The American
Hairless Terrier
is a smoothly
muscled, active
and athletic
breed. Their
natural agility
and speed have
helped these
dogs shine in
a variety of
Performance
events.
T
he American Hairless Terrier is
more commonly referred to as
the “AHT.” This is truly an American breed. It originated in Louisiana in
the early 1970s when a hairless puppy
was born into a litter of midsize Rat Terriers. While not the first hairless puppy
born, it was the first to be given to Edwin and Willie Scott, the founders of the
breed. The Scotts fell in love with this
female, whom they named Josephine, so
they bred her in the hopes of getting mor e like her. Thankfully,
they were successful, and Josephine became the progenitor of
the American Hairless Terrier breed.
The AHT was accepted into AKC’s Foundation Stock Service (FSS) in October 2011, and the original submission to
AKC was more than 1,200 pedigrees. On January 1, 2016, the
AKC granted the American Hairless Terrier full breed recognition and moved it into the Terrier Group. According to the parent club’s records, by the end of January, 10 AHTs earned their
AKC championships, and two earned Grand Championships.
The American Hairless Terrier has no relationship to the
Chinese Crested or Xolotizcuintli.
Some Notes on Judging AHTs
In the conformation ring, the AHT is a tabled breed that
should not be sparred. The standard permits the tail of the
coated variety to be docked. While many are now refraining
from docking, a docked tail on the coated AHT should not
be faulted. However, tail docking is not permitted for the
hairless AHT.
A blue or blue fawn dog is permitted to have blue or amber
eyes. A chocolate dog will also have lighter eyes. These are
Unique Genetics
self-colored dogs with matching nose leather and should not
Like all the other hairless dog breeds, the AHT comes in two
be faulted for the lighter-colored eyes. However, AHTs of othvarieties (hairless and coated), but that is where the simier colors should have dark brown eyes.
larities end. The AHT is different than
Both the hairless and coated AHT come
all the other hairless breeds in several
in a variety of colors and patterns, inways. Most importantly, the genes that
This is truly an
cluding solid-colored, but merle and
make the AHT hairless are simple reAmerican breed.
albinism are disqualifications.
cessive. This means that coated AHTs
It originated in
The AHT is ideally 12 to 16 inches
(which have a short, smooth dense coat
at
the
shoulder, and the body is rectwith a sheen) carry a hairless gene and
Louisiana in the
angular, being slightly longer than tall.
can produce both hairless and coated
early 1970s.
Movement is smooth and effortless,
offspring, but the hairless AHT has only
showing good reach and drive.
hairless genes and will produce all hairThe standard is included here and is
less offspring.
always available on the American Hairless Terrier Club of
All the other hairless breeds have a dominant lethal gene,
America and American Kennel Club websites. AHTCA also
meaning no zygote with two hairless genes will survive. The
has a wonderful illustrated breed standard, which can be
hairless varieties of the other hairless breeds need to have one
viewed on the AHTCA website at ahtca.info.
gene for coat and one hairless gene, thus giving the hairless
variety of those breeds patterned hair on the head, feet and
tail. The coated variety of these other hairless breeds carry no
Life With AHTs
hairless gene and, therefore, can only produce coated offspring
In a nutshell, AHTs are smoothly muscled, small- to
if bred together.
medium-sized companions that attract attention and fans
Because the AHT genetics are different, hairless AHTs are
wherever they go. The breed is alert, curious, intelligent and
born with a soft down that is referred to as a “birth coat,”
easy to train. Because the hairless variety lacks the protecwhich they lose by the time they are 8 to 12 weeks of age. The
tion of a coat, they are unsuited for field hunting (and need
feel of the AHT skin is very different and not as prone to the
sunscreen to protect their exposed skin). While the AHT was
skin issues seen with the other hairless breeds. The hairless
not really developed to be a working terrier, the instincts are
AHT also lacks the dentition issues seen with the other hairthere, and many AHTs (both varieties) excel in Obedience and
less breeds. They have normal-shaped and well-rooted teeth.
a variety of performance events.
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