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Best and Worst Dog Breeds for People With Allergies
What do you do when you love dogs, but you or a family member is allergic? You do what many people do: Get a dog breed touted as hypoallergenic. They’re the best types of dogs for people with allergies because they tend to shed less than other breeds.
Pet hair or pet dander is a common cause of allergic rhinitis, a chronic disease that affects as much as 30 percent of the U.S. population, according to the World Allergy Organization. Commonly known as hay fever, allergic rhinitis happens when the body overreacts to something that does not cause a problem in other people.
Most people are not actually allergic to dog hair. Rather, they’re allergic to dander (flakes on the dog’s skin) or saliva. Hair does have something to do with it, though: Sometimes other indoor allergens like dust, or outdoor allergens like grass or tree pollen, can build up on a dog’s furry coat and trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, congestion, nasal swelling, asthma, and rashes. Many people with dog allergies complain about red, itchy eyes.
Tips to Prevent Dog Allergies
If you already have a dog, here are a few tips to prevent pet allergies:
- Keep your dog clean and bathe it weekly in warm water. This may reduce the amount of dog dander and dog saliva deposited throughout your home.
- Get a groomer to bathe your dog so you’re not exposed to the allergens.
- Wash the dog’s bedding weekly to remove excess dander.
- Use air purifiers throughout your home and avoid furnishings that collect allergens, like cloth curtains or carpets.
- Keep the dog out of the bedroom and off the bed during sleep.
- Keep the dog outside if possible. It may take weeks or months before your house is free of pet allergens.
If you’re on the hunt for a hypoallergenic dog that won’t leave you watery-eyed, you’ll need to do your research and perhaps an in-home test-drive to make sure your new pup doesn’t trigger an allergy or asthma attack.
Don’t go straight for the breeds of dogs with shorter coats, and don’t count out shaggy pups. There are many types of hypoallergenic dogs — some with more hair, some with less.
Here’s some more information on the best (and worst) breeds for people with dog allergies.
Best: Schnauzers Produce Less Pet Dander
The schnauzer is known to produce less dander than other breeds, per AZ Animals, which will also make daily cleaning easier. Eliminating or minimizing pet dander is an important step in creating a suitable environment for someone with a dog allergy. Vacuuming dander-trapping carpets daily can help keep allergen levels low. You might want to consider replacing rugs with hardwood, tile, or vinyl flooring to slash your list of chores.
Worst: Saint Bernards and Bulldogs Are Known for Excessive Saliva
If you’re allergic to dog saliva, steer clear of slobbery breeds of dogs like bulldogs and Saint Bernards, according to The Spruce Pets. Both are known for excessive drooling. Regardless of the type of dog, it’s best to refrain from letting the dog lick you if you’re allergic. Also, soak slobbered-on chew toys in hot, soapy water at least once a week.
Best: Tiny, Toy Breeds Like the Maltese Might Work
Your bed should be off-limits if you have a dog allergy. Letting a dog sleep with you is one of the worst things you can do for your allergy symptoms. You should ideally make your entire bedroom off-limits to the pup; and setting up a separate sleeping area for a dog is a lot easier when it’s just a wee one. A tiny, toy breed, such as a Maltese, could work, notes the Cleveland Clinic.
Worst: A German Shepherd’s Dry Skin Causes Excessive Pet Dander
Some breeds, such as German shepherds, are more likely to develop dry skin than others, per VetDERM Clinic. Bathing and grooming your dog regularly can minimize pet dander, but don’t overdo it. Washing your dog too much may cause them to develop dry skin. Dogs with dry skin may begin scratching, leaving dead skin cells lingering in the air.
Best: The Bichon Frise and Labradoodle Are Great Hypoallergenic Dogs
Both the labradoodle and the bichon frise are often recommended for people with dog allergies because of their easy-to-maintain coats, per Cleveland Clinic. Labradoodles, with wool-like hair, may not pick up as many outdoor allergens as other breeds. The curly coat of a bichon frise produces little dander, making it another great hypoallergenic dog.
Worst: Boston Terriers Suffer With Allergies and Mucus
Hounds have allergies, too! Boston terriers in particular suffer from allergies that can give them itchy skin and watery eyes. Though they’re a popular breed, as AZ Animals notes, a Boston terrier’s own allergies and a tendency for excessive mucus make it less-than-ideal for people with allergies.
Best: Portuguese Water Dogs Live Well Outside
If your allergies are so severe that you can’t bear to stay in the same room with even the easiest-to-tolerate pups, consider the breeds of dogs that can live outside. With a waterproof coat and webbed feet, the Portuguese water dog is well-suited for outdoor living, according to PetMD. As long as it has shelter, fresh water to drink, and room to play, the Portuguese is just as happy outside as indoors.
Worst: Pekingese Are Hard to House-Train
You may not have thought about one surprising dog-related allergy trigger: urine. Some breeds of dogs, such as the Pekingese, are more difficult to house-train than other types of dogs, per The Spruce Pets. This makes them a poor choice for someone with a dog allergy. If your pet has an accident, clean the area as soon as you see it. Wear gloves, and use a diluted bleach solution or an enzyme cleaner from a local pet store to sanitize the area and remove all signs of urine.
Best: The Xoloitzcuintli Is a Good Fit for Families
Have you ever heard of the Xoloitzcuintli? Can you even pronounce it? We’ll help you out. Say it with us, “show-low-eats-queen-tlee.” Or you could just say Xolo for short. These hypoallergenic dogs could be a good fit for families with a dog allergy, according to PetMD. Some are hairless, while others have a very short coat. Either way, they don’t need a lot of grooming, making them lower-maintenance than other breeds of dogs.
A Dog Is More Than Just a Pet
For most dog owners, a pup is more than just an animal who requires time and energy. A dog is a member of the family who brings happiness and unconditional love. Though finding and keeping the best breeds of dogs for your allergy will take extra effort, the prep work is worth it. Taking extra steps to minimize exposure to dander and other allergens allows people with allergies the chance to enjoy the unparalleled companionship of man’s best friend.
Justin Laube, MD
Medical Reviewer
Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.
He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.
He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.
Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.
Mikel Theobald
Author
Mikel Theobald is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer who covers a wide range of topics, including early childhood education, home and family, Olympic sports, nutrition, fitness, and health. Her work has appeared in consumer and professional publications such as HealthDay, AOL, Huffington Post, Livestrong, and others.
Her favorite aspect of health writing is providing information to readers that helps them confidently advocate for their health and well-being. She helps readers sort through the complexities of important topics so they walk away with a deeper understanding of the information.
When she isn’t spending time with her family or meeting a writing deadline, you can often find Theobald volunteering for child advocacy organizations. She is the proud mother of 3 humans, 2 dogs, and 1 cat. She loves good books, live music, and Broadway musicals.