Taking care of any dog can be rewarding and fun. But there’s a great deal of responsibility as well. Small dogs can require more attention from their owners, they can’t be left alone for more than a day, and they may have health problems as they age. Smaller dogs also do not require as much exercise as other breeds. Small dog breeds such as the poodle, maltese, shiz tu, and bichon frise are considered hypoallergenic because they don’t shed as much as other breeds and they produce less dander.

Small dog breeds want to spend a lot of time with their owners. This may mean being in the same room, sitting on your lap, or being next to your bed at night. Depending on your dog’s personality, you may need to adjust your schedule in order to spend more time at home with your dog. As your dog ages, it may need less attention, but as a rule, small dogs will demand a lot more of your time thanBigger breeds.

You will have to keep your dog occupied with toys and games so that it does not get bored. Some small dogs enjoy completing tasks and are considered ‘working dogs.’ If you notice that your dog seems lethargic or does not want to play with their toys anymore, you may need to purchase them some new ones. Playing fetch each day mimics a task which will keep your dog happy.

When you need to travel, you should board your dog so that it won’t feel lonely. Dogs that are left alone for a few days will usually not eat their food in order to conserve it. They may become angry or nervous and destroy your home or they may make themselves sick with worry. If you do not want to board your dog, you should have someone pet sit or at least check in on the dog everyday.

As small dogs age, they may be susceptible to many health problems. Because of their small frame, they may suffer broken or fractured bones, arthritis, and other motor skill problems. Loss of eye sight, sense of smell, and hair loss are also common. While these breeds tend to live fifteen to eighteen years on average, they may have health problems for a few years.

If you are looking for a dog to run with on the beach or take for long walks, then you may need to look elsewhere for a dog. Small breeds, even thoughthey love to run, play, and jump, don’t need as much exercise. Walking the dog around the block is enough as the dogs will become exhausted and agitated. Some small breeders such as the terrier can walk and run for a Littlewhile longer, but they still don’t have to energy that Largerbreeds have. 

When looking for a hypoallergenic dog, you should Consideryour lifestyle and what you want from a pet. If you want to walk your dog short distances each day and play fetch, then a small breed may be for you.

If you are looking to get a dog that is lessprone tocause allergies look for the hypoallergenic dogs. These dogs since they tend to be smaller, will need more attention then other dogs. These dogs won’t cause you to have allergies as bad as the other dogs you may have because they do onot shed and don’t have undercoats. These dogs are dogs are very well liked by those that commonly suffer from allergies and are hypoallergenic: Irish Water Spaniel, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and Bedlington Terrier.

If you are one of those looking for aMore massivebreed of hypoallergenic dogs the water spaniel will do. This breed has short hair and doesn’t shed hair so they should be ok. If you were to get one of these dogs you would have to keep up with its coat and brush it every once and a while.

There are four main types of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, the Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English, and American. The difference in each of these dogs is their sizes range. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a short coat that does not shed much during the day. These dogs as well as any other dogs will need to be brushed to prevent rashes and such. This breed is a very good dog and they’ll be nice to anyone. They love to run outside and be around people inside the house as well. These dogs are not the ideal if you live in a condo or apartment, so you may need to move because they’ll love it if you get a house with a large backyard. This is the breed of dog if you are looking at these types of dogs.

For a smaller breed you may want to considerthe Bedlington Terriers which are more diminutive than the Irish Water Spaniel and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier; they have shorter coats so they’ll need a good brushing every week to maintain a healthy coat. To insure a healthy coat you will need to either be able to groom your dog or take them and have them groomed.

These types are not the only hypoallergenic breeds that you can choosefromthere are lots of other breeds that won’t aggravate your allergies at all. If you live in a small condo than you might just be considering to get a smaller dog. On the other hand if you’re looking to buy a home then you can get one of these Largerbreeds of dogs. These dogs will need to be brushed to maintain their healthy coat because unlike other dogs they don’t shed their coats. So if you get one be sure to take good care of it and feed it the right mixture of foods and be sure to exercise them too.

Dog lovers with allergies are always looking for that special breed of dog that won’t cause an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, there are NO non-allergic dogs. All dogs can cause an allergic reaction; it has Littleto do with how much hair they’ve and more to do with their diet and how they’re groomed. However, there are some breeds (in general, the female of the breed is better) which come close to being hypoallergenic and there are some breeds that are hairless or naturally do not shed hair or shed very little. What they all have in common is they require regular grooming all year round.

ABOUT DANDER AND ALLERGIES:

Allergies are not a direct result of too much hair and even dogs with fur like human hair can cause allergies. The sebaceous glands are the culprit. Dogs, like other animals and humans, secrete an oily lubricant (sebum) through their sebaceous glands, which keeps their skin supple and their coat (hair) shiny. The allergen in the secretion causes the allergic reaction and is present in dog’s saliva and dander. As the dog ages and the skin dries, more sebum is produced and the scaly bits of dried skin are released, resulting in dander (or dandruff in humans). Be careful when buying a puppy because you might not have an immediate allergic reaction. Puppy’s skin is supple and sebum isn’t released so they’ve no dander, but you might eventually get an allergic reaction as they age and dander forms.

A FEW SUGGESTED BREEDS FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS:

Basenji

ShedTiny or no hair, have no doggy smell and they groom themselves like cats; however, they do not do well with non-canine pets. They are energetic and easily trainable.

Bichon Frise

Shed Littleor no hair but must be groomed once a month. They are affectionate, intelligent and independent. They love people and children and are easily trainable.

Chinese Crested

Shed Littleor no hair, have no doggy odor and are not prone toticks or fleas. They are affectionate, lovable, energetic and easily trainable. They are not barkers.

Poodle

ShedTiny or no hair and are intelligent and easily trainable. They have a good temperament, but if untrained, they tend to bark a lot. Also, be careful with theblended breeds.

Schnauzer

ShedTiny or no hair, are great house pets and love children. They will bark and make good watchdogs and mouse catchers.

Shih Tzu

ShedTiny or no hair and is alert and spunky. They make good watchdogs even though they are small.

Yorkshire Terrier

ShedTiny or no hair, but their temperament is that of the Terrier breed. They are good watchdogs but tend to be snappish if teased or surprised. They are simple to train, but aTiny stubborn.

Xoloitzcuintle

Hairless breed sheds no hair and the coated breed sheds very little. They come in three sizes and are very intelligent and easily trainable.

COST:

It is difficult to find a price range for any of them without going to each breeder’s site and requesting information, but suffice it to state that pure-bred dogs will cost you several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the breed. You can, however, check with the Humane Society and other dog adoption shelters because it is estimated that about forty percent of all dogs in those shelters are pure-bred dogs.

Resources:

www.consumerhealthreviews.com

www.dogchannel.com

www.dog-abc.com

www.dogs.about.com

www.angelfire.com

www.dogbreedinfo.com

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For people that love dogs, yet have allergic reactions to them, there is a easy alternative. If you can’t do without a four legged “friend,” choosing a hypoallergenic dog is the ideal alternative. For those who are scratching their heads, a hypoallergenic dog isn’t a special breed of dogs. They are dogs that generate less (hypo) allergens (allergenic) in the air, which has a lot to do with the dog’s physical size and length of its fur.

For allergy sufferers, finding an allergy-friendly dog is the most reasonable choice. This doesn’t mean that the dog will betotally allergy proof, but it does mean that this type of dog tends to generate less amounts of allergy causing elements.

It is impossible to find a dog that causes no degree of allergens.

Allergy reactions from dogs can consist of skin rashes, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing and a stuffy nose. More serious reactions are wheezing, asthma attacks and not being able to breathe deeply.

These can be frightening reactions and choosing not to have a pet, for these reasons, out ways the benefits of having one. For dog lovers, who suffer with allergies, this is a hard fact to accept.

The reason some people suffer from easy pet hair is because of their immune system. They are hypersensitive to the components found on the dog hair. Many people think it is the animal hair that causes the problem, but in reality it is what attaches itself to the pet hair.

The dog’s hair picks up pollen and dust attaching itself to the hair follicle. With normal movements, the elements are distracted on whatever it comes across.

Hence,Bigger and longer haired dogs have a tendency to generate more allergens than smaller and shorter haired dogs Therefore, theMore massive the dog, the more allergy components it will distract.

If choosing a dog from a breeder, try spending at least 30 minutes playing with the dog and being in the dog’s area to see how you react to it.

If you’ve a severe reaction in that amount of time, then you can be assured that having it as a live-in would not be a good idea.

If you’re choosing a breeder who lives a substantial distance away, send a clothing item to the breeder and ask them to place it near the dog for a day and send it back to you in a plastic bag. Wear the clothing item or breathe in the smell and see how you react.

If no reaction, you might wantto take into account visiting the breeder in person. If you do get a negative reaction, it’s best not to waste your time visiting in person. The allergic reaction would probably be worse if you were around the real thing.

Another thing you might wantto take into account when choosing a dog is the temperament.

You want toselect a dog that’ll meet your needs, and you in turn, can meet its needs as well. Not only do you want toselect an allergy-friendly dog, but if you’ve a family, you want one that’s family-friendly as well.

Here are a few breeds to consider: Bichon Frise, Irish Terrier, Poodles.

These dogs enjoy family surroundings, they’re excellent with kids and they make great watch dogs. They also have low shedding levels.

If you’re a single adult, you might want to considera dog that’s happy with minimal people surroundings. A couple of good choices would be Chihuahua or a Portuguese Water Dog. These dogs tend to bond with one person rather than several.

Here are a few dogs to stay away from due to their high shedding ability. They are: Cocker Spaniels, Irish Setters, Dachshunds, Basset hounds, German Shepherds and Afghan Hounds.

If youselect an indoor dog, it’s ideal toselect one that can be groomed regularly or that you can bath easily. It’s best to bath them at least 1-2 times per week.

This will reduce the amount of pet dander. Taking care of your dog’s hair is an important part of reducing the components that cause allergies.

You can evenselect a hairless dog such as the Chinese Crested, American Hairless Terrier or the Mexican Hairless.

Some people claim that certain breeds bring out the worst in their allergies than others. In choosing a breed, be open to find the best one that fits your lifestyle.

The Portuguese Water Dog is a lesser known breed with manyone-of-a-kindand appealing qualities. They are a highly energetic breed with a long history as a working dog. The Portuguese Water Dog is believed to descend from the same original dogs as the Poodle, the Kerry Blue Terrier, and the Irish Water Spaniel. The first reference to a water dog similar in type and function as the Portuguese water dog is in text by a monk in 1297, when a dog in a trim similar to the lion cut seen in the current day show ring on Portuguese Water Dogs and Poodles assisted a drowning sailor to shore.

That the first reference to a Portuguese Water Dog or their immediate ancestors includes a water rescue would not be a surprise to fans of the breed. When he was the companion of Portuguese fisherman, the dogs actually herded fish into the nets, retrieved lost equipment including damaged nets, and acted as messenger dogs between boat. Their work ethic and value as a partner to Portuguese fisherman made the Portuguese Water Dog and inseparable part of the fishing culture along the coasts of Portugal.

The Portuguese Water Dog is a moderate sized dog, with males averaging a height of 20-22 inches at the shoulder, females 17-22 inches. Females weigh from 35-50 pounds, while males may be up to 60 pounds. They are slightly rectangular, a Littlelonger in body than they are tall, and of a moderate build that provides the strength for work without being coarse or too refined. Overall, they’re blocky from head to tail their head is noted for breadth, and is like an assembly of squares and rectangles.

Perhaps one of the distinctions of the Portuguese Water Dog and the root of some of their popularity is that they are a single coated dogs. Considered by dog fanciers to be “hypoallergenic” in the same manner as Poodles and Bichon Frises because their minimal shedding makes them a dog that many allergy suffers can tolerate. This does vary by individual, but the reduced shedding and water dog tendency not to have dry/flaky skin if fed a proper diet, reduces their allergen production.

The Portuguese Water Dog is still a dog maintaining a working temperament. They are not a dog that does well if left alone all day in the house or in a kennel. The Portuguese Water Dog requires adequate exercise, training, and a “job” whether that be formal obedience and agility work or some aspect of your life that they’re allowed to aid with daily. They do ideal when they can be a Velcro-dog attached most days to one or more of their family members. They generally do well with children if socialized with them early-on, and do require a significant commitment to socialize in various situations as puppies to develop into the most stable dog possible.

Most owners note that you must have a sense of humor to live with a Portuguese Water Dog, as they most certainly do. As with many intelligent working breeds, the Portuguese Water Dog requires a certain investment of yourself to keep, but they return that investment many times over with their joyous company.

I have grown up with dogs and have had a pretty broad range of dogs sniff my crotch. And of all the wet noses and warm tongues to have woken me, my two miniature Schnauzers are my favorites (you know I still love you Monty). Miniature Schnauzers are small (hence the miniature), very swift to learn, very active, very affectionate and best of all, non-shedders. Although they’re not truly hypoallergenic, they do not ruin your sofa or tuxedo pants.

Schnauzers are from the terrier group (although some think otherwise) and were created by crossing a standard schnauzer and an affenpinsher.

On the flipside Minis like to bark, and bark, and bark. I have spoken to numerous other owners and most complain of the breed’s propensity for barking.

So if you want hair-free trousers, a dog to cuddle, and a great guard dog get yourself a Miniature Schnauzer.

Finding a good dog breeder when you want to purchase a hypoallergenic dog can be difficult if you don’t know what you are looking for. Many breeders, unfortunately, take advantage of those who don’t know much about dogs and try to sell them mixedbreeds, dogs that are sick, and dogs that are not hypoallergenic. Before you visit a dog breeder, you will have to conduct a Littleresearch into the type of dog you are looking for and the breeders in your area.

The ideal way to learn about the breed of hypoallergenic dog you want to bring into your home is to visit your library or spend some time on the internet. You will learn a lot about specific breeds that are considered hypoallergenic and also about their mood, types of living conditions that are the ideal for them, and how to care for the dog once you bring it home. You will also be able to see photos of the dogs. This will help you when you visit a breeder. Your research should also include the price typically paid for specific breeds.

After you have decided which breed of dog you would like, you should research breeders in your area. Many times, breeders will advertise on the internet, at veterinarian offices, in the newspaper, and on community bulletin boards. You should find out if breeders are licensed before you pay them a visit. You can find out this information by calling the breeder and also calling local or national breeding agencies. They will be able to tell you if the breeder is licensed, which types of hypoallergenic dogs they breed, and if they have any complaints filed against them.

If you think you’ve found a legitimate dog breeder, then you should visit them to see which breeds they’ve available. You should take note of the condition the dogs are kept in, ask for the ages of the dogs, and when you are looking at specific dogs, you should see if their skin, eyes, and coat look healthy. Even though this will only tell you so much, it may be enough for you to decide if the dog is healthy enough to take home.

How much you pay for your new dog will depend on the breed. Most pure bred dogs can cost a few hundred dollars. Make sure that you purchase the breed you want. Breeders don’t usually offer a return policy. If the price seems too high or too low, check with other breeders in the area. Do not buy from the breeder if you suspect you are not getting the dog you asked for.

Buying a new dog isn’t always easy, but if you’re careful about who you do business with, you will find the perfect dog for your lifestyle. Hypoallergenic dogs usually cost more than other breeds, but if you have allergies, you may not have a choice. Take the dog to your vet to make sure the dog is healthy soon after bringing it home.