What is the best dog for a child with asthma?

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• It isn't the fur, but the dander and all dogs have dander. The good thing is that many children out-grow asthma so it's best to be patient. If your child doesn't have asthma that bad then yes, Bichon Frise and Poodles are great (keeping them clean. DO NOT bath them every 10 days as it strips the oils from their skin.) If the child is around the dog occasionally then they should become accustomed gradually to the dog and tolerate it. I stress, if your child's asthma is extremely bad wait until he out-grows it and then consider a dog. Try some other animal such as a small lizard, or different types of fish.

• The best dog for a child with asthma induced by an allergic reaction to pet dander is none at all. I have suffered from this all my life. My folks tried a poodle when I was young, unfortunately this lasted a few days before my symptoms were so bad they had to return the puppy back to the breeder. Some 35 years later, I can still remember how upset I was when the little puppy was gone. Even now, my folks decided a Bichon would be "OK" and visits to my family for me can only lasted a 1/2 day for me before symptoms occur. This type of allergy usually goes beyond the dander & rarely has to do with the fur, or hair (as in the case of poodles) ... the saliva, glands & other secretions will typically cause reactions.

• Poodle is the most hypoallergenic breed of dog for children and adults who suffer with allergies to dog fur and dander or for people with Asthma that is exacerbated by allergies. I have two poodles and my family has always bought poodles because of their hypoallergenic ability and there very cute dogs. This breed are very hypoallergenic and even better, they don't shed fur all over the place.

• Mixed breed dog such as Labradoodle which is a cross between a Labradore and a poodle, may not be 100% effective at preventing allergies in some people because the breed is half poodle and half Labrador. Same goes for every other mixed breed of dog that is crossed with a poodle. Because it is mixed breed you only get half of the protection against allergies.

• I have four children, two who are allergic to "everything". The MD who did allergy testing, suggested we might try a poodle, if the kids just had to have a dog. We ended up getting a Peek-a-poo, half Pekingese, half poodle. That was eight years ago. The kids have had NO problems with the dog. She does not shed and we keep her bathed regularly to keep dander down, even though it has not been a problem. A word of caution though.....poodles (at least the ones I've dealt with) tend to be one family dogs. Our dog does not like other people, and other kids in the house make her nervous. She will bite (nip) them if they try to pet her.
  

• If the child is allergic to saliva or something other than hair it is probably best not to buy a dog, or if you must go to a reputable breeder and have the child interact with a dog to check for any reactions. My dog is a soft coated wheaten terrier he does cause a slight allergic reaction for me but nothing serious. Be aware that dogs that do not shed will become smelly faster than other dogs, and they must be groomed, my dog also has skin allergy problems.

• The best dog for people with asthma or any allergies is a Xoloitzcuintli or Mexican Hairless dog, because it has no hair at all and its a very intelligent, loyal and playful companion.

• I have a dog allergy and we bought a Bichon Frise. They are cute little puffball (sometimes noisemakers) dogs. I do not have a problem with her dander unless we don't bathe her after about 10 days. She has hair and not fur. If you buy one, I would strongly encourage you to keep it well brushed right from the beginning. They are very cute when brushed and kind of ratty looking if you have to cut them way down because you've let the hair get matted.

• Poodles, Bichon Frises, and Yorkshires, (& mixes of them usually too) are hypoallergenic. However depending on the severity and exact kind of allergy (from saliva, dandruff, ...) no dog is probably best. Try another pet such as fish, turtles or Birds. Also someone suggested hairless breeds... they're OK but need a lot of extra care in the skin department (sunscreen, heavy coats, etc.) and may still have dandruff, etc that can cause allergies.

• We have Chijaujau that does not trigger asthma attacks in my girlfriends son who is 14 and has been asthmatic all of his life.

• From What i know a good dog for a child with asthma is a "Labradoodle" (half Labrador and half poodle) They tend to look like Labradors but like poodles they don't molt.

• There is no such thing as a 'hypoallergenic dog'. All dogs have fur. When your allergist recommends snakes and lizards they mean it!
• It depends on how horrid the asthma is. I have asthma, yet I've had dogs all my life. If your child has asthma in which if they get near an average dog breathing will become difficult, I wouldn't suggest getting a dog. However, hypoallergenic dogs do exist, although no allergy-less dog exists. You could try the following:

• Poodle -Bichon Frise -Chihuahua -Irish Terrier -Portuguese Water Dog -Chinese Crested -Schnauzer -Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier -Kerry Blue Terrier -Coton de Tulear -West Highland White Terrier -Bedlington Terrier -Yorkshire Terrier

• If it's Dander that's affecting your child, then any breed that suits your lifestyle will be fine. Just bathe the dog weekly. It will remove the Dander. You can use regular dog shampoo (my favorite is Eqyss) but there is a shampoo called Allerpet made specifically for this purpose. Apparently if you dilute allerpet into a spray format you can spray your pet daily for added allergy protection. Miniature Schnauzers. My mom and I both have asthma, and she has a severe allergic reaction to dogs, but is fine with my three Mini's.

• Italian Grey Hound (update: The American Kennel Club has removed Italian Grey Hounds from the most recent list of less-allergenic dogs).

• If possible, it might be a good idea to borrow a breed to make sure your kid is okay

• The Purebred: Toy, Miniature, or Standard Poodles are a good choice.

• Poodles are the best dog, they don't shed and they have less dandruff.

• Bichon Frise's are good as well. The "soft coated wheaten terrier" is the hypoallergenic dog.

• I think the Bichon Frise and Poodles are good for kids with asthma because they do not shed.

• Allergy testing must be done. It will determine if the child even has an allergy to dog or their dander. My son and I both have asthma and allergies (it is genetic for us) but neither of us is allergic to dogs so we have two of them. However, my son is highly allergic to cats so if he touches one he must wash up and after three years of antigen therapy we can now stay in a home where someone has a cat without a bad episode of asthma or swollen eyes.

• I have suffered with bad asthma my entire life. My parents bought a poodle when I was younger and I did not react. I have lived with a Lhasa Apso for 17 years and she was able to sleep in my bed. Sure every dog may have dander, but their a dogs that are available for people with allergies and asthma. I would not give up on finding a dog. If you look online, there should be many lists of low allergen dogs you can adopt.

First answer by ID0418726787. Last edit by Kats78. Contributor trust: 3 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 51 [recommend question]