The Truth About Hypoallergenic Dogs: FAQ's Answered & Myths Debunked (Guest Post)

For many of us who suffer from allergies, sometimes the concept of having a pet seems out of the question, but for some people with sensitivities, there are alternatives. There are a group of dogs who are on a long list of breeds that are hypoallergenic. Basically, these are canines who shed very little or not at all and can be much less of a threat for those with allergies.

Ironically enough, some dogs themselves can suffer from allergies and may require special diets, sensitivities to things like gluten or lactose. Grooming products such as hypoallergenic shampoos can be helpful for canines who have skin conditions or other problems with fleas and ticks.

But there are some myths and half-truths out there associated with hypoallergenic dogs and how they interact with humans. In this light, here are some popular questions that often come up with these types of canines:

I heard only little dogs were hypoallergenic, can’t I get a big one?

This myth may have been perpetuated by those that believe since bigger dogs have more hair and surface area, they are likely to be more problematic. While this may be partially true, there are many large breed dogs that make the hypoallergenic list:

● The Bouvier des Flandres, also known as the Flanders Cattle Dog, ranges between 65 to 110 pounds.

● The Giant Schnauzer, cousin to the miniature version, can also reach 100 pounds.

● The Irish Water Spaniel is more of a medium-sized breed that generally weighs in at around 45 to 65 pounds.

● The Labradoodle, a mixture of Labrador Retriever and Poodle, dependent upon the size of the parents, this breed comes in a variety of sizes.

These are a handful of dogs that bear the distinction of being hypoallergenic and also includes the Standard Poodle, that is often bred to reach larger sizes. As with any sized dog, regular bathing and grooming seem to assist those with allergies, regardless of breed.

Since I’m only allergic to dog hair, wouldn’t I be safer with a dog that has fine fur like the dachshund?

Actually, this one is a little bit deceptive and since I’ve had many different dogs in the course of my lifetime, including a dachshund I had many years ago, I know differently from personal experience. My current canine, who is a rescued purebred Cairn Terrier, has very long hair (also on the list of hypoallergenic dogs), but hardly sheds at all. Compared to my former dachshund, who had very fine, short hair, I’m sure I still have dog hair from that weiner dog somewhere in my house and automobile, since she seemed to shed constantly.

Some people are only allergic to canine hair and/or dander, are there other dog allergens to consider?

A dog’s saliva, skin and teeth can also trigger allergic reactions in some sensitive people along with scratches from their claws. Another reason that obedience training, regular grooming, including trimming their nails and brushing their teeth, is so important.

If I groom my dog regularly and get one from the list, I shouldn’t have any problems, right?

Again, not necessarily, since as many allergy suffers already know, their reactions can differ day-by-day and in various environments, and the same is true for dogs. The best thing to do before getting any dog, hypoallergenic or otherwise, is to spend some time with them before committing to purchase or adoption. Not only can you get a better idea of their temperament, you’ll also see if you have any type of reaction to them.

With a little homework, a fair amount of grooming and forethought, anyone, even those suffering from allergies, should be able to find the perfect pet. Just because someone has allergic reactions doesn’t mean they should lose out on the opportunity of finding a new, four-legged, best friend.

This amazing post was brought to us by Amber Kingsley. She's a writer, travel junkie, coffee addict and an animal lover as well.  And I owe her big time for reserving this informative article for us FOR MORE THAN A MONTH!

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3 Ways Your Dog's Social Life is Better Than Yours (Guest Post)

Yes... the busy minutes and hours just keep piling up. Even Chooey is demanding more time from me. I'm really sorry, my friends. I want to be a lot of things right now, and it's forcing me to put blogging at a low priority scale. This guest post itself should've been up last week because it's funny--and let's face it, it's the truth!

This amazing post was brought to us by Amber Kingsley. She's a writer, travel junkie, coffee addict and an animal lover as well. 

By William Wallace Denslow [Public domain]
 via Wikimedia Commons

We have a little, black dog, a Cairn Terrier named Kady, who looks exactly like Toto from The Wizard of Oz. I can say without a shadow of doubt, that she has a much better social life than I do, mainly because of her demeanor. Like Toto, this dog believes she is famous, that everyone and everything put on this planet is here for her enjoyment.

This dog has no fear and barks at nothing and no one. When walking with her in the evenings, upon seeing other humans with their dogs, she quickly and happily approaches them. She often gets so excited, she simply runs around in circles out of pure joy. When the doorbell rings, it is not a package delivery for us, in her mind, it is a messenger sent specifically to her for love and attention. She’s quite the little package herself.

If Kady had opposable thumbs, was a little bit taller, I’d swear she’d be on social media. As pack animals in the wild, dogs are actually very social creatures. That being said, here’s three reasons why your dog’s social life is probably better than yours:

#1 - The Meet and Greet

As humans, we usually shake hands when meeting, or there’s always the “high-five” or “fist-bump” used as our interactive way of greeting each other. As we all know, dogs get right down to business and go in for the intimate sniff of the private parts. According to the Huffington Post, sniffing each other’s rear end is more complicated than one might imagine.

Nice too me you, human.

We’re all well aware that a dog’s sense of smell is highly magnified compared to ours, and this unusual greeting can actually tell one canine the emotional state, gender, diet and other information about the dog they are greeting. If you think about it, that’s a lot of information from a quick sniff. It’s one of the many examples of chemical communication that can be found in the animal kingdom that we don’t possess as mere humans.

#2 - Perception and Companionship

Ever had a really bad day, perhaps you’re upset or depressed about something and you don’t really want to talk about it or share your feelings? But you decide to put on a happy face and go hang out with your friends anyway. Most of the time you’ll get away with this charade around your friends and family, but not with your dog.

If you're depressed, I can pretend to be depressed,too. Just to make you feel better...

A study from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, found that dogs can sense feelings of happiness and sadness in their human companions. Many dog owners believe their canines can understand them on a deeper level and this research only confirms what pet parents have suspected for many years. Dogs instinctively know when we are happy and get excited right along with us. Then can sense when we are sad and cuddle up next to us for love and support.

#3 - More Facebook Friends?

Earlier I suggested that if my dog could type, she’d be on social media. It turns out that pet parents that post profiles for their animals online have a surprising number of followers. An infographic called “Savvy Social Critters,” shows us that 14% of dog owners maintain a Facebook page for their pet.

Yeah, this pretty much proves that this fact. They get more cards than we humans do.

Of those animals with an internet presence, 42% of them have between one and twenty-five friends and 20% gain an audience of fifty to one hundred followers. These socials stats also report 27% of dogs have their own YouTube page and 6% are active on Twitter. Although the average number of followers on Facebook is around two-hundred, I know many people who only have a few dozen internet connections.

Even though they have a better sense of smell, know what we’re feeling and might have more online connections than we do, they are still our beloved pets and we’d do almost anything to keep them healthy, happy and safe.

Oh, and one more thing: If you guy's haven't visited Sue and Steve yet, please do. Your kind words and comments on Taiko's passing will mean a lot to the WDA.

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Do Dogs and Other Animals Dream? (Guest Post)

Happy Sunday and belated Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Photo credits: epSos .de

Have you ever wondered if dogs and other animals dream when they're asleep? This is actually a question that many people have about their pets - especially when they watch them sleeping sometimes. Rather than guess on this, we've dug up some specific information 

A psychology professor at the University of British Columbia - Stanley Coren - wrote a book called The Intelligence of Dogs in which he says they dream, but their sleep cycles are a lot shorter than that found in humans. And this means that even if they dream, it's not as involved as the dreams of humans. 

Do Dogs Dream? The Proof

Here's a look at all the major and specific signs that point to the fact that dogs dream - probably of chasing cats and other small forest creatures. 

• Brainwaves - The first sign that dogs do really dream is that their brain continues producing neural activity. In fact, these brainwaves are very similar to what is seen in humans when they enter the dream state during sleep. This is very specific information. For example, scientists have been able to read the brainwaves of rats so clearly, they know the section of a maze the mouse is dreaming about! 

• Movements - It's known what area of the brain inhibits the body from acting out specific body movements in dreams. The pons - as this area is known - can be turned off so that scientists have been able to see what dogs are dreaming about - usually doing common dog activities. If you look closely at the dog's eyes, you'll see that they are moving because the dog thinks they're looking at real images while dreaming - like humans. 

• Research - Studies have shown that animals below a dog in intelligence dream, which is another very good sign that there's something going on in your canine's mind when they close their eyes to rest. Further research will be done, but there's a good chance the dogs will all receive treats and won't be harmed while more information is sought about how and why dogs and other animals dream. 

Looking at the facts above, it's easy to see that dogs - and other animals - likely dream. What they're dreaming about is still a mystery, but seeing them move their legs when sleeping helps us put together a picture of what they're probably dreaming about. Dreams are mysterious for humans but perhaps even more so for animals like dogs. 

One thing that should be pointed out is that toddlers are known to dream more because it's thought that it helps strengthen neural connections. And if this is true for human babies, it's probably likely true for puppies as well. So make sure you let them dream as much as they need when they're growing up. 

Written by: 

Gustavia Heffner knows a lot about Parquet because he's been working with it a while. He loves to read infographics about home maintenance. 

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