A question for dog experts

What is it about people with allergies that dogs love? (Or do they just love ME?)

I've seen this time and time again, when I meet new dogs they just become infatuated with me. I love dogs, but this can be a problem, as I am so allergic that I have to wash my hands immediately after petting them or risk touching my face and getting puffy/itchy eyes. etc.

When friends and I meet new dogs (say one brings their parents' dog over, or a new girlfriend brings her dog, and so forth) I am typically the object of their obsession, with them constanly standing/sitting next to me, putting their head on my lap and just gazing at me with those adoring dog eyes--It makes me sad to have to rebuff their advances :(

My thoughts on why this is so are as follows: maybe they just like a challenge, and think I am playing hard to get; people with allergies might smell differently, and thus attract canine attention; or finally, I am just special!

Anybody have any input here?

I'm allergic to cats and I swear they seek me out.