American Hairless Terrier
About the American Hairless Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Small (10-25 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 12-16" |
| Weight | 12-16 lbs |
| Coat Type | Hairless |
| Coat Length | Short |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
30 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Moderate mental stimulation needed
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $800-$1,800 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,000/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, American Hairless Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your American Hairless Terrier
The story behind the American Hairless Terrier
This breed traces to a single hairless puppy born in a Rat Terrier litter in Louisiana during the early 1970s. Breeders retained that dog and its descendants, further hairless offspring appeared in later generations, and it became clear the trait could be reproduced reliably. A deliberate programme developed from there, working from Rat Terrier foundation stock while selecting for skin quality, soundness and correct terrier type. Because hairlessness in this breed is not linked to the dental and structural complications seen in some other hairless types, the population could be expanded without those difficulties. Registries recognised it as distinct from the Rat Terrier during the 1990s and 2000s, with major-registry acceptance arriving in the 2010s. It remains an uncommon companion, occasionally used on vermin and widely campaigned in performance sports.
Originally bred for: Vermin control, Companion. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a American Hairless Terrier
A small busy terrier suits a nutrient-rich small-breed formula served as divided meals. Skin condition tends to mirror diet quality in a hairless breed, so a formula supplying good fat quality makes sense, and portions should maintain a lean muscular frame rather than a rounded one.
Watch for: Exposed skin makes any food reaction visible immediately, and terriers as a group tend to express intolerance through rashes, itching and ear irritation more often than through the stomach. No specific ingredient is implicated across the breed. A veterinarian should oversee elimination trials.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a American Hairless Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.