[nagdu] Owning a guide while allergic to dogs

[Tracy Carcione]

Hi Noah.
Welcome to the list.  I happen to be a Seeing Eye graduate, with a black 
lab, but I'm not allergic.  I recently read that TSE tests allergic people 
with the dog they have in mind for that person.  It seems that a person may 
be allergic to one dog in a breed, and not another.  I think I read that 
they might select the dog suited to you, then send you some fur from that 
dog and see how you react.  That should work, if it's dander you're allergic 
to.  If you're allergic to dog spit, the process would be different.  The 
new theory seems to be that people can be allergic to even so-called 
hypo-allergenic breeds, and that it's better to try to test against specific 
dogs.  And it gives everyone wider options to draw from.
I have also heard that some people wipe down the dog with a mild moisturizer 
to remove more dander than is removed by brushing.

So I think Marsha is right; the first thing you need to find out is if 
you're allergic to dander, or to saliva.
HTH.
Tracy


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Noah Beckman" <beckman.430 at buckeyemail.osu.edu>
To: <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 8:05 AM
Subject: [nagdu] Owning a guide while allergic to dogs


> Hello all,
>                I am sure the topic of my thread has been discussed at 
> length before, but since I am a relatively new member to this list, I beg 
> your patience in rehashing it so that I can gain further insight into this 
> issue.
>
>                Let me tell you a little bit about my situation.  I 
> fervently want to ditch the cane in favor of a canine, but, unfortunately, 
> I am allergic to dogs.  I would describe my allergies as relatively 
> moderate, with the worst reactions (runny nose, mild eye irritation, and 
> congestion) surfacing while I am in the prolonged presence of certain 
> breeds.  However, German Shepherds are the only guide-dogesque breed I 
> have (1) been around long enough to make a conclusion about their effects 
> on my allergies and (2) ruled out as the breed for me on the basis of said 
> conclusion.
>
>                I have my sights set on The Seeing Eye.  I found out 
> yesterday that The Seeing Eye discontinued boxers (the breed with whom 
> they traditionally matched allergic students in the past) and, although 
> they are looking to start training with poodles soon, the waiting list of 
> students desiring this breed is extremely long, thus making my prospects 
> of poodle puppy procurement poor for at least a couple of years.  Since I 
> would like to acquire a guide dog as soon as I am able (May of 2014), and 
> The Seeing Eye is my only school of choice, my breed options are limited 
> to labs, golden retrievers, and lab-golden crosses.
>
>                Although any input on this issue would be appreciated, I 
> would especially love to hear from anyone on this list who (1) is allergic 
> to dogs and (2) possesses a lab, golden, or lab-golden cross.  What are 
> the effects of your dog on your allergies?  What do you do, if anything, 
> to limit your dog's effects on your allergies?  What made you decide that 
> the positives of getting a dog transcended the negative impacts such would 
> have on your allergies?  Do you have any additional advice for me?
>
> Thanks a lot,
>
> Noah
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