Dogs for People with Allergies and How to Live with Minor Allergies to Your Canine Family Member

Dogs are such loyal companions and are members of the family. They add such a void to our lives, bringing us so much love and joy, even in our darkest hours. What can you do if you are allergic to one of these precious animals?

There are a number of breeds that can make your life more complete, even if you suffer from allergies. Some breeds that works in a family with allergy problems may be as follows, which was created by the American Kennel Club:

• Bedlington Terrier

• Bichon Frise'

• Chinese Crested

• Irish Water Spaniel

• Kerry Blue Terrier

• Maltese

• Poodle

• Portuguese Water Dog

• Schnauzer

• Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier

• The Mexican Hairless Dog

This list of dogs is not an all inclusive list but is some of the breeds that have the least amount of dander on their skin, which is the main cause of the allergies you may experience. All dogs do have a certain amount of dander. Dander is the dry skin that flakes off, floats through the air and induces the classics signs of allergy. The breeds recommended have much less dander and rarely affect people suffering from allergies with those typical signs of sneezing, wheezing and watery eyes. A dogs' saliva can also cause allergies in the same manner once it dries.

The most popular of these breeds that are successful family members for people with allergies is the poodle breed of dog or a mix therein, such as some of the hybrid breeds of dog. If you can do your research there are a multitude of breeds for everyone's fancy and particular likes and needs. Such breeds that have been bred with the poodle to produce wonder non-allergenic dogs with great personalities are poodles mixed with Cocker Spaniel (cockapoo), Schnauzer (Schnoodle), Chihuahua (Chipoo), Golden Retriever (Goldenoodle) . . . and the list goes on.

If you do have a dog you absolutely love and still feel a touch of allergic reactions, there are ways to handle the situation without having to get rid of this precious animal that you grew to love . . . a part of the family. There are some steps you can take to ward off allergens from your dog.

• First, get yourself a HE HEPA air filter to clean all particles in the home

• Frequent vacuuming and cleaning is mandatory . . . having minimal rugs and carpets leaves less room for dander to hide

• Bathe your dog twice a month and get your dog groomed regularly to remove dead fun and dry skin. Do not wash your dog more than twice a month as it will dry out the skin even worse.

• With severe allergies, you may want to speak with your doctor regarding medications and shots for yourself to desensitize your immunity to allergies. There seems to be a new allergy drug called Anti-IgE which claims to get to the root of the allergy problem and actually block the antibodies that cause the allergies.

There is always hope out there for all animal lovers as researchers keep finding new ways to help you cope with your beloved pet, never having to face a difficult decision to get rid of a much loved family member.