Hypoallergenic Designer Small Dogs

Truth be told, hypoallergenic dogs are not non-allergenic dogs. As I mentioned previously, here and here, no dogs are truly hypoallergenic so I won’t rehash…maybe I should indulge just a little bit more!

What I’d like to add to this post is that many potential buyers still hang onto the idea that designer dogs are better for allergic sufferers. This isn’t to say they aren’t—to some extend.

Take President-elect Barack Obama recent statement for example,

Malia is allergic, so it has to hypoallergenic.

He is considering a Goldendoodle for his girls. FYI, Golden Retrievers are heavy shedders.

Simply put, hypoallergenic dogs will still shed allergenic particles (dander or skin and coat shedding), but in smaller quantities, hence they are less likely to trigger an allergic response in human.

Before You Become Fixated On A Hypoallergenic Designer Dog

Just as you would buy a purebred dog, check with the designer dog breeders what medical tests they had done to ensure the puppies are free of any type of diseases.

Spend some time with the puppies to check if you have any allergic reaction—it may trigger immediately or later. Whatever the case may be, just stay long enough to be sure.

It may sound like I’m trashing designer dog breeder, but I am not. It is just the fact that I see how some profit driven designer breeders market their puppies and some poor eager buyers fallen into the trap (thanks to Obama’s recent statement). Some became so emotionally invested in those adorable puppies failed to see other important aspect of health issues the pups may have.

List Of Hypoallergenic Designer Small Dogs

Not all designer dogs are hypoallergenic. To be politically correct, not all designer dog breeders breed for hypoallergenic purposes. As a matter of fact, some of the most popular ones aren’t such as Puggle.

Keep in mind that when you buy a first generation designer puppy with either one of the purebred parent is non-hypoallergenic, there’s a 50% chance the pup is an average to heavy shedder depending on the non-hypoallergenic dog’s shedding pattern.

If you are determined to get a designer dog (no matter what’s the cost) that produces less pet allergens, here is the list of designer small dogs to consider:

• Chihchon  [Chihuahua x Bichon Frisé]
• Cockapoo [Cocker Spaniel x Poodle] (Miniature/Toy/Teacup)
• Labradoodle [Labrador Retriever x Poodle] (Miniature)
• Lhasa Poo [Lhasa Apso x Poodle]
• Maltipoo [Maltese x Poodle]
• Schnoodle [Schnauzer x Poodle] (Miniature/Toy)
• Shihchon [Shih Tzu x Bichon Frisé]
• Shih-Poo [Shih Tzu x Poodle]
• Taco Terrier [Chihuahua x Toy Fox Terrier]
• Wapoo [Chihuahua x Poodle]
• Yorkipoo [Yorkshire Terrier x Poodle]

Check out my small dogs breed ebook for their “precise” size—height and weight, in the ebook download page.

You Aren’t 100% Free From Pet Allergens With A Hypoallergenic Dog

You will still need an allergy management plan. Such as:

• Establish a dog-free zone.
• Bathe your dog weekly to reduce the dander that they shed around the house.
• Be fanatical about cleanliness. Vacuum carpet daily; better option, replace it with rug or none at all.
• Buy Dander-Out, a solution which is used to rub off dander from dog’s bodies.
• If you suffer mild allergic symptoms, get a prescription from your doctor for antihistamines which will help control your allergies.

Suggested Reading

For more information on allergy management, check out these two highly recommended books. Depends on what you are looking for, both are equally informative—the authors did a thorough research on the subject matter.

• Sneeze-free Dog Breeds: Allergy Management and Breed Selection for the Allergic Dog Lover by Diana Morgan. Although it’s a 157-pages book, only the first 37-pages talks about allergy management. The rest goes to detailed description of the 17 hypoallergenic (purebred) breeds.
• Allergic to Pets?: The Breakthrough Guide to Living with the Animals You Love by Shirlee Kalstone.
  Besides dog, this book also covers various preventive measures to minimize cat, bird, rabbit, rodent, ferret, and horse’s allergens.