Overview
The American Hairless Terrier began with a single hairless puppy born in a Rat Terrier litter in Louisiana in the 1970s. It has kept the Rat Terrier's character: alert, playful, inquisitive and quick, with a fondness for people and a healthy interest in anything that scurries.
The hairlessness is the point for owners with allergies, and the problem for a walker. Bare skin burns in sun, chills in wind, scratches on brambles and shows every bump. There is also a coated variety that looks like a smooth Rat Terrier.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour a day in two walks, with some fast play, suits most. They are agile and enjoy chasing a ball, digging into a hedge and doing anything that involves speed and a bit of a hunt.
Weather dictates the walk. On cold or wet days the dog needs a coat and a shorter route; in strong sun it needs shade, sunscreen if the owner supplies it and timing in the cooler hours.
On the walk
- Skin: Check for scratches, sunburn and insect bites as you go. Avoid brambles, gorse and dense undergrowth where a coated dog would be fine.
- Temperature: A hairless dog has no buffer. Shivering means stop and warm up; panting in sun means shade and water now.
- Prey: Terrier through and through. Rats, squirrels and small birds will be chased and recall will suffer for it. A long line in the open is wise.
- Other dogs: Confident and sociable, but light and easily hurt. Keep rough big dogs at a distance and let it play with its own size.
Tips for professional walkers
- Carry the dog's coat even on a mild day; British weather changes faster than a hairless dog can cope with.
- Use a soft harness with no rough edges; bare skin rubs raw under cheap webbing.
- Ask about sunscreen and apply only what the owner provides, to the areas they specify.
- Dry the dog off properly after rain; there is nothing to wick moisture away.
What to ask the owner
- Does the dog wear a coat, and at what temperature should it go on?
- Do you use sunscreen on the dog, and where and how should it be applied?
- Any skin conditions or allergies that affect what the dog can walk through or lie on?