by Jennifer Hall

Created on: August 10, 2008   Last Updated: March 08, 2009

It is very difficult to be an animal lover whom suffers from allergies. My husband and I both are animal lovers, except he is allergic to a lot of them. This is not the end of the world for those of you who suffer from allergies, and want a pet. There are many different breeds out there that could be right for you. In this article I will discuss some of the short hair breeds, that may not activate your allergies as bad as a long haired dog would. Everyone should have the opportunity to own a pet. Allergies should not make you decide against getting a dog.

Since my husband is allergic to most long haired dog, we opted for a short haired dog instead. We got a Boston terrier and she has been with us for six years now. We fell in love with her instantly, and because she has very short hair, she does not trigger his allergies as bad as long haired dogs. She has brought joy to our lives ever since she came to live with us.

My parents have a Chihuahua. She is very sweet, and she does not affect his allergies either. Meaning they have a great relationship also. She is eight years old. My parents bought her right after my husband and I got married, so he has been around her a great deal. It was Baby who made him realize that we could have a pet, which would not make him have an allergy attack.

A few dog breeds that have short hair are, boxers, beagles, basset hounds, Boston terriers, and bull dogs. All of these dog breeds have short or coarse hair. Some of these do shed however, but it is not much. My Boston terrier sheds some, but like I mentioned earlier it has never really bothered my husband's allergies, and his allergies are pretty severe. Those of you who have children may want a smaller breed of dog. I would not suggest a Chihuahua however, they can be a little snappy, and no one wants their dog to bight a child. You just have to cautious and do some research when picking out your pet.

Some people believe just because they are allergic to pet dander, that they can not own a pet. This just isn't true. There are tons of animals out there, which need good homes. Those of you who are a little skeptical could always consult your physician and talk to a veterinarian.

In closing, those of you who suffer from severe allergies like my husband don't let this stop you from owning a pet. Pets are a great stress relief. As I mentioned earlier, if you do some research you will find the best pet to suit your needs. Your doctor or vet can help you pick out the right breed.

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