Terrier group · United States
American Hairless Terrier
Also called AHT, Hairless Rat Terrier.
Small dog, high energy, quick to learn.
- Playful
- Curious
- Alert
- Intelligent
- Loving
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 5 to 7 kg12 to 16 lb
- Lives
- 14 to 16 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- High
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training an American Hairless Terrier
Terrier breeds. Impulse control and a rock-solid leave it. Short, high-value sessions; they bore fast.
Skin Protection
Start here
Apply pet-safe sunscreen for outdoor activities. Provide clothing in cold weather.
Eager Learner
Intelligent and willing to please. Responds well to positive training methods.
Socialisation
Can be wary of strangers without proper socialisation. Expose to many people early.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your American Hairless Terrier and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to go to ground after vermin. Fearless, quick, and not built to back down.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersModerate
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 45-60 minutes daily. Active exercise while protecting from sun and cold.
- Grooming
- No brushing needed but regular bathing to keep skin clean. Moisturizing may be needed.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Hairless, Coated variety existsPink with spots, Black, Blue, Brown, Sable, Brindle
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Sunburn
Moderate
Hairless skin burns easily, requires sunscreen outdoors
Skin Allergies
Moderate
Sensitive skin prone to allergic reactions
Patellar Luxation
Moderate
Kneecap displacement common in small breeds
Where they come from
History
The first hairless breed developed in the United States. Originated from a hairless puppy born in a Rat Terrier litter in Louisiana in 1972. The breed was developed through careful breeding and recognised by the AKC in 2016.
- Josephine · The original hairless Rat Terrier born in 1972 who founded the breed
