Instructions
Begin by looking at the dogs shape and form. This particular breed of terrier is very small and can be anywhere from 10 to 15 inches in height and weigh between five and sixteen pounds depending on age. They tend to gain weight as they age. Despite the dog’s small height, it should be fairly muscular with a wide chest, thick shoulders, and long powerful legs. They should have a full size tail approximately 3/4 as long as the dog’s body. It should be held low but point backward and be about as thin around as a number 2 pencil. It can help to think of them as looking like a miniature greyhound. They have very little fat and a good amount of lean muscle.
Look at the dog’s skin. Obviously it will have no fur unless it is a pup under the age of six weeks. Despite what many may think, this breed is not all pink like a shaved dog. The color goes all the way down to the skin, creating a wealth of colors and patterns. There are absolutely no limits regarding acceptable coloring on the American Hairless Terrier, meaning this is not an effective way of telling its species.
Examine the dog’s head. The shape of skull and the features of the head are what most separate the AHT from other hairless dogs. The dog should have a thick neck and a skull about twice as long as it is high. It should have a narrow jaw and an angled nose, the top of which pointes forward rather than back toward the dog. The ears should be bat-like and placed high on the top of the head. Between the ears and the eyes, which are always brown or black, should be a brow and forehead like a human’s. The skin of it should wrinkle whenever the dog is excited or anxious. If the dog fits this description, then it is an American Hairless Terrier.
How to Identify An American Hairless Terrier
The American Hairless Terrier, also referred to as the AHT, first appeared in 1972 in a litter of normal rat terriers. A single pup was born with a coat of sparse fuzzy hair that fell out after about six weeks. The dog was in good health and normal in every other way so its owners decided to try to develop this new breed. Because this is a relatively young breed it is still rare and many people might not be able to tell this dog apart from European and Asian hairless breeds. For that reason here is a guide on how to identify an American Hairless Terrier.