Dog breed: Shed

Dog lovers with allergies are always looking for that special breed of dog that will not cause an allergic reaction. Unfortunately, there are NO non-allergic dogs. All dogs can cause an allergic reaction; it has little to do with how much hair they have and more to do with their diet and how they are groomed. However, there are some breeds (in general, the female of the breed is better) which come close to being hypoallergenic and there are some breeds that are hairless or naturally don’t shed hair or shed very little. What they all have in common is they require regular grooming all year round.

ABOUT DANDER AND ALLERGIES:

Allergies are not a direct result of too much hair and even dogs with fur like human hair can cause allergies. The sebaceous glands are the culprit. Dogs, like other animals and humans, secrete an oily lubricant (sebum) through their sebaceous glands, which keeps their skin supple and their coat (hair) shiny. The allergen in the secretion causes the allergic reaction and is present in dog’s saliva and dander. As the dog ages and the skin dries, more sebum is produced and the scaly bits of dried skin are released, resulting in dander (or dandruff in humans). Be careful when buying a puppy because you might not have an immediate allergic reaction. Puppy’s skin is supple and sebum isn’t released so they have no dander, but you might eventually get an allergic reaction as they age and dander forms.

A FEW SUGGESTED BREEDS FOR ALLERGY SUFFERERS:

Basenji

Shed little or no hair, have no doggy smell and they groom themselves like cats; however, they do not do well with non-canine pets. They are energetic and easily trainable.

Bichon Frise

Shed little or no hair but must be groomed once a month. They are affectionate, intelligent and independent. They love people and children and are easily trainable.

Chinese Crested

Shed little or no hair, have no doggy odor and are not prone to ticks or fleas. They are affectionate, lovable, energetic and easily trainable. They are not barkers.

Poodle

Shed little or no hair and are intelligent and easily trainable. They have a good temperament, but if untrained, they tend to bark a lot. Also, be careful with the mixed breeds.

Schnauzer

Shed little or no hair, are great house pets and love children. They will bark and make good watchdogs and mouse catchers.

Shih Tzu

Shed little or no hair and is alert and spunky. They make good watchdogs even though they are small.

Yorkshire Terrier

Shed little or no hair, but their temperament is that of the Terrier breed. They are good watchdogs but tend to be snappish if teased or surprised. They are easy to train, but a little stubborn.

Xoloitzcuintle

Hairless breed sheds no hair and the coated breed sheds very little. They come in three sizes and are very intelligent and easily trainable.

COST:

It is difficult to find a price range for any of them without going to each breeder’s site and requesting information, but suffice it to say that pure-bred dogs will cost you several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the breed. You can, however, check with the Humane Society and other dog adoption shelters because it is estimated that about forty percent of all dogs in those shelters are pure-bred dogs.

Resources:

www.consumerhealthreviews.com

www.dogchannel.com

www.dog-abc.com

www.dogs.about.com

www.angelfire.com

www.dogbreedinfo.com

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A look at designer dog breeds – Part 4

Designer Dogs – New At Neiman Marcus

Did you know Ralph Lauren now makes a dog? Have you checked your Cockapoo for a DKNY stamp on its’ butt? Designer dogs are all the rage in these days of “must have what Paris has”.

The actual usage of the term “designer dog” means, of course, that the dog has been bred by design to encourage certain traits (and discourage others).

This is a tricky business, unless you are breeding for sheer “cuteness”, flip a coin as to whether or not you will get the genetic outcome that you seek.

Breeders across America started cross breeding in the 1980’s when it became apparent that the shedding (or non-shedding) gene in poodles appeared to be quite dominant and easily transferred to puppies almost regardless of the other “parent”. The usual pet allergy is an allergy to the dander, not necessarily to the pet hair. Dander is the combination of dead skin cells, skin oils, dirt, dust, and anything else that “sloughs” off of a dog’s coat.

All Dogs Shed.

All dogs shed hair if they have hair. That being said, some breeds do not shed dander in the form of oils and allergens. Poodles have been long known as THE “non-shedding” breed, others include: the Bichon Frise, the Schnauzer, the Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier. These are also the most popular for cross-breeding. When checking into a designer dog breed (or any puppy), look for a reputable breeder. This is crucial for making sure you are getting what you want; it is easy to pass off a poorly bred puppy as a designer dog, do you know the difference between an over/poorly bred Poodle and a Cockapoo? Be sure to LOOK at both dame and sire in person. Puppies should have the attributes of BOTH parents, or may look exactly like one. It is still highly recommended that purebred to purebred returns the best results: Pure Cocker x Pure Poodle, Pure Schnauzer x Pure Poodle.

A Few Popular Designer Dog Breeds

Along came a Cocker Spaniel with all of the problems this breed encounters, and hooked up with a Poodle. The Cockapoo was born! Adorable little dogs of 15-25lbs depending on the weight of the parents. If a well bred Cocker mates with a well bred poodle, the results are often: far fewer ear infections, far less shedding, and a sturdier dog that can rough house with the kids.

A feisty Schnauzer met a demure Poodle and a Schnoodle was born. If you have difficulty with the breed name, it may be easier to call these little dogs “bounce”. For that is exactly what they do. Great little guys weighing in around 10-15lbs, will be the biggest “small” dog you ever own! Full of spunk and vigor, they fear nothing, yet run to your lap when things get out of control. Again, very little or no shedding is expected from this breed.

One of the latest designer dog breeds is the Teddy Bear. This is the cross of the Shih Tsu and the Bichon Frise. What a gorgeous puppy this produces, again with very low shedding. A sign should be hung above these pups reading, “My owner must LOVE to comb me!” Still considered to be non-shedding, these pups will lose hair, they are not a double-coated breed and therefore will not “blow” a coat twice a year.

Other popular small designer dog breeds include: LhasaPoo, BichonPoo, YorkiePoo, ShihPoo, MaltePoo, Puggle (Pug x Beagle), Cockaleer (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Cocker Spaniel), Cavachon (Cavelier KCS x Bichon), LhasaTese (Lhasa Apso x Maltese), WheatonPoo.

Large breed designer dogs include: Labradoodle (Lab x Standard Poodle), Golden doodle (Golden Retriever x Standard Poodle).

Best dogs for kids

Deciding what dog breed is best for your family involves weighing many factors. When you have children, particularly small children it is important to consider what breeds typically respond best to them. Keep in mind any dog has the capability to be the exception to the rule, in both a good and bad way. That being said, you should also consider whether or not the breed itself is hearty enough to withstand child’s play. Even with supervision, accidents can happen and certain dog breeds are far more delicate than others. Careful consideration of these and many other lifestyle factors will ensure that you get a dog that fits into your family perfectly.

Small Dogs

Corgis are on the smaller side and they make excellent family dogs. These dogs are hearty at around 25 pounds and have short stocky build. They tend to be better with children past the age of pulling tails and stealing toys. Corgi’s love to run and play, so they also work well with active children.

Schnauzers are great dogs for any aged child. They are smart, tolerant and very affectionate. They require a small amount of exercise and grooming, but are otherwise low maintenance. Schnauzers live to please and protect their family.

Poodles make excellent family dogs. These dogs are smart, personable and active. They don’t require a ton of maintenance and come in different sizes to suit your individual families needs. They love to play and are quite happy accepting affection.

Bichon Frise are social, lively, companion dogs that are smart and easy to train. They do require a decent amount of maintenance and exercise, but love children and attention. They are also great for smaller and larger homes, which makes them an ideal dog for many families.

Large Dogs

Labrador and Golden Retrievers are two of the most popular dog breeds in America and there is a reason for that. Both make great family dogs. They are very active and love to play with kids. However, they are also quite affectionate and make wonderful companion dogs.

Boxers also make great family dogs. They really love to play and typically they get along well with everyone, even other animals. Boxers are also low maintenance and affectionate, which adds to their appeal.

Collies are loyal, smart and affectionate dogs. Collies make great family dogs, because they are adaptable and sweet in nature. They do require exercise and some maintenance. They tend to work better with older children, because they may be bossy with smaller children.