A Hair Affair…

A quick look at great breeds for those allergic to dog hair and dander.

Try this innovative look at some unusual breeds that really fill the bill as best friend, (if not always a furry one!)  Their abilities and talent might  just surprise you.

SMALL BREEDS

· Shih Tzu– Playful, loveable little lions convinced they alone own the universe.  Might seem an odd pick, but as their hair is continually growing they don’t shed.  As such they also have a strict grooming requirement, and this contributes to their being very clean dogs with little or no dander.  A Tea Tree shampoo weekly bath will keep these guys at the top of you’re A list.  Great dogs for tough biker guys,   ( these dogs LOVE a ride!) these dogs are very go everywhere do everything anytime kind of dogs, and think for sure they are pit bulls.  Mine ran a neighbors Rottweiler out of our yard on several occasions as it attacked my father’s 90 lb Golden Retriever.  The Shih Tzu was 16 at the time, and blind in both eyes.

         · Chinese Crested– For those enjoying a toy dog with a nose, these fun little dogs are cuddly, capable pets who adore their owners with a special zeal. The Hairless variety doesn’t carry the labor intensive coat of the Shih Tzu, and can be substantially easier to keep flea free.  A sweater, a movie, and a lap is all it takes to keep these guys happy all winter long.  A unique little dog attracting lots of attention, they go everywhere in style.  Active and light weight, they are welcome throughout as comical little entertainers, and are at home in palaces or apartments alike.

LARGE BREEDS

· Poodles– Don’t mistake these guys for Grandma’s lap pet, weighing in at over 65+ lbs Standard Poodles are nobody’s cupcake.  Broken hearted guys who miss being out in the bird hunting world will be delighted to find that a poodle hits the water just as fast and hard as any black lab ever has, they are a very old breed of hunting water retriever originating in Germany.  They are also the hypoallergenic dog of choice, which is the reason they breed “labradoodles” at all.  They will also take a burglar’s face off if they feel their family is being threatened, and they are a great family dog.  Poodles put simply love an active, outdoor lifestyle with their humans, no goofy haircut required.

       · Kerry Blue Terrier– Gentle, loveable, and intelligent, this breed is really a jack of all trades.  They look somewhat like a Giant Schnauzer.  Used originally as ratters, earth dogs, fighting dogs, retrievers, herding dogs, trackers, and cart pullers, these guys really can do it all.  A curly terrier coat makes this breed a great pick for those wishing a low impact dander and shed factor.  Obedience classes early in life make for happier Kerry Blues later in life, these dogs can be a great family pet in addition to everything else they have been asked to do through the ages. They also enjoy an active out door lifestyle and make great jogging partners for their lucky owners.

Dos and Don’ts of Success

I Don’t– Recommend a “labradoodle” or any other kind of mixed breed dog.  The guarantee of a purebred dog is that you know exactly what kind of a pet you are going to get and there is no guarantee that a mixed breed dog will have the right genetic makeup in the fur department.  For the socially conscious among us, purebred rescue is a great way to go to find a new friend.

I Do– say spend hours in a breeders home in an area the dogs spend most of their time.  Trust me on this, the breeder will want to know the dog and you can live happily ever after together too.

I Do– Bathe my dogs weekly.  A huge factor in your success will be how clean the dog and your home is kept.  Vacuum daily and bathe the dog weekly.

I Don’t– Want you to think dander is your only issue, because some people are allergic to saliva and or urine.  If that is the case, none of the dog breeds mentioned here will help you avoid that.

I Do– Hope you and your whole family make sure the breeds you have interest in fits your lifestyle, and I hope you have fun learning as much about them as your can.  Having allergies in your life is only one of many factors you need to consider.