How To Choose Your Dog.com Low Allergy Dogs : How to Choose The Best Hypoallergenic, Non- Shedding Dog For You Choose your hypoallergenic, non-shedding dog like an expert – even if you’ve never owned a dog before. Learn all about dog allergies and discover the best dog breeds for people with allergies. Learn how choose the best low allergy, hypoallergenic, non- shedding, non-moulting and low dander dog for your lifestyle – one you’ll love to live with. Special Thanks This book could not have been written without some very special people. Thanks go to:  My partner Robin. Without his support I‘d never have found the freedom or time to devote to my love of dogs.  National Kennel Clubs - Federation Cynologique Internationale United Kingdom Kennel Club, American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), The Kennel Union of South Africa (KUZA), The Kennel Council of Australia, Federacion Canofila de Puerto Rico (FCPR), New Zealand Kennel Club, Italian Kennel Club and Swedish Kennel Club  Susie Allen – Foster Care Director, Friends of Retired Greyhounds (FORG) Colorado, http://www.friendsofretiredgreyhounds.org/index.html  Charlie Ritchie, my internet coach. Charlie‘s cajoling and persistence finally paid off!  Deb Kidwell and Rhonda Mann, Kel Simoon Azawakhs, USA. For proof reading, extensive breeder experience and just being friends.  Michelle Harvey, owner and breeder of Chinese Cresteds, groomer, boarding facility owner, and Mom to an allergy sufferer. For proof reading and offering advice.  My dogs Kylah, Vinnie and Blue. For keeping me company while spending hours in the study, and reminding me what all this is about – unconditional love. Statement of Copyright This material is copyrighted to © Beverley Nash, and © www.howtochooseyourdog.com All rights are reserved and copyrighted to www.howtochooseyourdog.com and Beverley Nash. If you want to use this report to benefit other dog lovers, please obtain legitimate affiliate rights through Clickbank or contact the author directly for permission. No unauthorised distribution or any other use is permitted without prior authorisation. Failure to follow these copyright requirements will result in legal action. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 2 Contents Welcome to this book Page 5 Chapter 1 – Myth Busting 9 16 big fat lies you need to avoid Make your choice more successful with these tips Chapter 2 – Are you ready for a dog? 14 Why this question is so important The sub-questions you need to answer first before you dive in A way of recording and analysing your answers, and A worked example of how that could look. Chapter 3 – What do you need from a dog? 27 Why it‘s important to find out what you need from a dog How to go about the task What questions to ask about your lifestyle and home What questions to ask about the type of dog you‘d prefer How to bring that all together in a ‗dog shopping list‘. Chapter 4 – Introduction to dog breeds 42 How dogs evolved How breeds are grouped together, based on their heritage What makes one breed more ‗low allergy‘ than another A list of all the accepted low allergy breeds you can choose from A second list of possible choices for you to check out. Chapter 5 – Choosing ‘your’ breeds(s) 49 What each one of the dog breeds in the list is like (a profile) How to shortlist, and a simple tool to help you Which dog breeds suit you the best, and An important health warning about ‗designer dog‘ breeds. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 3 Chapter 6 – Finding a breeder 107 Where to start in finding a suitable breeder How to decide which breeder or breeders you want to investigate further What to look for when you make your first contact, and How that helps you decide on breeders to meet Chapter 7 – Meeting the breeder 119 Getting prepared for meeting the breeder‘s dogs How to identify a responsible breeder What the breeder might want to know about you, and How and which to choose Chapter 8 – Allergies and allergy testing 132 Answering the question ‗what is low allergy‘ Looking at the causes of dog allergies in detail Review why you‘re getting a low allergy dog Show you ways of testing your allergic reaction Chapter 9 – Choosing Your Dog 140 What to have in place before you go What to look for – the whole litter What to look for – the individual puppy, and Adopting an adult pure breed from the breeder or rescue Final Thoughts 149 © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 4 Welcome to this book About this book This book was written for people who want a dog but are allergic to most breeds. It was written to bring hope to many people who felt that they would never be able to have a dog at all. It is designed to take you step by step through the process of choosing the right low allergy dog. Introduction For many people, a dog is an essential part of life. A dog provides these people love, joy and companionship. But for many people a dog is not important. They can‘t see the point. And then there are people who actively avoid dogs because they are afraid of or don‘t like them. In between these groups there are people who get a dog for various reasons and then find they have made a poor choice. Or worse still, they lose interest. They‘ve not thought about the commitment and cost that having a dog entails. If you‘re ready for a dog, for most people there is a lot of choice. Many people with a dog allergy give up on the idea, believing there is nothing for them. But there are choices, and ways of living with dogs that make things manageable for most. You want the right dog. You want a dog that‘s a companion, to have fun with, and to love and cherish. You deserve a dog that fits with your household and lifestyle. But you also need one which you can live comfortably with, that doesn‘t trigger your allergy. So it‘s vital that you get the right help. 'Tara' Copyright Helen Patten, UK This book contains all the things I‘ve learned about choosing dogs, from my own experiences and from other people‘s. That includes dog breeders and professional dog- showers, as well as other owners. Used correctly, this book will help you make the right choice of low allergy dog. About the author I was born into a dog family. My mother was raised on a farm, with working sheepdogs. My father had a Labrador as a child. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 5 As soon as we children were old enough, my parents bought two Cavalier King Charles spaniels. These were central to our lives. We also had one litter of Cavalier puppies. So it was probably inevitable that one or more of us would be dog crazy. I couldn't have pets during university or in the early days of my career. But as soon as I could I went to a rescue shelter with my partner. We chose a beautiful Doberman. But she had serious personality issues and we learned a lot very quickly about the choice we had made. After she died, I bought a general breed book and did some ‗proper‘ homework. At that time we really didn‘t have the internet resources that we do now, so the breed book was all I had. I scrutinised every aspect of my life and drew up a shortlist. Then we went to rescue and got Missy, a greyhound, and Jess, a lurcher. I knew I had found ‗my‘ breeds. My grin's bigger than yours! Over the years, as well as having between 2 and 4 dogs myself, I fostered other abandoned and unwanted dogs. It was here that I learned one essential skill above all others - how to match dogs to the right owners. And I also learned when to say ‗no‘ to people who could not offer the right home. I‘ve done a few other dog things as well as these. I sourced the right dog for a friend in Austria. I had my first litter of puppies in the USA in 2007, all of which are in perfect homes. Dari & pups, copyright Deb Kidwell, USA So I‘ve learned a lot about dogs in my life, and specifically how to choose the right ones, for me and for other people. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 6 How this book was born I now have 2 rescued greyhounds and a lurcher. My dogs suit me, and I suit them. We are bonded by the deepest love and understanding. But every day, I see many dogs totally mismatched to their owners. Look closely and you‘ll see them too. The owner and the dog are both unhappy. Because of this, pretty much every day I end up being asked for help and advice. So that persuaded me I must write a book about choosing the right dog. However, I‘ve met people who desperately wanted dogs, but had dog allergies. Or they had friends, family or relatives who were allergic and felt they couldn‘t have one. But there are low allergy breeds which many people can live with. This made me realise that there was no e-book dedicated to choosing the right low allergy dog. Until now. My commitment to you I can‘t promise that every single thing you need to consider is in this book. There are always special circumstances for every household, or person. But in your hands, you have the only e-book specifically dealing with choosing a low allergy dog. In this book you‘ll find out how to make your choice run smoothly, by learning:  The other mistakes people make – and you want to avoid  Whether you‘re ready to have a dog in the first place  How dogs evolved and what the breed group says about them  Which are the low allergy breeds available, and their characteristics.  How to shortlist breeds which work for you,  What causes dog allergies  How to test each breed against your allergy,  How to find a good breeder and choose a good puppy I am committed to helping you find that companion who will share a lasting bond with you that‘s as deep as with any other family member. I believe that if you use this book with honesty about your needs, wants and circumstances, then you will find that perfect low allergy dog. My pledge to you is that if you do not agree, I will refund what you have paid with no quibbles. All you have to do is tell me within 1 year of purchase. Life with dogs is fabulous – if you get the right one or ones, and if you‘re ready for that commitment. There‘s nothing quite like snuggling up on the sofa with a hairy, adoring lump, who‘s gazing at you with big soft brown eyes. Or strolling through the woodlands in spring with 4 other eager feet at your side. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 7 I hope you find the journey into to dog ownership and beyond easy, enjoyable and successful with my help. Having the right low allergy dog – or dogs - is one of the finest experiences you can imagine. To your success! Bev Beverley Nash P.S I am always looking to improve the information in my e-books. So your feedback and testimonials are warmly encouraged. If there‘s anything missing you‘d like me to include, or any other comments, just get in touch. Questions as you go through the process are welcome too. So please contact me at: www.howtochooseyourdog.com [email protected] 'Royal Blue', copyright R Sharman, UK Beverley lives in Buckinghamshire in the UK with her ex-racing greyhounds Blue and Vinnie, and her lurcher Kylah. She enjoys writing, developing her website, dogs, lots of walking and spending time with her long term partner Robin. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 8 Chapter 1 – Myth Busting In this chapter Before you start the journey into dog ownership, it‘s important to dispel some of the common myths which lead people to make a mistake. In this first chapter we look briefly at some of these. I‘ve called them ‘16 Big Fat Lies‘. They apply just as much, if not more so, to low allergy dogs. Although this was in my free report, it‘s SO important that I‘ve gone over it again to remind you. Big Fat Lie #1 – It doesn’t matter if I bend the truth a bit False. Most people get swept away by the moment. They bend the truth to try and make things fit. Have you ever done this with something else and learned the hard way? Imagine going for an interview and making up some qualifications. You‘re then given the job and later your employer finds out you lied to them. You‘d be really in trouble. The same applies to choosing a dog. I can‘t stress how important it is to be really, REALLY honest about what you can give to a dog. Remember you‘re entering into a commitment for 10-15 years, possibly longer. Putting the dog in rescue or returning it to the breeder after 2 months isn‘t fair to you, and more importantly, to the dog you‘ve chosen. You need to be brutally honest about your circumstances, then the dog you get will fit your life and you‘ll have a harmonious household. Big Fat Lie #2 – Getting a dog won’t affect my life. I’ll still be able to do everything I currently do. False. Your dog will depend on you for everything. Its entire life revolves around you. This means that in everything you decide to do from the time your dog comes home, you‘ll need to think of them first. Want to go on holiday? Who will care for the dog? Dog sitters and kennels are often very busy at peak times and some need to be booked months in advance. If you don‘t get dog care, you don‘t go on holiday. No more ‗last minute flight‘ deals with a dog to consider, unless you have very amenable in-laws or extremely helpful kennels. Want to go for a night out? Fine, but no more impromptu overnight stays or the dog could shred your carpet in its anxiety, soil the house or who knows what else. To work successfully with dog ownership, before you even get to choose your dog, you need to recognise that life will change and start adjusting to that. Big Fat Lie # 3 - It’s better to get a puppy than an adult dog. False. It depends on you. Puppies are very trainable and you can teach them the way you would like things to be. But many adult ‗cast-offs‘ easily slot into a new house and quickly learn new rules. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 9 A puppy is a baby with fur - constantly demanding, noisy and messy. And this situation will last for at least 12 months, possibly longer depending on what breed you choose. You can‘t expect to go out to work 8 hours a day and leave a puppy at home to fend for itself. Puppies need socialisation and care for most of the day. They need to be taught the rules, fed frequently and let out to toilet regularly. An adult dog on the other hand can often come partially, or even wholly trained. It will also usually be much more amenable to being left for short periods (for example half a day or even a whole day, or when you want an evening out). You may want to look into an older dog‘s background to see what its experience is or is not with children and/or other pets, but on the whole, an adult dog can adapt well to a new safe environment. So it‘s not always true that a puppy is better. Sometimes it is. Other times it most definitely isn‘t. You need to think about whether you have the time, energy, availability and patience to commit to a puppy. Big Fat Lie # 4 – It doesn’t matter if I buy the first puppy that comes along False. Impulse buying of any live animal is NEVER a good idea. If you‘ve worked out what breed you like, you‘ll be all enthusiastic about going to get one. If you haven‘t, then you‘re going to get yourself into really hot water. Rushing off to the first breeder who has something cute for sale is not necessarily going to get you the right outcome. You need to find a responsible breeder with good quality, healthy puppies that match your needs. How do you KNOW that‘s what you‘ve got? Don‘t buy on impulse. Take your time – it will pay off in the end. There‘s more about getting the right breeder in Chapters 6 and 7. Big Fat Lie # 5 – If I like the look of the puppy, it’ll work out False. Choosing on looks is a big risk. This is one of the top reasons for dogs ending up in rescue centres across the world. You need to make sure that any dog is suitable for your whole lifestyle. If you choose a great looking car but don‘t pay any attention to how much it costs to run, how reliable it is or whether the family can fit into it, you‘ve bought a problem! A great looking dog which doesn‘t fit your lifestyle will be a disaster and you will end up hating it. A less pretty dog that blends with your household is a recipe for lasting love. Don‘t go on looks alone. They don‘t tell you the whole story. You need to look beneath the surface to find a dog you can really connect with. A dog that ―fits‖ your life and home will become the most beautiful dog to you. Big Fat Lie # 6 – If friends have one, and I like it, it’s right for me False. Don‘t assume just because they have one of ‗those‘ that it‘s right for you. You will rarely know the full lifestyle of your friends. Also different breeders do produce slightly different dogs. So if you went and bought one of ‗those‘ from the first breeder that came along, you could end up with something very different. If friends have a dog you like you could always test drive it. They might let you borrow it for a week, or look after it while they are on holiday. Unless you‘re very fortunate, that week will usually reveal some things you weren‘t expecting. © www.howtochooseyourdog.com Page | 10