I had a bichon who passed away a few months ago and am starting to consider getting another dog. Problem is, I'm allergic to most breeds. I'm not ready to get another bichon - I loved the last one too much to get a "replacement" for her - and I'm not the biggest fan of purebred poodles, so I'm a bit stuck when considering options.I'd love to be able to get a rescue or mutt this time around, and have have been thinking about poodle- or bichon- mixes. I am worried, however, about the allergy issue. Is there any type of "rule of thumb" for mixes that indicates whether they will be as allergy-friendly as the parent? Alternatively, is there any way to test a dog for allergy-friendliness (since I think the allergies are to dander, not hair)? I don't want to bring a dog home and find out I'm allergic to it - too emotionally stressful for both parties involved.Thanks for any insight you can provide. It's much appreciated.

If you have an idea of other breeds that you are able to tolerate with your allergies, then my first step would be not to visit a shelter, but to look up breed-specific rescue programs in you area. These dogs need homes just as badly (and sometimes even worse) than those in shelters. Suprisingly enough, many of these full-bred dogs were actually "rescued" from death in a shelter, where there was no one to adopt them despite the fact that they were purebred dogs. Best of luck in your search!

ALL dogs shed (all mammals shed) even Maltese. The difference is that a short-haired dog will shed and you'll see the hair. A long-haired dog, like a Maltese will MATT. That's why they require daily brushing and why you WILL see shed hair in the teeth of the brush.