Why Get A Hypoallergenic Dog Breed?
A lot of people try to pitch the idea of a hypoallergenic dog to a person with allergies, but is that really the way to go? What are the real benefits of getting a hypoallergenic dog breed? The truth is, there are a lot of great reasons to get a hypoallergenic dog breed, and it doesn't necessarily have to be because you have allergies! Here are some more reasons why you should get a hypoallergenic dog breed:
Less dander: The main reason why you should get a hypoallergenic dog is because these dogs produce less dander. Dander, or flaky dead skin cells, is one of the main causes for allergic reactions to dogs. Hypoallergenic dogs, however, are able to produce less dander than other dogs, which also means that they are cleaner dogs to have in your home.
Non-shedding or low shedding: Another one of the great reasons to get a hypoallergenic dog is because they are non-shedding or low shedding pets. Although people are not directly allergic to the dog hair itself, the shedding of dog hair can spread dander, which causes an allergic reaction. So, you can not only minimize the amount of dander with a low-shedding dog, but this also means that you will not have to spend a lot of time cleaning up dog hair either. Even if you don't have dog allergies, you might want to get a hypoallergenic dog just so that you don't have to pick up dog hair.
Temperament: Another reason why you should consider a hypoallergenic dog breed is because of their temperament. There are a lot of great hypoallergenic dog breeds which are cheerful, playful, and patient with children. The Bichon Frise is an excellent example of a hypoallergenic dog that has all of these great personality traits. Portuguese Water Dogs are also intelligent dogs which love to spend time with their owners (they might even just follow you around the house!). Of course, you will want to spend time with a dog to figure out its individual personality, but on the whole, there are many hypoallergenic dog breeds that have affectionate, good temperaments.
Show dogs: There are also a lot of hypoallergenic dog breeds that are great for show dogs as well! For example, most of the different types of poodles (such as the standard poodle, toy poodle, and miniature poodle) are hypoallergenic. If you are interested in a show dog, you might want to look into getting a hypoallergenic dog for this reason!
Just so you know, there is no way that you can ever get a dog that is completely 100% hypoallergenic. However, hypoallergenic dogs are able to minimize the amount of dander and hair that is put into your air, which minimizes the chances of a person having an allergic reaction. Other things that you can do to minimize the chance of an allergic reaction are to bathe your dog regularly, vacuum up dander from the dog's bed, wash the walls of your home, and brush your dog regularly. It is also a good idea to leave the windows open in your home when possible, so that fresh air will get rid of any dander that your dog may have left. If you have further questions about your dog allergy, you also can see an allergy specialist. There are some dog allergies which can be treated very easily.
If possible, make sure that you spend time with your hypoallergenic dog before actually taking it home. This will make sure that you don't have an allergic reaction to your dog. Also, be aware that sometimes it can take a while for an allergic reaction to take place – sometimes an allergic reaction can take a few minutes, whereas other reactions may come about after a couple of hours.
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