Well, I had to go to the discussion list for this one. Even though I have an Airedale, and have heard this statement many times before, I always figured that my dog does indeed shed. But I decided to get more opinions, and Elizabeth TeSelle gave me a brilliant, concise answer. This is a problem, because too often terriers are recommended for those with allergies. Most people are not allergic to dog HAIR at all, but to dander.
Dander is inside the hair follicle until it sheds, at which point the dander is in the air.
And, of course, when you're stripping or brushing, you're right there when all the dander is hitting the air. There's no such thing. But plenty of people are allergic to poodles. And just figure you're going to have some reaction. Hope that helps.