There are many Terrier breeds in the America Kennel Club, though not all are listed. The American Hairless Terrier is a fairly new breed and isn’t recognized by the AKC as yet, however they are recognized in Canada by the UKC. This breed was started in 1972 when a hairless puppy was born in a litter of Rat Terriers. Careful breeding methods have resulted in what has become a fairly stable breed.

The gene responsible for this form of hairlessness has been proven to be autosomal recessive. What does that mean? . Unlike a lot of the hairless breeds, The American Hairless Terrier is a dog which doesn’t have a long list of health issues. The puppies are born with a fuzzy coat that drops off by the time they are six weeks old. The adult dog is completely hairless except for eyebrows and whiskers.

AHT’s are born with short or medium tails and are not cut. Their ears stand up on their own and are similar to a Rat Terrier’s. When mature, they reach between 10 to 18 inches in height and weigh between 10 to 15 pounds. Their skin color comes in many colors and patterns, some of which are striking.

Why should you consider owning a hairless dog? The advantages are numerous: no fleas, no shedding, no allergies, though you do need to watch them for sunburn and provide warmth in cold weather.

One thing to keep in mind is that the American Hairless Terrier is a terrier with all of the inbred terrier hunting instincts, though their hairless state prevents them from doing as well as other terrier breeds. This means your dog will be lively and active, always looking for something to chase which you will need to provide for them. This is a good breed to get hooked on tennis ball play early.

To learn more about this interesting dog, go to: http://www.ahta.info/