American Hairless Terrier: descendant of the Rat Terrier

A real family dog, perfect for children and other animals.

American Hairless Terrier is an extremely charming, friendly phenomenon, an ideal companion for many different families and owners. The UKC, the UKC is a United Kennel Club has been registered as an official breed since 2004.

History of the American Hairless Terrier

The first Hairless Terrier was a female called Josephine. She was born in 1972 in a purebred Rat Terrier litter to furry parents and surrounded by furry siblings. The breeder, Edwin Scott, began developing the breed from Josephine’s offspring. Although he never used dogs other than rat terriers in his breeding program, Scott always intended these purebreds to be a breed apart. But when the United Kennel Club recognised the rat terrier as an official breed in 1999, Scott and his fellow breeders agreed to add the hairless dogs to the UKC register as the hairless variety of rat terrier. After the split, all the hairless dogs and their hairy descendants were given the name originally chosen by Edwin Scott for the breed: the American Hairless Terrier. Although it may seem controversial to have hairy dogs in a hairless breed, it will be necessary to crossbreed some rat terriers in the foreseeable future until there are enough hairless dogs to maintain a separate and healthy gene pool.

Breed standard

It has a muscular, slightly stocky body and is considered a small to medium sized terrier. Head is broad, slightly domed, wedge-shaped and proportionate to the body. The ears are V-shaped, set on the outer edges of the skull. The ends may be rounded or pointed. Legs compact, the two middle toes slightly longer than the others. Their tails are curved upwards. The American Hairless Terrier is available in a wide range of skin colours and patterns. Puppies are born with soft, fluffy fur that usually covers their entire body. This fluff gradually sheds until they are 6-8 weeks old. A mature one of the hairless type is free of all hair except the whiskers and guard hairs on the muzzle and eyebrows. As we have already indicated, there are also hairy varieties in the flock: in this case the coat is short, solid and shiny. Expected life expectancy is 14–16 years.

Character of the American Hairless Terrier

This dog is very energetic and alert, whose curiosity and intelligence make it very easy to train. Although the breed’s ancestors were bred for hunting, the lack of fur makes this terrier unsuitable for hunting, but it has a highly developed hunting instinct. It is an exceptionally friendly companion and would be a good choice for children. It gets on well with other dogs and will accept cats if properly socialised. The American Hairless Terrier enjoys human companionship immensely, and likes to be with his family and owner best.

Ideal environment

The American Hairless Terrier is an absolutely house-friendly dog, both because of its size and its temperament. Keeping it outside is not practical. However, because of its mobility, it is often worth taking it for walks, exercise and play. It may be worth trying interactive games with him, but you can also try dog sports. It is very important that in winter protect him from the cold with clothing and in summer from sunburn.

Caring for the American Naked Terrier

It is very easy to care for. Keep the ears and eyes clean and you should also take the time to brush your teeth regularly. But the most important thing for a bald dog is to take good care of his skin in both the colder and warmer seasons. It should be protected from cold, dehydration and sunburn. As with all breeds, the claws of a naked terrier should be kept short.

Common health problems of the American Hairless Terrier

In general, we are talking about a very healthy breed. Responsible breeders filter out diseases such as:

• Hip dysplasia;
• various heart diseases;
• Patella dislocation;
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.