Luke Ma/flickr
As cute as they are, these are dogs that you’ll want to avoid if you’re striving for an allergy-free lifestyle.
For this post, we surveyed everyone in the entire world on the subject of dogs, and the results are in: they all agreed that dogs are so, so, so cute. In fact, they’re basically little charming pillows that shower you with blinding and unconditional love.
Do your best friends scream and shout and fling themselves at you just because you went through the simple motion of walking inside? Didn’t think so. Dogs, however, can look adorable doing anything. For all of these reasons and more, we strongly recommend that each and every human being have a dog. No questions asked.
Well, one question might be worth asking: Do you have dog allergies? If the answer is yes, you might want to steer clear of any breed on this list of sneeze-inducing pups. Because of the unique quality of these dogs’ fur, their tendency to shed or slobber, or their flaky skin, they can produce quite a lot of allergens.
For people with dog allergies, the proteins in a canine’s saliva, dander, hair, and urine cause their immune systems to overreact, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. What’s worse, their hair or dander can gather mold, pollen, or spores when they’re running about outdoors, making double doggy trouble for allergy sufferers.
Though there’s no such thing as a truly “hypoallergenic” dog, the following pups are particularly rough on those unlucky folks out there with pet allergies.
Stately St. Bernard
KNLphotos2010/flickr
Truly incredible. It’s hard to imagine a sleeker mane, and it’s even harder not to picture a child gently nestled into this pooch's side, soundly sleeping. These are the kinds of dogs that complete a family. But if you have allergies, I’m sure there are other good pets, too, right?
French Bulldog
Bruno Cordioli/flickr
Wow. This pup is absolutely devastating. The ears! That eager and inquiring little face! We never thought we’d say it, but this is the kind of cuteness that’s just too much for any human being with a heart to bare. Unfortunately, thanks to this pup’s tendency to slobber everywhere, allergies would make living with this guy pretty tough to bear, too.
German Shepherd
Marilyn Peddle/flickr
I’m literally jumping. If a team of scientists were to try to create an algorithm that could quantify the cuteness, they would surely be driven insane. Unfortunately, there’s no scientist in the world that can cure you of the allergies that are keeping you from this all-star pup.
Boston Terrier
Sendai Blog/flickr
This is one of the world’s cutest dogs — especially when it’s wearing hats. They’re unconditionally happy, portable, and affectionate little gentlemen, easily pictured wearing a tiny monocle and a truly perfect new member for any home. Unless, of course, you have allergies.
Springer Spaniel
Tony Harrison/flickr
I once knew a Springer, and some of my fondest memories include spending hours tousling his perfect, unbelievable shiny fur. I can still picture staring into his clear, honest eyes, communicating with him with a perfect purity that only a shared childhood can bring. I would assume you can build those kinds of bonds with a fish if you’ve got allergies, but I can’t make any promises.
Dachshund
Lachlan Hardy/flickr
Ah. The closest thing to a football that dogkind has to offer, the Dachshund truly captures our hearts. I can just picture slumping this guy over my shoulder like a sack of tiny potatoes. This form of cuteness is almost too powerful to touch. If only it weren’t for your poor, allergy-ridden soul.
But Really
Okay, so the news isn’t as bad as it seems. While having medium-to-severe allergies can sometimes make it tough to have pets like these, there are actually plenty of ways to make having a dander-heavy animal a happy experience.
According to the Nest, simple things like giving your dog regular baths help tremendously to clear up the air and minimize shedding. One of the best things you can do to minimize allergy symptoms is to find a high-quality air purifier to keep the allergens at bay at all hours — some of the best models are available here, from Rabbit Air. As long as you’re diligent, having a dog is no problem — even if you’re cursed for life with pesky allergies.
