Dogs are among the most popular pets in the United States and are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend.” But, what should you do if you adore dogs but are allergic to them? You do what many people do: Choose from various hypoallergenic dog breeds. They’re said to be the greatest breeds for persons with dog allergies since they shed less than other breeds.
If you do have allergies and want to have a dog, you’re probably researching for information on which breeds to avoid to reduce your suffering to a minimum. However, sorting through them may be challenging, with over 175 registered dog breeds and many more pending approval.
Learn more about dog allergies, signs, and medication, as well as if particular breeds are more susceptible than others to trigger allergies.
What Causes Allergies From Dogs?
Pet allergies impact 10% to 20% of the world’s population. While humans are twice as likely to be allergic to cats as dogs, dog allergies may occasionally be more severe.
An allergic response is an excessive immune system response.
The body’s first line of protection against external substances is the immune system, yet it can become too sensitive to specific elements in a person’s surroundings.
A dog allergy occurs when a person’s immune system overreacts to proteins in the dog’s urine, saliva, or dander (dead skin cells).
You might believe that short-haired dogs do not worsen allergy symptoms or that long-haired, fluffy dogs are the worst for allergies. But, on the other hand, you’ve probably heard that smaller tail-waggers are the greatest canines for people with allergies.
The fact is that determining which dog breeds trigger allergies is indeed a bit more difficult than a dog’s coat length or general size.
Symptoms of Canine Allergies
According to studies, around 15% of Americans have a pet allergy. Although these statistics, many allergy patients will purchase a family pet. (*)
If you’re unclear whether you have a dog allergy, spend some time with a four-legged companion — and keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Eyes that are itchy, irritated, and watery
- Nose discomfort
- Sneezing
- Face pain and pressure
- Itching in the mouth or throat
- Breathing difficulty
- Difficulty sleeping
The Worst Dogs For Allergies
We were able to pool our resources and create a list of 20 canines that are most prone to cause a reaction. We’ve included a brief description of each breed as well.
Here are 20 of the worst dog breeds to avoid if you have allergies.
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is so well for their lovely coats, but thanks to the amount of fur they shed, they require significant grooming. This dog was bred to exist in subzero weather and has a robust double coat to keep warm.
Their thick double coat sheds entirely twice a year, and it’s difficult to think that one dog can shed that much hair. This hair, along with the dander it produces, is a significant red flag, ranking one of the worst dog breeds for people with allergies.
German Shepherd
Whether you choose a short-haired or long-haired German Shepherd, you will notice a lot of dog hair in your home. This is because these four-legged protectors are major shedders, always losing hair and dander.
Furthermore, this breed sheds excessively twice a year with the changing seasons. German Shepherds are excellent companions, service dogs, and watchdogs, but they are one of the worst dog breeds for people with allergies.
Labrador Retriever
The ever-dependable, loving Labrador Retriever would make an excellent family companion – for those who are not allergic to dogs. Don’t be deceived by the short, smooth coat; it conceals a second layer. These bow-wows are well-known for their profuse shedding.
If you have a Labrador, your house will be constantly coated with dog hair. Those with a moderate pet allergy may discover that their symptoms intensify in the presence of this breed.
Because of their excessive shedding, you are far more exposed to high dander levels.
Labradors shed all year, but it increases in the spring when they shed their thick winter coat in preparation for the warmer months.
Akita
The Akita is a lovely Japanese breed that creates a loving and vigilant company. Their robust double coat is thick, and they lose hair all year. They “blow” their coats in the spring and summer to correspond with the temperature decline. You’ll be showered with fur and dander during every step at this stage. There is no refuge for allergy sufferers!
This breed of dog may weigh more than 125 pounds, making it a large dog with many furs to lose. Many Akita parents are astonished by how much hair their dog sheds.
Akita pups, on the other hand, can be difficult to housetrain. Another reason to avoid introducing this tail-wagger in your house is because urine includes the same proteins that cause allergies.
Basset Hound
The Basset Hound is a loving breed that prefers being close to its master, and it is also a mild to heavy shedder that will leave a lot of hair around your house all year. Brushings can help minimize dander, but full elimination is practically impossible.
Because Basset Hounds are famous for being tough to house train, if your dog has an incident and urinates in the household, this will also provoke allergy flare-ups.
Pug
Although you may not think a Pug would be a challenge for allergy sufferers, they are among the worst dog breeds for allergies.
While they are small and adorable, they have a thick double coat with an undercoat that sheds twice a year. This yearly occurrence can leave a lot of hair all over your house.
Pugs enjoy showing affection and will lick your face, depositing allergy-inducing saliva all around your skin. Pugs’ heads are usually covered with saliva due to their facial anatomy – flat faces and scrunched-up skin. If you are allergic to dogs, that isn’t what you want.
Chow Chow
The massive Chow Chow has an extremely thick double coat that keeps them warm during Siberian winters. Unfortunately, this also means they shed a lot of fur and dander regularly, making them undesirable for a household with allergy sufferers.
They’re also territorial and protective, making them a demanding breed to own in more ways than one.
Boston Terrier
Because the Boston Terrier is a small dog with a large head, it can only be born through C-section. These canines are seasonal shedders, meaning they only shed hair during particular year periods.
Whenever they shed, they leave a lot of hair around the house, and this hair appears to contain an additional dosage of dander that might harm those who don’t usually have allergy responses.
Saint Bernard
Saint Bernards are the gentle giants of the canine world, with a calm and kind nature. They are, however, massive, heavy shedding canines.
This dog breed has a dual coat of fur, and when combined with their enormous size, you might be exposed to a lot of dander. As a result, this dog may not be suitable for someone allergic to dogs.
Pekingese
Because Pekinese are small, you may believe they’d be a suitable option for allergy sufferers. Unfortunately, its lengthy coat sheds hair and dander all over your house. The primary concern with Pekingese is that they can be difficult to house train.
This means that urine stains may remain in your home, and eliminating all traces of these stains from carpets and furniture can be difficult.
When your pet has an incident, clean it up as quickly as possible. Wear gloves and sterilize the area with bleach or an enzyme cleaner from a pet store to eliminate any traces of urine.
Welsh Corgi
The Welsh Corgi is a tiny herding dog that sheds excessively. This abnormal shedding will intensify throughout the shedding season in spring and fall, and you’ll start wondering how your pet gets all of the hair. Unfortunately, these dogs also lick your face and violate housetraining, spreading allergies further into the air.
Siberian Husky
Siberian Huskies are gorgeous, energetic canines. They also have a thick double coat that defends them from temperature variations. Unfortunately, their coat sheds twice a year when the seasons change, and at this time, there will be a massive amount of fur and dander throughout your home!
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker Spaniels are indeed a small or medium-sized dog breed that sheds moderately. However, don’t be fooled by this; Cocker Spaniels shed a lot of dander and aren’t a good companion for allergy-prone dog owners.
While adorable, this dog is far from hypoallergenic, losing fur daily. However, the greatest difficulty is that this breed is vulnerable to allergies, which causes dry and flaky skin. As a result, regular and chronic scratching occurs, aggravating dander levels in your house.
In summary, a dog and a guy with allergies are unlikely to get along.
Pomeranian
Pomeranians are little dogs with thick, hairy coats. Although it is popular among many, particularly celebrities, it is also a big shedder and will leave lots of fur in your house. Shedding normally occurs between the ages of 4-6 months and continues until they possess their adult coat. The adult coat sheds all year, mainly in the fall and spring.
Boxer
Boxers are mild to medium shedders, leaving only a tiny amount of hair in the home all year.
You may try to prevent dander by brushing their hair frequently, but hair is just a minor part of the issue. The true cause of allergies while owning a Boxer is their excessive drooling, which can dry and transmit allergy-causing proteins into the air.
This breed, like the pug, has a similar facial shape and belongs to the brachycephalic group of dogs – wide or short-headed. However, their genetic make-up makes them drool much more than other breeds.
Bloodhound
You don’t have to be concerned about dog hair if you have a Bloodhound. The Bloodhound is a low-shedding dog breed with an easy-care short coat.
Bloodhounds, on the other hand, drool a lot, and the same protein that triggers an allergic reaction in hair is also found in saliva. The protein escapes into the air when the saliva dries.
Because of its floppy, drool-loving jowls, this canine has entered the list of worst dog breeds for allergies.
On the other hand, these bow-wows have an incredible sense of smell, making them perfect hunting dogs. They’re also quite friendly and excellent with children — ideal family dogs if you have no allergies!
The Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees is a huge working dog with a robust fur coat that allows it to survive in cold weather. As a result, this breed loses its coat often and can leave a lot of hair around the house, particularly during the spring and fall shedding seasons. Because the dog is enormous, keeping the fur from falling off is hard.
Newfoundland
Although Newfoundland is a joyful and easygoing canine friend, they are known for their excessive coat shedding.
It sheds hair all year and will blast the coat twice yearly in the spring and autumn to prepare for the following season. Heavy shedding breeds, like the Newfoundland, are almost certain to cause allergies in people allergic to pet dander.
In addition to losing its long, thick fur and shedding a lot of dander, the Newfoundland drools, releasing saliva around your house and potentially triggering your pet allergy.
Dachshund
The Daschund is a unique dog breed with short legs and long bodies. It is a significantly shedding dog regardless of hair type and will spread a lot of fur around your home. Some people wrongly assume that short-haired dogs are more hypoallergenic than long-haired dogs; however, the dander is at the end of the fur, and they both shed at the same rates.
Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher does have a single short coat that sheds moderately. It does not lose a lot of hair when the seasons change like other dog breeds, but it does shed all year, which might cause allergies. Brushing regularly can help minimize dander in your house, but its efficiency is limited.
Pet Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment
If you have allergy symptoms after interacting with a dog, consult your doctor and consider routine screening for allergies.
Your doctor may advise you to decrease or eliminate your contact with the potential allergen to see whether your symptoms improve. You’ll be able to tell whether there’s any improvement after some time away from the dog. (*)
Allergy testing includes the following:
- Skin examinations: A skin prick test may be included. A little quantity of the allergen (proteins contained in dog dander) is poked or injected underneath the epidermal layer of the skin (skin prick testing). An allergy is generally indicated by a visible response, such as redness and swelling.
- Blood tests are performed to determine whether or not antibodies to the allergens are detected. Blood tests can also evaluate white blood cell count, including eosinophils, a white cell that tends to rise in reaction to allergies.
FAQ
Conclusion
Diagnosing dog allergies could be upsetting or frustrating, especially if you like dogs.
For most dog owners, a puppy is more than simply an animal that needs time and energy. A dog is a family member who offers joy and unconditional devotion.
Though identifying and retaining the ideal breeds of dogs for your allergy will need additional effort, the effort will be worthwhile.
Taking extra precautions to reduce exposure to dander and other allergens helps people with allergies to enjoy the wonderful company of man’s best friend.
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*photo by Wirestock – depositphotos