American Hairless Terrier Dogs UK

Height: 7-16 inches (18-41 cm.)
Weight: 5-16 pounds (2.5-7 kg.)
Life Expectancy About 14-16 years.

The American Hairless Terrier is different from the other hairless dog breeds native to other countries. The breeds most often seen are the Chinese Crested, the Xoloitzcuintli, and the Peruvian Inca Orchid. These breeds (Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli, Peruvian Inca Orchid) all have a few things in common: most evident is the hair on the head, feet, and tail on the hairless variety; missing, poor, or weak teeth; and skin problems.

The American Hairless Terrier has a strong , full set of teeth, a totally hairless body (except for whiskers and eyebrows), and does not have the skin problems associated with the other hairless breeds. Another difference found between the breeds is that in the American Hairless Terrier the hairless gene is recessive, while the gene for hairlessness found in the ancient breeds is a lethal dominant.

Characteristics

The American Hairless Terrier is an energetic, alert dog whose curiosity and intelligence make him easy to train. The ancestors of this breed were bred to hunt. The lack of coat makes the hairless variety unsuited for hunting, but both varieties still have a strong hunting instinct and the coated dogs are fearless, tenacious hunters with seemingly unlimited energy. The American Hairless Terrier is an exceptionally friendly companion, getting along well with children, other dogs, and even cats. American Hairless Terriers enjoy human companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any activity with their owners. The hairless dogs require protection from the sun and winter cold weather. American Hairless Terriers should not be sparred during conformation judging.

General Appearance

The American Hairless Terrier is a smoothly muscled, active, small-to-medium terrier. The preferred ratio of length of body (prosternum to point of buttocks) to height (withers to ground) to is 10:9. The head is broad, slightly domed, wedge-shaped, and proportionate to the size of the body. Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull, and may be erect, tipped or button. Both varieties may have a natural tail carried in an upward curve, or the tail may be docked in dogs of the coated variety. The American Hairless Terrier comes in a number of skin colors and patterns (hairless variety) and coat colors and patterns (coated variety).

1972
In the Autumn of 1972, Edwin and Willie Scott were given the first Hairless Rat Terrier; the new puppy's name became Josephine and she quickly melted the hearts of everyone in the Scott's family. The Scott's found Josephine to be such a special dog and excellent pet that they decided to attempt breeding her in hopes of getting more "hairless" pups. The fact that they had never bred dogs before was not going to stop them from this endeavor. They talked about their plans to many people, including several scientists, but they got the same answer everywhere they went. "It just can't be done." or "You're just wasting your time." seemed to be the repeating reply they would receive. "She's a freak of nature and will never reproduce the same....the hairless trait." But statements like this did not stop the Scott's. They decided to go ahead with their plans and bred her.

1973
At the age of one year, they bred Josey to a Rat Terrier. She produced a litter of four puppies and amazing enough, one of the pups was a hairless female which they named Gypsy. Unfortunately, Gypsy was too small to breed so they kept their hopes on Josephine. Over the years Josey gave the Scott's several litters, but not the hairless pups they were so hoping for

1981
On 30th December 1981, a miracle happened.....Josephine became the proud mother of four beautiful puppies: a hairless male they named Snoopy, a hairless female they named Jemima and two female coated pups named Queenie and Petunia. This became the foundation of the Scott's dream and brought their hopes back to reality. This was a new beginning for their family. They bred Snoopy to all of his littermates once they reached a year old. Jemima produced an all hairless litter and to the Scott's surprise, Petunia and Queenie produced litters of hairless and coated. Their house was becoming filled with these loving bundles of joy and the Scott's found they needed to make that decision to build a kennel; "Trout Creek Kennel" became the home of the American Hairless Terrier.

2004
As of 1st January, the American Hairless Terrier is recognised as a separate breed by the United Kennel Club in the USA.

I have allergies to dog hair which hold dead skin cells, but these are minimal with my American Hairless Terriers. I can't be in the same room as coated dogs for too long before I have breathing problems, rashes, sneezing fits and swollen itchy eyes. Cats are even worse for me.

. . 25% of all allergies and 50% of all asthmatic diseases are directly traceable to dust mites . .

I do take antihistamine and asthma medications every day to keep my reactions at bay. I have taken asthma medications and antihistamines years before having a dog. I do have a lot of environmental and food allergies, so taking medications was never an issue for me, just a way of life.

I shower twice a day to keep skin irritations down to a minimum and cleaning the house is an every day necessity for me. Along with dander, the proteins from saliva, urine and other body secretions are major sources of dog allergens. If these are left to dry and become airborne they will cause further problems.
In the past I tried to live with a poodle but still had allergic reactions. I also tried a Chinese Crested dog, but still I had bad enough allergic reactions that he had to be re-homed. He is now with my friend on a lovely big farm.

No dog breed can be hypoallergenic, you may have some kind of reaction, so just keep that in mind, it's just how bad your allergic reactions are, and whether or not you can put up with the effects on your health.

You may think it will be ok to just go and get an American Hairless Terrier, but after a while you may think that isn't really worth making yourself ill for, so think carefully before you decide. It's best you try some allergy trials beforehand if you can.

American Hairless Terriers produce the same amount of lubricating skin oil as coated dogs, but with no coat to disperse the oil, it serves another import purpose for those with allergies. Between baths, the oil the dog produces stays on the surface of the skin, and traps the dander that all skin produces. This keeps the dander out of the environment, and making it less of a source of allergen.

If you too are an allergy sufferer, and are thinking about getting an American Hairless Terrier, then you may need to take the following precautions to reduce the amount of allergen build up in your home, and reduce your allergic reactions.

You may need to do all of these jobs at least one a week. Your allergies could be more of a problem if you don't keep up with the regular routines.

You can Install a HEPA type air filter or other air purifier/filter in your room and in the rooms where the pet spends a lot of time, to remove airborne dander. Also consider an electrostatic filter or high efficiency air filters in your home’s central heating/air-conditioning system and replace them on a regular basis (every 2-4 weeks is optimal). 

Its a very good idea to feed your dog a complete, well-balanced diet that is by-product free and includes some natural fat.  A healthy diet will improve the condition of your dog’s skin thereby reducing dryness and flaking.

You must keep your dog protected from the sun.  A sunburned AHT will have dry, flaking skin!

You can talk with your doctor about allergy medications (new or modified dosing) and discuss shots to desensitize you to your allergies.

Thanks to this incredible breed!  People like us with allergic reactions can now have unconditional love from our 4 legged friends, American Hairless Terriers, its just a dream that has come true.

1. VACUUM REGULARLY

Regularly vacuum your floors, at least every few days, every day is best. Wipe solid floors over with a damp sponge or cloth and be careful with which detergent you use as some cleaning products can burn your dog's feet. I've even found some cleaning products will make your dog want to wee on the floor. Carpets are not a good idea as they hold grease and dander even after vacuuming. Wooden or ceramic floorings are best; if you have wooden flooring make sure the gaps are filled so the dead skin cells can't fall between the boards to build up and cause problems. With wooden flooring I would say that it does really need to be protected well, if your dog pees on the floor it could soak into it and cause you a reaction.

2. SOFT FURNISHINGS

Keep soft furnishings to a bare minimum: pillows, curtains, blankets will hold dander. If possible, freeze them in a freezer for 10mins to kill of some of the allergens, also wash them every few days. Leather furniture is best as there is less dander build up.

3. KEEP YOUR DOGS OUT OF THE BEDROOM

We spend around a third of our life in the bedroom. So it is even more important that we make this a dander free zone. Experts say that if you can breathe "pure" air for 8 to 10 hours each night, you can probably tolerate more exposure to allergenic substances during the day. Keep your bedroom as free of allergen catchers as possible: the furniture clean and simple; pictures or hanging decorations at a bare minimum; no magazines or newspapers. Nothing under under the bed. No clutter. No bulky drapes. No carpeting, especially deep pile or loop. The more washable surfaces, the better. Because dead skin sticks to clothes, you should undress outside the bedroom. It is also useful to take a shower and either wash or thoroughly brush your hair before going to bed. Under no circumstances are dogs to go into bedrooms. Keep the bedroom doors closed, or put baby gates up, to stop them getting in.

4. BATHE YOUR DOG REGULARLY

Bathe your dog 2-3 times a week or when necessary. The American Hairless Terrier appears to be more tolerant, to being bathed regularly, but keep an eye on their skin and make sure that it does not dry out from to much bathing.

5. NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE

Train your dog to keep off the furniture.

6. KEEP BEDDING CLEAN

Wash your dog's bedding at least once a week, more is better.

7. KEEP YOUR HOME WELL VENTILATED

Keep all rooms well ventilated and try air filters in the room's you spend most time in. Air filters help remove the smallest of airborne particles including pollen, dust, animal hairs, mites, smoke and odours. The HEPA filter is one such filter, originally developed for use in clinical applications and is a breath of fresh air for allergy sufferers. It filters out 99.97% of particles >0.3 micrometres. This air purifier uses a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter in association with an active carbon filter to remove the smallest of airborne particles including pollen, dust, animal hairs, mites, smoke and odors. Check out one of the web-sites for this product. www.airandwatercentre.com or www.4air.co.uk

8. KEEP YOUR DOGS CLOTHES CLEAN

If your dog wears a coat throughtout the day, it's a must to have a fresh one daily.

9. ANTI-HISTAMINE

For yourself you can take some anti-histamine, or some medication from your doctor to reduce your allergies, but keep in mind they don't always work too well.

10. KEEP YOUR DOGS TOYS CLEAN

Train your dog not to lick you as, it could cause a reaction. Dried saliva can also be a problem for you as it can become airborne, so wash your dogs toys and keep them clean.

The American Hairless Terrier needs a little more care and grooming than your average coated dog breed. Their body has the same needs we do: moisturiser when dry, sunscreen in the sun and warm clothes in the cold.

Sunscreen
Use sunscreen when your dog is in the sun for long periods and remember to reapply regularly if they are actively running around. Sunburn is very dangerous and painful, so be careful and use the right protection. SPF 30 or above is recommended. Use a product that is specially formulated for dogs as this will be free from perfume or anything else not suitable for your pet.

Clothes
Protection from the sun can also come from clothes, and these days you can buy all sorts of items for your dog. Maybe you can even fashion your own? Neo has lots of different clothes so that he can be out in all weathers. If it is warm and sunny he’ll just wear a cotton t-shirt to keep him cool yet protected and in colder weather he’ll wear a fleece or something warmer when he’s out for a walk or going for a pee. Remember . . it can still be cool in the shade or your dog is sitting in a draughty spot.
Wash your dog’s clothes in a non-biological washing powder, and rinse thoroughly after, as some dogs can be allergic to normal washing powder. The same applies to the dog's bedding.

Bath Time
American Hairless Terriers need their skin to be kept clean; a bath a couple of times a week will be sufficient to keep their skin in good condition. If their skin becomes dry, lotion (without lanolin) can be applied. You also have to be careful choosing a dog shampoo; non-perfumed and “for sensitive skin” is best. American Hairless Terrier’s don’t have the major skin problems commonly seen in other hairless dogs. Sometimes they will get a rash on their skin only because of their lack of hair. Rashes due to grass allergies are not that uncommon, but can be avoided with protective clothing.

Nails
Their nails should be kept trimmed. Also there nails to be filed afer.

Dog and cat sun block cream is a highly effective broad spectrum sun block for cats & dogs that lasts up to 6-8 hrs. It's soothing, waterproof, fragrance free and active against the sun’s harmful UVA & UVB rays.
Pethealth Factor 30 sun block cream should be applied liberally to exposed sensitive areas. This soothing cream can be easily applied directly from the dispenser to your pet. 100g dispenser. 
 
Click here to buy Sun Block Cream

We use Sebomild P Shampoo for use in dogs and cats with flaky coats and mild skin disorders. The hydrating, hypo-allergenic formula contains salicylic acid and sulpur. 200ml bottle

Click here to buy Sebomild P Shampoo

Or you could just try out a puppy shampoo for sensitive skin, see how there skin is over a period of time with the type of shampoo you use.

If you find your dog is misbehaving by chewing bedding or anything else, and you would rather he didn’t. You can use a spray product called (Get Off) on the area's; the strong smell and taste puts them off this chewing habit. Keep in mind only to spray the underside of bedding so it doesn’t touch their skin, it could cause a nasty rash. Take care also not to spray it near their toys, water or food bowls as you don’t want them to avoid these areas.  You can get these products from your local pet shop.
PET & GARDEN WASH (GET OFF)
375ml
A powerful single liquid treatment with dual cleansing and repellent action for areas fouled by pets indoors or out. The highly effective cleansing agents, bactericides and odour neutralisers render soiled areas clean and fresh, leaving a powerful citrus deterrent scent to discourage cats and dogs from returning to leave their marks. For whenever your pets or your neighbour's pets give messy cause for concern in the home and garden.

Click here for PET & GARDEN WASH (GET OFF)

Poisonous plants & Foods that can Kill your dog find out more by (clicking here)

1. Dogs are not people. What makes them happy isn’t necessarily what makes us happy. What dogs desire is simple: regular exercise, a stable pack leader and affection that is properly earned.

2. Walk your dog for at least 45 minutes every day. A structured walk on a regular basis is crucial, especially for dogs with behavioral problems, and it is the most powerful tool you have to bond with your dog.

3. Be consistent. Make sure all family members set the same rules, boundaries and limitations for your dog.

4. Affection at the wrong time can foster an unstable mind. Share affection after your dog has exercised and eaten, changed an unwanted behavior into a behavior you asked for, responded to a rule or command, or entered a relaxed, calm-submissive state.

5. Dogs experience the world with their nose, eyes and then ears. When meeting a dog for the first time, establish its trust by allowing it to experience your scent before engaging in eye contact or speaking to him.

6. Breed is not destiny. More important than choosing the right breed is selecting a dog with an energy level that is compatible with your energy and lifestyle.

7. Dogs need leadership. Establish yourself as the pack leader by mastering the walk and following the guideline "exercise, discipline and then affection."

8. Let your dog check the weather. Allow your dog to step outside and feel for itself that it is too hot, too wet or too cold to go on a long walk. Instinctually, the dog will understand that it has to shorten its walk or come back inside where it’s safe.

9. Never leave your dog in a parked car. Even in the shade, a car retains more heat than an open area. Plus, a dog may get overexcited in the car because of passersby or panic from claustrophobia, making dehydration more likely.

10. Be aware of the weather. During the summer, carry a bottle of water on walks and watch for signs of dehydration. In the winter, protect your dog with doggie boots and gear made specifically for cold weather.

11. Dogs get bored just like humans. Provide mental challenges like a game of catch, an agility course or a reward-oriented obedience game.