I have dog allergies, but want a Basenji!

Basenji Talk
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  • S

    Have any of you members had bad dog allergies :eek: and decided to get a Basenji? My fiance' is a huge dog lover, me too, but I'm afraid of my allergies acting up. I know Basenji's are considered Hypoallergenic, but it still concerns me.

    Anyone with success stories out there? Any input would help!

    Thanks in advance!

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  • lvossL

    The best thing to do is contact breeders or owners in your area that do not have other pets that you may react to and visit with them. If you don't react the first time be sure to go back and visit a second or even third time to make sure there is no reaction.

    Another thing that you can do is take home a towel or blanket the dogs have slept to see if you react to it after you leave.

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  • S

    Excellent advice

    Sharron Hurlbut

    BRAT, basenji rescue

    Evergreen basenji club

    Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue

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  • AJs HumanA

    +1 Ivoss…I was going to make the same suggestion.

    AJ's Ride:

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  • irenaI

    @StrikerBeaver:

    Have any of you members had bad dog allergies :eek: and decided to get a Basenji? My fiance' is a huge dog lover, me too, but I'm afraid of my allergies acting up. I know Basenji's are considered Hypoallergenic, but it still concerns me.

    Anyone with success stories out there? Any input would help!

    Thanks in advance!

    I have dog allergy and have 4 Basenjis at home (and sleep in bed with two). Sometimes when I hug them too much I have allergic urticaria (hope I say that right) but haven't had bad allergic seizure yet (only allergic coryza and blepharoedema-once again hope I say that right :) ).

    And absolutely agree with lvoss.

    Asthenia Basenjis

    www.astheniabasenji.com

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  • mauigirlM

    I have mild allergies to dogs and I do fine with my basenjis. In fact, I forget about the allergy because I can have dogs. But there's nothing like going to an indoor dog show to remind me. I go armed with Claritin and tissues!

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  • tanzaT

    @StrikerBeaver:

    Have any of you members had bad dog allergies :eek: and decided to get a Basenji? My fiance' is a huge dog lover, me too, but I'm afraid of my allergies acting up. I know Basenji's are considered Hypoallergenic, but it still concerns me.

    Anyone with success stories out there? Any input would help!

    Thanks in advance!

    lvoss suggestions are right on… and really Basenjis are NOT considered Hypoallergenic... Basenjis shed and have dander, which are the biggest triggers to allergies. They just don't have as much as others

    Pat Fragassi

    Tanza Basenjis

    www.tanzabasenjis.net

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  • NerdyDogOwnerN

    I have heavy allergy towards dogs. Have not had a single reaction so far. Even his scratches don't seem to bother me.

    My Mejuba Albums!

    TheNerdyDogOwner YouTube Channel

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  • K

    I have allergies, but I haven't reacted too badly to Blaze. If he scratches me, I get hives, and if I snuggle with him against bare skin, like legs and arms, I get hives. He still gets to sleep in the bed, he just has to stay above one cover, and he likes being under the other cover. I live with the runny nose, but that can come with a multitude of my other allergies…

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  • P

    I totally agree with Ivoss and Tanza - I personally know of a Basenji that had to be returned because of allergies definitely caused by him - others homed with people normally allergic to dogs have been ok but if you follow Ivoss's spot on (as usual) advice you can't go wrong

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  • renaultf1R

    I have allergies to pet dander. Lvoss's suggestion is spot on, that was what I did. I have occasional mild allergic reactions to my basenjis - I can live with that.

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  • Capt_Jack_our_BasenjiC

    I have allergies, and i do GREAT with my B, when i get scratched they swell up and itch a little but only for a few min then its gone, so THIS is a success story over here :)

    Kira, Aiden & Baby Bean on the Way!! & Our Perfect Basenji Boy, "Maverick" I Play for Keeps!!!![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

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  • S

    Thanks for all the great advice! I will check with a local breeder to see if i can visit them and see how my allergies react. Its comforting to know there are others in the same boat as me! Thanks again. I'll keep you posted.

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  • AnnA

    One more positive anecdote. I'm 50. I've always been allergic to anything with 4 legs. Allergy Annie, that's me. We've had our basenji Noel - my first dog ever - for a year. I do fine with her. Only occasional minimal reactions. No meds needed. AND, over the holidays, I had more contact with my sister's dogs: 3 poodles and a new hairy lab/chow mix (very hairy…wheeze...wheeze). Usually, they set me off, but I seem to be doing a bit better around them too. Maybe my immune system is getting stronger? Basenji magic.

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  • BuanaB

    Another positive post ;)

    I'm allergic to all animals and from all animals we have (birds, cat, rat and 2 basenji's) the Basenji's give me almost no reaction. (when I use my medication)

    you should find a Basenji owner were you can spend some time with a Basenji and see if it works for you too!

    Kim and my Basenji pack, Buana, Chafuko and Enya

    http://www.kwabandurus.com

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  • KanangaK

    @Buana:

    Another positive post ;)

    I'm allergic to all animals and from all animals we have (birds, cat, rat and 2 basenji's) the Basenji's give me almost no reaction. (when I use my medication)

    you should find a Basenji owner were you can spend some time with a Basenji and see if it works for you too!

    Are you ever bothered when Chafuko or Buana blow their coats? Or does that not seem to have much of an added effect?

    Just curious. I always thought that may be a bit difficult for those with allergies. :)

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  • JannekeJ

    I think lvoss suggestion is the right way to go. I have some allergic family members and they all react to Tillo.. They really wouldn't like living with him all the time.. :D (but maybe that's also because he steals their food ;))

    Tillo's website

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  • bcraigB

    We had never heard of or seen a Basenji until I got on website about hypo allergenic dogs. I have pretty bag dog allergies to most breeds, although we had a poodle when I was a kid and never had problems with that dog. Poodles are also considered hypo allergenic. I am bothered by allergies regularly when we visit friends that have dogs but I have no allergic reaction to our Basenji.

    I would strongly recommend meeting a Basenji and spending at least an hour with them to confirm you own reaction. You can't take the chance because it is not 100%. But that is more than long enough for me to have an allergic reaction. After spending an hour with 2 Basenji and having no allergies, we were hooked. We had our Ella 2 months later.

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  • BarklessdogB

    I'm allergic to most animals & birds and we did as Ivoss said. We met our breeder at a show, petted them and took home a towel that they slept on. We visited her dogs frequently before we decided to get one. No problems after 8 years for us. I'm still on allergy meds and still have seasonal allergies, but the dogs do to irritate them. Thats our experience.

    Still nothing is completely hypoallergenic. They do shed as well, but not horribly.

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  • Sanuye_ZontaS
    First Basenji's

    I have to agree with Ivoss. Very good advice given there!
    Altho I have adult-onset chronic asthma as of 1986 [strangely, even tho I can still have attacks, it is getting better under control as I get older!] I have still been able to have dogs since the dx. We have had a couple cats before too but that didn't turn out very good. But this, plus our GKs having allergies/asthma, is the reason we went with the Basenji … less irritants.
    If Bisa is in need of a bath, my asthma can act up some, but it isn't to the point I am having a horrible attack. Never did with any dog we had.

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