Allergies, Kids and Dogs
Breeders of Non-Shedding and Allergy-Friendly Family Dogs
On this page:
First, lets look at why allergies are such an issue lately:
It is now believed by the science community, (and me too), that some allergies can be prevented to some degree, so those of you out there that don't have kids yet, will want to read this section carefully ;-)
Nowadays, we live in a pretty polluted world, which tends to overwhelm our systems, if we're not programmed to accept these allergens. Along with the allergens that most people think of (dust, dust mites, pollen, etc), we also have to consider cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, etc (air pollution). And, we have lots of chemicals now in our home and work environment that we're not designed to endure (like formaldehyde fumes from the building materials in our homes).
On the other hand, at the same time, we are creating excessively clean environments in our homes. Imagine all the products that have become available in the past 10-20 years to help us keep our homes clean and comfortable and more STERILE. Included are antibacterial products that keep germs at bay, innovations like high quality vacuums that keep our carpeting much cleaner than years ago. Almost everyone has a dish washer, that completely sterilizes the eating utensils. The list does truly go on and on.
And, our behaviors have changed. Gone are the days where we'd let our kids run around in the yard barefoot. Parents freak out when their babies pick toys or dropped food items off the floor in the kitchen, and stick them into their mouths. Pacifiers are constantly washed when they fall on the floor. We go nuts when the babies try to eat sand. Our kids spend much more time inside this excessively clean home than they did 30 years ago, playing computer, watching TV, etc.
The trouble with our clean behaviors, and keeping our homes so clean, is that this new generation of children don't have regular exposure to the natural, harmless, germs and allergens that are supposed to be accepted by our bodies. Studies have shown that children raised in homes with 2 or more dog or cat pets don't have as high an incidence of pet allergies that children have that have been raised (as babies or very young children) without dog or cat pets. Did you know that families that live in homes with more than two toilets tend to have more allergy trouble because these toilets stay cleaner without everyone in the house using one? Our kid's bodies do actually learn to accept the germs from the rest of the family.
Our kid's bodies are supposed to LEARN how to handle these foreign things. By depriving their little bodies of these allergens, we are actually creating allergies. So, in order for them to do this, we do need to expose our babies and children to these items. If we want our kids to grow up without allergies, we need to stop being so overly protective about cleanliness and allergens. We need to gently expose our kids to normal, everyday germs and environmental allergens. This should be gentle exposure. Kids constantly exposed to cigarette smoke do have more allergy problems, because their respiratory systems are compromised.
Now, let's look at the different coat types of dogs:
Choosing the right type of coat goes a long way to managing the allergies.
There are four different types of dog coats. There is some overlap or muddying between the four different types. I'll break them down here to make things more understandable.
The first type of coat is a short, shedding coat. Boxers, boston terriers, vislas, etc, have this type of coat. People often think that the super short coated dogs won't create much hair around the house, but they are actually horrible shedders. They also have a certain oiliness that also makes them unsuitable for allergic families.
The second type of coat is a heavier, longer, undercoated, shedding coat. Collies, golden retrievers, labs, cocker spaniels, and springer spaniels have this type of coat (as well as other breeds). These are completely unsuitable for allergic families, as these dogs are heavy shedders, and oily coated too (designed to repel water).
The third type of coat is a harsh terrier coat. Schnauzers, Wire Fox Terriers, etc, have this kind of coat. This coat actually consists of two types of hair - the very hard outer coat, and the soft under coat. This type of coat sheds only when the dog is ungroomed for several months. As puppies, the dogs with this type of coat have this double coat. In the show ring, the hard outer coat is essential, and in order to keep the outer coat hard, it must be plucked out when dead (the hair grows to a certain length, and then goes dormant. At that time, the outer coat is fairly easy to strip out). Now, if you clipper this type of coat, the undercoat becomes the predominant coat. This coat is soft, very pleasant to touch, and non-shedding, as long as the dog is clippered regularly (every 6 to 12 weeks). If unclipped, the coat will EVENTUALLY revert back to the hard terrier coat. This type of coat is actually very suitable for people with allergies, as long is it's properly maintained.
The fourth type of coat is the soft, silky or curly, non-shedding coats. These coats continue to grow longer and longer, with a very extended growing life. All dogs (just like humans) actually shed to some degree, but this type of coat has such an extended growing life, without seasonal growth variances, that they are considered non-shedding. Examples of the silky non-shedding coats would be the shih tzu, maltese, and yorkshire terrier coats. Examples of the curly non-shedding coats would be the poodle and the bichon frise coats. Incidentally, if you do not spay your female dog, she will shed about 6 weeks after coming in season. Reason enough to spay!
And lastly, let's look at how we can help manage the allergies:
It will certainly make a difference in your success in dealing with your child's (or spouse's or your own) dog allergies if you choose the proper type of dog. But it doesn't stop there. You can do so much more. People with allergies (and dogs with allergies) are usually not allergic to just one thing. Typically, the person allergic to dogs is also allergic to cats, pollens, dust, dust mites, molds, etc. That person's body has decided that all these things are foreign. Counter to what you've read above in preventing the allergies, once someone has developed these allergies, we need to try to keep the home as a sanctuary where he/she can get away from ALL allergens, giving his immune system a daily break.
Incidentally, dogs can have allergies too, and the situation works exactly the same as with people, except that dogs generally have more skin problems when allergic, and people have both respiratory and skin problems when allergies are a problem.
Every allergic person can tolerate a certain load of total allergens. If that person is barely below his tolerance of allergens, any additional allergen will likely push him over the edge, bringing out a reaction, or even worse, an asthma attack. So, if you reduce the allergen load in the home, you'll be much more successful when you bring a puppy home. And, you'll be much more successful in preventing an asthma attack even if you don't bring a puppy home!
Again, it's not just the dog itself that can create an allergy problem. The dog will carry mold spores, pollen, dust, dust mites, fungi, and other allergens around in it's coat. So, keeping the dog clean helps enormously. The dog should be routinely bathed (not more than once a week) to remove allergens from the coat.
Use a hypoallergic, high quality DOG shampoo (yes, price does matter). People shampoos are too drying. The shampoo should be tearless, and contain a conditioner too. Dilute the shampoo 10-15 parts water, to 1 part shampoo. Good quality shampoos are designed to be used diluted. Only mix up what you'll use in a 2-3 week time span as it can become rancid. Be sure to rinse the dog well, and rinse again. Any shampoo residue will dry out the skin, increasing dander. All dogs have dander, it's unavoidable. Dander is simply dead, shedding skin. Non-shedding dogs don't TRAP the dander, like the heavy undercoated dogs do.
Plan on fairly frequent grooming (hair cuts). Most of our mixes should be groomed every 6 weeks to 12 weeks, depending on the rate of coat growth. A shorter coat will trap fewer allergens (dust, mold spores, pollen, etc) and will be easier for you to keep clean.
You also need to keep the other allergens under control in the house too. These things should be done even if you don't get a puppy!
- After you mop your floors, use clean water to rinse the floors to remove cleaning chemicals.
- Vacuum the house at least weekly, using a hepa filter for your vacuum.
- Install a hepa type filter in your heater/air-conditioner system. This should be run 24/7, even when not heating or air-conditioning.
- Use a personal sized air filter unit in the bedroom of the allergic family member.
- Dust frequently, when the allergic person is away.
- There are sticky rolls that you run over your walls to remove allergens from the walls. This does not need to be done frequently, only when the person is having seasonal problems.
- Use pillows and mattress covers that are hypo-allergenic.
- Avoid using scented softener sheets in your clothes dryer.
- There are sprays that you can purchase from grooming shops and veterinarians that put a seal on the coat of the dog, helping to repel allergens.
- When seasonal allergens are a problem, minimize "outside" time for the dog (and obviously, the affected person).
- Make your home and car smoke-free. I know that this can be hard to tell someone that smokes, but this is one change that works immediately, to make the allergic person more comfortable.
Hopefully, this information will be helpful to you.
North Country Kennels - Phone: 218-546-2811 - 