allergy q new doggie coming!
 

Hi! I'm new here & a first time dog owner. There is a 2 yr old yorkie I am buying. Met her yesterday, very sweet & trained from what I can tell. Had her in our home for over 2 hrs. I have Allergies (cats worse) I spent most of our visit letting her lick my face, ger body on my neck & arms, my nose burried in her fur (i have asthma too!). I didn't take any meds as I wasted to see. My chest was rRed as can be but went away. I had a very little wheezing. I let it be. Now surely I will not be sticking my face into her like that, BUT As she, her pee pee pads, her lil sweaters become part of my life...Am I crazy? Or silly? Had I needed I have allergy meds. Just wondered what advice Allergy people may provide...sorry for the long note, nervous soon to be new mom...kim

I have allergies (also worse with cats) and asthma. I do find I have much better luck with certain breeds. Those that do not have an undercoat I'm ok with. My first puppy was a Maltese. I found on the car ride home with him I had a slight reaction at first. I did find over time he didn't really bother me on a normal basis. There are things you can use and do to help keep the dander down. Bathing more frequently (the dog, not you lol) and they have products out to try (I've never tried them) that may assist you. Oddly enough when I'd give him a bath my hands would get little hives. I'd wash them and pop an antihistamine and be fine. We ended up getting a 2nd dog (a Coton de Tulear) and sand thing happened. I reacted a little at first then it got to be ok. Both dogs did sleep in bed with me and I would bury my face in their hair giving kisses etc. The only time I had problems was touching my eyes. I'm bad at rubbing my eyes and if I did that they'd itch. We just adopted a female yorkie (our Maltese passed a few months ago). Yep, same thing. Initial reaction. That may not have been all her.... The breeder had a cat and a "normal" dog. I did take grooming wipes with me and when I got her to the car I wiped her down the best I could to try to remove any allergens. She is currently too small for me to feel comfortable allowing in bed to sleep. Once she's potty trained and big enough to use the doggie stairs to get on/off the bed she'll be welcome there too. I don't feel I'm taking any additional allergy pills with her than normal. Same for the use of my rescue inhaler. I think you did a good job trying her out before making the commitment. If you feel confident with your reaction, then the decision is only yours to make.

Hope that helps!