All about hairless dogs

There`s no such thing as a 100% allergy-free dog breed, but dogs who have no (or very little!) hair are about as close as you can get!

They don`t have hair to shed, and they`re pretty much dander-free aswell. But of course they do have saliva which can trigger allergies....but there`s no such thing as totally non-allergic dog breeds I`m afraid!

Video: Battle of the dog breeds: Mexican hairless dog vs. all dogs at Centennial Dog Park

Buttheir suitability for people with allergies isn`t the only reason forthe growing popularity of, and interest in, these hairless dog breeds.

They`realso clean, odorless, intelligent, loving, athletic.... and a whole lotmore. The hairless dog breeds you`re most likely to see here in the USinclude:


There are some interesting similarities between `naked` dogs of different breeds and origins, these include:

Video: 10 Cute Animals That Are Ugly Hairless

  • Mostof them are very old, even ancient breeds, some dating back thousandsof years being kept, and revered, by ancient civilizations

  • Theseolder breeds were often considered to be `magical` or to possessspecial healing powers. This is likely because their hairless bodiesgive off a very comforting heat which helps with aches and pains such asrheumatism or arthritis, plus they kept their ancient owners warm atnight!

  • Their naked skin needs special care and requiresregular (gentle) bathing, moisturizing and sunscreen or warm clothing toprotect it from the elements

  • They are the ultimate inhypoallergenic dog breeds as the hairless variety of each breed doesn`tshed and has minimal dander to trigger allergies

  • Many of these breeds have canine dental problems and their teeth have shallow roots and decay easily. The hairless Chinese Crested has particularly primitive canines known as `tusks`.

  • They are clean, odorless and don`t suffer from fleas (due to their lack of hair!), but they can get ticks.


But of course ALL dogs are different in lots of ways - size, temperament, drive, ability, personality and so on. Every single pup is unique and although they carry the breed-specific traits of their ancestors, there`s still a fair bit of variation from puppy to puppy.

Here`s a quick individual look at the four types of hairless dog breeds mentioned above.....

The American Hairless Terrier

Photo attribution Rpping

The newest of these dog breeds, the AHT may not look like your averageterrier, but it has all the energy, spunk, intelligence, courage, humorand personality of the typical terrier.

The breed originated inLouisiana, USA, with a hairless pup produced by a breeding between two`coated` (with hair as opposed to hairless) Rat Terriers during the1970`s.

Since then, the owner of that first litter has continued todevelop the breed and it is arguably the sturdiest and healthiest of thehairless dog breeds.

Although known as American HairlessTerriers, both coated and hairless pups can be born in the same litter.The `hairless` gene is recessive, and if two hairless dogs are mated thepuppies will also be hairless, but if a hairless dog is mated to acoated dog the resulting puppies could be hairless... or not.

`Coated` AHT`s have short, dense hair which can come in a wide range of colors and color combinations.The `hairless` variety are truly hairless dogs and are probably the topcontender in terms of the truly hypoallergenic dog breeds. They have nohair at all (except for fine eyebrows and whiskers), and a very minimalamount of dander.

AHT`s have soft skin which is usually pink withcolored spots or patches, usually black, brown, gray, red or gold.Their skin is less prone to the sensitivities and more major skin issuesthat some hairless dogs suffer from, but it does need to be protectedfrom extreme weather conditions - requiring sunscreen in the summer, andwarm clothing in the winter!

Grooming the dogs who don`t have any hair consists of bathing with a very gentle shampoo, and applying moisturizer sparingly. They do sweat and can get a heat-rash, and are fairly susceptible to other dog allergies and allergy-related rashes as well.

Withouta protective covering of hair, their skin is easily scratched ordamaged and as they`re active little dogs they need a certain amount ofsupervision.

They generally reach a height of between 7 and 18 inches, and a weight of anywhere between 5 and 16lbs.

The American Hairless Terrier makes a lively and friendly family pet. Active, smart, eager to please and always ready to play, this is a hairless dog breed is great with children too... an all-round great choice for any family, especially if you`re looking for one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds.

The Chinese Crested





There is some debate about whether this breed originated in China, orwas brought there from Africa developing from the original AfricanHairless Terrier.

Probably the most well-known and popular of hairless breeds, the Chinese Crested is another of the hairless dog breeds that also comes in a `coated` variety.

There is the hairless Chinese Crested, which actually isn`t totally without hair but has long, silky `plumes` on its` head, feet and the end of its` tail.

Then there`s the `Powder Puff` Chinese Crestedwhich has the long, soft, silky hair all over its` body. The skin andcoat of these `hairless` dogs can be just about any solid color, or canhave a mix of colors, spots, patches etc.

Both hairless and powderpuff puppies can be born in the same litter, and each dog (coated orhairless) carries genes for both varieties. However, unlike the AHT, if apuppy inherits two `hairless` genes it won`t survive.

Whereas the AHT has the characteristics of a terrier, the Chinese Crested is more of a hound-type breed. They`re light boned, delicate-looking dogs but are stronger than they look.

Alert, active, playful and affectionate, Chinese Crestedare good with children and they`re very smart, so learn obediencecommands quickly and can often be taught tricks without difficulty.

These dogs have sensitive skin are prone to skin problems, rashes, irritation and sunburn. Gentle shampoos, regular moisturizing and a good sunscreen are essential... as are a warm sweater or jacket during cold weather.

ThePowder Puff dogs need daily grooming to prevent their long, fine hairfrom getting tangled or matted. Although the hairless variety are morelikely to be regarded as one of the non allergic dog breeds, the PowderPuff sheds very little and is still a great choice for allergysufferers.

They also tend to have dental issues, with teeth that decay easily and may be prone to allergies.

An average Chinese Crested will reach an adult height of between 10 and 13 inches, and weigh an average of 10lbs.

Peruvian Inca Orchid

Peruvian inca orchid

Originating in Peru, these dogs are also known as the Inca Hairless Dog or Perro Calato.

It`s a very old breed, dating perhaps as far back as 750AD.

PeruvianInca Orchids can be hairless or coated, and the hairless dogs havefine, whispy hair on the very top of their heads, and sometimes on theirears. Both types can be born in the same litter.

The skin andcoat can be just about any solid color, pink with `freckles. or patchesof color, or mottled/spotted in any color-combination.

The hairless variety has skin which needs the same care as the other hairless dog breeds - bathing with gentle shampoo or soap, moisturizing and protection from the elements.

Like the Chinese Crested,this breed of hairless dogs are hounds - and the Peruvian Inca Orchidis a sighthound (as opposed to a scenthound). This means that they loveto chase other small, quick moving animals but usually get along greatwith other dogs.

However, they`re very intelligent, quick tolearn, eager to please, gentle, quiet and good with children. They`refairly hardy and healthy overall but have the same dental problems that afflict most hairless breeds.

These dogs grow a bit larger than the Chinese Crested, or American Hairless Terrier, maturing at between 17 and 26 inches, and 26 - 50 lbs.

Xoloitzcuintli

Originating in Mexico, the Xoloitzcuintle (pronounced `show-low-eats-queent-lee`)is also known as the Mexican Hairless Dog or Xolo, and is anotherancient breed - possibly pre-dating the Aztec civilization over 3000years ago.

Again, this hairless dog breed has both the nakedand coated varieties.

The skin or coat comes in a range of colors,including black, gray, brown, brindle, fawn, red and more. Solid colorsor a mottled/spotted effect are acceptable. These hairless dogs alsocomes in three different sizes - Toy, Miniature and Standard.

Acombination of both sighthound and terrier, the Xolo is a energetic andathletic, highly intelligent, and very loyal and affectionate. Manyowners find these dogs do exceptionally well in formal dog obedience anddog agility and also make excellent therapy dogs.

Theymake great family pets, but do need a lot of exercise and firmboundaries (both in terms of behavior and geographical limitations suchas fencing!). They bond very closely to their owners and are a goodexample of what I call a `velcro dog` - always at your heels.

Thehairless variety needs skin care as described for the other hairless dogbreeds above - bathing with a gentle shampoo and regular moisturizingto keep it supple and soft, but the Xolos` skin is less sensitive andhardier than that of the other breeds .

Video: Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican hairless dogs) Xolos are great pets!

Xolo`s also need sunscreen andprotection from extreme weather/temperatures. The coated variety hasshort, sleek fur which needs minimal grooming, the naked dogs sometimeshave thin, whispy hair on their head and tail.

Another of the`hypoallergenic dog breeds`, the naked variety don`t shed and haveminimal dander and the coated variety shed very little too.

TheXoloitzcuintli is probably the healthiest and most robust of thehairless breeds, and makes a loving and loyal family pet. Best suited tohomes where they will get plenty of attention, training andsocialization... plus a good helping of daily exercise to keep themmentally and physically fit.

This breed also has protective tendencies and can be a very alert and watchful guardian.

Becauseof the different size varieties, these dog come in a much wider rangeof height/weight than some of the other hairless breeds:

Toy Xolo mature at anywhere from 9 - 13 inches and 5 - 18 lbs

Miniature Xolo mature at 13 - 20 inches and 13 - 30 lbs

Standard Xolo grow to be up to 30 inches in height and weigh 20 - 40 lbs


Is A Hairless Dog Right For You?

If you, or a member of your family, suffers from allergies that make itdifficult, or even impossible, to own a dog with hair (even the breedsconsidered to be hypoallergenic dogs such as Poodles, Wheaten Terriers, Maltese etc.), then this type of dog could be absolutely perfect for you.

But remember, you don`t have to have allergies to appreciate these rare, ancientand exotic dogs - their personalities and stunning looks makes any oneof them a great choice for any person, or family, who wants a caninecompanion who`s a bit out of the ordinary.

As people becomemore aware of them and captivated by their charm, hairless dogs aregrowing in popularity. I expect that they will eventually be much morewidely seen, and we`ll continue to learn more about the unique andspecial characteristics that make them so appealing.


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