If you have allergies that you think prevent you from having a dog, then you are going to love what I am about to tell you. There are actually dogs that are hypoallergenic. That’s right, dogs that won’t affect your allergies. The ones I’m about to tell you about actually have hypoallergenic fur of all things, and as someone who suffers from allergies year round and thought she could never have a dog, I was amazed to hear about these small beauties.
Another great thing about these dogs besides the fact that they have hypoallergenic fur making them far less likely to affect your allergies, is that because of their size they make great pets for apartments and other small living quarters.
A few examples of these types of small dogs are the Coton de Tulear, the Havanese and the Silky Terrier to name three. While they do give off some allergens, it is at a much lower level than most dogs.
The Colon de Tulear is a dog that has its roots in Spain and is tied to the Bichon family. Its original home was in Madagascar and it is still the official dog of that country. This breed is very playful, intelligent and has a white coat. Unlike the Silky Terrier or the Havanese this dog will shed, and because of this requires brushing at least once a week. One thing to keep in mind with this breed is that they become attached to their owners can suffer some anxiety when seperated from them. Despite this they love people, to play and to go for walks. One final advantage is that they can live from fourteen to eighteen years.
The Silky Terrier is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Austrailian Terrier, and was created in the nineteenth century. One interesting fact about them is that even though they were created quite early in history, they were not recognized as their own breed until the mid-twentieth century in 1955. The wonderful thing about them is that they have the same terrier qualities of alertness and playing that everyone loves so much. Their fur is long, smooth and very soft which is how they got their name. Because their coat is so long it does require more care to maintain it than other dogs, but it is well worth it. While Silky Terriers are generally good with children and other pets they can get aggressive if a child or other pet provokes them, and so it’s a good idea to educate your children and othe pets on how to act around your Silky Terrier so you have fewer incidents.
The Havanese like the Coton de Tulear has its roots in Spain and the Bichon family. They were created from a breed of dog called the Bichon Tenerife that is now extinct. Grooming of this breed is easy and they are just as playful and friendly as they look; they have a very easy going temperament. They are wonderful around children and love to play as well as win, although if necessary they can be easily calmed down by a stern word from their owners should they need it. An unfortunately disadvantage to owning a Havanese is that they can suffer from cataracts and hip dysplasia, although this tends to be rare unless the dog is purchased from a breeder that did not know what they were doing.
The Silky Terrier, the Havanese and the Coton de Tulear all make great pets for the allergy sufferer. These dogs are considered hypoallergenic because they give off far less allergens than most dogs. Also because of their size they are great for those who live in small spaces as well.
