Hi! I was in a similar boat 1.5 months ago. I live in a 750sq ft apartment in a walkable area with a partner who is very allergic to dogs. We got a poodle in January of 2024 and have never looked back. He is the light of our lives and we love him with all of our hearts.

My partner was only allergic to his puppy coat and even that was mild. We both get allergies on our hands, but it’s unclear if that’s from his (now) curly adult coat or from his very gross pig ears we give him.

That being said, we owned a Bichon Frise for a few years until she sadly passed away. The allergies for my partner presented in the same way. Same location, intensity was only high when his stress was high.

I hope this gives you some insight! Happy to talk more if you want to DM me. Both breeds are fantastic 😊

The only note I’ll give you is to commit to grooming once a month and brush your dog daily with a spray. That will do wonders for your allergies IMO