Hypoallergenic Dogs

Looking for a pet that won't flare up your allergies? You might be thinking about a hypoallergenic dog.

But, not so fast. That hypoallergenic dog might not be much better than a regular dog.

Dogs are great, especially if you have kids, but sometimes allergies and dogs don’t mix. One thing we do know is that exposure to a dog during a baby’s early life can provide some protection against developing allergies in the first place. And dogs are wonderful to have around; they help us increase the amount of exercise we do and provide constant companionship.

But, if someone in the family already has a dog allergy it can be tough to try and keep a one around. Some breeders have been touting what are known as hypoallergenic dogs, dogs that supposedly cause fewer allergy symptoms. However, a new study, just published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy, shows that there probably isn’t such a thing. Researchers looked at dust samples from homes that had regular dogs and ones with dogs considered hypoallergenic. They found both types of dogs had similar amounts of allergens meaning both could cause the same types of allergy symptoms.

According to those researchers, the bottom line is to pick a dog based on based on what type of dog you like not on whether they are hypoallergenic or not.