What is a hypoallergenic dog?

Most people call a hypoallergenic dog incorrectly as a hyperallergenic dog. Most people get this most important part wrong, just from a misunderstanding of what the words mean.

The word “hypo” means low or little, such as hypo-allergenic. Hypo allergenic means that there is low, or little, allergens.

Hyper means high, or lots. So, if the word was hyper-allergenic, that would mean that there are lots of allergens. Such is the case with most “normal” breeds of dogs that get us in trouble with out allergies in the first place.

So, a hypoallergenic dog is a dog that sheds less hair than other breeds. These dogs also have less dander and produce less allergens in their saliva too. Keep in mind that all pets, just like humans, shed skin and hair. This is what dander really is, the flakes of skin and particles of hair that are naturally shed.

Hypoallergenic dogs carry less dander and shed less hair that most other dogs. Keep in mind, however, that your cleanliness is also important no matter what pet you have. Allergens can become stuck in carpets, bedding and clothing, so keeping a clean house is really important.

Hypoallergenic Dog Tips

If you live in a small apartment or home, you are probably more likely to suffer from allergy attacks. Why? Well, the dander, dust and other allergens are more concentrated into a smaller space. If you are looking at owning a hypoallergenic dog, then you really should choose a small to medium sized dog. Breeds such as the Poodle, Labradoodle and Bishon Frise are the best known smaller hypoallergenic dogs. They only need to be bathed about once a month. These dogs, however, might not be the best around smaller children as they can get territorial and often require lots of attention.

One of the best tips for hypoallergenic dogs is to keep a clean house. We mentioned it before, but like any living condition, just because they are considered hypoallergenic doesn’t mean that they don’t shed. Sometimes getting rid of carpet can help save your allergies. Using a water trap vacuum will also help trap dust often times a regular vacuum would let back out. If you don’t like giving your dog a bath, taking them to a professional groomer would also be a great idea.

Top Three Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds

Allergy sufferers and pet lovers often ask what the best breeds of hypo allergenic dogs would be to own. While each person must ultimately decide on what dog they like the best, these are generally the best breeds based on their hair, dander and allergens that they produce.

The Chinese Crested is a different type of hypoallergenic dog. You can either choose the hairless or the “puffed” version. I know, it sounds strange. The hairless is just what it sounds like. The puffed version is similar to a powder puff, almost looking like a poodle. The hairless Crested can suffer from acne and sunburn, so you will have to learn to take care of this problem. If you aren’t really sure what this dog looks like, it has won the ugliest dog contest for the last several years!

The Crested puff has a full coat of long hair that is soft. Don’t worry, however, it doesn’t shed very much, or very often.

Another good breed is the Kerry Blue Terrier. This dog has a flat head and a coat that is similar to the poodle or Maltese. This dog will get a blue sheen to its fur when it reaches adulthood, hence the name “Kerry Blue”. This was at one time a popular hunting dog as well and is well suited as a companion.

The Kerry Blue doesn’t shed and needs to be groomed at least every two months. There is no undercoat to this dog, so you won’t have to worry about other allergic problems from dander. You should keep this dog indoors, especially int he winter because of the cold air and the lack of hair on the belly.

The Schnauzer is a great breed because it, like the Kerry Blue Terrier, doesn’t shed at all. This dog also requires routine grooming appointments to keep its boxy appearance in check.

Most hypoallergenic dogs will live to a decent age, probably around 10 to 15 years. You should really decide if you want to try living with a hypoallergenic dog. Depending upon how severe your allergies are, you might want to reconsider or check with your allergy specialist before getting one. If you do get one, you may want to consider looking into the return policy, if there is one.

Hypoallergenic dogs are great pets for people with allergies. However, there are some extra precautions and information you need to know in order to make a wise decision about owning a hypoallergenic dog.

You can be the best house keeper, vacuuming all the time and cleaning, however there are still allergens that can cause indoor allergies that will make you miserable. One of the problems that more homeowners are facing is that the construction of their homes is so much more energy efficient that the home doesn’t “breathe” on its own. Older home construction wasn’t as tight as the homes being built today, so it causes more pollutants and allergens to be trapped inside the home.

Even your strict cleaning routine can cause indoor allergies because of the chemicals that are used in them.

The biggest indoor allergy cause is often times from your pet. Whether you have a dog, cat or another animal, every animal has dander that can cause allergies. Even with the best cleaning routine and frequent vacuuming, pet dander still is in the air and is often built up in your air ducts as well.

Your air ducts are a breeding ground for indoor allergies because the trap dust that you often can’t see or clean. When you have a forced air furnace or central air system, the dust and pet dander are recirculated through the home by your air ducts. One way to help alleviate this indoor allergy problem is to have your air ducts cleaned routinely, maybe once a year or more often depending upon the severity of your allergies.

If you love the smell of an air freshener, you might be putting yourself up for another cause of indoor allergies. Indoor air fresheners, such as the plug in type or others, are made up of chemicals and can cause reactions and allergic problems.

Smoking inside the home is bad as well. Research has shown that second hand smoke can cause cancer and other problems. The left over odors and residue from tobacco is a carcinogen and can cause allergic reactions to tobacco in children, as they are highly sucseptible to this.

While you can’t get rid of every indoor allergy cause on the face of the earth, you can know more about the causes of them. If you limit your exposure to these allergens, you can find the allergy relief that you have been looking for. Even using the best home air purifiers sometimes won’t help get rid of all of the issues that you can have with allergies in your home.