When shopping for a new addition to the family, dog owners often look for hypoallergenic breeds. Among them are poodles, terriers, Irish spaniels, bichon frises, schnauzers, and many more. They think this means no sneezing, no coughing, and no fur on the furniture. Yet,
The major dog allergen is Can f 1 and is found mostly in dog saliva, as opposed to glands in dog skin. People who have been exposed to dogs in their younger years are less susceptible to negative allergic reactions throughout their lives. However, once they have developed a dog allergy, they are poorly protected against any breed, whether or not it is advertised as “hypoallergenic.”
After reading this article from ScienceDaily, I would still encourage people to look for hypoallergenic dogs because they are beneficial. Those breeds that fall under this category are believed to produce less dander and saliva and shed less fur. Just keep in mind that the key word is “less”…you will still have to deal with a certain degree of these unpleasant features when bringing any dog into your home. In the meantime, it is a good idea to expose young children to all types of dogs, and do not be surprised if even your hypoallergenic dog causes itchy eyes.
Photograph: http://guarddogss.com/category/maltese-toy-puppies/
That's right! No dog is 100% hypoallergenic to people. The fact is they all have fur or hair, saliva and dander. It is true that some shed less but for people to pay thousands for these "special breeds" that don't shed is just ridiculous and to me it is funny.
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