Dogs with hair instead of fur...

United States
February 8, 2007 2:46pm CST
I know of the poodle and the labradoodle. Soon I plan on getting a dog and it must have real hair, because my boyfriend is allergic to fur. Do you know of any other breeds with real hair?
3 responses
• Melbourne, Florida
8 Feb 07
While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, there are many breeds which the American Kennel Club (AKC®) suggests people with allergies consider. Most of these breeds have non-shedding coats, which produce less dander. It's the dander not the hair which causes most pet allergies. For those who can't do without the joy of a canine companion but want to keep their allergies at bay, the AKC suggests they consider the following breeds: Bedlington Terrier Bichon Frise Chinese Crested Irish Water Spaniel Kerry Blue Terrier Maltese Poodles (Toy, Miniature or Standard) Portuguese Water Dog Schnauzer (Miniature, Standard or Giant) Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Xoloitzcuintli "These breeds may be just what the doctor ordered for people with allergies," says Lisa Peterson, spokesperson for the American Kennel Club. "There are a variety of sizes, energy levels and temperaments, yet all are well-established in their coat type. Dogs that are AKC registered have pedigrees reaching back often hundreds of years and so the characteristics that make them better companions for allergy suffers are fixed through decades of breeding for consistent type." Many of these breeds have shown a rise in popularity over the last decade. The Chinese Crested moved from 73 (out of the 153 AKC breeds) to 57 while the Portuguese Water Dog jumped from 86 to 69. Poodles have remained in the top 10, the Miniature Schnauzer and Maltese in the top 25, and the Bichon Frise in the top 30. "For those who really want to avoid a shedding pet, there are even hairless dogs like the AKC-registered Chinese Crested or the rare Xoloitzcuintli, which listed in AKC's Foundation Stock Service as a step towards full registration," says Peterson. "Dander is usually what triggers an allergic reaction to a dog, not the hair. It is important to know that while no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic -- even the hairless ones – there are options for allergy sufferers to consider." "Both hairless breeds are great for those with allergies or asthma," says Amy Fernandez, a long-time breeder and President of the Xoloitzcuintli Club of America. "The Chinese Crested is a social butterfly and wants to be around others which make them great with kids, while the loyal Xolo with his guardian instincts is the ideal one-person dog. Just because both breeds are hairless, their temperaments are not interchangeable." Before you buy any dog, research the breed to make sure its needs fit your lifestyle. Fernandez recommends that you visit an owner with one dog of the breed you are interested in for several hours to test your sensitivity before you make the commitment of bringing a dog home. For more information on hypoallergenic breeds visit the AKC website.
• United States
8 Feb 07
Wow, I've never gotten a reply so detailed before. Thankyou for the large list that will help me in choosing which one we will buy!
@onabreak2 (1161)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Bichon's have hair. I am not so sure the labradoodle has hair and not fur..Cause Labs have fur and they are part lab. But the Bichon has hair for sure and they are so sweet and good dogs. Smart too. I have one that will be a year old this month. Her name is Lucy and we really love her.
@cassidy22 (2974)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Labradoodles were bred expressly to create a dog with a lab's temperament and the poodle hair. It might still be considered a mutt as they aren't AKC registered, but it isn't just the simple crossing of a lab and a poodle, it took a lot of development to focus on getting the poodle coat on a lab. It didn't happen overnight. Like any other breed, it took years to develop - like the PLott Hound, or any other modern breed.
• United States
8 Feb 07
Most people who are allergic to dog "fur" are allergic to the dander. All dogs have dander. Some breeds just have much less of it, like poodles. The "labradoodle" is simply a poodle mixed with a lab. Its a mut. Most poodle muts will have less dander than other breeds. Other breeds with less dander are short hair breeds. Silky terrier, yorkshire terrier, schauzers, wire hair jack russell terrier. I'm not sure of others but you should contact your local shelter and see what they can tell you. There are tons of dogs in shelters right now that need homes and many of them will be low-dander and/or low-shedding dogs that your boyfriend may be okay around.