If you have recently moved abroad and are planning on adding a puppy to your family, you might like to consider one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds that are renowned for not shedding too much. Dog hair is a problem for many animal owners, especially if they have allergies. However with these dog breeds, you can put away your tissues, eye drops and lint rollers and just enjoy being with man’s best friend.

Hypoallergenic dogs

1. Tibetan terrier. These little dogs have plenty of hair but shed minimally. They are great companions, but still require grooming to ensure their coat is attractive and knot-free.
2. Maltese terrier: Once again, this dog has plenty of fur, but you won’t find them shedding on your clothes or your bedding. They are sprightly and fun loving.
3. Shih Tzu. This little dog has a big personality and a thick coat that also happens to be hypoallergenic. Its big coat inspired its name, which means lion in Chinese.
4. Brussels Griffon. This active little watchdog is hypoallergenic and makes an excellent pet for any family – bonding closely to all the family members.
5. Portuguese Water Dog. This dog is considered hypoallergenic and its thick curly coat sheds very little. It is loyal and energetic and has recently become a popular breed after President Obama gave his daughters a Portuguese Water Dog called Bo.
6. The Poodle. Poodles of any size – toy, miniature and standard are one of the most popular dogs in the world, They are very hypoallergenic and are often bred with other breeds to create cross-breeds that are hypoallergenic. These so-called ‘designer dogs’ are very popular – think of the labradoodle (a cross between a Labrador and a poodle) and the cockerpoo (a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle.) The poodle breed is also famous for its intelligence and lively nature.
7. West Highland White Terrier. These courageous little dogs are often nicknamed “Westies” and are great watchdogs that shed very little hair.
8. Bichon Frise. The Bichon is a very social, easy-to-train dog, whose name means curly lap dog in French. They love water and were often the companions of sailors.
9. The Kerry Blue Terrier. These dogs are born with a black coat, which turns blue when they are around 2 years old. Their fine coat is very similar to human hair and does not shed. They are good guard dogs and are regarded as all-purpose working dogs that make good companions.
10. Havanese. These spirited little dogs make great family pets. They were originally bred in Cuba for aristocrats and are nicknamed ‘velcro dogs’ because they like sticking close to their owners. They are also famous for being dogs that don’t shed.
11. Chinese Crested. These dogs actually originated in Africa and were taken aboard Chinese ships to hunt vermin. They were then renamed Chinese Crested. Although they look like they are almost naked, they have soft hair and shed minimally.
12. Irish Water Spaniel. This ancient breed is friendly, active and devoted to its family. It does require regular grooming to keep its coat perfect but it is consider hypoallergenic as it sheds less dander than most other dogs.
13. Schnauzer. Both the miniature and the standard schnauzer have hypoallergenic coats. They are a high-energy breed and are excellent watchdogs that make loyal companions.
14. Bouvier des Flandres. This huge dog with its massive coat doesn’t look like it should be hypoallergenic, but its coat is known to suit many people with allergies – however it does require a lot of maintenance. The Bouvier, whose name means ‘cow-herder of Flandres’ is a gentle dog and makes a loyal companion.
15. Basenji. The Basenji originates from central Africa and was originally bred as a hunting dog. These intelligent dogs have coats that shed very little. Unlike other dogs, they don’t bark but make a low howl instead. Their short coats require very little grooming.

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