We all know a child who begs and begs for a dog but cannot have one because someone in the house is allergic. Maybe you were that child. If allergies are a problem in your house of would-be dog lovers, you’ve probably heard lots of advice about getting a short-haired dog or a non-shedding dog. Allergic people often try to avoid long-haired dogs or heavy shedders, and some go so far as to keep their dog shaved in the hopes that allergies will be reduced.
The truth is, while you may be more allergic to one dog than another, the difference won’t necessarily have anything to do with the hair. One study found that the breed of dog and the oiliness of the dog’s skin both made a significant difference in how much dog allergen (called Can f 1) was produced by the dog, but that the length of the hair had nothing to do with it. Interestingly, the breed with the most significant amount of allergen production was the poodle, a breed typically thought to be less allergenic. The lowest allergen producer was actually the Labrador retriever. A review of the studies of dog breed and allergen production concluded that there are actually no breeds of dogs that are reliably less allergenic than others—short-haired or non-shedding. Even in patients already known to have dog allergies, studies could not document reliable dog breed–specific allergies.
What is it about dogs that make them allergenic? It really has to do with their dandruff and spit. A dog’s skin and saliva contain proteins that cause allergies in some people. And so, since the problem is coming from the dog’s skin and saliva, it is not the length of the shed hair that should be of concern to people with allergies.