Allergy-free pet? dog? cat?

labradoodle are supposed to be allergy free dog, but needs to be after 2nd generation breeding, not sure they are there yet. Found for you a web site you might want to check: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/allergy.htm

Poodles are considered good because they don't shed their hair as much (this can also be the case with a labradoodle - but remember this is a large breed and needs lots of exercise). I think more people are sensitive to cat hair than dog hair. Are you or your children allergic to animals?

Some studies have shown that children raised with pets in the house are less likely to develop allergies.

Sorry to throw cold water on the party, but depending on how bad the allergies are this could turn into a disaster! Besides the miserable sniffy nose, itchy eyes, and itchy skin you might be subjecting your husband to, there's a chance that his allergies will get worse and worse and that you will later be forced to find a new home for your pet. That wouldn't be happy for anyone. Just think through the issues and what would you do if it doesn't work out. If you do get a pet anyway, keep the pet out of sleeping areas and plan to vacuum, mop, and dust every day. You may also find it helpful to brush the pet daily and wash it weekly (to get rid of the animal saliva and skin cells it sheds, as well as the hair). You could also try a little hamster, guinea pig, or pet bird, if those creatures are something hubby could tolerate. All of them will require a lot of parental care because kids aren't really up to the big task of keeping the animals and environment so clean as an allergic person needs.

Well, to answer your question just a bit more, and since you're not too familiar with dogs. . . . Dogs are very social animals (pack animals). They need a lot of social interaction and pack structure to be happy, which is one reason a well trained dog is a happy dog (he's getting a lot of attention from you during training sessions, and he's reassured about his place in the pack). A puppy, in particular, needs a lot of attention, care, and training to grow up into a well balanced (not neurotic) dog. I was assuming you would want the pet indoors because of most living arrangements in HK. Dogs often enjoy going outside, but they like to be with their humans better. If they spend too much outside with no companionship and no other dogs, they will be very lonely. And then they could start to bark, whether from boredom or trying to get attention, and then the barking can become an ingrained, nervous habit that's very hard to stop. So yes, it's not too cold for a long haired dog (wouldn't say that about a short haired breed or cold-sensitive breed) to stay outside. I'd actually be more concerned about the heat in summer and also mosquitoes. But the real issue is whether you can commit to spending a lot of time with the dog, like an hour per day specifically devoted to training, another several times per day for walks, and then pretty much to make yourself available during your free time having a loyal and devoted companion who wants to sit with you or beside you, follow you around the house etc. Cause you wouldn't want to get a dog thinking that he could just stay outside, that would be a recipe for a nuisance pet. WHen your kids went into the garden, it's likely he'd be so starved for attention that he'd be jumping all over them and making it very unpleasant for them. That's why a dog won't really be your kids' pet -- they'll be in school all day and then doing homework and activities with their friends, which leaves you with the joy of having fido following you around to every room of the house wanting you to play with him. House training is also something that will take some time and patience, and you need to read just a bit about how to do it. Most people recommend crate training. (Also, if you crate train your dog, he will sleep in the crate at night and so won't necessarily need to go outside to sleep.) And in Hong Kong, beware that it's difficult to find a healthy puppy from a pet "dealer" because there is so much risk in exposure at pet shops to horrible and very contagious doggie diseases -- it would be far preferable to consult with a vet about what type of dog to get and where to find a healthy one. Don't forget to consider mutts, too, for personality is the most important characteristic. Pet rescue in HK most likely has some dogs available that are already trained and have wonderful personalities. A well trained, adult dog is a good place to start for "dog beginners." If rescue doesn't have a dog that's a good fit for you right now, they will sooner or later. I'm not a HK'er, but I've noticed a rescue group located right in the little shops in the town of Mui Wo on Lantau.