My best friend called me a few minutes ago, and said his sister wants a dog. Her 5 year old is pretty allergic to dogs, so some golden/poodle mix breeder has convinced her to buy one of them, because they're "100% hypoallergenic" (yeah right!), and "great with kids."
I'm kinda worried the 5 year old is going to be allergic to all dogs, but who knows. I'm also worried this is an impulse thing, but I don't know the sister or her family, so I can't really make that judgement.
In any case, I'm trying to find if any breeds really suit them. I'm thinking terriers are a bad idea, even though I know several of them are "hypoallergenic." I think they need a "beginner's" type dog. I mean, my friend and his sisters had dogs growing up, they had a GSD for 16 years or something insane like that, plus a boxer mix after her, and probably dogs before the GSD, but I get the feeling a good "first-time-owner" type breed would be best, especially since they have kids.
I'm gonna try to point them towards rescue if I can, but not knowing the sister, I don't know how she feels about that. I'm definitely trying to steer them away from designer dogs, and my friend has known me long enough to at least sort of feel the same way (he definitely knows I won't be suggesting any poodle mixes from breeders, lol). But let's say they find a suitable poodle mix in rescue, would a golden/poodle or lab/poodle be a decent bet with the allergies and kids?
They live about an hour south of Lexington, KY. Anyone know of any good shelters or rescues near there?
Also, she apparently has ruled out purebred poodles because she thinks they're hyper, and I honestly don't know poodles well enough to argue, so.. are they? Are they good with kids (if properly socialized and such, obviously)?