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The Canine Chronicles Directory
American Hairless Terrier
The American Hairless Terrier is a well-muscled dog with a deep chest, strong shoulders,
a solid neck and powerful legs. The bat-like ears are carried erect. The tail must
be full length. Bobs or docked tails are a disqualification. The skin is pink with
gray, black, golden or red spots. There are no hair tufts on the head, feet and
the end of the tail as found on the Chinese Crested. Pups are born with a bit of
fuzzy hair all over their bodies, which will shed by the age of six weeks. They
do have normal eyebrows and whiskers.
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Temperament
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The American Hairless Terrier (AHT) is an intelligent, alert, playful and loving
dog. They are very inquisitive and lively and make an excellent companion for anyone.
They are good with children if they are raised with them. This breed will sweat
when they are hot or scared. These dogs are quick and make good watchdogs. They
are known for their swimming abilities so care should be shown when they are near
water. Even though they are typical terriers, they are not yappers nor are they
good ratters because they lack a protective coat. This lively and fearless breed
is easy to train and eager to please.
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Height, Weight
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Height: 7-16" ; Weight: 5-16 lbs.
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Health Problems
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Because this breed lacks a coat, major skin problems are common. They will get rashes
on their skin and require protection from the sun and the cold. This breed does
have sweat glands and will develop pimples, which will go away on their own. Grass
allergies are also common.
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Living Conditions
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This breed will do fine living in an apartment as long as it gets 20-30 minutes
of exercise per day. They also love to dig and often get cuts and scratches. These
should be attended to immediately with hydrogen peroxide or any other antiseptic
agent.
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Exercise
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This breed enjoys outdoor romps and lively games. They require long daily walks.
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Life Expectancy
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About 14-16 years
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Grooming
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The AHT has no coat and is great for allergy sufferers.
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Origin
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In 1972, a completely hairless female was born in a litter of Rat Terriers. Owners
Willie and Edwin Scott of Louisiana named their hairless pet Josephine. Josephine
was unable to produce two hairless, different sex pups until she was nine years
old. These hairless pups were the foundation of a breeding program to produce and
stabilize the breed. They named their new breed the American Hairless Terrier and
are still working on establishing this breed. This breed has recently been accepted for recording in the AKC Foundation Stock Service®.
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Group
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Terrier
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