Pet Allergies? Try a Hypoallergenic Dog!

Allergies are horrible! So many people suffer from allergies, and if you're one of those people, you know how irritating the sneezing, the watery eyes, and other allergy symptoms can be. It seems to be especially taxing for pet lovers who find that they have an allergy to pets, which an estimated 10% of the US population seem to suffer from.

It's actually pet dander that is the most common cause of pet allergies. Pets are constantly shedding dander, microscopic particles of dead skin, so small that you can't even tell that they are circulating throughout the air or lingering on your carpets and furniture. It's actually quite similar to, but much smaller than human dandruff.

It can be horrible to learn that you're allergic to your favorite pet. This seems especially true of dog lovers, who enjoy the attention that their dog wants to lavish upon them. One way to get around this is with a hypoallergenic dog. Before you scoff or claim it's impossible for a dog to be hypoallergenic, you should know that these dogs do in fact exist. However, no dog is completely hypoallergenic. Every individual reacts differently to different breeds of dog, so what's a perfect allergy-free pet for one may not be so perfect for another.

Several terriers, like the Cairn Terrier, the Kerry Blue Terrier, and the West Highland White Terrier are all said to be hypoallergenic. Toy dogs such as the Yorkshire Terrier and its snow-coated companion, the Maltese are also hypoallergenic. Both the Standard Poodle and Schnauzers and their miniature and toy varieties boast the added bonus of being hypoallergenic, as do the Tibetan Terrier, the Basenji, the Havanese, and Shih-Tzu. There are several other breeds that are hypoallergenic, and a good breeder who has done their research on the breed they offer will be able to tell you whether or not that cute little puppy you've got your eye on is a hypoallergenic breed.

Interestingly enough, the breeds that often get the most praise as being hypoallergenic are the West Highland White Terriers and the Maltese - both white coated breeds with relatively low dander counts. Perhaps its their pristine coats that impress allergy sufferers. After all, white does tend to equate 'clean'. However, one of the most widely sought after hypoallergenic dogs is the Maltese's dark-coated counterpart, the Yorkshire Terrier.

Finding the right dog for a pet allergy sufferer takes research and careful planning. Before you bring the puppy of your dreams home, it is always a good idea to visit the breeder's home and see how your allergies react to the breed. Pet allergies can be a big irritation to allergy sufferers, but lucky for dog lovers, hypoallergenic dogs give them the opportunity to have a pet that won't interfere with their allergies and will give them a lifetime of enjoyment!