I'm needing a bit of advice on this.  I am being checked for this at the minute as since we got our latest addition, I have been really irritated with ichy skin and hives.  My doc has taken blood but he is pretty certain I am allergic to, if not all dogs, then the latest addition(which has a completely different coat).  I have been prescribed an anti-histamine which I think is working for the majority of the time and as long as I don't touch the 'new' dog too much, I seem to be OK. 
Problems are;
1.  OH not at all happy about constant meds to keep said dog.
2.  Said dog not happy about mum now ignoring him.
3.  I HATE not snuggling my boy!!
I would love to hear from others who live with dogs and allergies.  I have always hoovered all the dogs daily(son's asthmatic) and all my floors get washed daily too.  I only have leather sofas and laminate flooring and dogs are not allowed upstairs.  Anything else I could do?

i know that in some cases the sensitive persons sensitivity to a new canine wear off, and also that some can be sensitive to the baby coat, but fine once the proper adult coat comes.

There is something called petal klenz (sp) that is supposed to reduce sensitivity.  You wipe the dog over with it.

I know that type of coat can be a factor.  A lady that bought a puppy from em 14 years ago thought she was allergic to dogs full stop, and only realised that the double coated Spitz breed I have did not affect her at all after she visited a relative in Norway that owned the breed.  she was absolutely fine with terrier coats too, but terrible with short coated dogs and any oily ones like labs and Spaniels.

It's the short-coated breeds that bother me too! He's cast like mad since he got here but seems that this breed casts constantly.  Other breeds I have(or had) have been akitas, spaniels, long-haired GSDs.  Never been bothered at all before.  I have tried hoovering him and bathing him but makes no difference.  In fact, it probably bothers me more as all the fussing and me touching my face, argh!!  I wash after touching him too.  It's definately the coat!  I've never been bothered before in my life!  I'm the same with cats.  Longer hair doesn't bother me but short coats get me scratching and sneezing.
Since the doc said, I have taken my anti-histamines and stopped touching him.  Yesterday, I felt awful for him so I put on his lead and took him a walk just us two.  Well, I walked along the road within about 5 mins, I was clawing at myself and I could feel the hives and heat on my face(telling me it was all red) and all that is after medication!!

its most likely to be the dander and not the coat, it is jsut that the skin is closer to the surface in a short coat.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Biolife-Petal-Cleanse-Allergy-Lotion/dp/B003Y3VGYY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1320843715&sr=8-4 might be worth a try

Homeopathy might help, you can even have a remedy made from your pup so it would be more effective