5 Common Types of Hypoallergenic Dogs

Many people suffer from differing degrees of dog allergies. An allergy to a pet such as a dog can make one’s home life seem miserable with the constant shedding, nose blowing, and eye itching. If you’re like me, even small contact with a dog is enough to make you want to rub your eyes. Fortunately, there are a few breeds of dogs that are considered hypoallergenic and allow us to experience the companionship that one can have with a dog. There is no "best" type of hypoallergenic dog; they come in all different sizes and colors so it is based on your preference. Here are five of the most common types of hypoallergenic dogs.

The Poodle

When people think of non shedding dogs, the most common one usually thought of is the poodle. This small breed has a solid colored fur coat and comes in four different sizes: standard, miniature, dwarf, and toy. They are also considered intelligent, act on their instinctive abilities, are highly active and can be trained to do a number of tricks. Not only have they appeared in movies and television, they’ve also been trained for circus acts. Depending on the country in which you live, the average lifespan of poodles ranges from 11-14 years.

The Shih Tzu

The Shih Tzu (my personal favorite) is a very playful and loving dog that enjoys company immensely. Shih Tzus are usually between 10-16 lbs and stand at about 11 inches in height. They can grow a long, flowing coat of fur, or it can be kept short as in the picture above. One thing to note is that they grow their coats at a fast pace, requiring regular grooming, and are sensitive to heat. The average lifespan of a Shih Tzu in the United States is a little over 13 years.

Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkshire Terrier, or “Yorkie” as it’s commonly called, is a small breed of hypoallergenic dog that weighs anywhere from 3-7 lbs. Yorkies will not shed and their coats come in several different colors, not just the traditional black and tan. They are very playful, intelligent and active, and are considered a bit harder to train than other dogs. They’re also characterized by their barking, making them good watchdogs. Yorkshire Terriers have an average lifespan of 12-15 years.

Maltese

The Maltese is another small dog similar to the Yorkie in that they generally range from 3-7 lbs (depending on the breed standard being used, some classify adults as anywhere from 5-12 lbs). They have a long and silky coat which must be brushed every day to prevent knotting, unless they are groomed for shorter coats. The Maltese is very cuddly and loves attention and affection from humans. The life expectancy of most of these dogs is between 14-16 years.

Kerry Blue Terrier

The largest dog on this list, the Kerry Blue Terrier is considered a medium-sized dog and can weigh between 30-40 lbs. Kerry Blues have a blue coat at adulthood and are born with a black coat. They have been known to show loyalty and affection toward their owners and children but can be aggressive towards other dog breeds. Smart and agile, these dogs have been used for hunting, guarding, and herding over the years. The average lifespan of the Kerry Blue Terrier is 13-15 years.

    If you suffer from allergies and would like a dog, there are other breeds you can also consider besides the ones listed above. Be wary, as some breeds are touted as hypoallergenic when there is no scientific backing to prove so. It is important that once you find a hypoallergenic breed you like that you spend some time in a small place with it to test out your allergies with the dog.