Looking for a list of the worst dogs for people who are allergic.  I
want to know how wire-haired dachshunds ranks on this list.  Also
interested in knowing if puppies can be more allergenic (i.e.
allergy-causing)than adult dogs.

Hi apir,

Thank you for the interesting question. Contrary to popular belief, it
is not the amount of hair shed that causes allergy problems but rather
the dander shed.  In regards to puppies versus adults, puppies have no
old skin to shed and consequently have no dander. It usually takes a
few months for puppies to produce these allergens.

The news is good for Dachshunds:
Top Dog Breeds for People with Allergies
Bedlington terrier
Bichon frise
Dachshund: Dachshunds can be strong-willed but are great for people
cursed with allergies. Dachshunds tend to produce little dander,
especially the long haired varieties.
Poodle
Portuguese water dog
Maltese
http://petplace.netscape.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=2917

Because they renew their skin the most (every three to four days),
these are the most allergenic breeds:
cocker/springer spaniels 
basset hounds
German shepherds
Irish setters
"Contrary to popular belief, animal fur is not the cause of pet
allergies. Instead, dander (dead skin particles) and saliva are the
culprits of sniffles and sneezes. For this reason alone, cats are
worse pets than dogs"
http://www.nb.sympatico.ca/Contents/Health/HEALTHYWAY/archive/feature_alp1.html

DogBiz: Hypoallergenic Dogs:
"Make an appointment and go directly to the breeder's house without
visiting any other dogs en route.  Go inside where the dogs live. 
Stay at least 20 to 30 minutes unless you have an attack.  If no
attack, go directly home or whatever, but do not visit any other dogs
for several hours to eliminate the possibility of a delayed reaction. 
The breeder should only have one breed of dog living in that house,
otherwise if you are allergic, the test is inconclusive, - it might
have been be the other breed."
http://www.dogbiz.com/faq-allergies.htm

Article: Hypoallergenic Dogs:
http://www.angelfire.com/pop/sarahsroom/dart.html

Human Allergies to Pets:
"Puppies often have different coats than dogs do, it's important to
check that you are not allergic to either puppies or adults of the
breeds you are considering. For example puppy Standard Schnauzers may
trigger allergies while adults often do not. Conversely, Golden
Retriever puppies may not trigger attacks whereas an adult probably
will."
http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/allergies.html

Additional Links:

Here is a list of fifteen dogs considered by the American Kennel Club
to be "Dog Breeds That Generally Do Well With People With Allergies":
Basenji  
Bedlington Terrier 
Bichon Frise 
Chinese Crested 
Giant Schnauzer 
Irish Water Spaniel 
Italian Greyhound 
Kerry Blue Terrier
Maltese
Miniature Schnauzer
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Xoloitzcuintli
http://www.akc.org/love/allergies.cfm

DARE: Dachshund Adoption and Rescue:
http://www.daretorescue.com/form200.asp

Is the Dachshund Right For You?
http://www.thedachshundnetwork.com/doxown.htm#grooming

Dachshund Breed Guide:
http://www.wire-haired-dachshund-breeders.co.uk/standard.htm

DORG: The Online Dachshund Magazine:
http://www.dachshund.org/

Wire Health FAQs:
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/sunsong/healthfaq.htm

Dachshund (Wire Haired) Profile:
http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/breeds/Dachshund_(Wire_Haired).htm

PetPlace.com: Choosing a Dachshund:
http://petplace.netscape.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=2340

Forum:
http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/000004.html


I hope this helps. If you have any questions or if this didn't satisfy
your request, please post a clarification request before rating my
answer.

Thank you,
hummer

Search Strategy:
://www.google.ca/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&q=dachshunds+allergies&spell=1
://www.google.ca/search?num=100&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_qdr=all&q=%22non-allergic+breeds%22+dogs&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Terms Used:
dachshunds allergies
"non-allergic breeds" dogs

---

Request for Answer Clarification by apir-ga on 26 Mar 2003 08:56 PST

None of these links go into much detail about wire-haired Dachshunds
and allergies.  I have seen many sites which list good and bad breeds
for allergies, and actually the Petplace link you gave is the only one
I have seen that says Dachshunds are good for allergy sufferers.  Most
mention them in a list of "not-so-good" breeds.  I really would love
to see some more in depth information about Dachshunds (ideally
wire-haireds) and allergies.

Puppy info is interesting.  My problem is that we have this
wire-haired puppy and I feel allergies, but I am not sure if it is
pollen, or if I am just psyching myself out, which seems to be the
case if your info about puppies is correct!

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 26 Mar 2003 11:16 PST

Hi again apir,

Given that your dog is a puppy, it is highly unlikely that he/she is
the source of your allergy (no matter what the breed).  Puppies are
not born with old skin that needs to be renewed - it takes time for
the process of shedding dead skin to occur. There are doggie shampoos,
sprays, powders, etc. that can be used (as noted in Pinkfreuds'
excellent answer to your previous Question ID: 180252), but I really
think that would be a last resort for your new little companion.

One thing I'd like to suggest is to find someone who would be willing
to puppy-sit for a few days. After the dog is gone, clean and air out
your house (not fanatically, but be sure to vacuum well). If/when your
symptoms disappear, bring the dog back home and see if the symptoms
reappear. Another option would be for you to leave your house and stay
at someone else's house (preferrably in the same town) and see how
that goes. If your symptoms disappear, you'd still have to rule out
the puppy or some other source in your house or yard if the symptoms
reappear when you come home.

You might also want to consider being tested to find out what you are
allergic to:
http://www.allergic.net/immunotherapy.htm

Dog allergy symptoms are more on the line of runny nose, eyes,
sneezing, coughing, that sort of thing. Given your symptoms of
headaches and dizziness, have you considered mold? Check your bathroom
and basement for any signs of mold and clean well any air cleaners or
humidifiers.


Additional Links:

Wire Haired Dachshunds: Do they moult?
"No - because they have wire coats which require "stripping" (or
clipping if it is a soft coat), they do not shed hair like normal
dogs."
http://www.wire-haired-dachshund-breeders.co.uk/standard.htm

Dachshund links:
http://www.dachshund.sco.net/favorite_links.html

Wire haired dachshunds grooming:
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/17381.html


I have searched for several hours for information concerning allergies
and Wire Haired Dachshunds, as you have too I'm sure. You know, even
if we found a whole website devoted to dachshunds and how they are the
worse possible dogs in the world for human allergies, it still
wouldn't mean your dog is the source of your symptoms. Diagnosing an
allergy is always a matter of ruling out possible sources, one by one,
until the culprit is found. I strongly suggest removing the puppy, or
yourself, from your home for a few days. If that doesn't yield any
positive results, you would do well to see your physician and undergo
the allergy testing.

Sincerely,
hummer

Thanks for all your help and doing the extra work.

To add a bit to hummer's excellent answer, here is a post from a
message board that discusses dog allergies, making specific (and
favorable) reference to wire-haired dachshunds:

"If your mom and sister are allergic, look more into the hair and wire
coated breeds. By 'Hair' I mean dogs that have hair similar to humans
which grows forever unless trimmed. Not 'fur' which will shed at a
given length.

Just because a dog has short hair does not mean that it will be less
likely to be allergy free for your family. Long furry-haired dogs that
shed are at least easier to see to clean it up  Beagles do shed a lot

It would be easier for you to find a dog if you knew exactly what your
mom and sister are allergic to with dogs ---- the dander or something
else.

One thing about the 'hair' breeds is that they need grooming on a
regular basis 6-8 weeks + daily brushing. Easy to do on a small dog.
More time consuming the larger it becomes.

Example of 'Haired' breeds -- poodles, schnauzers, Yorkshire terriers,
maltese, etc... A wonderful dog to look into might be a Miniature
Wired Haired Dachshund ---small, happy, and wonderful dogs."

Champdogs Forum
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/14625.html 

Here's a mention of wire-haired dogs in connection with allergies:

"Are there any "non-allergenic" breeds?

Since all cats and dogs have skin, there are no non-allergenic breeds.
Mildly dog allergic people may find that they can tolerate certain
individual animals (usually wire-haired dogs), but even this is a hit
or miss proposition. Some individual dogs and dog breeds may produce
less allergen than others, but all produce some. Allergic symptoms
tend to build, peaking around 12 hours after handling an animal. In
addition, as the pet spends more time in the home, allergens
accumulate, and a person who seemed fine when they handled a pet at
the shelter, begins to show allergic symptoms hours or days after they
take the pet home."

Champaign County Humane Society
http://www.cuhumane.org/topics/allergy.html

Dear apir,

Thank you for your thank you, fine rating and tip - all are
appreciated. I have my fingers crossed that you will be able to
positively rule out your puppy as the source of your symptoms.
Although we had a short haired Dachshund when I was young, I've never
been aware of the longer haired breeds. I fell in love with some of
the dogs in photos I found while researching your question - they are
adorable! What a face!

Sincerely,
hummer (definitely a dog person)