My Bestfriend

During President-elect Barack Obama’s victory speech, he mentioned his desire to give his daughters the pooch that they’ve been hankering for the longest time. Obama even told reporters that the dog must be hypoallergenic, because one of his daughters is allergic. These statements created a huge buzz among dog lovers: which breed will be the next Top Dog?

My friend Shaun Olmstead and I created a short list of hypoallergenic dog breeds that could join the incoming First Family as they come home to the White House.

Poodle and Poodle Hybrids
This breed come in various sizes, colors and coat lengths. Recent cross-breeding with other breeds, such as cocker spaniels and Labrador retrievers, has been popular. Generally speaking, poodles shed less hair and dander, and therefore cause fewer allergy symptoms.

Schnauzer
Schnauzers come in three sizes: Miniature, standard and giant. All types are good choices for people with dog allergies.

Portuguese Water Dog
The Portuguese Water Dog is a close relative of the poodle.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
All varieties of the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier appear to be good choices for people who suffer from dog allergies. The various varieties include Traditional Irish, Heavy Irish, English, and American types.

Maltese
The Maltese belongs to the toy-size class of dogs, and it does not shed. It has been suggested that the fact that these dogs are frequently bathed/groomed helps to reduce their ability to cause allergies.

Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apsos are another small breed of dog that does not shed its coat. The fact that these small dogs are frequently bathed may be one reason why people with dog allergies have few symptoms with owning this breed.

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers, or Yorkies, as they are frequently called, is another toy-sized breed of dog. Their reputation as a hypoallergenic breed may be in part due to their small size.

Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are yet another small breed of dog that likely owe their hypoallergenic nature to their small size and need for frequent bathing and grooming by their owners. They also don’t shed much.

Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Water Spaniels somewhat resemble the appearance of a poodle, with similar hypo-allergenic coats.

Kerry Blue Terrier
Kerry Blue Terriers are another breed recommended by the American Kennel Club as a good choice for people with dog allergies.

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