When you or a family has allergies, then choosing a dog which has a lower rate of spreading allergens, called hypoallergenic, is ideal for you.
There are a large variety of these breeds which have this trait.
Choosing the right dog would depend upon various other circumstances.
In choosing such a hypoallergenic dog, you would have to consider the breed based upon your accommodation.
If you are living in an apartment or a condo, then a smaller dog would be better suited for your living space.
If however, you have your own home, with a fairly big backyard, then your choice widens from the small dogs to even large dogs who have the same hypoallergenic quality.
These dogs have low hair shedding, no undercoats or dander.
Additionally, their skin has little dead, skin cells.
For those of you who suffer from allergies, we recommend some breeds for your consideration: Irish water Spaniel, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Bedlington Terrier.
A brief description of each of these follows.
Larger than other breeds is the Irish Water Spaniel.
They have very short hair, which, like human males require trimming once in two months.
That helps keeping shedding of hair under control, and thereby allergens egress into your home.
It's a friendly dog, that enjoys walking, running around, looking for fun, and likes to swim in more warmer climes during the year.
The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is not meant for those with apartments.
It is a dog which really likes to jump around, and barks at random, as if it wants to hear its own voice.
Strangely for a dog, this one is friendly, and welcomes strangers! It really likes people.
If that is what you want, this one is for you.
You will have to teach it to help your security by learning how to discern family friends, and real strangers; otherwise it's chaos! You can choose between the Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English and American.
It's size determines its name.
For those who live in apartments and have allergies, the Bedlington Terriers is the best choice.
They are smaller than the others described above.
They need grooming with a hair brush for their short coats.
They also need to have their hair cut once in a quarter or less, so as to have a healthy short coat, which then helps you brush their coats, and prevent allergens coming into the home.
They are full of energy, and love exercise.
And it would also get you exercise when you take them out for a walk.
If you do have allergies, as stated earlier, it may be advisable to consult with your physician, who can then recommend a Vet.
The Vet would be able to tell you about which breeds are best suited for your type of allergy, and accordingly you should make your choice.
Do remember that when choosing a breed, the size of your home would matter quite a bit, because some breeds require space to indulge themselves and expend their energy.
Smaller varieties are best suited where the home is small, or is an apartment.
Larger dogs tend to bark, and that may disturb your neighbours; the smaller ones require less frisky places, and generally their barking is quite muted, and often times, not so much, as the larger ones.
Also you need to take care of their grooming, and keeping them clean so as to keep the allergens lower than what they already have.