What do you do if you’re a dog lover who’s allergic to dogs? Do sneezing, watery eyes and hives stop you from having a furry friend? Well, the good news is your allergies don’t necessarily mean missing out on the joys of pet ownership - many allergy sufferers choose to adopt one of these popular hypoallergenic dog breeds.

Understanding dog allergies

When you have an allergy to a dog (or any animal), your immune system is reacting negatively to a number of substances that the dog produces naturally: hair, dander, saliva, and urine. You may be surprised to know that the main culprit is not always hair, it’s also dander, the flakes of dead skin that your dog sheds. Unfortunately, this means that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, as even hairless dogs produce dander, but the breeds we have listed below are known as being much better for allergy sufferers.

10 popular hypoallergenic dog breeds

Poodle – these are one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide, not just among the hypoallergenic breeds. They are highly intelligent, making them easy to train and can be great family pets.

Maltese Terrier– you might think these balls of fur would be an allergy nightmare, but their white silky coats actually shed very little.

Bichon Frise– the double coat of these fluffy dogs means that any shed hair and dander is caught up in the coat and doesn’t fall to the floor. With regular grooming, they can be an excellent option for allergy sufferers.

Yorkshire Terrier– although they have long silky coats, Yorkies are considered low-dander dogs. Their coats require regular maintenance to prevent matting, but they shed little.

Chinese Crested–this is a good choice for those that have an allergy to hair in particular, as the breed comes in a hairless variety, and even the type with hair sheds very little.

Portuguese Water Dog– this breed came to fame as the family dog of the Obamas. They are a loyal and fun companion with little shedding.

West Highland White Terrier– friendly and fun, Westies have a double coat that helps stop shed hair and dander from being released until they are groomed.

Shih Tzu – another fluffy breed that is a surprisingly low allergen, the Shih Tzu's hair only sheds when brushed or broken.

Basenji– although they can be tricky to train, Basenjis can make a good companion for allergy sufferers. Not only do they have little dander, but they also clean themselves like cats.

Italian Greyhound – affectionately known as an ‘Iggy’ the Italian greyhound has a very light coat with minimal shedding, so you won’t find irritating dog hairs all over your sofa.