American Hairless Terrier

The American Hairless Terrier is an active companion that loves spending as much time as possible with their family. They require and crave the attention of those around them, so expect them to be the center of attention in just about any circumstance. They will often act in a goofy way to receive the attention that they desire, which can easily lead to anyone witnessing their antics cracking up in laughter.

This breed is the only hairless dog breed that is indigenous to the United States. The AHT, as they are often referred to, was created through somewhat of an accident. A Rat Terrier, which was a popular breed in the US, gave birth to a litter of puppies which included one hairless pup. The owners of this dog continued to breed this single Hairless Terrier and created more and more dogs of the same look while expanding their gene pool at the same time. After roughly 10 years of this consistent breeding, two Hairless Terriers were bred with each other, creating the first litter of American Hairless Terriers in 1983.

The AHT typically weighs between 10-16 pounds and has quite a bit of energy. While many small dogs can burn off their energy from within the house, these dogs much prefer being in the great outdoors. Their Terrier instincts are still very much intact, meaning that they will enjoy chasing after anything that moves and sniffing around for any interesting smells. Mental stimulation is equally important for these pups, they are considered to be very intelligent and will love learning and performing new tricks.

Even though the AHT is very active, they enjoy snuggling with their people just as much as a play session. Thankfully, due to their hairless bodies, cuddling up with one of these dogs is an option even if you suffer from allergies. Needless to say, this breed will not enjoy being left alone and would much prefer tagging along with you anywhere that you go. They are a great choice for anyone that loves having their dog by their side all the time, the American Hairless Terrier will make a wonderful sidekick!

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