The American Hairless Terrier was accidentally bred in the 1970s by breeder Edwin Scott when a pair of Rat Theoriers had a hairless puppy. One of the great things about this unique breed is that it is non-allergenic, which has made the AHT extremely popular in the United States as well as in England, Finland and Canada. This is the first hairless dog bred in the United States.
Characteristic
The American Hairless Terrier is an agile, active muscular dog of medium to small size. He is graceful, compact, inquisitive and infinitely self-confident.
Character
Although the American Hairless Terrier has a gentle, playful personality and is very fond of its owner, his fearlessness sometimes reaches recklessness. He gets along well both with adults and with children whom he knew from his puppyhood. The AHT is friendly to other dogs, cats and any pets in general. Although these dogs are socially adapted and very friendly towards strangers, they are quite capable of guarding their territory. They make good watchmen, with loud barks informing the whole family about the arrival of visitors or about unusual suspicious sounds.
Wool and care
The American Hairless Terrier has two distinct subspecies: hairless and coated. Hairless puppies are born covered with a soft undercoat that disappears completely when the baby is 8 weeks old, the covered subspecies has a thick, short, smooth and dense coat. His delicate skin must be protected from both heat and cold; in summer it is recommended to use sunscreen, in winter a sweater or overalls. A dog of this breed should be bathed regularly with a mild shampoo. Treat your skin with a moisturizing lotion to keep it from drying out. You should also check and trim your claws regularly. The American Bald Terrier is prone to skin rashes.
Training
The American Hairless Terrier is easy to train. It is recommended to start with early socialization of the dog and obedience training. Rough or overbearing methods will be useless. When teaching, you need to rely on persistence, fairness, patience and consistency.
Activity
This dog is perfectly adapted for living in a city apartment. He needs active walks, and a small to medium sized enclosed patio is ideal, as the American Hairless Terrier is very fond of playing on his own.
