When Kristen Shupe walks on the Coastal Trail with her 6-month-old puppy, Jake, curious stares are often followed by "Gee, that's a cute dog -- what is he?"
The answer inevitably elicits snickering: a Labradoodle?
Most people think Shupe is making up the name, she says, as if Jake is the product of a furtive one-night stand between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. But this is a bona fide breed, a hypoallergenic dog that allows asthma and allergy sufferer Shupe to live and breathe freely with man's best friend.
Dander, fur and hair, saliva and urine from dogs, cats, horses, guinea pigs and the like can cause allergic reactions in many animal lovers, often precluding them from owning these types of pets. An estimated 10 percent of the U.S. population is allergic to animals, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. People with asthma tend to have a higher rate of pet allergies -- 20 to 30 percent. Reactions range from mild but annoying (itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose) to miserable (rash, hives or acute inflammation of the eyes) to downright dangerous (asthma attacks that constrict breathing).
Except for a brief episode at age 9 in which Shupe hid a hamster in her bedroom closet, she says, "I grew up without having any pets in the house" due to allergies suffered by her and her father. As an adult, however, she wanted her children, Ava and Reed Lekander, ages 5 and 8, to experience the joy of owning a dog. Companionship for herself was a big factor too.
Shupe, 36, had heard of so-called hypoallergenic dogs and started doing research on the Internet. "I just wanted a dog with the least probability of causing me an allergic reaction."
One might think "hairless" or short-haired dogs would cause fewer problems for those with allergies. However, it is the dander (skin scales) that causes the most significant allergic reactions, not the length or amount of hair on the pet, according to the ACAAI. However, the group warns that exposure to a pet's saliva and urine also can inflame allergies, and fur can collect pollen, dust, mold and other allergens.
As Shupe cruised the Web, "Labradoodle" kept popping up. Its description fit her needs: low-allergenic, nonshedding coat, active enough to go jogging with her and a good family dog.
She found a breeder in Bellingham, Wash., and flew down last June to visit the kennels of Primetime Labradoodles and test her allergic reaction. It was an experiment that sort of went awry and one she would do differently next time: Instead of greeting a kennel full of dogs, Shupe says, she should have had a one-on-one meeting with a single puppy.
Despite having minor reactions, she decided it was a successful enough test to follow through. For further peace of mind, Primetime Labradoodles proprietor Dorothy Moreau offers a full refund if it turns out a new owner just can't live healthfully with her pooch after all.
Fast-forward to January of this year -- Labradoodles are in high demand and short supply, hence the wait -- and Shupe became a dog owner for the first time in her life.
At $2,500, Jake (a name she lobbied her son for) wasn't cheap. But she believes the investment is worth it. "It's a new experience, and my kids love him."
It's not a perfect solution. Shupe admits that bathing Jake gets her a little wheezy, and his saliva can cause her to break out in hives where he licks her. His exposure to other dogs also gave her a huge scare one night.
As a pediatrics nurse at Providence Alaska Medical Center, she pulls 12-hour shifts and leaves Jake at doggie day care while she works. The first time she picked him up after a shift, she entered the day care when it was full of other dogs, then took Jake home and gave him a bath. A severe asthma attack ensued, and she struggled to breathe for nearly half an hour. After that incident, she now has the day-care provider bring Jake to her car, and she keeps her distance from him until he "airs out."
NO ENDORSEMENTS
Kari Dodd, 41, grew up with pets, but a bout with pneumonia during high school left her with severe asthma and allergic reactions. "I didn't think I'd ever be able to own another dog."
Family gatherings at her in-laws' and brother's homes, where hairy dogs reside, leave her wheezing after an hour or two. "I end up on the back porch," she says.
However, she and her husband, Ed, wanted their son, Jack, an "only child," to enjoy the companionship of a pet. The Havanese breed, a member of the bichon family, seemed to be a good fit: Its long, silky coat is low-allergenic and nonshedding, and though the dog is tiny, it's sturdy enough to play with a 10-year-old.
Dodd says she was nervous about purchasing a dog, then not being able to keep it. But again, the breeder in Arizona offered a refund of the $1,500 fee if Dodd's allergies were aggravated.
Last May, little Stanley Yelnats -- named after the main character in the children's book "Holes" -- joined their household. Dodd, who describes her allergies as "severe," is so happy with the results that she will be adding a second Havanese to the family this month.
The only time she has an allergic reaction is when Stanley is exposed to other dogs, such as during obedience class, or when he plays outside and brings allergens such as grass mold into the house. A quick dip for Stanley in the kitchen sink cures that, she says. She also attempts to keep Stanley out of the master bedroom so she can snooze in a dog-free environment (he usually sleeps with son Jack), but, well, you know how that goes.
Both Dodd and Shupe take allergy medications daily and use inhalers, as they did before acquiring their pooches. And both their allergists raised their eyebrows after learning of their plans to own a dog.
"She said, 'Well, this will be interesting,' " Dodd recalls of her doctor's reaction to the news.
Shupe says of her allergist, Dr. David Hemry, "He thought it was absurd. ... A dog is a dog is a dog."
Hemry, an allergist in Anchorage since 1974, is indeed skeptical of the notion of hypoallergenic dogs. He says allergic reactions are caused by a particular protein found in the skin, hair and saliva, and this protein is found in all dogs.
"I don't think there's anything to it, personally," he says. "I don't see any scientific basis."
Hemry speculates that the dander on certain dogs may be found in different concentrations or that the size of an animal may be a factor.
"I would be careful not to make an endorsement of these breeds," he warns.
MEDICATION FIRST
Leslye Randall doesn't suffer from allergies, but she and her husband, Gary, like to travel. So when she started looking for a dog, one requirement was finding a breed that her grown daughters could dog-sit, including her oldest, Jessica Nangle, 27, who is allergic to dogs, cats and horses. Another prerequisite was finding a sizable pooch she could exercise with -- something of a challenge as many low-allergy breeds are quite small (see list).
Three years ago, after extensive research, Randall purchased a Portuguese water dog from a Nebraska breeder for $1,200. Briggs, named after a former U.S. ambassador to Portugal, is now a 65-pound bundle of energy who loves to accompany his mistress on mountain-biking excursions.
Briggs has so far stayed twice at the home of daughter Nangle and her husband, Joe, during the Randalls' vacations.
When Nangle is planning to visit friends who have dogs, she usually takes an over-the-counter medication such as Dimetapp beforehand, she says. But with Briggs, that precaution has not been necessary -- and he even slept in their bedroom. She is careful not to touch her face or eyes after playing with him without washing her hands first. And Nangle attributes good grooming to her ability to tolerate him. "Mom keeps him clean," she says.
While there is no guarantee that the Labradoodle, Havanese, Portuguese water dog or other hypoallergenic breeds won't affect allergies, their owners offered some of the following tips for success:
• Do your doggie homework -- find a pet that's not only low-allergenic but fits your lifestyle too. Do you want a lap dog or a running buddy?
• If possible, spend time with a potential pet before purchasing it. Otherwise, be sure the breeder has a good "return policy."
• Have your pet groomed frequently by a professional. For instance, Dodd's Stanley is groomed every four to six weeks -- a necessity for the Havanese coat, she says -- and she keeps him in a shorter "puppy cut."
• Limit exposure to other dogs.
• Bathe, or at least rinse, your pet after a romp outside, where it may collect allergens in its fur. Randall had a dog "shower" installed in the garage of her new house. Briggs can just step in for easy rinsing.
• Continue to take allergy medications as needed or recommended by your physician. Shupe now keeps emergency supplies on hand in case of an asthma attack.
Gail Skurla is an Anchorage freelance journalist.
