24 Allergy-Friendly Doggy Breeds so You Can Still Live Your Best Dog-Mom Life
Good Bois and Gurls come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are smol and can fit in your purse à la early 2000s Paris Hilton, others have bellies that hang inches from the floor (looking at you, corgis). But can we all agree that no matter the breed, all doggos are cute and snuggly and fun…until your eyes are bloodshot, your nose is running, and you’re sneezing every two seconds just for touching the head of the little pupper?
Raise your hand if you’re allergic to doggies. (If you look around, you might see waaay more hands than you think.) According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 15 to 30 percent of all Americans are affected by pet allergies, and dog allergies tend to be v severe.
But listen, just because you’re allergic to dogs doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of pupper life. But you should probs consider a hypoallergenic dog that doesn’t shed. Allow me to explain….
Hypoallergenic means what, exactly?
According to good old Merriam-Webster, hypoallergenic means there’s “little likelihood to cause an allergic response.” And sorry to say, but no dog breed is truly hypoallergenic, says Brandi Hunter, VP of communications at the American Kennel Club. The good news is that there are certain dog breeds that are best for allergy sufferers because they don’t shed. More on that later.
What’s the cheapest hypoallergenic dog breed?
TBH, this depends on the breeder, which (annoyingly) allows for price gouging. Your best bet is to adopt, not shop. If you don’t do it for the $$$ saving, there are ethical reasons too—like saving doggies from kill shelters and opening up shelter space for dogs who really need a home.
A good resource: the American Kennel Club. It doesn’t set prices for the sale of puppies, and you can visit Marketplace.AKC.org to search for available pups in your area.
Which dogs are best for allergy sufferers?
First, let’s establish what it is about dogs that make people allergic: dander. Dander is skin flakes in an animal’s fur or hair. It’s the leading culprit for what causes most pet allergies in humans, says Hunter.
So while there are no guaranteed hypoallergenic dogs out there, these breeds have non-shedding coats that produce less dander (so they’re better options for those who are allergic).
Affenpinscher
Afghan hound
American hairless terrier
Barbet
Bedlington terrier
Bichon frise
Bolognese
Chinese crested
Coton de Tuléar
Giant schnauzer
Irish water spaniel
Kerry blue terrier
Lagotto Romagnolo
Löwchen
Maltese
Miniature schnauzer
Peruvian Inca Orchid
Poodle
Portuguese water dog
Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka
Soft-coated wheaten terrier
Standard schnauzer
Xoloitzcuintli
Yorkshire terrier
But (again) just because a dog is on this list doesn’t mean you won’t have allergic reactions to its fur. “We recommend potential owners interacting with the breeds they are considering to make sure there is no allergic reaction to the dog they want to bring home,” says Hunter.
Check out your local dog rescue because you—yes, you!—deserve to finally get a dog that doesn’t make you look like you maybe just ate a weed cookie. Oh, and also because a cute fluffy companion makes excellent company for TikTok videos.
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