My daughter in law is allergic to dogs but my grandson desperately wants one [he is eight] and he has been asking since he was about 3/4 for his own pet. His parents are prepared to get him one if they can find a breed which they all like and which will not aggrevate my D-I-Ls allergies. There is someone at home most of the time as my son works from home and his wife only works part time nights. Can you recommend any breeds which might suit them?
Jan

It all depends what she is allergic too, saliva, dander or hair, and also type of hair.

For example I have a breed with a thick double coat that sheds.  A lady had a pup from me 13 years ago as she realised when visiting relatives in Norway with the breed that they didn't affect her as she assumed they would, but she cannot be near short coated or oily breeds.

She visited me while I had two Border Terriers (wiry coats) and they did not affect her at all, yet she cannot be near something like a Labrador, Boxer or Whippet.

The only way to know is to spend time with various coat types, and also be aware that puppy coats can cause a reaction where the adult coats do not.

also there can be an initial reaction to a new dog, but this lessens as the person becomes accustomed/desensitised to them.

Agree with you Brainless often wondered why it is thought that those dogs who do not shed will not be a problem where as those who do will. In many cases those who do not shed retain large amounts of dander and can be worse than those shedding large amounts of hair for most of the year.

Dust mite is one of the most common causes and I think it may be that the new dog disturbs 'dust' and the problem increases only to decrease once a new cleaning regime is undertaken to deal with the dog increased dust, particularly if the dog is allowed in the bedroom where most dust mite reside.

I had a family with a child who had severe problems about 10 years ago now.  They used a product called Petal Cleanse (I don't know if it's still available?)  It was so successful that they had another puppy 2 years later.

I agree with brainless.  Our youngest son is asthmatic and has allergies but he has no problem with our dogs or our long haired cat but when we still had our short haired cat, he couldn't even be in the same room as her.  It was just her hair that set him off.

THis is getting boring now but again agree with Brainless :)  THe person needs to spend time with the breed to find out if they are allergic or not. Have had quite a few people with allergies with my breed, all but one were fine.

I know someone who desperately wanted a family dog but knew he was allergic to most dogs he met - he assumed it was the hair, but didn't know for sure. Anyway, he spent quite a lot of time just going out and about and meeting the breeds that he was interested in and spending a bit of time in their company. He chose the one he didn't have a reaction to, which for him turned out to be a Tibetan Terrier.

Well that's one I hadn't thought of!!
They were thinking of a Bichon or one of the poodle crosses but I did, in fact, point out that she should go and spend time at the breeders house and see if she had a reaction. I was not sure that a Bichon is a good breed for an 8 year old that is active.

> or one of the poodle crosses

You never know what you're getting with a cross. So could end up with a Poodle coat and mix with the other breed or the other breed totally. If i'm honest if they allergies then to stay away from puppy crosses as its a huge gamble. They need to work out what breeds with their characters are most suitable and then visit some breeders to see what reaction if any occurs.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH A POODLE?

Two people with asthma and allergies here.    The Bedlingtons don't affect them at all :-D   

'softest' of the terrier breeds and great for active families :) 

Really need to meet the dogs/breeds before deciding ;) 

Nothing is wrong with a Poodle but they don't want a Poodle, there again as you say....if you had wanted a Poodle you would have bought one. Who am I to tell them that they must get one?? If they are daft enough to spend their money on a cross breed then that is their choice not mine nor for that matter anyone elses!!

We seem to have got a bit mixed up here, what a person buys is their business but you have asked about allergies and as someone has pointed out if that is the main consideration then they should steer clear of crosses because they will have no idea what they are getting, allergy wise. Stick with the pure breeds and they will know if the dog is suitable or not.

I just don't get though why people want Poodle crosses, where if you left the coat the same on a Poodle as these crosses are kept then you have what they like in looks.  Plus you know what the parents looked like and if you went to the correct kind of breeder you would have health test results on a few generations hopefully.

I suspect that the people producing them are good talkers and convince the prospective owners that they are just what 'allergic' people need!  It's easily done if the new prospectives are desperate for a dog... :( 
That's the story that we're told when they come into rescue under 6 months old and those producing them don't want to know as they're already producing their next litter to con the next desperate family.  :( :(

But as I've already posted, a family with a very allergic child managed 2 Rough Collies with the help of Petal Cleanse.