Hairless Rat Terrier
The American Hairless Terrier was once simply considered a variant to its close cousin, the Rat Terrier. They are direct decedents of these terriers, and only recently the American Hairless Terrier began to gain recognition as its own breed.
Unlike many dog breeds the exact origin of the American Hairless Terrier is no mystery. In 1972 a hairless, female pup was born in a litter of Rat Terriers. These terriers were owned by Willie and Edwin Scott of Louisiana, she was greatly prized by them, and name Josephine. Josephine was bred and she produced only a single hairless terrier in her first litter, and for several years that was the only pup that gained the hairless trait of her mothers. Then, at the age of nine she had another litter with two hairless pups, on male, and another female. These two dogs would become the foundation for the Scotts breeding program. Through careful a careful breeding program, one that they are still continuing, they succeeded in establishing the American Hairless Terrier.
Unlike other hairless dogs, such as the Chinese Crested and the Mexican Hairless, the American Hairless Terrier has no fuzz or hair on its body, making them a good companion to anyone with dander allergies. They are born with a bit of hair on their bodies; however they will shed this hair entirely by the time they reach six weeks. The skin on an American Hairless Terrier is normally pink, with spots that can vary to include gray, black, golden, or red spots.
American Hairless Terriers are intelligent and inquisitive dogs. They are affectionate and make good companions to adults and children alike. Temperament for the breed is that of any terrier, they bark at unknown sounds, while lively and fearless. American Hairless Terriers do not do well in houses with small pets, although they will normally tolerate cats if they have been raised alongside them.
