The American Hairless Terrier (AHT) is the only hairless dog breed that is native to the US. Also called hairless rat terriers, these dogs are wonderful companions and are an especially good choice for people who suffer from pet allergies.
If you are interested in bringing home an American Hairless Terrier puppy, here’s some important breed information you should know.
American Hairless Terriers are small dogs, standing 12-16 inches tall and weighing 12-16 pounds. The average lifespan of an American Hairless Terrier is 14-16 years, so this is a long-lived breed.
In terms of personality and family life, American Hairless Terriers are alert, active, intelligent, playful, and curious. They are very affectionate with family members and do exceptionally well with young children. However, being small dogs, they cannot withstand too much roughhousing and playtime with kids should be supervised.
American Hairless Terriers can get along with other dogs provided they receive early socialization with other animals as puppies. Given their terrier instincts, they are prone to chasing small animals, so early training to make the AHT biddable is key.
An American Hairless Terrier will be moderately playful and open with strangers. These dogs make reasonably good watchdogs. They are highly adaptable to changes in routine. American Hairless Terriers can do well with all kinds of families and adapt to country living as well as urban lifestyles and apartment living. However, American Hairless Terriers do not like to be left alone for long periods. This is a reasonably good choice for novice dog owners, given the ease of grooming, moderate exercise needs, and sweet temperament. However, given that AHTs are terriers, they do have a strong prey drive and must be kept on leash when outdoors.
American Hairless Terriers are smart and very eager to please, and therefore very trainable. These dogs have moderate energy levels and mental stimulation needs. A half-hour walk or play session in the yard is usually all that’s needed, and after that, your AHT will be happy to snuggle on the couch with you. An American Hairless Terrier will bark occasionally to alert you of dangers, but is not usually overly vocal.
One of the best things about American Hairless Terriers is that they are either hairless or have a short coat that does not shed. So, this is a breed that is fuss-free in terms of grooming care. These dogs are not big droolers either. American Hairless Terriers are hypoallergenic dogs that are a great choice for people with allergies. However, they have bare skin and are at risk of sunburn and require special care in very cold climates.
If you think an American Hairless Terrier would be the perfect pet for you, you’ve come to the right place. Puppy Hero lists reputable and responsible AHT breeders so you can be sure you’re bringing home a happy, healthy American Hairless Terrier puppy that was raised with love and attention.
