Family wanting a dog

oystercatcher

Bear in mind that it could take some time for the allergy to develop it wouldn't happen on the first visit. So if you think you've found a 'safe' dog' make several repeat visits to be sure it's OK.

Hope you find something suitable my boys love having our dogs as part of the family.

Oystercatcher

Cullumpster

We have got a border terrier and if is fabulous, we got him when my little boy was about 1 and they are best friends they play together all of the time and he is as soft as muck. We also have a 1 year old kitten who is also best friends with him they sleep in the same bed every night. He is brilliant with kids of all ages and i'd highly recommend getting this breed, if i was going to get another dog in the future i would get another.

Milford_Cubicle

This may seem a dumb question, but genuine.

Dogs and cats which don't moult or shed their coat, how do they actually get rid of it? Obviously they're going to replace it regularly like any animal...so how does it work? Do they require regular clipping because it just keeps growing and never falls out? I'm sorry if I seem stupid, but I just can't imagine an animal which doesn't drop any hair at all!

beachbeth

Think of it like the human head. We don't go around leaving clumps of hair everywhere we go do we? The hair does fall out and new hair grows its just that some dogs leave enough hair behind to make another dog! We used to have a Yorkshire Terrier and these don't shed. You may see the odd hair here and there but they certainly don't shed.

Marsh_Samphire

Miss_Yell wrote: »

I wonder if since there was a dog in the house when your son was small, he may be okay with dogs, the allergy may be caused by different things! He will have had a degree of contact with dogs as a baby whether the dog was near him or not. This should have helped him with antibodies.

My family had a golden retriever up until I was 6, then she died and we didn't get another dog. I was fine with her when I was little but after a few years I came into contact with other dogs and somehow had developed a very severe allergy. Don't know how or why. But in my teens Mum heard from a friend that Yorkshire Terriers can be OK for people with allergies and we have had them ever since. We have not had the tiny cute ones but larger, scruffier ones! The breed was originally bred to kill rats and we don't go in for all the silly bows and clothes.

This is Poppy, our current one, she's 5kg and behaves like a real big dog!
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/mw2XynbWtVYiwEE32myBBw?feat=directlink

foreign_correspondent

Marsh Samphire - I like your yorkie - I think the little teacup ones look daft, but she looks ike a terrier, not a toy!!

I often see a bloke in denims and a bald head (who looks like your archetypal 'hard man') walking a tiny yorkie which is nothing more than a handful of fur and yap on legs - I always think they are an odd match, and if his yorkie met a rat, I think the rat would win!

OP if you decide on a specific breed there are breed rescues (there is definitely one for yorkies, as well as labradoodles) - I do think there is an ethical issue with encouraging breeding through buying, whilst pound dogs die.

There are unprecedented numbers of dogs being handed in to rescue at the moment becuase of the impending recession - from pups to oldies, and everything inbetween!

If you have small children a sensible, adult dog would be the easiest chouce, and your son would know whether he was allergic to it or not, rather than buying a pup and keeping your fingers crossed that when its adult coat comies in it does not trigger his allergies.

moomin5

Greyhounds can be ok for some people with allergies, they do shed some fur but they have a fine, short coat with no undercoat. I think they do better with children that can respect their space, although i wouldn't say this is necessarily older children as my 3yr old nephew is much better behaved around my dogs than my 6yr old neice. All dogs should be supervised around children anyway.

http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/index.asp?pageid=40 If there's a local branch you could probably visit a few times to test allergy reaction.

Here's a list of breeds that might be ok; http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/information/atozofdogs/a/allergiestodogs/

horse76

I've got a slight allergy to alot of pets, but we have 2 Jack Russells. Our first one has really thick hair and sheds alot of hair - but I'm ok with him as we've had him 7 years now. We got another dog, a 2 year old jack russell a few months ago, who's a smooth coat with very fine hair. For the first few weeks he made me sneeze constantly, but I seem to have become immune now, he doesn't bother me at all.

Although, it's not always their hair that sets me off, like others have said possibly saliva - my older dog licked my face the other week and I ended up with a part swollen bottom lip, it went purple, took over an hour to disappear. But then I'm allergic to other things such as dust, perfume sprays and horses too. We have a 4 year old, who is asthmatic, but she seems fine with our dogs.

suki1964

I know you like the idea of a westie but westies can develop severe skin conditions which can cause major problems with your son if it is dander hes allergic too. When at the dog groomers ask about breeds they know of that are prone to "westie skin" or seborrhoeic dermatitis.

I am allergic to cats and dogs but slowly desensitise over time. Bringing my cocker spaniel home on my lap had me clawing at my red raw face - now he can sleep nestled into me not a problem. I still find cats a problem and any dog that cast their coat. Dogs like cockers, Schnausers, poodles etc Im fine with - GSD's, labs etc - a no no (although I love them to bits)

foreign_correspondent

Westies are not really recommended with small children either as they tend to have quite low tolerance and can be snappy.