Nothing to sneeze at
For dog lovers with allergies, there are a host of breeds they may find compatible
As soon as the words were out of President-elect Barack Obama’s mouth at his first news conference, families around the country jumped on the Obama bandwagon. Like the new first family, a new family dog was in order!
And like many families, the Obamas face the challenge of having a dog in their home while one family member is allergic.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, all dogs have the ability to trigger an allergic reaction since there is no dog 100 percent allergy free.
The allergy humans may suffer is to the protein found in the dog’s dander and saliva. The good news is that there are some breeds that produce low dander.
Here are some breeds that are considered hypoallergenic, along with a brief description of each:
Poodle: Toy poodles are highly recommended. Very intelligent and highly trainable.
Portuguese Water Dog: Rare breed that doesn’t shed. Closest relative is a standard poodle. They are intelligent and have webbed toes.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Their color varies as puppies and turns to wheat as adults. Little to no shedding. Wheaten Terriers live about 13 to 16 years.
Yorkshire Terrier: Small, lap-sized dogs that shed little, Yorkies are long-haired with no undercoat. If the Obamas choose one, it won’t be the first time this breed lived in the White House: Richard Nixon had one.
Irish Water Spaniel: Also sheds little, this is a very strong dog who weighs in at 55 to 65 pounds. They are intelligent and alert, have webbed feet and love water.
Basenji: Weighing about 21 to 26 pounds at a height of 15 to 17 inches with a smooth, shiny coat, these dogs live about 12 to 15 years. According to one description they look like “miniature deer” and are alert, affectionate, energetic, curious – and shed little to naught.
Havanese: Very active small and obedient, these dogs don’t shed and don’t require long walks, but do need space to run around in. (Do you have a rose garden they can use?)
Cairn Terrier: Intelligent, lively, strong, loyal and love to dig. These robust dogs weigh only 14 to 18 pounds, are 10 to 13 inches long and live about 12 to 15 years.
American Hairless Terrier: Often mistaken for the Chihuahua, this dog is small and hairless.
Giant Schnauzer: Intelligent, calm, loyal, loving and spirited.