The Most Allergy-Friendly Dog Breeds

The Bedlington is named after a mining district in England where it worked for a living killing rats and performing other tasks. Although the Bedlington requires weekly grooming, its distinctive, fleecy coat makes it a one-of-a-kind breed for owners who deal with allergies.

Bichon frise is a French name that translates into English as “curly dog.” This easily trained little dog is hypoallergenic, and rarely sheds. According to the American Kennel Club, the bichon frise makes a good companion for young children.

The Chinese crested has ancient origins that trace back to Africa via China. It can be coated or hairless and, like a cat, enjoys sitting in high places, according to the AKC.

The coton de Tulear is known as the “Royal Dog of Madagascar.” It sheds very little and is distinguished by its long, soft coat that grows up to four inches. Coton is the French word for cotton.

The tallest of the spaniels recognized by the AKC, the Irish water spaniel is distinguished by its curly, waterproof coat. It has yet to become a popular household choice in the United States.

The Kerry blue terrier was originally bred to guard, herd, and hunt, but adapts well to apartment living. Intelligent and independent, the Kerry’s soft, wavy coat rarely sheds, making it a great hypoallergenic dog for any owner living in the city.

With a very long coat of silky white hair, the Maltese needs to be groomed often in order to avoid knotting. Despite its dainty appearance, it has a reputation for being courageous and perky.

There are three sizes of poodles: standard, miniature, and toy. It enjoys walking, running, and swimming, so if you’re the athletic type you may just want to invite your poodle along for the workout!

The Portuguese water dog has the advantage of a waterproof coat. President Obama and his family chose a Portuguese water dog, Bo, as a pet because daughter Malia suffers from allergies.

This dog rarely sheds, which makes it a good choice for allergy sufferers. Just like any of the three types of schnauzers, this breed has a wiry, tight-fitting coat that keeps debris off. What’s dug up outside, stays outside.

The giant schnauzer is a powerful dog built for work and an active life. It’s also hypoallergenic.

The soft coated wheaten terrier is set apart from other terriers by its silky coat. According to the AKC, it combines the alert intelligence of the terrier with the steadiness of the working dog.

According to the AKC, the xoloitzcuintli is one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds. The name comes from the Aztec god Xolotl, and the Aztec word for dog, Itzcuintli. In remote Mexican and Central American villages, this dog was used to ward off and cure ailments such as asthma, which should make it ideal for allergy sufferers.

Not only are American hairless terriers suitable companions for those with allergies, but they also train easily and get along with other pets..

The lagotto Romagnolo is an ancient breed that originated in Italy and its fur is quite similar to that of the Portuguese water dog. Despite its cute appearance and affectionate personality it is surprisingly rugged.

The Afghan hound’s thick coat protected it from the elements in the mountainous regions of Afghanistan. This breed has huge paw pads that absorb impact, another physical attribute they developed over time because of the harsh environment.

The affenpinscher is of German origin – “affe” is the German for “monkey,” so the name literally means “monkey terrier.” While it looks like a terrier, the Affenpinscher actually belongs to the pinscher-schnauzer family.

The barbet was originally a water dog and was used in France for hunting game. The barbet’s defining characteristic is its dense shaggy coat, which is non-allergenic and non-shedding.

As its name suggests, the Bolognese was developed in Bologna, Italy, and dates back as much as 1,000 years. The Bolognese almost went extinct but was rescued by an Italian breeder and has been gaining in popularity since 1990.

In the United States, the miniature schnauzer is treated differently from other schnauzer breeds in that it is not classified as a working dog and is judged in competition as a terrier. It has a wiry double coat. It sheds very little and is safe for those with pet allergies.

The Peruvian Inca orchid is a slim sighthound and can be coated or, more often, hairless. It originated in Peru and has been increasingly gaining popularity elsewhere. The hairless variety is considered a good choice for allergy sufferers because, of course, it doesn’t shed.

Poodles come in three size varieties: standard, miniature and toy. The miniature is between 10 and 15 inches tall. Poodles are characterized by their curly hypoallergenic coats.

The standard poodle should be more than 15 inches tall at the shoulder. The poodle is the national dog of France, although there it’s known as the caniche, or “duck dog.”

The Russian tsvetnaya bolonka, also known simply as the bolonka, is a member of the bichon family and almost went extinct until after the Cold War. The breed’s coat was developed in response to the scarcity of grooming products in Russia. It is hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, the bolonka does not get along well with other animals.

The Yorkshire terrier, or Yorkie, is a popular toy breed that grows up to a mere 7 pounds. It’s nicknamed “the tomboy toy.” It has a hypoallergenic coat that is more like human hair than animal fur, but it requires a lot of care and attention.