SolveYourProblem.com Article Series: Dog Care
Dog Care Tips
How
To Choose a Hypoallergenic Dog
For people that love dogs, yet have allergic
reactions to them, there is a simple alternative. If you can’t
do without a four legged “friend,” choosing a hypoallergenic
dog is the best alternative. For those who are scratching their
heads, a hypoallergenic dog is not 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 be completely 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
simple 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, larger and longer
haired dogs have a tendency to generate more allergens than
smaller and shorter haired dogs Therefore, the bigger 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 have 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 want to consider 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 want to consider when choosing a dog is the temperment.
You want to choose a dog that will meet your needs, and you
in turn, can meet its needs as well. Not
only do you want to choose an allergy-friendly dog, but if
you have a family, you want one that is 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 children and they make great watch dogs. They
also have low shedding levels. If you are a single adult, you
might want to consider a dog that is 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 you choose an indoor
dog, it’s best to choose 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 even choose 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.
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SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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