Is Your Allergic Child Desperate For A Dog? What Are Your Options?

Blog

If your child is allergic to dog dander but regularly begs you for a puppy of his or her own, you may wonder whether you have any options short of enclosing your child in a bubble or continuing to deny these heartbreaking requests. Fortunately, there are now a number of hypoallergenic breeds that should allow all but those with the most severe pet allergies to become dog owners. Read on to learn more about the breeds that may be best-suited for your family, as well as the factors you'll want to consider when making this important decision.

What factors should you keep in mind when selecting a dog for your family?

If your child is allergic to dog dander, it's crucial to select a breed that won't shed. These hypoallergenic breeds (like the poodle, Maltese, and Bichon Frise) don't generate or release nearly as much dander as other breeds that tend to shed their winter coats during the spring and summer months. Amazingly, these hypoallergenic qualities can be passed along even to mixed-breed puppies that have only one hypoallergenic parent, significantly expanding your pool of potential breeds.

Allergy issues aside, there are some dog breeds that are simply better suited than others for family life. You'll want a dog who is more easygoing than high-strung, who is calm and patient with children, and who enjoys physical activity but is also sedate enough to fit in with a busy lifestyle that may not always include regular walks. You may also have positive (or negative) associations with certain breeds from your childhood -- while these shouldn't necessarily make or break your decision, negative associations with a breed could prevent you from fully bonding with your new pet due to childhood trauma or other unresolved issues. For more information about dog training, contact a company like The Balanced Dog.

You'll also want to take lifespan into account. In general, the larger the dog breed, the shorter the life expectancy -- so if you're reluctant to have full responsibility for a pet after your kids leave the nest, you may want to avoid the smaller, long-lived breeds. On the other hand, those who don't want to have a potentially uncomfortable conversation about pet euthanasia with their children may want to shy away from extra-large dogs that are likely to pass away in less than a decade after adoption. 

What breeds are most likely to fit all your family's desired qualities? 

In many cases, medium and large hypoallergenic breeds that mix a standard poodle with a retriever, schnauzer, or spaniel can be a great option for families with one or more allergic members. The poodle lineage prevents these breeds from shedding or generating much dander, while the determination and intelligence of black, yellow, or chocolate Labs, golden retrievers, schnauzers, and cocker spaniels can give theses dogs a larger-than-life personality that can accommodate both the patience-testing determination of toddlers and the vulnerable apathy of adolescents.

Share

27 July 2016

dog training to develop trust

How trusting are you of your dog when children and strangers are around? Does your dog know how to behave around children and strangers? For years, I kept my dogs locked in my bedroom when we had any guests in the house. I never saw my dog get aggressive towards anyone, but I didn't want to chance him not liking someone and attacking him or her. I decided that it was time for him to go for some formal training so that I could have faith in his ability to control himself in different settings. This blog will show you how a dog can change and how your trust can improve after some training.