Plate 099 · The Americas
American Hairless Terrier
美国无毛㹴
“America's own hairless terrier, from one bare puppy in 1972.”
- Origin
- United States
- Trout, Louisiana
- Region of origin
- The first hairless pup was born in Louisiana in 1972; the marker is Louisiana's reference point.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- From 1972
- Today
- Companion · Dog sports
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Trout, Louisiana
A small, lively terrier from the Rat Terrier, in hairless and coated varieties, the first hairless breed developed in the United States.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Bred from a ratting terrier; the breed itself is described as a companion dog.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
In 1972 a hairless female, Josephine, was born to Rat Terrier parents and kept by Willie and Edwin Scott in Louisiana. Her hairless descendants founded the breed; the UKC recognized it in 2004.
04 · Today
Companion · Dog sports
A companion and a dog-sports competitor; also comes in a coated variety.
Personality
- Alert
- Curious
- Energetic
- Affectionate
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Moderate: several short outings and play each day.
- Grooming
- Little grooming, but hairless dogs need sunscreen or clothing outdoors and protection from cold.
- Training
- Keen to please and quick to learn; start socialization early.
Living with one
- Size
- Small
- Lifespan
- 14–16 years
- Coat
- Hairless, or a short, dense coat in the coated variety; many colours
Field note
Unlike most hairless breeds, it has a normal set of teeth.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Terrier Group
- Also recognized by
- United Kennel Club
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Terrier Group, recognized 2016.
AKC registrations: ranked 108 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- American Hairless Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- American Hairless Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hairless_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Josephine (1972), the Scotts of Louisiana, the founding litters, UKC 2004 and AKC 2016 recognition.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: The first hairless pup was born in Louisiana in 1972; the marker is Louisiana's reference point.
