Dogs that are said to have "hair" are the ones with coats that grow for months on end until they get really, really long.
This means these dogs need to be trimmed or clipped regularly.
Because their hair has such a long life cycle, they shed much less than other dogs. They still lose a bit, of course, but it’s at about the same rate that we lose the hair on our heads.
It’s important to know that it’s not actually the hair itself that triggers allergies; it’s much more to do with dander and saliva.
That said, it turns out that breeds that don't shed (or shed less) are much less likely to cause a reaction, probably because they don't spread as many allergens around the house.
However, the risk of an allergy is still there—we use the term "hypoallergenic", but there’s no such thing as a zero-risk dog—so you should definitely do a test before thinking about adopting one.
Speaking for myself, as someone who is allergic to dogs (or at least used to be, as I now spend time with all sorts of breeds on walks without any real symptoms, though I'm not sure how I'd get on living with them 24/7), I went for "woolly-coated" dogs, as they have the best reputation for being hypoallergenic.
In the past, I had a Poodle x Bichon Frise cross; I was very allergic to dogs back then, but I had absolutely no reaction to him.
Currently, I have a Standard Poodle and a Spanish Water Dog—both woolly-coated—and it’s the same story: no allergic response at all, and they even sleep on my bed! (Mind you, my allergies have probably eased up a bit as I've got older).
So, some breeds that might work for you:
- All varieties of Bichon
- Poodles of all sizes (from Toy right up to Standard)
- The Spanish Water Dog (be careful though, they are a high-energy working breed and won't suit everyone)
- The Portuguese Water Dog
- The Lagotto Romagnolo
- The Barbet
- And also "designer breeds" like Labradoodles and Goldendoodles, though there is a catch: how hypoallergenic they actually are is less of a guarantee than with a purebred Poodle because they are crosses!
There are plenty of other breeds with "hair" (like Yorkies), and there are also hairless breeds (Chinese Crested, Mexican or Peruvian Hairless dogs), but I’m not sure if they’re quite as hypoallergenic as the "woolly" ones.
