What kind or gender of dog would be good around a black lab?

Lauren W: What kind or gender of dog would be good around a black lab?
I have a female black lab that’s about 7 and she’s a very friendly dog around other dogs and mostly all people. I was looking at getting a new puppy and I was trying to find a small dog. I was wondering if anyone knew if my dog would be ok around a male puppy that has been neutered or if she would be better around another female.

Also, my mother is very allergic to dogs. Any suggestions on short haired dogs? Or things to help with allergies to a dog with hair maybe like a poofy pomeranian?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Skipper ~ 1st In MMA Tourney!
1: Doesn’t matter which sex to get along, it matters how the pecking order goes & how they are socialized and introduced.

2: Short Haired dogs aren’t good for allergy sufferers, not necessarily. Check out AKC’s list for best dogs for allergy sufferers: https://www.akc.org/about/faq_allergies.cfm

Answer by kholran
A male-female combination usually works out best, although there are exceptions to every rule, and a lot of dog-dog interaction is done on a very individual basis.

As for allergies, they’re a very individual thing. It’s not the hair that people are allergic to, it’s the saliva, dander, and/or urine. Long-haired dogs with double coats tend to shed less, but they hold more dander because it’s not falling off naturally. Short-haired dogs shed a lot more, but with proper grooming, the dander can be cut way down. So it’s really a matter of determining what it is your mother is allergic to and finding a dog that won’t trigger those things. Some breeds, like poodles, are MORE “hypoallergenic”, but I’m sure someone somewhere is allergic to them and not breeds that are not considered “hypoallergenic” at all. About all you can do is go and meet with each individual dog you’re interested in and see whether or not they trigger the allergic reaction.