I understand that Doulos - thanks for the info. But my wife is NOT a dog person at all, so cats it is. We are also both busy professionals, so low-maintenance independent cats are a far better choice for us anyway. Leave some kibble down and the cat flap open, and they are good to go.
I took allergy shots for three years just so I could be around dogs at all (and the Birch trees in my backyard, and the cats). The shots helped, but I still sniffle after just a few minutes of doggie exposure. On a scale of 1-4 for sensitivity to dogs, I'm a 5.5! I still love dogs and dog-sit for the neighbors when they are away, but even "non-allergenic" or "hair versus fur" dogs remain a problem. I have to take a Claritin and often a Benadryl too just to visit friends who have dogs in the house.