I have severe allergies to dogs, and when my daddy died, my mother decided to get a dog (she had never lived alone). I honestly
prayed that if she absolutely had to have a dog, it would be one that I could tolerate in all ways. The Lord answered my prayers in the form of a rescued Bichon Frise, who we call Buffy:
Buffy is now my baby, and I would kill for him! He's 17# of love & fluff - he had been a sire in a puppy mill when he was rescued. Just today, we saw a 1-year-old Bichon who looks SO much like Buffy, I'd like to see his blood lines! I need to say that having a pedigree wasn't as important as the allergy part. Buffy has hair, not fur, and has an inate knowledge of when you're low and when you need a cuddle.
The downside of Bichons is that they're notoriously hard to housebreak (which they didn't bother to do at the puppy mill; he's good, but not perfect), and you simply cannot leave them alone often. Many reputable breeders won't sell a puppy to someone who won't be home 24/7 with him! So, Buffy goes to work with my mom, sleeps with her, vacations with her, and is left at home for no more than an hour at a time - during which he will stay right in the window! We tried leaving him in the car while we went to a restaurant, but he blows the horn until we come back! For those who don't know Bichons, they naturally do a little clapping dance, as they were once circus dogs!
Like all dogs, Buffy can be a pain, but I wouldn't have it any other way. He put his paw prints on my heart with permenant ink!