I also have lots of allergies, so I AM sympathetic, which is why I wash my dog and keep him largely in either my office or in large, open-ventilation meeting rooms.

But people love to tell me that I can't have my dog here because either they are allergic, or worse and much more frequent, they are scared. If you are allergic I sympathize. If you're afraid of dogs, just ... stay away from my dog, believe me, he has no interest at all in engaging with you, he's shy and not really a people-dog.