Dog shedding problem?

21 Oct 2008

21 Oct, 2008 dog shedding

We all love our little ones the way they are, but everyone knowing something about healthcare and especially housecleaning, will tell you that dog shedding can bring up some problems. They usually start with buying the pet and are easiest to deal with just then, meaning you can buy a dog with short hair. But then again, dogs are all too sweet and fluffy, the kids fall in love with them in seconds, and before you know, they are playing in the garden…

Here is a typical example of a soon to be dog owner

Q:I’m shopping for a puppy but I can’t seem to find the right breed for my family. Recently I came across some hybrid breeds I thought might work out, but the Labradoodle is too big and the Puggle sheds too much. Dog shedding is my main problem .Can you help us with a smallish breed that doesn’t shed much? My son is allergic to dogs, so this is crucial.

A: Maybe you’d like a nice snake. They only shed about once a month and they’re real easy keepers. (I’m only partly kidding.)

Consider poodles, soft-coated Wheaton terriers, Yorkshire terriers and the popular Havanese.

Though you may be won over by the newfound popularity of hybrid breeds, they’re considered unreliable for those who have allergies because of the variability of their genetic makeup. In other words, some may cause more allergies than others.

Yet even then, it’s impossible to say for sure that your son will not react negatively to a particular dog or breed. Individual human responses can vary widely when it comes to allergies.

Because getting a dog is such a big decision and the heartbreak of having to return an already-loved dog can be so stressful (especially to children), I recommend that you either wait until your child is mature enough to handle this potential outcome or that you perform a ”quick and dirty” compatibility test with the dog you plan to purchase.

For this test your son should spend 30 minutes in an enclosed space with the prospective pet (such as a car or a small room). But beware: There are no long-term guarantees on this kind of trial.

Speak to your son’s pediatrician for more tips and refer to our list of so-called ”hypoallergenic” or non shedding dogs for a more complete listing of the breeds you might try. Ultimately, however, finding a nice mutt at the pound might serve you just as well.

Airedale Terrier American Hairless Terrier Barbet (dog) Basenji Bedlington Terrier Doesn’t shed

Bergamasco Doesn’t shed

Bichon Frisé Springy undercoat doesn’t hold much hair or dander

Bolognese Doesn’t shed

Border Terrier Bouvier des Flandres Cairn Terrier Chacy Ranior Chinese Crested Has very little fur, doesn’t shed much

Coton de Tulear Doesn’t shed

Dandie Dinmont Terrier Doesn’t shed

Fox Terrier (Wire) Greyhound Short hair, single coat

Havanese Doesn’t shed

Irish Water Spaniel Doesn’t shed

Kerry Blue Terrier Single-coated, short hair, sheds less

Lagotto Romagnolo Lhasa Apso Maltese Doesn’t shed