hi everyone,
i wondered if youd mind giving me some advice on "our first family dog".
I,ve all ways had dogs as a child ,german sheperds,boxers and a lovely rescue cross.The thing is one of our 3 kids has asthma.Ive looked into "breeds" which are supposed to be ok with sufferers and have come up with 2 which fit into our check list.The first is the cocker spaniel and the second is the miniture schnauzer.I have spoken to a few of these breeders (armed with a barrel full of questions) who have been really kind and helpful,but is there any chance i could have some more feed back.
thank you Kizzy
(p.s ) this is a brilliant web site, have been visiting it for a while

Welcome to the forum dizzykizzy :-) Leigh

Hi Kizzy

I'm bias and would go for a Cocker Spaniel, but they do moult quite a lot and I wouldn't of thought it was ideal for a child suffering with Asthma. Wouldn't a non-moulting breed be better ie Poodle, Bichon Frise or is the Asthma not that bad ???

Cockers are wonderful family pets and simply adore children. They are easily trained and have lots of energy for family walks etc. They are very adaptable too and will fit in perfectly with family life.

Have a look at my two on our website www.madaboutdogs.homestead.com/MadAboutDogs.html

Best of luck in your search.

Derryn & The Boys in Sunny Guernsey .....

How about a labradoodle? Do they moult, or does the poodle bit means it's non moulting?

Labradoodles are generally non moulting, that was the reason the guide dogs gave them a try. I've also known a few Spanial / Poodle crosses!

Regards, John

One of those comes to our training class, and I swear it looks like a lagotta. Have been trying to find a piccie to copy for them. She is Brown roan and delightful, but had spent about 4 months in Bristol dogs home!! :(

They sure do look like a Lagotto and also Spanish Water Dogs, although we don't get brown roan's in SWD's.

Both my children suffer from asthma and find that they have no problems with dogs as such. It depends what triggers each persons asthma. My son isn't badly affected and only has problems when he gets a cold or some other infection ,my daughter is allergic to cats.Try and get your asthma sufferer to spend some time with either of your chosen breeds and see how they react what triggers one person will not necesarily triger another.Good Luck Gillian

I've been ashtmatic from the day I was born. I own 7 dogs, 5 Parson Russell Terriers, I Boxer and my new addition a Schipperke. I'm not allergic to any of them. Please, Please, Please dont assume that your child will actually react to a dog. WHen I had all the skin prick tests done when I was younger I was near enough allergic to everything including all animals. However the only animals that have triggered a reaction have been rabbits but I did have over 40 of them at the time :D.
Best way to see if your child is allergic to your chosen breeds is to short list the ones you LIKE rather than ones you think may be non-reacting (I'm a dog groomer and have only reacted midly runny eyes etc to those supposedly non allergic dogs Bichons!) and visit some breeders with your child. You'll soon find out whether they will cause an asthma attack or not.