Westie Terrier
Yorkie (Yorkshire) Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Barbet
Maltese
lagotto romagnolo
Australian Terrier
Australian Silky Terrier
Afghan Hound
brussels griffon
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Blue Kerry Terrier
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier
Puli
Cesky Terrier
coton de tulear
Scottish Terrier
Portugese Water Dog
Welsh Terrier
sealyham terrier
Schnauzer
Havanese
Chin
Shih tzu