My Story

I suffered from severe allergies as a child. I was one of 7 children and my siblings desperately wanted a dog. My parents tried over the years to have a dog but my allergies always prevailed and the dogs were placed in other homes.

After 14 years of weekly allergy injections, I was told by my allergist that I would NEVER be able to have a dog; unless I could find one without hair.

A few months later I found an advertisement for a "HAIRLESS" dog. I called the breeder to obtain information, sent my deposit and waited 2 ½ years for my Xolo.

I was nervous … what if I was still allergic? I am happy to say that after 29 years, I have never had an allergy reaction to any of my hairless Xolos. My husband and youngest daughter have allergies and asthma like I do. Neither of them are allergic to our hairless Xolos.

 

Allergies

Dog allergies are usually associated with the pet's urine, dander and/or saliva. Most people with pet allergies are allergic to the dander trapped in the hair. The hairless Xolo makes a great choice for these people. The hairless Xolo has little to no hair. Some might have a short tuft of hair on their head and/or a little tuft of hair on their tail, while others might be completely bald. They obviously do not present a shedding problem. Hairless Xolos do have dander; however there is not a lot and it can be managed with regular vacuuming.

 

How about hypoallergenic dog with hair?

I tried all the so called "Hypoallergenic" dogs with hair. I spent many hours at breeder's homes just to have allergic reactions to these dogs. The reason is they still produce dander (dead skin cells). Most people with pet allergies are also allergic to pollen of various plants and dust mites that live in dust. Dander, pollen and dust (dust mites) get trapped in the pet's hair. This is why hairless dogs are so well tolerated over these "hypoallergenic" pets with hair. Although some dog breeds are reported to have a lower amount of dander, this can still be a problem for the allergy sufferer.

 

Want to test your allergies?

A local test:

You should always tell the breeder that you have pet allergies. The breeder should work with you to determine if the breed is right for you. If the breeder is impatient or refuses to work with you, find another breeder. An ethical breeder will help you test your allergies to determine if the breed is right for you. You will need to visit the breeder. I recommend you hug and kiss the puppies and adult dogs. Rub your face and nose into the fur of a coated dog or all over the skin of a hairless dog. Let the dogs lick your bare skin, especially the face around the eyes which seems to be the most sensitive area. This will test both the dander and saliva allergies.

Distant test:

If the closest reputable breeder lives far from you, there are ways to perform a preliminary allergy testing for that breed. If this preliminary test results in no allergic reactions, then it would be wise to take a trip to visit the breeder and the dogs in person before investing time and money into buying a dog you may later have to place elsewhere.

 T-shirt method – I have people send me an old T-shirts. I have the dogs sleep with the t-shirt for about two weeks. I send the t-shirt back in a Freezer Ziploc. They are instructed to rub the t-shirt all over their face periodically throughout the day while they are wearing the t-shirt. I recommend they wear the t-shirt for a few days.

 

Always contact your own allergy specialist for the diagnosis and treatment of your allergies!