Best Dog Breeds for Allergies

October 2, 2023

Thanks to many hypoallergenic dog breeds, people who are allergic and sensitive to fur can own dogs. There are many dog breeds that have been specifically bred to be virtually hypoallergenic. And these breeds are cute and cuddly, too! 

Read on to learn about the best dog breeds for allergies, which are: 

• Bichon Frise
• Maltese
• Poodle
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Havanese

WHAT MAKES A DOG HYPOALLERGENIC?

The quick answer is that hypoallergenic dogs have hair instead of fur. The difference between fur and hair is that fur is shorter, coarser, and denser, and regarding dogs, fur is often “double-layered.” Double-layer fur, or a double coat, is made up of a top coat and an undercoat. Hair, on the other hand, is single-layered, fine, and much smoother.

When the skin underneath sheds, known as dander, it can get trapped and clogged in fur. Hair is far less prone to this, and so dander is both produced and trapped far less on a hair dog than on a fur dog. 

Since the dander is what dog-sensitive people react to, by choosing a dog with hair, sensitive people can live with no symptoms of their dog allergies and sensitivities. That being said, there’s no such thing as a 100% hypoallergenic dog breed. Despite this, hypoallergenic breeds are tested for allergens as puppies, and this means you can specifically find a hypoallergenic puppy that meets your percentage requirement of hypoallergenic. 

BICHON FRISE

Bichon Frise are an angelic white color and have the softest hair you’ll ever feel! This small sized dog is cheerful, affectionate, and playful. Thanks to the high-energy level and curiosity of the Bichon Frise, this dog breed is great with families and children, and makes a wonderful companion for first-time dog owners. 

Bichon Frises are known for their adaptability. This breed feels just as comfortable in a small, cozy apartment in a big city as it does in a rural homestead in the countryside. Bichon Frises are calm and as long as they’re with their favorite person, they’ll enjoy just about any setting. 

The Bichon Frise’s hair is one of the most hypoallergenic you’ll find. If you usually suffer from sneezing, itching, and other allergy-related discomforts when you’re around dogs, you probably won’t experience any of those symptoms when handling and living with a Bichon Frise.  

MALTESE

The Maltese is an adorable, small dog breed. It has hair that will continue to grow if it’s not trimmed or cut. Maltese owners love their pooches for their long, silky hair. Though this breed requires more brushing and hair trims than most dogs, owners enjoy bonding with their Maltese by grooming them. 

Despite their small size, Malteses have a great deal of energy, making them seem perky in addition to being affectionate companions. And the Maltese is among the gentlest-mannered of all little dogs, yet it is lively and playful as well as vigorous, making it a great family dog.

What makes the Maltese hypoallergenic is that it’s a non-shedding dog. When you live with a Maltese, you won’t find fur all over your home. And with regular brushing, your Maltese’s hair will come out in the brush. You can help ensure that your Maltese remains as anti-allergen as possible by bathing and shampooing his hair every 1 – 2 weeks. 

POODLE

Smart, attentive, and eager to please, the Poodle is a wonderful companion dog. Whether you take home a Standard Poodle (large breed) or a Miniature Poodle (small breed), you will have a true canine companion who focuses on you with care, compassion, and a willingness to accommodate your needs. 

Like all hypoallergenic dog breeds, the Poodle has hair instead of fur. Poodle hair has two layers, a wiry outer coat and a dense, cottony undercoat. This makes the Poodle feel extra soft to the touch, and also helps it achieve all those fun hairstyles! Even though its hair is more dynamic than other hypoallergenic dog breeds, Poodles are so hypoallergenic that they’re the #1 breed used to create hypoallergenic hybrid dogs! 

In recent years, breeders have helped reduce the allergen percentage of many popular purebred dog breeds by breeding them with Poodles. You may have noticed all the “doodles” around, those are new designer dogs that are half Poodle! The Goldendoodle, Aussiedoodle, and Bernedoodle are only few to mention. 

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

Miniature Schnauzers love to spend time with their favorite person. This small sized dog is known for being a deep bonder, highly affectionate, and a little snoopy when something or someone new enters their environment. This purebred dog breed has a sweet temperament and behaves well around children who respect its space. 

Miniature Schnauzers hardly shed, making this a great breed choice for people who are sensitive to dog dander. That being said, the Miniature Schnauzer technically has fur, not hair. Its fur is a double-coat with an over layer and undercoat. This means that some people who have more severe dog allergies may not be able to tolerate this particular breed. 

Keeping your Miniature Schnauzer brushed, bathed, and groomed can make the difference for some between having mild irritation or feeling totally fine around their Miniature Schnauzer. By brushing your Schnauzer daily and taking him to be professionally bathed, de-shedded, and groomed every 4 – 6 weeks, you can greatly reduce any danger that’s bothering you.

HAVANESE

This small dog breed hails from Havana, Cuba. Havaneses are known as highly social, friendly, and intelligent. They love to cuddle and sit on their owners’ laps. The Havanese’s long hair is silky and luxurious. And of course, this adorable, purebred dog is hypoallergenic.  

Havanese puppies are playful and alert. They are highly trainable and intelligent with a sweet, friendly, and gentle disposition. The Havanese is a small sturdy dog of immense charm. It is slightly longer than tall, and covered with a profuse mantle of untrimmed long, silky, wavy hair. Its plumed tail is carried loosely curled over his rump. 

In order to keep the beautiful locks free from tangles and matting, a Havanese must be brushed once a day, Because it is hair, not fur, the Havanese’s hair will continue to grow past its paws if it isn’t trimmed at least once every 3 months. As the owner, you can trim your Havanese easily, if you’ve trained him to hold still. Otherwise taking him to a professional dog groomer is always an option.

WHICH HYPOALLERGENIC DOG BREED SHOULD YOU GET?

Now that you know the best dog breeds for people with allergies, the next step is to meet some of these breeds in person. You’ll need to spend time with and handle one breed at a time and see if you have a reaction that would indicate the breed won’t work for you.

Depending on the pet store, this could be easy or difficult. Pet stores have all kinds of puppies, kittens, and other furry pets which could spurn an allergic reaction. If you come into Petland Miami, you can meet all the breeds on this list! We hope to see you soon!