American Hairless Terrier: features, maintenance and feeding

The American Hairless Terrier is a very interesting and distinctive dog. This breed appeared relatively recently, but very quickly gained a large number of fans around the world.

The history of the emergence of the American Hairless Terrier originates in the islands of Britain, where their direct ancestors (rat-catcher rat terriers) were used by peasants to protect the harvested crop from rats and foxes. Representatives of this breed came to America with British families who emigrated to the United States.

Here they performed the same duties as in their homeland: they protected the harvested crop from uninvited guests. The population developed at a natural pace, either increasing in size or putting it literally on the brink of extinction, as happened, for example, during the Industrial Revolution in 1930.

The family to which the puppy was transferred quickly appreciated the benefits of keeping a naked dog and was seriously concerned about getting offspring from their pet. For this, the head of the family, Edwin Scott, turned to geneticists, who advised him to mate Josephine (as the puppy was named) with his own father. Experts rightly assumed that the birth of bald puppies in the case of such a crossing is very large and they were not mistaken.

As a result of mating, 4 babies were born, one of whom turned out to be bald. The next two litters did not bring the desired result - all the puppies turned out to be quite ordinary, and only on December 30, 1981, Josephine gave birth to four babies, two of which turned out to be bald at once. It was this day that was proclaimed the day of the appearance of the American Hairless Terrier breed.

Edwin was so inspired by the results that he began to actively study the newly-born breed and devoted a lot of time to identifying the genetic patterns that led to the appearance of hairless individuals. Then he opened a breeding nursery Trout Creek Kennel and began to promote and popularize the unique breed in every possible way.

The first happy owners of hairless dogs were pleased to find that the pet does not cause allergies and needs minimal care. The news about this amazing breed quickly spread around the world, and the "Americans" began to be in high demand among the population.

In 1998, the American Rare Breeds Association and the American Rat Terrier Club recognized "Americans" as a separate breed of dog. A year later, the United Kennel Club also entered them on its register, but so far as a bald variety of Rat Terriers. It was only in 2004 that the "Americans" received official recognition and were registered with the UKC as an independent breed.

American Hairless Terriers are active and very agile dogs with well-developed muscles and a handsome physique. The length of the body is in relation to the height at the withers as 10/9, which gives the body ideal proportions. The main characteristics of the representatives of the breed are as follows.

• Animal head has a wedge-shaped shape and is characterized by a moderate transition between the forehead and muzzle. The broad skull tapers slightly towards the muzzle and has a slightly convex structure.
• The muzzle has a narrowing in the nose. and is distinguished by powerful jaws with well-developed cheek muscles. This structure of the jaws was inherited by the "Americans" from the ancestors of rat-catchers, whose mouths opened very wide and made it easy to catch rats.
• The nose has a solid color, more often black pigmentation that matches the color of the lips.
• Terrier lips are not droopy, fit snugly to the teeth.
• Animal teeth are present in a complete set and differ in strength and whiteness. As for the bite, it is mainly scissor bite, although a straight bite is also allowed by the standard.
• The ears of the "Americans" are V-shaped and can stand completely, half-stand and hang from cartilage. Moreover, their position up to one year of age is rather unstable and does not affect the exhibition score.
• Bald Terrier Eyes set obliquely, have a round shape and a slight bulge, and their color depends entirely on the breed. So, in completely bald dogs, their color can be any, while in the covered variety it strictly corresponds to the color of the coat. Individuals with blue and even amber eyes are often found, although most of them are still dark brown in color. The edges of the eyelids have the same pigmentation as the nose and lips.
• Neck, gradually merging into the back, it is of medium length and thickens closer to the shoulders, and a slight bend with moderate muscularity gives it some grace and lightness.
• Front legs of the "Americans" characterized by strong bone and almost vertical pasterns. The hindquarters are rather muscular, on visual inspection they stand parallel to each other. The feet are oval and compact. The middle fingers are slightly longer than the lateral ones; the dewclaws must be removed.
• "American" has a harmoniously folded body, a flat, strong back, a slightly arched muscular loin and a slightly sloping croup. The terrier's chest is deep, and the lower part of it is located at the level of the elbows. When viewed laterally, a small oval forbrust is visible.
• The tail, thick at its base, tapers towards the end. If the animal is in an unexcited state, the tail is carried just below the line of the back, in an alert - along an ascending line with a slight bend, resembling a saber.
• Hairless terriers can be of any color. Usually, there are contrasting spots on the main skin tone, which become larger over the years, and the skin itself darkens.
• The height of "Americans" is 40-45 cm, weight - no more than 6 kg.
• These dogs move very easily and naturally, at the same time, the front limbs are distinguished by good amplitude, and the hind ones - with a powerful push.

Considering the characteristics of the breed, one cannot fail to mention the varieties of the "American". There are two types of dogs in total.

• The first includes absolutely bald pets., which nevertheless are born in a light "fur coat". By the age of eight weeks, the fur is completely shed with the exception of the sideburns and eyebrows. The skin of such dogs is very soft and pleasant to the touch, capable of producing sweat in heat and stress situations.
• The second type includes individuals with a slight coat, persisting into adulthood. Such dogs can have a single color, as well as two or three colors with the obligatory presence of white.

But it is also worth mentioning the shortcomings that can lead to a decrease in the assessment at the exhibition, and in the presence of serious defects, even disqualification. So, a pet can be "rejected" for too sharp feet, short muzzle, missing teeth, malocclusion, lack of pigment and unpainted nose, as well as for the head resembling an apple, bulging or deep-set eyes, and for the inconsistency of their color with the main color.

Disadvantages are also the wrong set of the ears, clubfoot, tail in a ringlet, too large growth and obesity. Serious defects include hair longer than 1 mm on bald individuals after 6 months of age, cryptorchidism, behavior anomalies, deafness, disproportionate leg length in relation to the body, short tail from birth, and albinism. In the covered variety, this is additionally merle and the absence of white in color.

American Hairless Terriers are very friendly and sociable, for which they can be confidently classified as one of the best companion dogs. Animals surprise their owners with their mental abilities and high intelligence. Besides, they are active, curious and very energetic... This makes them an ideal breed for families with small children, whom the terrier will always keep company on a walk and will gladly take part in any children's games and pranks.

The dog quickly and firmly becomes attached to its family and it is very difficult to endure separation from the household. Left at home alone, a bored terrier begins to bark loudly and non-stop, which can cause just reproaches from neighbors.

"Americans" get along well with almost all pets and enjoy spending time with them. The only exceptions are decorative rodents and birds, which are categorically undesirable to leave alone with the dog.

This is due to the fact that the "parents" of a hairless dog (Rat Terriers) are "professional" rat-catchers and hunters, in connection with which it is better not to risk the life of unfortunate hamsters and canaries and take care of their safety in advance. Hairless terriers are quite loyal to strangers who come to the house for the first time, provided that the owner is in a good mood and is happy with their visit.

The American Hairless Terrier is a fairly young breed, so there are no long-term studies on its genetic diseases yet. It is only known that the mutation that resulted in the breed did not entail any serious physical anomalies and developmental deviations.

However, like any other breed, Terriers still have weak points... And first of all it is, of course, skin that often suffers from bright sun and severe frost, because of which it needs additional protection. So, in the summer, before going out on the street, the pet must be smeared with sunscreen, which should be wiped off with a damp cloth upon returning home.

In winter, animals must wear warm overalls and shoes. Also, dogs sometimes get sick gastritis, enteritis and adenovirus... Less common are hepatitis and staphylococcus. In order to avoid many viral diseases, pets need to be vaccinated in a timely manner.

In general, hairless terriers are distinguished by good health, high immunity and calmly live up to 15, and sometimes up to 17 years.

American Hairless Terrier puppies should be purchased either in pedigree nurseries, or from trusted breedershaving a good reputation. In addition, before buying, you need to know what a thoroughbred newborn naked puppy looks like.

The fact is that babies are not born completely bald, but are covered with very soft and short hair... After 7-8 weeks, the generic hair falls out and the animal becomes naked. Pimples form at the site of the hair that has fallen out, which is absolutely normal and does not require any intervention.

You should also look at how the baby's ears are located - if they are turned inward, it is better to refuse to buy such a puppy. The teeth also need to be carefully examined: they must be white and strong. In addition, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the history of the parents' illnesses and check if the baby has age-related vaccinations.

American Hairless Terriers are strictly indoor dogs and require thermal comfort. Both an apartment and a country house will suit them equally well. In this case, it is very important to provide the pet with a soft and comfortable bed, located away from drafts and heating appliances. Terriers are naturally very active and lively creatures., and therefore need long walks in the fresh air with the ability to run without a leash.

When it comes to caring for a dog, it includes a number of mandatory procedures.

• Skin integument are the most vulnerable spot of Hairless Terriers and need regular sweat and dirt cleaning. To do this, use wet wipes or a soft cloth soaked in warm water. You can bathe your pet once a week using special shampoos for hairless dogs.
• Terrier teeth are brushed once a week, using a dog's toothpaste and brush heads on your finger.
• Eyes are wiped with a damp swab once a week, soaked in strong tea or chamomile broth.
• Hairless Terrier ears regularly inspect and, if necessary, wipe with cotton pads soaked in oil.
• Pet claws pruned every 3 months using a nail clipper or special scissors.

"Americans" are picky about feeding and can eat both adapted feed and natural food. If you decide to feed the puppy with regular food, then you should know that Lean meat or offal should be 50% of the total. The remaining 50% should be cereals (buckwheat, rice or pearl barley) and vegetables, which are given both raw and boiled.

Eggs and boiled sea fish can be fed to the dog twice a week., previously cleaned of large bones. From fermented milk products, terriers can be fed with cottage cheese and low-fat sour cream.

If you plan to feed the puppy with ready-made feeds, then it is better to choose holistic or premium formulations, in which the substances necessary for the pet are not only in the required quantities, but also optimally combined with each other. Pet foods with delicate skin, such as the Dermacomfort line from Royal Canin, are ideal.

However, if the dog is completely healthy and not prone to allergic reactions, then you can feed it with more budget formulations, for example, Pro Plan, Eagle Pack, Hill's or Acana... The main thing is to choose the right food in accordance with the age and complexion of the pet.

In this case, mineral and vitamin supplements do not need to be given, while dogs eating natural products are additionally offered fish oil, bone meal and preparations containing a sufficient amount of vitamins and microelements. Good results are obtained with the use of Beaphar, CanVit, Excel 8 in 1 and Unitabs Daily Complex. However, it is impossible to prescribe this or that vitamin-mineral complex to a pet on its own.

Before buying, you should consult with a veterinarian, who, after passing a general blood test or biochemistry, will tell you exactly what elements the dog is missing and recommend the right drug. An adult pet should be fed twice a day, and portion sizes should be calculated based on the dog's activity level and appetite.

The American Hairless Terrier is very trainable and well suited as a first pet. A distinctive feature of this breed of dogs is their desire to please their owner at all costs. This greatly helps beginners to believe in themselves and raise an obedient and sociable family dog.

The dog will also perceive the rest of the household very well, but it will not feel such affection as to the "main" owner. Hairless Terrier training is carried out according to the traditional scheme using the method of reward / punishment, using a stern shout or glance as the last, but in no case beating. Particular attention should be paid to the problem of unreasonable loud barking, which representatives of this breed often sin, and from puppyhood to resolutely suppress it.

The following video will tell you about the features of the breed.