want a dog, but I have allergies

[Anonymous]

My kids are dying for a dog. I think I am ok to have a dog, but when I got tested at the allergist, it came out that I had an allergy. We have always watched my parents dog and I have been ok.... just a little itchy eyes if I touch her a lot and then my face.
Any suggestions? I hate to deprive my 10 and 12 year old sons of a dog in their childhood. I've looked up the less shedding smaller dogs... but we don't want a tiny thing. We want medium size. I hate to go to a breeder. Would love to adopt, but seems like there's less non shedding dogs ion shelters.... Thx for any ideas.

[Anonymous]

Can you borrow someone's for the weekend to see how your allergies react? I wouldn't mind sending my dog over to your house to play.

FWIW I have terrible dog allergies and have a small, non shedding dog. I bathe him weekly and never get swollen, itchy or sneeze around him (unless I really rub my face in his fur). Inlaws have large dogs that do shed and I'm a disaster there, but I take Zyrtec and it makes most of the issues go away.

[Anonymous]

Oh and if you find a breed you'd like, try the breed specific rescues. My dog is a purebred and it was in his contract that I return him to the breeder instead of an animal shelter if I could no longer care for him. That's why so few purebreds are in the shelters. The breed specific rescues do a better job of finding good families too IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and if you find a breed you'd like, try the breed specific rescues. My dog is a purebred and it was in his contract that I return him to the breeder instead of an animal shelter if I could no longer care for him. That's why so few purebreds are in the shelters. The breed specific rescues do a better job of finding good families too IMO.

There are tons of purebreds in shelters...labs, beagles, pitbulls...and lots of older purebreds of every breed. I don't know WTF you are talking about. Have you ever visited a shelter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh and if you find a breed you'd like, try the breed specific rescues. My dog is a purebred and it was in his contract that I return him to the breeder instead of an animal shelter if I could no longer care for him. That's why so few purebreds are in the shelters. The breed specific rescues do a better job of finding good families too IMO.

There are tons of purebreds in shelters...labs, beagles, pitbulls...and lots of older purebreds of every breed. I don't know WTF you are talking about. Have you ever visited a shelter?

I have visited shelters. And no, most dogs are not purebreds or non shedding dogs.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this inout... I do see a lot of labs in shelters and while I would love a lab, I just can't do it. That short, oily fur seems to affect me the most. The bummer is that I really like mutts the best... but it's hard to find a combo mutt on a shelter tht doesn't shed! Would need 2 dog breeds who don't shed mixed together.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh and if you find a breed you'd like, try the breed specific rescues. My dog is a purebred and it was in his contract that I return him to the breeder instead of an animal shelter if I could no longer care for him. That's why so few purebreds are in the shelters. The breed specific rescues do a better job of finding good families too IMO.

There are tons of purebreds in shelters...labs, beagles, pitbulls...and lots of older purebreds of every breed. I don't know WTF you are talking about. Have you ever visited a shelter?

I have visited shelters. And no, most dogs are not purebreds or non shedding dogs.

Way to miss the point.

[Anonymous]

Go to your allergist and do the immunotherapy first. Also, do you know for sure you kids aren't allergic? It runs in families, unfortunately!

[Anonymous]

Getting a dog is so fun - you and your kids are going to have a great time!

Overstock has a surprisingly great pet adoption website - you can search for hypoallergenic dogs on it:

https://pets.overstock.com/pets/Alexandria-VA/Dog,Hypoallergenic,/species,petqualities,/22314?distance=100

You might not have great luck finding the exact dog you're seeking if you just stop by a shelter - though you might! - but if you call a few rescues and shelters and let them know what you're looking for, I'm sure they will help you out.

I'd recommend getting in touch with Lost Dog and Cat to start - they have great connections in the rescue community.

[Anonymous]

I'm allergic to dogs, and we got a standard poodle. I am not allergic to him, and I love him to pieces. My kids would have preferred a smaller dog, but dh wanted a big one. Yes, I am very allergic to labs or golden retrievers.

[Anonymous]

Consider a Tibetan Terrier. They are non shed and hypoallergenic. Medium size 20-30 pounds and when raised with kids are great with them. Very hearty and healthy breed. We have had a female and now have a male who has yet to meet a stranger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm allergic to dogs, and we got a standard poodle. I am not allergic to him, and I love him to pieces. My kids would have preferred a smaller dog, but dh wanted a big one. Yes, I am very allergic to labs or golden retrievers.

We are did you get your standard poodle? That's the type of dog I am looking for

[Anonymous]

Where, not we are.

[Anonymous]

Our friends have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and he's great. They're about 35 - 45 pounds. Also breeders are crossing standard poodles with so many breeds now to give a hypoallergenic dog, besides goldendoodles and labradoodles.

ie. Bernese with Poodle = Bernedoodles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our friends have a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and he's great. They're about 35 - 45 pounds. Also breeders are crossing standard poodles with so many breeds now to give a hypoallergenic dog, besides goldendoodles and labradoodles.

ie. Bernese with Poodle = Bernedoodles

Aka mutt.

I'm not trying to be a Debbie downer, my parents have a cockapoo and I love her to pieces. I am also mildly allergic to dogs, and I'm constantly rubbing all over her with no problems when I'm at their house, which is weekly.

But a XXX poo or XXX doodle is a mutt, not a recognized AKC breed, and as such OP don't fall for these "breeders" who are charging ridiculous amounts of money for "designer dogs".