American Hairless Terrier puppies

About the American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier came out of a hairless puppy born into a litter of Rat Terriers in the United States in the early 1970s, and the line was bred on from there. This is a small, well muscled terrier, 30 to 41 centimetres tall, and there are two varieties, hairless and short coated. Character is pure terrier, curious, busy and quick off the mark, with the sociability of the rat terrier behind it. They rate five out of five for trainability, unusual in the group.

Exercise needs are moderate: a fenced garden or regular walks will do, and they are content to curl up afterwards. Grooming is easy in either variety, though a hairless dog needs sun protection outdoors and warmth in the cold. They rate five out of five with children, with supervision and socialisation as always. Skin problems are rare in the breed despite the lack of coat. If allergies are the reason you are looking, know that hairless does not mean allergy free, because dog allergies do not work that way.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a American Hairless Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Legg Calve Perthes disease, a hip malformation that shows up early as limping and can be corrected surgically
• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam
• Sunburn on the hairless variety, which needs shade and cover outdoors

Your American Hairless Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a American Hairless Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.4 to 12.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 30 inch (30 x 20 x 23 in, 76 x 51 x 58 cm) for an adult of up to 12.7 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the American Hairless Terrier

Previous: American Foxhound · Next: American Leopard Hound

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type, country of origin and health notes
• Health notes from American Hairless Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Nyaah, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.