Pets make a wonderful addition to your family, and dogs in particular. They provide a considerable amount of love, affection, and they give you a reason to go take a walk and get a little fresh air. Even the simple act of petting your dog is proven to help lower stress and make you feel better, which can be really helpful in the winter time when people are more prone to depression.
The only issue when it comes to owning a pet is when you suffer from allergies. Allergy sufferers are no stranger to the runny nose and watering eyes that comes with being near a dog. If you’re looking for a dog, but suffer for allergies, consider looking at a breed of hypoallergenic dog, before you go reaching for your allergy medicine.
The Truth About “Hypoallergenic” Breeds
What most people don’t understand about pet allergies, is that it isn’t the hair that makes you sniffly and sneezy. What actually triggers your allergies is the tiny bits of protein that is attached to the dogs hair, otherwise known as dander. Pet dander is what people are typically allergic to, rather than the hair itself. Because of that, the term hypoallergenic when it comes to dogs is a bit misleading.
However, while hypoallergenic dogs aren’t entirely “allergy proof” these breeds of dogs do help a lot when it comes to allergies because they shed a lot less than other dogs do. By cutting down on the amount of shed fur on the floors, couches, and anywhere else your dog might rub up against, you can lower the amount of dander in the air, which helps to make allergies less severe.
Easy Clean Up
Another big advantage to the fact that your dog sheds less, it means that cleaning is even easier. Despite the fact that a lot of hypoallergenic breeds look as though the would shed more, their coats lay in such a way that nominal fur escapes. With fur sticking to the dog and not everything else, household chores such as vacuuming and sweeping become a lot less time consuming, and even less prone to triggering your allergies when it’s time to clean up.
Why you Should Consider a Hypoallergenic Dog Breed
If you, or members of your family suffer from allergies but you still would really like to have a dog, then you really want to consider a hypoallergenic dog breed. Not only does this help to cut down on the allergies, and the subsequent allergy medications, but there are a wide number of breeds to choose from. Finding a hypoallergenic dog to fit your family is easier than you might have thought. With over 20 different breeds to choose from, finding a dog to fit your home and your family is easy.
Almost every hypoallergenic dog breed as a friendly and loving disposition and are really good with children. For families who live in a smaller home or live in an apartment, a smaller breed can make for the perfect companion. While you might still need to take your allergy medicine, having a hypoallergenic dog can certainly help to ease your allergies, as well as providing a faithful companion to keep you company year round.
+Neil Kilgore is the Jack (Russell) of all trades at Greenfield Puppies in Lancaster Pa. He regularly blogs about dogs, breeders and puppies on the Greenfield Puppies website.