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Need to Know
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Basic training required
- Enjoys active walks
- Small dog
- Need sunscreen if going outside for long periods
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks and alerts to visitors/anything unusual
- Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Needs a small yard or can happily live in the city
- Can be left alone occasionally with training
- AKC Registered Breed
Personality
The classic feisty terrier personality is on full display in the American Hairless Terrier. They are intelligent, full of energy, and love to play—especially digging and chasing. A friend to most, the American Hairless Terrier is affable and thrives on human interaction. They are easy to train for the most part, and are enthusiastic students.
The American Hairless Terrier is the only hairless breed indigenous to the U.S. They were developed by Edwin Scott in the 1970s and are descended from the Rat Terrier. They are a relatively new and rare breed.
Silly, full of energy, and loving, the American Hairless Terrier is a good companion dog for an owner who can commit to being consistent and firm yet gentle—and who doesn’t mind a spicy personality once in a while. They don’t do well if left alone for long periods of time, so owners who are around a lot or who can take them places are best.
While energetic, the American Hairless Terrier doesn’t have high exercise needs. They need access to the outdoors and can get their exercise through a few short walks or play sessions with other dogs or their owners. They love being near their families. Highly trainable, they can participate in things like agility, rally, and obedience.
The American Hairless Terrier doesn’t require any specific spaces; they just need access to the outdoors for regular exercise and potty time. They can be alert and protective, which might mean barking.
The name American Hairless Terrier is a bit of a misnomer as the dog comes in two varieties, coated and hairless. Both have minimal grooming needs. The hairless variety needs to be protected from the sun with sunscreen and needs regular ear cleaning, while the coated type needs just a quick brushing and occasional bath. Both are considered hypoallergenic.
Early socialization and training is a good idea for the American Hairless Terrier who can benefit from gaining self-confidence. They are eager to please their owners and will enjoy training with them, although they can get feisty from time to time.
Affectionate, easygoing, and curious, the American Hairless Terrier makes a good family pet for families who want a fun-loving dog for companionship. They make good watchdogs. They’re best with older children who can respect the dog’s boundaries and won’t treat them as toys.
The cost of an American Hairless Terrier from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.
Learn more about feeding and caring for your American Hairless Terrier on Purina.
Did You Know?
- There are two types of American Hairless Terriers: the hairless and the coated. The coated is born with light hair that falls out with age.
Top Ten Dog Training Tips
Training should be a fun, rewarding, and fulfilling experience for both of you. There are some basic steps you’ll include in any type of coaching, whether you and your puppy or dog are attempting a brand-new trick or working on basic manners. Listen to Your Dog Learn to listen
Teach your dog to stay, the fun and easy way
“Stay” is a command that tells your dog to remain stationary where you place them until they are released. This can be used in correlation with a movement command such as “sit” or “down” to help the dog know what is expected of them. There are a lot of ways to teach a dog to stay, but if you w