Owning a pet is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Constant sources of companionship that have been known to alleviate anxiety and even help you cultivate a healthier lifestyle, puppies of many different breeds more than earn the reputation of “man’s best friend.”
However, it may be that you want to adopt a dog, but you’re allergic. Dog allergies can range in severity and symptoms, and having an allergic reaction of any kind can be frightening, so frightening that you believe you’ll never own a pet of your own.
This is not necessarily true. While it may be correct that you’ll never own particular breeds of dogs, as some are more prone to aggravating allergies than others, there are ways to combat the problem of puppy allergies, from adopting a hypoallergenic breed like a Bichpoo to taking antihistamines. Different methods will likely work better for different people, so if one of the methods on this list has limited effectiveness for you, don’t stop trying: the benefits associated with owning a pet, especially if you believed you’d never be able to, are more than worth the effort.
Let’s take a look at some strategies that have worked for others and may work for you.
Adopt a Hypoallergenic Breed
Hypoallergenic dogs, such as Bichpoos and Cavapoos, have been bred specifically to decrease the likelihood of even the most severely allergic people having a reaction. What makes these dogs hypoallergenic is their coats, which tend to shed less dander and hair than other dogs: this goes double for dogs with curly coats, as the curls trap excess dander and keep it from spreading throughout your house.
Many of the dogs that are in this category were also bred to be friendly, outgoing family dogs, making them great choices for your first family dog if you have small children. The Bichpoo is an especially great choice, being small, energetic, and more intelligent than other breeds in its category. The offspring of the bichon frise and toy poodles, they borrow the best qualities from both sides of their family, taking loyalty and affection from the frise and their hypoallergenic coat from toy poodles.
Allergy-Proof and Clean Your Household
If you’re looking to further reduce the possibility of suffering an allergic reaction, your next step should be to limit the chances of dog dander sticking to surfaces that tend to provide unwitting habitats. Surfaces like curtains, carpets, and other cloth surfaces you can find strewn about your home can provide hiding places for allergens to gather after leaving your puppy, increasing your chances of getting exposed even with a hypoallergenic dog. Reduce the presence of these surfaces as much as possible, choosing to go with blinds instead of cloth curtains and replacing carpeting with hardwood, tile, or another kind of non-cloth flooring.
You’re also going to want to constantly clean areas where your dog has been, as these areas also have the potential to provide shelter for dander. Consistently vacuuming and mopping areas of your home your dog frequents, including furniture and floors, is a great way to minimize the presence of allergens in your home. You can also invest in a home air-filtration system meant to draw allergens out of the air, if you so choose.
Regularly Groom Your Dog
Bathing and brushing your dog has been known to reduce the allergens trapped in their fur, stripping them away and decreasing the likelihood that said allergens accumulate elsewhere in your home. Bathing is by far the best way to clean your puppy, as the allergens get trapped by your puppy’s water-saturated fur; brushing, however, can be dangerous for the allergic, so be sure to wear a mask when brushing your puppy. You can also have a non-allergic family member brush your puppy outdoors to avoid allowing the disturbed allergens to circulate in your home.
You should bathe and brush your puppy at least once a week for maximum effect.
Even if you’re allergic to most breeds of dog, you don’t have to give up on the dream of owning one. There’s a dog out there for every owner, even those owners who are typically allergic to most puppies. Feel free to explore the hypoallergenic breeds on the market, and you might just find a new lifelong best friend for yourself and your family.
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