Thirty-five percent of Canadian households have at least one dog. Yet one in 10 people suffers from dog-related allergies. Those numbers help explain the interest in hypoallergenic dogs—the idea that you can have a loyal furry friend that won’t trigger allergy symptoms. The key thing to remember is that hypoallergenic just means “less likely to provoke allergies”—not allergen-free. Hypoallergenic dog breeds tend to be pups that don’t shed as much as other breeds.
It is true that some dog breeds may be better than others for someone allergic or sensitive to dogs, which is good news for those who want to reap the health benefits of owning a dog. But there’s no such thing as an allergen-free dog: Here’s what you need to know about dog allergies and hypoallergenic dogs.