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Sweet Lucy's Main Sections Hairless Dog Breed Sections
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Comparison of Hairless Dog Breeds hairless breeds at a glance
The last three breeds, Crested, PIO and Xolo, all have dominant hairlessness, meaning all these breeds have hairless and coated individuals. Litters usually contain both hairless and coated pups. The hairless dogs have various amounts of hair on their heads, feet, and tail. Most have incomplete dentition with missing teeth. They may suffer from skin irritations. The American Hairless Terrier is unique among all hairless dog breeds because it exhibits recessive hairlessness (see AHT genetics tables). Thus, it is the only hairless breed that is truly hairless and bald. It doesn't have any "normal" dog hair. Still, AHTs may have very short and super fine, nearly invisible "peach fuzz" (vellus) hair covering their body. Because the hairless pattern is recessive in the AHT, hairless parents can only produce hairless offspring. American Hairless Terriers have full dentition and seldom suffer from skin problems if the skin is well cared for. Note: The American Hairless Terrier was born as the result of a natural gene mutation in the Rat Terrier. Therefore, there are some "coated" American Hairless Terriers (Rat Terriers carrying the hairless gene) that are used in carefully planned breedings to enlarge the AHT gene pool.
All American Hairless
Terriers are different… have distinct personalities… wonderful
personalities… easy to live with… smart... intelligent… extremely
loving... cuddly... very
Size: Height 10-16 inches (UKC, AHTA). For more American Hairless Terrier info, see the AHT pages.
Chinese Crested is the
most common hairless breed… currently the only hairless breed
Size: Ideally 11-13 inches (ACCC). See also the Chinese Crested pages.
Peruvian Inca Orchids
are hairless sight hounds (hunt by sight, not scent) native to South
Depending on the
registry, PIOs and Peruvian Hairless are registered as one breed or
as two separate breeds. See also the Peruvian Hairless/Inca Orchid pages.
Xolos are very loving
and affectionate… love to snuggle with their favorite
person...extremely intelligent, keep you on your toes… very high
learners… excel in obedience classes with gentle
Size: Xolos are registered in three or two sizes, depending on the registry (e.g. FCI, FCM, UKC). Sizes are called toy, miniature, and standard; or miniature, intermediate, and standard. Height standards also vary somewhat according to the registry, but range from a minimum of 9.75 inches to maximum of 23.5 inches. See also the Xoloitzcuintli pages and the AHT or Xolo? page.
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Here's
a quick look at the characteristics of the four most common hairless
dog breeds: the American Hairless Terrier, the Chinese
Crested, the Peruvian Inca Orchid, and the
Xoloitzcuintli. 
playful...
sweet...clowns... full of energy... active… happy… a lot of fun…
easy to care for… devoted companions... love to travel in the car...
love to go everywhere with you... love attention… very entertaining…
can be sensitive and get their feelings hurt… can be jealous of
attention... calm down easily… very adaptable and flexible… small
dogs with large hearts… get along well with other dogs in the
family... eager to learn and please… good family dogs… want to
cuddle up and be petted… love snuggling... true lapdogs… love to
sleep on your arms or under the blanket… some like to snuggle all
the time and some only occasionally… get along with people in the
house and in public, especially when well socialized... most love
kids and other animals… like to play with children... want to run
and play…like to play fetch... some play ball and some don't… learn
obedience commands easily, but don't always like to obey... can have
a mind of their own... easily trained with positive methods… most
are not aggressive… can run and play wildly… some need plenty of
exercise… some are very active and intense… but usually are not
nervous dogs… have wonderful soft skin that is very pleasant to
touch and pet... skin scrapes heal easily... no pimples... burn in
the sun without sun protection... need frequent baths... need
clothes when cold... easy to crate train... easy to housebreak...
some are not so easy to housebreak... some do not get along so well
with other dogs, especially if not well socialized... can be strong
willed and independent... don't always like to come when called...
like to bark when visitors first arrive… feisty... can get zooms
every now and then and run around superfast just for fun... can be
hyper at times running in circles… rambunctious... strong willed… a
split personality dog… almost like having two personalities - cuddly
and loving vs. feisty and energetic... love to chew and shred dog
toys, fabric, and paper... like to nibble with their mouths... like
chewing… can be nippy… like to use their mouths a lot… some like to
dig... can be vocal... don't like to be teased by misbehaving
children and can snap at them... 
recognized
by the American Kennel Club (AKC), recognized Feb 1991… look like
little ponies… delightful… lively… very active… but can settle down
when needed… intelligent… devoted… affectionate… demand to be
cuddled, held and loved… will not let you ignore them… playful… know
how to make people laugh… sensitive, may sulk if scolded…
people-loving… versatile… very extroverted, sociable, outgoing…
attentive… extreme in desire to please… easy to train… ideal
companions… humanistic… expressive… very alert… good watchdogs… "houndy"
in character and confirmation… may be aloof with strangers… like to
chase small animals… howl when extremely excited… any color, solid
or spotted… can suffer from skin problems, e.g. pimples… prone to
sunburn… tan in the sun… need protection from cold… tolerated by
many allergic people… can be pests in their demands… some are hard
to housebreak… some genetic problems… comes in two varieties:
hairless and powderpuff with double soft and silky coat… on hairless
the amount of hair varies from almost totally hairless body to
almost coated (hairy hairless)… hair on the head is called crest,
hair on the tail is a plume, and hair at the feet are socks… 
America…
like chasing small animals… trim… fast… graceful… deer like in
structure and movement… noble… elegant… affectionate… loyal
companions to their owners… devoted… gentle… fun loving… sweet
tempered … alert… lively… calm… quiet… even tempered... laid back…
can be taken anywhere... sensitive… do not do well with rough
handling... respond well to gentle treatment… highly intelligent…
quick witted… reserved with strangers at first… aloof… need early
socialization… independent… easy to live with… get along with other
dogs… usually good with kids… not aggressive… need protection from
cold and sun (if light skinned)… hardy… hairless have upright ears,
coated have drop ears… all colors, but white or pink background with
colored spots is preferred… lack of full dentition in the
hairless... healthy breed with almost no genetic disease... 
instruction...
curious… independent thinkers… still primitive… hardy… generally
very healthy… sensitive… relatively calm dogs… playful… get along
well with kids when properly socialized… cheerful… attentive… alert…
excellent pets… exceptionally intuitive… very expressive... super
companions for those who want a devoted dog … extremely loyal to his
master… affectionate with his family... some like to howl to music…
do not require much exercise, but love it… like to lounge on the
sofa... protective… guards and protects naturally… excellent watch
dog… good guard dog... like to "keep an eye" on the visitors, just
in case… some don't like to be touched by visitors or strangers,
especially if not well socialized… suspicious towards strangers...
working dog temperament... strong temperament... tolerate sun well
(dark ones)… tan in the sun… need protection from the sun if light
skinned... need protection from cold… tolerate cold climates with
proper clothing… totally devoted to his family and doesn't care if
anybody else exists… tend to bond to one person…needs early
socialization… needs early training with gentle methods, no harsh
corrections…tolerated by many allergic dog owners… adaptable to all
styles of living... eager to please his owner… needs to be involved
in the family life… follows you everywhere, even to the bathroom
:o)… can suffer from skin irritations… some have drug sensitivities…
like to lick themselves like a cat… escape artists… strong willed…
some are energetic, some are placid… can be hardheaded… some are
sweet, some are not so sweet… can be aggressive… can be suspicious…
some are timid… demands attention… can be highstrung… can be dog
aggressive… some might be too much to handle for a first-time dog
owner, especially the large size ones...