Hypoallergenic Dogs – Myth Or Fact?

All that hair and dander getting all over everything is like walking through a mine field for your sinuses. Yet owning a dog, befriending it, and loving it are all great life experiences that should be denied to no one.

Recently there have been rumors that certain breeds of dogs possess hypoallergenic properties.

That is to say, that someone who is allergic to a dog won’t have a reaction to certain pets. But is this just a myth, a slim ray of hope for those cannot own a dog, lest they be subjected to the tortures of a permanent cold? Or do these breeds actually exist as proven by science?

What Makes Dogs so Bad?

For someone with allergies, the fact that a dog has been around the area they are in is sometimes enough to induce a reaction. But, why? What is it exactly about a dog that makes it so bad for allergies?

It is the dog’s dander, saliva and urine that cause an immune system to go haywire. Dander, or a dog’s dead skin cells, are constantly being replaced, much the same way a human’s are. It doesn’t necessarily take someone being allergic to dogs to cause a reaction to dander, as dander can pick up pollen and other pollutants in the air.

The Best Chance

According to many pet owners throughout the world, dogs that shed less than other breeds are better for people with allergies. But does that make them hypoallergenic?

Well, in a sense, yes it does. People who have a specific reaction to a dog’s hair may experience less of a reaction with Poodles and Bichon Fries, 2 breeds around the world that have been hailed as hypoallergenic.

However, people with strong enough allergies will still feel a reaction, even with a dog that is hairless, as the animal is still capable of producing the allergen, even without hair. While the effects may be lessened, they are still there, just waiting to explode.

So What’s the Verdict?

According to studies done in the U.S. by the Humane Society, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. There are certain breeds that can minimalize the reactions and their frequency, but no such thing as an allergy-free breed exists. As it turns out, no scientist actually knows where the subject of a hypoallergenic dog came from.

The rumors of such a breed started circulating with the rise of the internet, leading many to believe that there was such a thing that could allow them to own a pet. As it happens, people just wanted to believe what they read. And who wouldn’t? A dog is a man’s best friend after all.