Best Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds

There are many breeds of hypoallergenic dogs. But the breeds that are best for allergy sufferers are the hairless breeds. Most think that the hairless breeds are small dogs, but nothing could be further from the truth. The hairless breeds can range from as small as 5 pounds to the Mexican hairless that can weight as much as 50 pounds. You will have to make an extensive search to find a hairless breed online because they are not easily found. Those who are not keen on hairless dogs may look for breeds that do not shed as easily or have hair that is more human-like. Here are a list of, first, hairless and, secondly, dogs that shed less.

Mexican Hairless

This breed will prove to be the most difficult to find because there are very few breeders in the world. He also ranges in size from 5 pounds to 50 pounds.

The Mexican Hairless can have either a dense coat or be totally hairless. There can be the hairless and the coated variety born in the same litter and are genetically the same.

American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier started out has an accident of nature when Josephine, born completely hairless, was born in a litter of rat terriers. She came on the scene in 1972. Her owners bred Josephine and she produced one hairless terrier in her first litter. However, Josephine failed to have any more hairless terriers until she was nine years old when she had both a male and female in one litter.

From these two the American Hairless Terrier became a new breed. This dog is highly intelligent and suitable for an apartment or small house if he is given a long walk or at least one half hour of exercise every day.

Peruvian Hairless

This lively dog is totally hairless. They are medium size and are friendly with family but wary of strangers. Though they are very intelligent and easily trained, they do not always obey. They range in size from 10 inches to 26 inches.

The Peruvian Hairless does not like being left alone, but can be eventually trained to do well. His skin must be protected from the sun and extreme cold. These dogs are an excellent choice for allergy sufferers, but not recommended for first-time dog owners.

Chinese Crested

There are two varieties of the Chinese Crested. One variety is totally hairless except for long hair on the head, paws and tail. The second variety is the powder puff that has long, fine human-like hair all over its body. Even though the powder puff has hair, it is considered hypoallergenic because its hair does not shed.

The Chinese Crested is very rare. He is a very loving, affectionate dog. You will need to train younger children to treat him gently when handling him. Do not baby a puppy or he will grow to be very timid. He is highly intelligent and can easily be taught to do tricks.

Irish Water Spaniel

If you are looking for a larger hypoallergenic dog, the Irish Water Spaniel may be a good fit for you. Their hair is short and almost human-like. The texture hair helps prevent shedding and collecting allergens like most dogs. Grooming is required, roughly, every two months which is less than a poodle or poodle mix. Sometimes, the less maintenance, the better! The Irish Water Spaniel is very friendly and love to spend time in the water during the summer months, thus the name.

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 

There are four different types of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. The four types are Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English, and American. The biggest difference between the four types are their sizes. Their short coat sheds very little. Grooming is important with the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to help prevent them from getting skin rashes and matting. They are very friendly dogs who know no stranger. Having a backyard for the dog to play in is very important due to their desire for exercise.

Bedlington Terriers

Bedlington Terriers are going to be smaller than the Irish Water Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. They also have short hair that requires frequent brushing to prevent it from tangling. Grooming is only needed every three or four months to help them maintain a healthy coat. Bedlington Terriers are very energetic and love to get plenty of exercise. They are great for smaller homes or apartments due to their size.

Bernedoodle 

Bernedoodles are a cross breed between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Poodle. The more the dog has poodle, the more hypoallergenic they are. When talking with a breeder for any poodle mixes, consider an F1bb which has more poodle than their other breed. Bernedoodles are considered hybrid blends. They are super smart and very loyal to their owners. They love the snow and cooler weather. Their shedding is very minimal. Brushing is required almost daily to prevent matting. Grooming is very important to maintain a clean, healthy dog.

Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small but stocky dog. The mini schnauzer lifespan ranges between 12 to 15 years and are considered very alert dogs with distinctive eyebrows and mustaches. Schnauzers are also very active, lively, fun pets but they also need consistent reward-based training. Their alertness makes them excellent watch dogs.

Standard or Toy Poodle

The Poodle is considered to be the Einstein of dog breeds. They are crazy smart and easy to train. At the same time, some say their sense of humor is more like the Three Stooges. They are thought to be prissy dogs making the females more appealing. The poodle is one of the most popular breeds. They are well known for their easy training abilities, low-shedding, their curls, their intelligence, and their loyalty to their family. Their coats require quite a bit of maintenance which often deters ownership. Make sure you do a lot of research on their grooming needs to make a smart decision on whether you are equipped to care for them long-term.

Aussiedoodle

When breeding an Australian Shepherd and a poodle, you get an Aussiedoodle. Usually, they come in two main sizes: standard and miniature. The two breeds are considered canine Einsteins which makes them super-smart cross-breeds. Aussies can be high activity levels dogs. They require active playtime and a good walk each day to keep them from acting out. Aussiedoodles make great service dogs if trained appropriately.