A number of people have inquired about the labradoodles because they have heard that they were bred for blind people with allergies.
Certainly they were bred by the guide dog association to produce a "hypoallergenic" guide dog - unfortunately it didn't work. The hair on labradoodles is normal dog hair, not poodle wool. Some of the pups in each litter didn't seem to be allergenic and the guide dog people have tested individual dogs against their potential owners and some dogs have been placed with people with allergies.
I did some research on these tests (which use hair, skin scrapings and saliva) and unfortunately the consensus from the allergists that I spoke to is that the tests are still controversial and that allergy patterns can change with time, so it would not be possible to guarantee that, with continuous exposure, an allergy would not develop at a later date.
The dog breeds which have "wool" like Poodles are the Bichon Frise (a small robust dog which is like a terrier with a poodle coat) and the Bedlington Terrier (These are rare and I know nothing about them except that they have a liver disease named after them). If I was asked I would recommend a Toy or Miniature Poodle or a Bichon for children with allergies.
| Small dogs in general can be "yappy" and "snappy" and some toy poodles are very nervous. If you are buying a purebred dog make sure you get to meet the pup's parents so that you can be sure that they are not too noisy, nervous, hyperactive or aggressive to strangers. The best guide to your pup's temperament is the temperament of its parents.
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