Most dogs shed enough hair to make removing it from your good clothes a regular part of putting them on. You may need a new and better vacuum cleaner and you will spend extra time using it. Some people are allergic to the dander spread by most dogs -- but some breeds cause much less trouble than others.

Most dogs with long hair require grooming at least once a week, and if you let it go too long, you can have a real mess on your hands. A grooming session takes at least ten minutes and for some breeds much more. Poodles and some other breeds require professional quality clipping and grooming if they are to look good; either you will spend many hours learning how and doing it yourself or pay something like $40-75 to have it done six or so times a year.

On the plus side, grooming a dog can be extremely relaxing. It's something you can do while watching television, and it certainly keeps you in touch with your dog's physical condition...you'll notice any lumps, bumps or injuries right away if you spend regular time grooming.

Non-Shedding Dogs

What about "non-shedding" and "non-allergenic" dogs? All dogs shed some. The only ones that don't are the hairless breeds, like the American Hairless Rat Terrier. Some breeds that are billed as non-shedding actually do shed (the hair comes out) but it stays in the coat until brushed out, so you don't find little doggie hairs all over your house.

Many of the terriers have coats that must be stripped (pulled) though often people have their pets clipped instead. If kept properly groomed, those terriers don't shed much, but if allowed to grow, the dead hair comes out in little tufts. The Irish Water Spaniel, the Portuguese Water Dog, and Poodle, as well as the Kerry Blue, Soft-Coated Wheaten, and Bedlington Terriers, shed very little. Their hair must be cut. They lose just about the same amount of hair as a person does when they are combed.

Other breeds that don't shed much at all are Silky Terriers, Irish Water Spaniels, Briards, Bouviers, Bichon Frises, and any of the breeds with hair rather than fur. The "double-coated" breeds--those with a soft undercoat covered by longer outside hairs--usually shed copiously and lose most of the undercoat twice a year. This is called "blowing coat" and you'll certainly see why! Giving your dog a warm bath and brushing thoroughly several times during this moulting period will keep the furballs in your house to a minimum. Also, many dogs enjoy being vacuumed with the household vacuum cleaner--you can even buy special grooming attachments for them!

Allergens

What people are allergic to is not the hair itself, but the dander. All dogs have dander but some have it to a greater degree than others. It does seem that those dogs who shed seem to have a lot more dander than non shedders...perhaps because the dead skin cells are pulled out with the hair and are then on the dog's coat.

Another problem for allergy sufferers can be the dust and pollen brought in on a dog's coat. Bathing the dog frequently helps, as does keeping the house thoroughly vacuumed and damp-mopped.

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