BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Posted on the Front Door

Have you tried the Portugese Water Dog? I know a lot of people with allergies have had luck with them. It's one of the reasons for all the various poodle mixes (labradoodle, goldendoodle, schnoodle, etc.) that are so popular these days.

I had awful allergies & exima as a child. Dogs a bit, but mostly cats would make me break out in hives, so I understand. My mom couldn't keep me away from animals, though. So, I either grew out of it, or I just exposed myself to them so much I got over it.

My dh grew up with dogs. But the allergist said that a lot more people don't realize they are allergic because they are not used to breathing at full capacity. He said a lot of college students go away to school and it's usually the first time they have been away for 4 months from their pets and at Xmas, find that they have breathing or other problems and realize that they are allergic!

Once your breathing fully and properly, it really makes a difference if it becomes constricted. Dh gets red blotches as well. Oh well. All dogs have danger, their fur type makes absolutely no difference. And cats are just murder!

I understand the allergy consideration. My BFF is allergic to cats, so every time before he comes over, I vacuum like heck and use allergen-reducing Febreeze. I also spring for the $15 super-duper allergen filter for my furnace. He tells me that he breathes easier at my house than he does in his own house, so there are ways to reduce the danger of allergies.

I also vacuum the furniture before company arrives. Yes, my cat lives here and is part of the family, but I hate sitting in a chair and getting up with cat fur all over my butt. 30 seconds with a vacuum attachment takes little effort and everyone who visits leaves mostly fur-free.

Trish, how very considerate of you. But I have to say not all hosts/hostesses are that way. And I would never want to impose and say anything. Pets are part of people's families, and I respect that.

We always try if someones is having us over. After that, we can guage if we are able to do it again. We have one friend that he cannot even tell that they have pets, and one where he can't be there for more than 30 minutes.

Well, I love my BFF and want him to feel comfortable when he's at my house. Allergies can be dangerous - if he has to deal with too much cat fur and it gets on his face, he could have a violent asthma attack, and I don't want unwillingness to vacuum to be the reason he dies.

That, and I'm rather OCD. Think Monica on Friends. I drive my DH nuts. Sometimes I vacuum three times a day if too many crumbs or something fell on the floor. I like vacuuming more than any other chore. Go ahead, everyone. Tell me I'm crazy - I hear it all the time!

How ironic, I was JUT vacuuming and hating it. It's so freaking noisy!

We've had the vacuum and the paper shredder going off and on all afternoon (cleaning up our respective home offices). And now I'm going to go run the dishwasher. It's been much noisier here, Grey. (But it's also getting cleaner!)

Or you could say: You can have them spayed or neutered, to make sure they DON'T EVER get pregnant!

Cindy

Trish...you sound a bit like me. My ex's playful nickname for me was always "Monica" from Friends. ha ha!

One thing I do regularly to keep down the animal dandruff and hair is not only vacuuming the couch, floors, etc. I also vacuum my cat! He LOVES it too. He'll roll on his back and spread all fours to get his belly vacuumed..LOL It must feel really good to him!

Haha! Sometimes DH does call me Monica - such as earlier, when he ate some crackers in the living and got crumbs all over the carpet, and I just couldn't resist getting up to vacuum!

I wish my kitty would let me vacuum him. He freaks out and climbs on top of our shelves when I get the vacuum out. I know it's not from being chased with the vacuum - we've had Toby since he was only 7 weeks old.