If you’re a dog lover but have an allergy to pet dander, the hope of owning a dog might sound far-fetched to you.
The good news…there are dog breeds out there that are allergy-friendly! In fact, nowadays you can find hypoallergenic dog breeds just about anywhere–including your local shelter!
So, what dog breeds won’t cause your allergies to flare up AND where do you find them?
Check out our list of 8 popular hypoallergenic dog breeds to find out…
Maltese
A Maltese is a toy-sized dog that descends from the Mediterranean island nation of Malta.
These pint-sized pups are great house pets as they typically don’t exceed about 7 pounds in weight and do well in both houses and apartment buildings.
These pups are full of energy and make great family dogs as they love to play and be around their humans. Like many small dog breeds, they can be a little bit nippy and yappy–problems which can easily be solved if you put the right training in place.
Poodle
Poodles are ranked as one of the most playful and intelligent dog breeds. They are so smart that they are well known for their skills in many dog activities, including agility, obedience, tracking to herding, and working as service dogs.
If you prefer larger dogs, we recommend adopting a standard poodle as they grow to be be anywhere between 18 and 24 inches and height–or anywhere between 45 and 70 pounds.
If small dogs are more your preference, you’re in luck! You can also find toy poodles just about anywhere who grow to a maximum of 15 inches tall and weigh between 15-17 pounds.
Yorkshire Terrier
Another fun, loveable, and hypoallergenic pint-sized pooch is the Yorkshire Terrier.
As you may have guessed from its name, the Yorkshire Terrier hails from Yorkshire England where it was originally bred. The breed has two distinctive coat types–straight and silky which are both hypoallergenic.
Because this breed tends to be active and overprotective, Yorkies tend to do better in homes with older children and adults. That being said, with the right training in place, a Yorkie can be wonderful family pet in any household situation.
Schnauzer
The Schnauzer is a dog breed type that originated in Germany during the 14th century. Their name comes from the German word for “snout” and means actually informally means “moustache”– a great name as they all sport adorable mustaches!
There are three sizes of Schnauzer–standard, giant, and miniature. So, no matter what size pup you’re looking for, you can find a Schnauzer that fits your lifestyle!
This breed is very smart which makes training easy as pie as long as you're consistent and follow through with your training program! On top of being smart, Schnauzers are also very active. So, if you opt for this breed it’s important that you get out and exercise your dog every day!
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu’s are very common around the world today, despite the breed originating on the Tibetan Plateau. And, it’s no surprise as to why many families own them as the breed is known for its loyal, affectionate, outgoing, and friendly personality.
While most Shih Tzu’s are standard in size, weighing no more than 16 pounds when fully grown, they do come in a large variety of colors including white, grey, tan, and black.
Because of their friendly nature, Shih Tzu’s get along well with other dogs, children, and adults.
Bichon Frise
Last, but not least, our final hypoallergenic dog breed is the Bichon Frise.
Historically, Bichons were used as court dogs in medieval Europe, particularly in the regions of France, Italy, and Spain. Today, they can be found being cute and cuddly on couches all around the world.
Due to their small size, friendly demeanor, and playful spirit, these pups make a great addition to just about any dog loving household!
Just a Friendly Reminder…Adopt Don’t Shop!
When it comes to finding dogs with special qualities, such as hypoallergenic dogs, you might assume that you have to spend a lot of money using an expensive breeder.
This is a myth!
Rescues often house many hypoallergenic dog breeds as they are very popular types of dogs! And, if your local shelter doesn’t have any hypoallergenic dogs available, I can guarantee you that there is likely a breed-specific rescue group somewhere near you!
All it takes is a simple Google search and you should be able to find a hypoallergenic dog in your area that needs a loving home, so remember, adopt don’t shop!
A Final Note on Training…
I firmly believe that all dogs are good dogs. And, there are many great qualities about every breed we’ve talked about today.
That being said, all dogs –regardless of breed– need proper training in order to keep them happy and healthy.
If you’re looking to adopt or have recently adopted a dog, I encourage you to check out my program, The Dog Calming Code.
See how I’ve trained over 88,000 dogs using the kind, gentle methods in this program!
Or, if you have a puppy, my Puppy Coach training program might be a better option.
Best of luck!,
~Doggy Dan 🙂
8 Responses
Doggy Dan!
I have a COTON de Tulear and she doesn’t shed at all.
Hi Lillian, I actually hadn’t heard of that breed so I had to resort to Google! they do look very similar to other breeds of dogs we have but I can see what you mean about not shedding! Thanks for adding another breed to my list! Best, Doggy Dan
Dan, Are there Airedale’s down under? I love mine! We’re a bit older (early 60’s) so adopting such a large energetic and stubborn pup was a challenge. But 6 mos of online access to your program got us off to a great start. Now our intelligent, loving boy keeps us entertained and fit with 2 long walks each day (plus a session or 2 of backyard fetch). Thanks!
Hi Bretynn! Yes, we do have Airedale Terriers in New Zealand…both standard sized and miniature. They are a lovely dog and I’m glad we could be a part of your dog’s formative years. I always say that the challenging ones teach us the most! All the best….Doggy Dan
You forgot to mention the Havanese, which is one of the nicest breeds around. They don’t get too big, are very intelligent and as a plus they never ever shed! Not yappy at all. The downside is that they don’t like to be left alone but do well with crate training.
The Havanese is absolutely another dog that could fit into this category. We don’t see a lot of them in New Zealand so I guess that’s why they didn’t come easily to mind. Thanks for the recommendation…all the best, Doggy Dan
Thank you
No worries Nicola! All the best Doggy Dan