Best Dog Breeds Without All The Sneezing

Do you suffer from allergies but still can't get the thought of owning a dog out of your head? You are not alone. Approximately 10 percent of Americans are allergic to dogs with reactions ranging from red itchy eyes to more serious complications such as asthma attacks or constricted breathing and yet they still want to have a pet. There are ways you can still have a dog and not have to take medications or end up in the hospital to do so!

While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, there are many breeds with consistent and predictable coats that the American Kennel Club (AKC) suggests for allergy sufferers. These breeds have non-shedding coats which produce less dander than the average dog. It's the skin dander that's attached to pet fur which causes most pet allergies in humans not the actual fur. The American Kennel Club recognizes 11 breeds that are hypoallergenic:

* Bedlington terrier
* Bichon frise
* Chinese crested
* Irish water spaniel
* Kerry blue terrier
* Maltese
* Poodle
* Portuguese water dog
* Schnauzer
* Soft coated Wheaten terrier
* Xoloitzcuintli

Some breeders have claimed that mixed breed dogs, often mixed with poodles, are hypoallergenic but due to their unpredictable coat this is not the case. There is no way to guarantee a litter will produce puppies with equal poodle coats, making them a poor choice for people with allergies.

The best idea if you suffer from allergies and still want to own a dog in is to spend at least 30 minutes in a small enclosed space with the dog you are thinking of getting and see if you have any kind of reaction. People claim they own dogs that are not on the approved list and have no problems with their allergies at all. No two people are the same and no two dogs are exactly the same either.

When choosing your dog there are a couple of other factors that you should consider before making your decision. First pick a breed that is known to be hypoallergenic but then check further on the traits of the dog breed. Does it get along well with kids? Does it need a lot of attention? Is it easy to train? How much grooming is involved and does it require a lot of exercise. How big will it get? All these things should be taken into consideration when choosing the breed of dog you want to own.

Some other things you can do that will make your dog less likely to produce allergic reactions in you involve your home. The bedroom of the allergy sufferer should be a dog-free area. This will help limit the amount of exposure the allergy sufferer has to the dog. Your dog should be groomed frequently. Just because the breed doesn't shed much doesn't mean you don't need to groom it. The more fur and dander you remove from your dog, the less will be floating around your house to cause you problems. You need to keep your dog's bed clean and you should also vacuum and mop floors on a regular basis.

Fabrics tend to hold more pet hair and dander too. Wood and tile floors are much better than carpeting. Leather and vinyl furniture is much easier to clean than upholstered furniture. You should also try to avoid fabric curtains. Anything you can do to try and reduce the amount of dander in your home will make a huge difference.

If you do your homework on the right breed for you and keep the pet dander to a minimum in your house, you should be able to enjoy your dog for years to come without suffering from your allergies.