The Energetic and Curious American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier is one of the first of the types that was born in a jumble of Rat Terriers during the 1970s. After that decade, the development of the hairless breed became slow. The American Hairless Terrier has a big personality packed in a little body, and it has plenty of affection to go around. American Hairless Terriers requires a consistent, firm, but the gentle owner who can take certain disobediences lightly. This dog breed is a ball of energy, and they are quite rugged for its small size. Being hairless does not mean that they don’t require grooming essentials. American Hairless Terriers also needs sunscreen for protection and limiting of bushwhacking adventure because they lack protective fur.

History of the American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier is the only hairless dog breed that is native to the United States. This breed first came out in 1972 when a female hairless Rat Terrier was born in a litter that was bred by a man named Edwin Scott. At first, the breeder didn’t realize that an anomaly had happened because the American Hairless Terriers are born with a birth down, which falls out after a few weeks. Edwin Scott bred the dog from an individual, called Josephine, along with her descendants in the hope of producing more hairless types of terriers. At first, they named the dogs as Rat Terriers, the hairless variety. Edwin continued his careful breeding program, and it was in 2016 when American Hairless Terrier officially got recognized by the American Kennel Club. Because there is still a little amount of gene pool, some American Hairless Terriers tend to be born with a thin coat, and these types are often called as the coated American Hairless Terrier. The American Hairless Terriers has about all the characteristics of its Rat Terrier descendants.

Characteristics of an American Hairless Terrier

Height: 12-16 inches

Weight: 12-16 pounds

Life Expectancy: 14-16 years

Hypoallergenic: Yes

The American Hairless Terrier is about 12 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder. This breed comes hairless and coated varieties. The hairless variety sometimes has whiskers and eyebrows, while the covered American Hairless Terrier sports a shiny but coat. The hairless type has smooth and warm to the touch skin. Both of the types have aa broad and wedge-shaped head, erect and V-shaped ears, along with expressive eyes that beam with curiosity. This dog breed tends to move with free pep in every step. This signalizes its real terrier attitude. The hairless variety of this dog breed is clearly as hypoallergenic as any dog can get. But be mindful, though, because being hairless also has its own challenges. You should always keep in mind that you should apply sunscreen to them when going out, and during cold weather, they need special precautions, too. The American Hairless Terrier is protective of their owners, and they are excellent alert watchdogs. The lack of fur on the hairless variety makes them unsuited for almost all hunting activities.

Taking Care of an American Hairless Terrier

If you want a dog that possesses a prominent personality in such a little body, and one that can be quite a challenge but definitely lots of fun, then the American Hairless Terrier could be the right dog breed for you. The American Hairless Terrier is very energetic dogs, and they are often hailed as the most affectionate terrier-type. But beware, they can also be pretty feisty when they are threatened, that is why you need to be prepared to exert effort when you’re training them and setting boundaries. This breed is playful by nature, which means that they will be able to get along well with older children. However, keep in mind that they can still have a built-in prey drive, which means that they may not get along well with other small furry animals. You will also need to exert more effort when it comes to training them to be kept on-leash in areas where there is too much temptation for them to chase. Just like other terrier breeds, the American Hairless Terriers tend to be alert barkers, which is why they make a good watchdog.