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Hairless Dog Breed Sections

• Hairless Breeds Home
• American Hairless Terrier
• AHT Gallery
• Chinese Crested
• Peruvian Hairless
• Xoloitzcuintli

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Comparison of Hairless Dog Breeds

hairless breeds at a glance

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 (PIO, Peruvian Hairless), and the Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless).

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.

American Hairless Terriers - What are they really like? Comments from owners...

All American Hairless Terriers (AHT) are different… have distinct personalities… wonderful personalities… easy to live with… smart... intelligent… extremely loving... cuddly... very 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...

Size: Height 10-16 inches (UKC, AHTA).

For more American Hairless Terrier info, see the AHT pages.

Chinese Cresteds - What are they like?

Chinese Crested is the most common hairless breed… currently the only hairless breed fully 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…

Size: Ideally 11-13 inches (ACCC).

See also the Chinese Crested pages.

Peruvian Inca Orchids - What are they really like? Comments from owners...

Peruvian Inca Orchid (Peruvian Hairless, Perro sin pelo del Peru) is a medium-sized, hairless sight hound (hunts by  sight, not scent)... native to South America... like chasing small animals... love to run off-leash... trim... fast... athletic... active... high-energy... not hyperactive... graceful... deer like in structure and movement... noble... elegant... affectionate... like to lick and kiss you... "kissing dogs"...very loving... snugly... loyal companion... devoted... gentle... fun loving... big clowns... love to fool around... sweet tempered... alert... lively... calm... quiet... laid back... sensitive... respond well to gentle treatment... highly intelligent... quick witted... smart... require a lot of mental challenges... needs mental stimulation... curious... inquisitive... independent... independent-thinking... some are easy to train, some are not... some can't focus for long periods of time... watchful... easy to live with... gets along with other dogs... not aggressive... need protection from cold and sun (especially if light skinned)... hardy... hairless have upright ears... coated have drop ears... still primitive... great family dogs... naturally suspicious... reserved... reserved with strangers at first... aloof... need early socialization... some are shy and not comfortable with people... wide variety of temperaments (even in the same litter)... some are moody... some are outgoing and want attention... some are extroverts... some are cautious... some are slow to warm up to people... socialization depends on their early months... may be withdrawn and extremely shy... love everyone with two legs... usually good with kids... may sit and wait to check if a new person is ok... may be aggressive with other dogs... shy with strangers... some won't lets strangers come near...

Size:
PIOCA -- Peruvian Inca Orchid - dogs 18"- 22", bitches 17"- 21" (24-40 lbs).
UKC -- Peruvian Inca Orchid - S, M, L, 9.75" - 25.75" (8-55 lbs).
FCI -- Peruvian Hairless/Perro sin pelo del Perú - S, M, L, 9.75" - 25.75" (8-55 lbs).

See also the Peruvian Hairless/Inca Orchid (Perro sin pelo del Peru) pages.

Xoloitzcuintlis - What are they really like? Comments from owners...

Xoloitzcuintlis (Xolo, Mexican Hairless) 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 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...

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" to maximum of 23.5".

See also the Xoloitzcuintli pages and the AHT or Xolo? pages.