What Dogs Are Hairless?

Hairless dogs are characterized by having no hair at all on their bodies, while some might have a small amount at the top of their head or on the tips of their tails. Some breeds also have "bracelets" of hair around their wrists and ankles. Most hairless dog breeds hail from warmer climates, such as Central and South America; however, there is one American hairless breed and one that originated in China.

  1. American Hairless Terrier

    • The American Hairless Terrier originated when breed originator Edwin Scott discovered the hairless female Josephine in a litter of purebred Rat Terrier puppies. American Hairless Terriers range in height from 10 to 18 inches at the shoulder. They may have any color skin, but most are parti-colored with contrasting patches and freckles on a pinkish skin base. Adult American Hairless Terriers should be entirely free of hair except for whiskers and guard hairs on the muzzle and eyebrows. Very short, fine hairs, known as "vellus" hairs, may be present on the body. Coated puppies born in American Hairless Terrier litters are marked in a similar fashion to Rat Terriers.

    Chinese Crested

    • Hundreds of years ago, the Chinese Crested dog was used to hunt vermin on Chinese sailing ships. It is a toy-sized dog, with an ideal height ranging from 11 to 13 inches at the shoulder. The hairless variety of Chinese Crested dogs have no hair on their bodies; however, they do have soft, silky hair on the tops of their heads, on their tails, and on their feet. The Chinese Crested rarely sheds these hairs.

    Hairless Khala

    • The "Khala" dog is a hairless hound native to Central and South America. It is not a recognized breed in any registry and has no standard of perfection. Two varieties of Khala dogs exist: the shorter-legged "pottery" type (Khala Medio) and the longer-legged "gazehound" type (Khala Grande), both of which can appear in the same litter. The Khala dog is entirely free of body hair, but has long, coarse hair on their head, tail, and feet.

    Peruvian Inca Orchid

    • The Peruvian Inca Orchid (PIO) is an ancient breed of sighthound; it is thought to have origins tracing back to 750 AD. It comes in three sizes: small (9.75 inches to 15.75 inches), medium (over 15.75 inches to 19.75 inches), and large (19.75 inches to 25.75 inches). The PIO comes in a wide variety of colors, ranging through the scale of blonds, browns, and gray to black. Its body is entirely free from hair, although it may have a small amount of hair on its head, feet, and tail.

    Xoloitzcuintle

    • The Xoloitzcuintle (Xolo) is the breed most people think of as the "Mexican Hairless" dog. It is an ancient and rare breed that takes its name from the Aztec Indian god Xolotli and the Aztec word for dog. Like the PIO, the Xolo comes in three sizes: toy (at least 10 inches up to 14 inches at the shoulder), miniature (over 14 inches up to and including 18 inches), and standard (over 18 inches up to and including 23 inches). The Xolo standard calls for the dog to be entirely free of hair. Short, coarse hair is permissible, in small amounts, on the Xolo's head and feet and on the last third of its tail. The Xolo's dark skin color should be uniform all over its body, broken only by small amounts of white.