Jonathan Field, emeritus director of the pediatric allergy and asthma clinic at New York University/Bellevue Medical Center in New York City. Wanda Phipatanakul, chair of the Indoor Allergen Committee for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). But contrary to popular perception that allergies are caused by animal hair, allergies are actually caused by a protein found in the animal’s dander (a combination of skin and hair), and also its saliva and urine. This would rule out even the "Peruvian Hairless" (and apparently sometimes toothless) dog the government of Peru has offered to send the White House and even the poodle or Bichon Frise varieties proposed by the American Kennel Club. The "golden doodle" and other breeds that end in "oodle" aren’t "100 percent hypoallergenic but are much less allergenic," added Chris Ashton, co-founder and president of Petplan Insurance in Philadelphia and pet parent to Wellington (3-year-old Cavalier) and Bodey (7-year-old Birman). Once you’ve have a breed in mind, find someone who owns such a dog, spend the weekend with them, and see how you do, Field advised.

In response, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology issued a statement last week saying, “There is no truly ‘hypoallergenic’ dog. Another misconception is “that people are allergic to a dog’s hair, and it is falsely believed that a dog that sheds less will not cause a reaction,” the academy said. While some people with dog allergies say some breeds cause them more problems than others, there isn’t any scientific proof to back that up, said the academy’s Dr. People with general allergies but not a specific allergy to dogs probably will do fine with a dog, said Dr.

Approximately 10 percent of Americans are allergic to dogs, with reactions ranging from itchy eyes to more serious complications such as asthma attacks or constricted breathing, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. While no dog is 100 percent hypoallergenic, there are many breeds the American Kennel Club suggests for allergy sufferers. These breeds have non-shedding coats, which produce less dander (it’s the skin dander that is attached to pet hair which causes most pet allergies in humans). Each dog in a litter of mixed breeds is unique in its size, coat type, temperament and energy level, making the high prices unjustifiable and the claims these dogs are ideal misleading at best. Measures that help include removing carpets, heavy drapes and upholstered furniture that trap dander; washing pet beds often and grooming your dog frequently, and not letting the pet sleep on the bed of an allergy sufferer.

Barack Obama has promised the future First Daughters a dog, and his eldest, 10-year-old Malia, has zeroed in on a so-called hypoallergenic breed to accommodate her allergies . Her top pick is a goldendoodle, a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, though the future prez has hinted about adopting a rescue dog, noting that " a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me . For many people, being allergic to dogs is a matter of having a sensitivity to a protein in their saliva which also exudes through their skin. Those dogs that are more universally less allergenic come from more specific breeds such as Poodles, Kerry Blue Terriers, Schnauzers, Bichons and Lhasa Apsos.