How to live with dogs when you are allergic?

A few things you can do to keep living with your pup are keeping them off your bed and couches and bathing them regularly. Using HEPA air cleaners and filters can also lessen your allergies, along with a high-quality vacuum. It’s also good to consult an allergist to see if you need meds.

Can you get a dog if you're allergic?

Generally, it’s still best to keep dogs away from your home if you are allergic to them. However, we do understand if you’re a pet lover and can’t live without having a furry little friend by your side.

If you’re one of these people, you’d be glad to know that there are dogs that are less likely to trigger your allergies.

Most people’s dog-related allergies come from a canine’s dander.

“What is dander?”

Dander is any material shed by an animal’s body with fur, feathers, or hair. Humans produce dander, too! 

Dander is similar to dandruff and is attached to your pet’s hair, so when you have a dog that sheds a lot, they also cause allergies.

Luckily, as mentioned earlier, there are dogs that don’t shed as much, which makes them dog-allergy-friendly. There’s no dog breed that’s 100% hypoallergenic, but you can opt to adopt ones that shed less.

Here are examples of dogs you can adopt:

• Bichon Frise.
• Afghan Hound.
• Yorkshire Terrier.
• Standard Poodle.
• Giant Schnauzer.

You’d be surprised to see some of the listed dog breeds are hairy, but they don’t shed a lot, which is perfect for those with dog allergies.

3 tips to lessen your dog allergies at home

Bathe and groom them regularly

This might seem obvious, but frequently helping your dog clean their bodies and shed their fur effectively keeps your sneezes and allergies at bay.

One tool you might want at home is a deshedding brush. These are popular among those who live in apartments since they’d need to keep their dogs fur at a minimum.

You can also use waterless shampoo wipes to help clean your pup without having to bathe them as often. 

But when you need to bathe them, using dog shampoos with aloe vera helps to make your pup’s fur and skin healthy. This way, your pup’s fur will be stronger and won’t fall and shed prematurely.

Use air filters and cleaners

Fur and hair are also found in your home’s air, not just in your couches and carpets.

To help lessen your dog’s fur in your place, a high-quality air cleaner is best to help filter out all the allergy triggers. A bonus is that you’ll also lessen the dust and debris in your place!

Keep them off your bedroom

You should also have a place where there’s no fur present. This way, when your allergies act up, you can go to your “fur-free” room and breathe for a bit.

You’d also have better sleep if you rest in a room free of anything that triggers your allergies. 

To take things further, you can change into “bedroom only” clothing once you enter your room. This way, you won’t bring all the fur stuck on your clothes from playing with your dog.

You must be strict with your pups in implementing this rule for your safety and health.