Small, family-friendly, low-shed dog?!

Do they really want a puppy? If they went the older route they would get a calmer dog. If they picked a breed, the breed rescue or breeders may have a nice adult to rehome. My basset Simon and LeAnne's Clay both were 6 yrs old when we got them, and they were super to adapt and are the most loving dogs you can imagine. Many people mistaken feel they need to start with a puppy to have it bond with them.

So-Called Hypoallergenic Breeds
By far the most frequently asked question I get anymore is along the lines of "I am allergic to dogs/cats, can you send me a list of hypoallergenic dog/cat breeds?"
Truth is, there is no hard and fast answer. There is no group of dog or cat breeds one can point to and say "these are hypoallergenic". People have differing levels of allergy and allergies to different things -- sometimes it's the hair, sometimes the saliva -- although most often it's the dander. The only way for an individual to be certain he or she is not allergic to a particular breed is to spend some time with individuals of that breed and see how he or she reacts to the animal. Keep in mind that for virtually any breed of dog or cat, there is a person allergic to it.

You should also be very careful in your quest for a pet. You must be honest with yourself: if you later must give up your pet, it is much worse for your pet than it is for you. It is a sad fact of life that many pets given up by their owners, especially once fully grown, are put down at shelters. So, do not focus so much on your own desire for a pet, but rather consider the potential pet's welfare first.

Dogs
That said, there are classes of dog breeds that are often recognized to stand a good chance of being hypoallergenic. These include:
small dogs
dogs with extremely short or no hair
dogs with "human like" hair
dogs with non-shedding hair
Small dogs are probably "hypoallergenic" because there is less of them to shed or otherwise distribute allergens Any of the toy breeds warrants consideration under this category.

Dogs with little or no hair may be good candidates for some, because the amount of hair shed is so much less. Breeds in this category include: whippets, Mexican Hairless, Chinese Crested, Boxers, greyhounds, Basenjis, shorthaired Chihuahuas, etc. However, for some sufferers, they exacerbate the problem, because the dandruff and saliva is more accessible, so watch out!

Dogs with "human like" hair usually have long silky hair that sheds minimally. Many people seem to have limited reactions to this type of coat. Breeds falling into this category include Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, Bichon Frise, Havanese, Silky and Skye Terriers.

Dogs with nonshedding coats are the most commonly recommended breeds for allergy sufferers. However, it is important to note that there are some people who can't tolerate these dogs, either! When a dog's coat does not shed, there are less allergens released in the air. This is provided that the coat is kept clean and clipped; a Poodle with a corded coat (think of dreadlocks) could drag in as much dust and allergens as a furiously shedding Samoyed! Breeds that do not shed include all three sizes of Poodles, the Komondor, and the Puli.

Puppies often have different coats than dogs do, it's important to check that you are not allergic to either puppies or adults of the breeds you are considering. For example puppy Standard Schnauzers may trigger allergies while adults often do not. Conversely, Golden Retriever puppies may not trigger attacks whereas an adult probably will.

Finally, don't forget to balance your allergy needs against the kind of dog you want. If you are a retriever lover, you may not be happy with any of the terriers, even if the terriers are what you are not allergic too. Don't overlook personality compatibility in your quest for a hypoallergenic dog!

What about a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, there not too small and not too large. There coats are pretty easy to maintain, I don't think they shed like a lab or GSD and they are a great size and very family orientated breed, not known for aggressive personalities either.

A lot of the toy breeds, especially terriers can be very much a one owner dog and a lot suffer from small persons disease and can be quite snappy and yappy.

You really want something a bit bigger then a toy breed too especially with a toddler so there is no chance of the toddler trying to pick up a tiny puppy and maybe hurting it accidently.

Bichons require an awful lot of trimming constantly and being all white a lot of bathing too. Fairly high maitenance breed.

Cavaliers are a very docile breed of dogs & easy to train.