American hairless (hairless) terrier: how much it costs, breed standard, care and maintenance

Brief characteristics of the American Hairless Terrier dog breed

Other possible dog names: American hairless terrier.
Height of an adult dog: 25-45 cm at the withers.
Weight: 3-6 kg.
Characteristic skin color: varied, about 40 options in total. Albinos are not allowed to exhibit.
Wool length: out of stock.
Life expectancy: 14-16 years.
Advantages of the breed: activity, cheerfulness; does not cause allergies.
Difficulties of the breed: the breed is not recognized by the FCI; The dog's skin is sensitive to sunlight and cold.
How much does it cost: An animal that does not meet breed standards costs about $300. Show puppy with good pedigree – from $650.

Breed standard and description

At birth, puppies can be of two types. The first ones are covered with soft wool, which disappears without a trace after 6-8 weeks of growth, remaining only on the sideburns, eyebrows and chin. In the latter, a minimal amount of fur remains throughout the body forever.

Height at withers: 18-41 cm; Weight: 3-7 kg.

Color: various with contrasting spots.
There is no wool.
Eye color: light brown, blue, amber, dark gray with a light gray rim.
Nose color: black or any solid color;
Body type: a properly developed dog has a deep chest, elastic neck, strong shoulders and powerful paws, erect ears and a long tail.

History of the origin of the American Hairless Terrier

the 1970s, in North America , breeder spouses lived in the state of Louisiana. For several years the couple was breeding rat terriers . One of the litters contained a puppy with a soft undercoat that disappeared after a few weeks. The couple became interested in the unusual appearance of the dog, which they named Josephine. For several years, the couple crossed the female dog with other Rat Terriers in hopes of creating America's first hairless breed. As a result, one of Josephine's pregnancies resulted in the birth of two uncovered puppies in 1981. They became the first representatives of the American Hairless Terrier (AGT) breed.

Since the AGT family has only coated rat terriers, only some associations have recognized the new breed .
The UKC recognized the breed only in 2004 after its popularization. The FCI has recognized the Hairless Terrier as a pre-approved breed.

History of the species

The history of the appearance of this breed dates back to 1972, when a hairless puppy (female) appeared in a litter of medium-sized Rat Terrier. She received the name Josephine and later gave birth to a female. However, over the course of several subsequent litters, there were no puppies with no fur.

After 9 years, Josephine had offspring in the form of two hairless puppies of different sexes. After this, a selection program was formed and put into effect to breed and stabilize terriers of this breed. The new breed of dog is called the American Hairless Terrier.

Representatives of this breed differ from similar counterparts that live on the African continent and Eurasia. The peculiarity of Amerinsky hairless terriers is the nature of the “hairless” gene. In the context of the compared individuals, it should be said that such a gene in the breed in question is not dominant, but autosomal recessive.

Also among the positive features of the breed, it is necessary to highlight the absence of small molars and difficulties during breeding. Because of this, the offspring are unpretentious, but the cost of such a dog is high.

Purpose and character of the American Hairless Terrier

AGTs were bred from rat terriers, which is why they are quite strong and agile. The size of the dog allows it to be kept in an apartment or house. The nature of the American Terrier allows them to be considered companion dogs.

The American Hairless Terrier is an active and friendly animal . With a high level of socialization, the dog can calmly relate to cats and other pets.

AGT needs contact with people, and is especially strongly attached to children if they had contact with the dog as a puppy. When playing with a child, the terrier is careful and does not show aggression.

If necessary, the dog can show persistence and perseverance. For these reasons, AGTs pass sports tests with dignity and participate in competitions.

Dogs are psychologically stable, reasonable and calm. At the same time, the AGT can stand up for himself in front of other dogs, for example, during a walk. The dog is active, despite the lack of hair, loves to walk at any time of the year .
The character of the AGT is plastic, the dog adapts to the lifestyle and character of the owner.

Education and training

These dogs are ideal and easy to train and want to please their owner in any way. Their sharp mind, contact and agility benefit successful training and education. From the American Hairless Terrier you can raise the kind of dog that a specific person or family needs.

Education should be taken care of from a very early age. When training these dogs, it is important to reward their achievements and praise their obedience. It is better to use affection and good nature than severity and punishment. Dogs are very attached to their owner and therefore sense his mood well. Properly organized training is the key to ideal and diligent behavior of the American Hairless Terrier.

American Hairless Terriers are highly trainable.

Important. These dogs can bark long and loudly (learn how to stop your dog barking at home). To prevent this from causing inconvenience, you should take care of training while the American Hairless Terrier is still a puppy.

How to choose an American Hairless Terrier puppy

Puppies are born with soft, short fur. After 8-12 weeks the undercoat disappears. In place of the fallen hairs, open hair follicles remain, which can become inflamed, forming pimples. This is normal, but you should pay attention to such redness, as it may turn out to be a skin rash, that is, an allergic reaction.

It is better to adopt a puppy at 1.5-2 months , when the fur has already fallen out. At this time, the results of the William Campbell test will be indicative. You can adopt an adult dog, but only in extreme cases and being sure that the dog is sufficiently socialized.

Externally, the dog must meet breed standards. The head is rounded, but not in the shape of an apple, but pointed towards the nose. The forehead blends smoothly into the muzzle, without a sharp stop. The eyes are slanted and protruding. The nose is solid color or black. No butterfly or dudley noses are allowed. The ears are erect and V-shaped. Hanging or tucked inwards are not allowed. The teeth are white, large, scissor bite, less often straight.

The neck is straight, slightly tapering towards the head. The muscles on the front legs are evenly developed, the elbows are pressed to the body. The hind limbs are muscular, the metatarsals are located perpendicular to the ground. The paws are compact, the middle toes may be slightly longer than the rest. The dewclaws on the hind legs must be removed. Clubfoot and flat paws are unacceptable.

The ribs form a broad chest. On the side of the chest there is a small oval forburst. The line of the back is straight, without drooping towards the hindquarters. The tail is thick, tapering towards the tip. A curled or crooked tail is not acceptable.

If you want to buy an American Hairless Terrier “for the hobby” and not for participation in an exhibition, then you should not be too concerned about meeting all the parameters of the standard. The puppy’s parents may not have high-profile titles; the exterior grade is “good.” A dog with such ancestors will not participate in exhibitions and breeding, but is perfect for keeping in a family.

Nicknames for the American Hairless Terrier

Animals, like people, quickly remember sonorous, bright names with clear sounds. pedigree dogs long nicknames consisting of several words, for example, Etoile Daniel Richardson. Such names are recorded in the passport and other documents. In everyday life they use a shortened version like Danik. All sounds of this nickname are clear and easily separated from each other. It is undesirable to start a nickname that begins with a dull sound and contains hissing sounds, for example, Vosha.

for a female American Hairless Terrier: Astra, Amina, Merry, Sunny. for an AGT male are: Jake, Thor, Deco, Ben, Judah, Jerry.

Keeping and caring for the American Hairless Terrier

Despite the tenderness of the AGT’s skin, you don’t need to try too hard to care for your dog . You need to bathe your dog once a week, then dry it with a soft towel and apply cream.

There is no need to use additional care products, since the main method of protection against damage is clothing. In winter, warm overalls will protect the dog from the cold, in summer - from dry skin and sunburn.

The AGT apartment must have a separate place for sleeping and an area for games.
For walking, 1-2 hours a day are enough, during which the dog should throw out as much energy as possible. Keeping AGT outdoors, even in an enclosure, is strictly prohibited!

Maintenance, care and nutrition

The lack of fur deprives dog owners of the need to constantly clean the premises. In addition, this feature makes the breed most suitable for people with allergies . But this does not mean that pets do not need to be looked after. On the contrary, their skin is highly sensitive to external irritants and needs care.

Dogs feel good both in a small apartment and in a spacious country house.

The main condition of keeping is regular walking in the open air.

To keep your skin clean, you need to wipe it with wet wipes and bathe at least once a week. Before walking outdoors, the body is treated with a remedy against sunburn, exposure to wind, cold and rain.

The animal's teeth are quite strong and do not require complex care. However, gums are prone to inflammatory processes. A proper and balanced diet helps prevent them.

The ears are regularly wiped with soapy water or oil. If you have crusts in your ears, you should seek help from a veterinary clinic. Perhaps they indicate damage by parasites.

The eyes of the American Hairless Terrier are characterized by high tear production. Rubbing with tea or special mixtures once a week helps combat it.

Nails need trimming every 3-4 months.

Representatives of the hairless terrier breed do not have any requirements for the composition and quality of food. They can be fed both natural and dry foods. To saturate the body with the necessary vitamins and nutrients, the following foods should be present in the diet:

Lamb and chicken.
Boiled yolk.
Milk and dairy products.
Green vegetables.
Dry food.

With any form of feeding, the pet must be provided with access to fresh and clean liquid.

What to feed an American Hairless Terrier

Since AGT was bred from rat terriers, which are a hunting breed, the diet of the American terrier should contain more meat - 50-60% of the serving weight. Adding vegetables and cereals - no more than 25% for each position.

Puppies up to 6 months of age need to consume fermented milk products for the full formation of skeletal bones.

The serving size depends on the dog's energy expenditure.

When new ingredients are added to food or dry food is changed, it is worth observing your pet. AHT are predisposed to allergies , so inappropriate products can cause a skin rash.

Behavior and temperament

The advantages of the character traits of this breed include:

Energy;
Agility;
Curiosity;
Intelligence;
Friendliness;
Courage.

The downside is that due to the remaining hunting instincts, the dog can dig holes during walks and chase rodents and cats.

Training and education of the American Hairless Terrier

AGT is an obedient breed. They show with all their appearance how much they value praise from the owner , and accordingly, education can be built on carrots with rare use of the stick. Humiliation and the forceful method of training are perceived acutely negatively, up to the development of aggression or, conversely, a depressive state.

Dogs try to “fit into the team”, so they can adopt the habits of other pets. Accordingly, owners must decide to raise all pets, since the AGT will feel disadvantaged in the “pack”.

Pros and cons of the American Hairless Terrier breed

Advantages of the breed:

AHT does not cause allergies, since the particles of the epidermis adhere to the dog’s skin without spreading into the air. Removed mechanically during bathing.
An affectionate, playful dog is suitable for a family with a child. AGTs quickly calm down after the end of the game, so there is little risk of injury.
Compact dimensions allow you to keep an adult AGT dog in a regular apartment, without allocating a separate place with a large area.
The nature of the AGT contributes to its fast and effective training.

Disadvantages of the breed:

AGT's skin is delicate, like a human's. A dog can get sunburned in direct sunlight and get frostbite in sub-zero temperatures.
Once a week, the dog’s skin needs to be smeared with cream to prevent it from drying out. In summer, before going for a walk, it is advisable to use sunscreen.
You should keep hydrogen peroxide in your first aid kit to treat scratches and wounds.

Owner reviews of the American Hairless Terrier

Irina:

I love this breed very much for its intelligence, pace and tenderness! How it all coexists in a small, naked creature is a miracle of nature. And another huge plus is that there is no feeling that there is a dog living in the house, since there is no fur or smell. And what is it worth to touch their velvet skin... In my understanding, these are dogs of the future, capable of giving love and no problems!!!

Yana:

So cute!!! There are no skin problems. Hairless dogs sunbathe beautifully in summer. In winter, yes, you need to wear overalls and sneakers, but this is not a problem and is not very expensive. Bath once a week with shower gel, and then apply lotion, oil or body cream. That's all!!! But, how exotic and how nice it is when everyone pays attention to your “naked guy”))))

Interested to know if any of the readers have a hairless terrier. Have your dog had skin problems after a long walk in winter? How carefully do you “insulate” your dogs? Have you tried hardening it? Do you use sunscreen before going outside in the summer? Share your experience with us in the comments!

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