Do you suffer from allergies but still want to have a furry friend? Living with allergies doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the joys of dog ownership. Choosing a hypoallergenic breed allows you to still have a four-legged companion without triggering your allergies.
Dogs bred to be hypoallergenic dogs lack specific proteins in their saliva and dander that cause allergies in humans. These puppies may still trigger allergies but are more likely to produce milder reactions than non-hypoallergenic breeds.
So, which breeds should you consider for your next pooch? Here are 19 of the best hypoallergenic dog breeds for people with pet allergies:
19 Best Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds:
As you know better about hypoallergenic dogs now, let’s explore some of the top breeds. These best hypoallergenic dogs range from small to large breeds, providing options for all families and living spaces.
1) Bichon Frise:
Bichons are members of the “non-shedding” and hypoallergenic dog breeds. These little fluffballs are known for their playful and affectionate nature, making them an excellent choice for families with children.
They are alert and intelligent, making them easy to train and excel in obedience and agility competitions. Their confidence makes them superb therapy and service dogs as well.
The breed’s glory is a white, curly coat that requires regular grooming to maintain its soft texture and avoid tangles. A Bichon Frise’s average size and weight for male and female dogs is 9-12 inches and 7-12 pounds, respectively.
2) Maltese:
Maltese is a suitable indoor dog breed for apartment living. They are light-shattered and good pets for allergy sufferers. This small breed has a long, silky white coat and charming personality, making them popular amongst the royal and wealthy for centuries.
Due to their long coat, Maltese require daily grooming and frequent trips to the groomer for haircuts.
The personality features of a Maltese include high intelligence, a gentle and playful nature, and a strong desire to please their owners. Despite its small size, this breed is known for being bold and fearless. Due to high alertness, Maltese make excellent watchdogs.
The life expectancy for Maltese is 12-15 years, and their average weight ranges from 2-8 pounds.
3) Poodle (Toy, Miniature, and Standard):
Poodles are an intelligent breed in three different sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. All variations of Poodle can have a hypoallergenic coat if appropriately groomed and cared for.
Grooming for this breed is high maintenance, requiring daily brushing and regular trips to the groomer for haircuts.
Poodle pet’s appearance includes a curly and long round ear with a coat that can come in various colors. Typically, a poodle is bright, alert, and active. These canines excel in obedience, agility, and showmanship competitions.
The average life expectancy for Poodles is 10-15 years.
4) Portuguese Water Dog:
The Portuguese Water Dog is a rare breed with a hypoallergenic coat and webbed feet, making them excellent swimmers.
This breed has a thick, curly, and water-resistant coat, typically black or brown. The Portuguese Water Dog is highly active, requiring daily exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom.
Portuguese Water Dogs are known for their intelligence and trainability, making them suitable for various activities such as agility, obedience, and even therapy work. The average weight for male and female Portuguese Water Dogs is 42-60 pounds and 35-50 pounds, respectively.
5) Yorkshire Terrier:
The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a small breed with a big personality. Sweet faces and long, glossy coats make them popular amongst city dwellers and small apartment living.
The temperament of this breed includes alertness and intelligence, being willing to please owners, and excelling at obedience training. In addition, their barking level can be high, making them efficient for the role of watchdogs.
Yorkshire Terriers require daily grooming and regular haircuts to maintain their silky coats. The average life expectancy for a Yorkie is 11-15 years, with the average weight being 4-7 pounds.
6) Shih Tzu:
The Shih Tzu is another small breed with a hypoallergenic coat, making them suitable for apartment living and allergy sufferers.
The Shih Tzu has a long, flowing double coat that requires daily brushing to avoid tangles and mats. This breed is known for its affectionate nature, making them excellent lapdogs.
Shih Tzu is an intelligent breed with a strong desire to please owners, making them capable of excelling in obedience training. The average life expectancy for Shih Tzu is 10-16 years.
7) Afghan Hound:
Afghan hounds are known for their unique appearance, with long, silky coats and tall stature. This independent breed was initially used for hunting in Afghanistan. Due to their independence, they may not excel at obedience training but are capable of hunting and agility competitions.
Afghan hounds have a hypoallergenic coat that requires daily grooming to prevent tangles and mats. Afghans require weekly baths and regular trips to the groomer for haircuts.
Afghan hounds have a high ability to run and jump, making them suitable for active owners and daily exercise. The average life expectancy for Afghan Hounds is 12-14 years, with the average weight being 50-60 pounds.
8) Basenji:
Basenjis are known for their cat-like behavior and lack of barking ability. These African hunting dogs have hypoallergenic coats that require weekly grooming to maintain their short, smooth fur.
Basenji tend to be clever, independent, and aloof with strangers but are affectionate towards their family. They need creative and patient handling to excel at obedience training.
They have high erect ears and tight forehead wrinkles, giving them a unique appearance. Some people think the large ears serve as a natural cooling system for the hot climate of their origin. The average life expectancy for Basenjis is 12-14 years, with the average weight being 22-24 pounds.
9) Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier:
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers have a hypoallergenic coat that is soft and silky. These dogs don’t shed and require weekly brushing to maintain their coats. This Irish breed is known for its playful and energetic nature, making them excellent companions for active owners.
The soft coated wheaten terrier is friendly toward strangers and become very attached to their families, making them unsuitable for being alone for long periods. Wheaten Terriers competently perform several tasks: hunt vermin, herd sheep, and serve as guard dogs.
The average life expectancy for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers is 12-14 years, with the average weight being 35-40 pounds.
10) Irish Water Spaniel:
Irish Water Spaniels have a unique appearance with their curly, hypoallergenic coat and lion-like mane. This active breed was originally used for retrieving waterfowl during hunting expeditions in Ireland. They require daily exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behavior.
Irish Water Spaniels have high intelligence and trainability, making them suitable for a variety of activities, including hunting and agility competitions. This breed is friendly, playful, and loving towards their family but may be aloof with strangers.
The curly coat requires daily brushing to prevent mats and tangles and regular trips to the groomer for haircuts. The average life expectancy for Irish Water Spaniels is 10-12 years, with the average weight being 25 to 30 kg.
11) Schnauzer:
Schnauzers come in three sizes (miniature, standard, and giant), but all have hypoallergenic coats that require daily brushing to prevent tangles and mats. This German breed was originally used for hunting vermin and guarding property.
Schnauzers are intelligent and highly trainable, making them suitable for various activities, including obedience, agility, and therapy work. They tend to protect their families but may be reserved for strangers.
The average life expectancy for Schnauzers is 13-16 years, with the average weight for male Miniature Schnauzers being 11-20 pounds.
12) Kerry Blue Terrier:
Kerry Blue Terriers have a hypoallergenic, wavy coat that requires daily brushing and regular trips to the groomer for haircuts. The coat has a soft, silky texture and comes in shades of blue-grey.
This color shade faded over time, with puppies born black and then turning grey as they age.
Kerry Blue Terriers are energetic and require daily exercise to prevent boredom and destructive behavior. They are outgoing, playful, and affectionate towards their family but may be distrustful of strangers.
This Irish breed was originally used for hunting vermin and herding sheep but also excels at obedience, agility, and therapy work. The average life expectancy for Kerry Blue Terriers is 13-15 years, with the average weight being 15 to 17kg.
13) Bedlington Terrier:
Bedlington Terriers are active and bold, requiring amper exercise and mental stimulation like other terriers. Their hypoallergenic coat ranges from blue to sandy in color and requires daily brushing to prevent tangles and mats, as well as regular trips to the groomer for haircuts.
This British breed was originally used for hunting vermin, badgers, and foxes but also excels at dog sports such as agility and obedience. They have high intelligence and trainability, making them suitable for various activities.
Bedlington Terriers tend to bark and may be aggressive toward other animals. They are affectionate and playful with their family but aloof towards strangers. The average life expectancy for Bedlington Terriers is 12-14 years, with the average weight being 8-10kg.
14) Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless):
The Xoloitzcuintli comes in both hairless and coated varieties, but the hairless variety has smooth, hypoallergenic skin that requires occasional bathing and moisturizing. This ancient breed originated in Mexico and was used for hunting and guarding.
Xoloitzcuintli’s are intelligent and highly trainable, making them suitable for various activities, including obedience and agility. Some Xoloitzcuintli may tremble easily and require gentle handling and training.
The warm climate is recommended for the hairless variety of this breed, as they are prone to sunburn, and cold weather can cause discomfort. The average life expectancy for Xoloitzcuintli is 10-12 years.
15) Chinese Crested:
The Chinese Crested comes in hairless and coated varieties, but the hairless variety has smooth, hypoallergenic skin that requires frequent bathing and moisturizing to prevent dryness.
This Chinese breed is sweet, affectionate, and cuddy but can also be lively and playful.
They are active and require daily exercise but may not tolerate too hot or cold weather well due to their hairless skin.
Chinese Crested are intelligent and very alert, making them suitable for various activities, including digging a hole and climbing fences to escape. This hairless god gets sunburned easily, so it is important to apply sunscreen and limit their time in the sun.
The average life expectancy for Chinese Cresteds is 12-14 years.
16) Italian Greyhound:
Italian Greyhounds have short, fine coats that do not shed heavily and are considered hypoallergenic. This god loves to run and play and requires daily exercise, making them suitable for agility and lure coursing.
Originally from Italy, this small breed is lively and active but also tends to be shy and sensitive. The average life expectancy for Italian Greyhounds is 13-15 years.
17) Lagotto Romagnolo:
Lagotto Romagnolo means “water dog from Romagna” in Italian, and this breed was originally used for hunting waterfowl. They have curly and hypoallergenic coats that require regular brushing and grooming to prevent tangles and mats.
Lagotto Romagnolo is a loving, playful, and active dog who excels at agility, tracking, and obedience. They have high intelligence and trainability, making them suitable for dog sports and service work.
This breed is generally a healthy dog but may be prone to hip dysplasia and storage problems. The average life expectancy for Lagotto Romagnolo is 14-17 years.
18) Cairn Terrier:
Cairn Terriers have a profuse, harsh, and straight coat that requires regular brushing and grooming, but they do not shed heavily and are considered hypoallergenic. This Scottish breed was originally used for hunting small game and vermin.
Cairn Terriers have high energy levels and require daily exercise, making them suitable for agility, obedience, and earth dog trials. They can also be assertive and bold, making them excellent ratters.
Cairn Terriers are friendly and affectionate towards their family but can be suspicious of strangers. The average life expectancy for Cairn Terriers is 13-14 years.
19) Coton de Tulear:
The Coton de Tulear know their fluffy white coats, that is hypoallergenic and do not require much grooming. This small breed originated on the island of Madagascar and was historically owned by royalty.
Coton de Tulear is energetic, playful, and social. They are often described as “forever puppies” due to their playful and energetic nature. This breed is a good fit for families but may not do well with young children who are rough or careless in their handling.
This breed is generally healthy, but regular grooming, trimming, and dental care are important to prevent issues like ear infections and tooth decay. The average life expectancy for Coton de Tulear is 14-17 years.
Conclusion:
Finally, if you or someone in your family suffers from allergies but still wants a furry friend, consider an American hairless terrier, wire fox terrier, or one of the above 19 hypoallergenic dog breeds. These dogs have low-shedding coats that produce less dander, making them a better fit for people with dog allergies.
However, it is important to remember that no breed can guarantee an allergy-free experience. It is best to spend time with the dog before fully committing to ensure they are a good fit for you and your family.
