Part I is the new 2004 United Kennel Club (UKC) AHT breed standard.
Part II is the original breed standard for miniature and toy AHT by
the American Hairless Terrier Association (AHTA) and the American Hairless
Terrier Club (AHTC). The UKC standard is the current standard in use.
Part I
AMERICAN HAIRLESS TERRIER Official U.K.C. Breed Standard 2004
History
The first American Hairless Terrier, a female named Josephine, was born in
1972, part of a litter of purebred, coated Rat Terriers. The breeder, Edwin
Scott, began to develop the breed from Josephine’s descendants. Although
he never used any dogs but Rat Terriers in his breeding program, it was always
Scott’s intention for the hairless dogs to be a separate breed. However,
in 1999, when United Kennel Club recognized the Rat Terrier, Scott and his
fellow breeders agreed to allow the hairless dogs to enter the UKC registry
as Rat Terriers, hairless variety. Upon separation, all of the hairless Rat
Terriers and all of their coated descendants, products of careful breeding
to the finest coated Rat Terriers, were given the name originally chosen
for the breed by Edwin Scott: American Hairless Terrier. While it may seem
contradictory to have coated dogs in a hairless breed, it will be necessary
for the foreseeable future to continue to include some Rat Terrier crosses
until there are sufficient hairless dogs to maintain a separate and healthy
gene pool.
The American Hairless Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on
January 1, 2004.
General Appearance
The American Hairless Terrier is a smoothly muscled, active, small-to-medium
terrier. The preferred ratio of length of body (prosternum to point of buttocks)
to height (withers to ground) to is 10:9. The head is broad, slightly domed,
wedge-shaped, and proportionate to the size of the body. Ears are V-shaped,
set at the outside edges of the skull, and may be erect, tipped or button.
Both varieties may have a natural tail carried in an upward curve, or the
tail may be docked in dogs of the coated variety. The American Hairless Terrier
comes in a number of skin colors and patterns (hairless variety) and coat
colors and patterns (coated variety).
Disqualification: A short-legged dog whose proportions vary significantly
from the 10:9 ratio lacks breed type and must be disqualified.
Characteristics
The American Hairless Terrier is an energetic, alert dog whose curiosity
and intelligence make him easy to train. The ancestors of this breed were
bred to hunt. The lack of coat makes the hairless variety unsuited for hunting,
but both varieties still have a strong hunting instinct and the coated dogs
are fearless, tenacious hunters with seemingly unlimited energy. The American
Hairless Terrier is an exceptionally friendly companion, getting along well
with children, other dogs, and even cats. American Hairless Terriers enjoy
human companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any activity
with their owners. The hairless dogs require protection from the sun and
winter cold weather. American Hairless Terriers should not be sparred during
conformation judging.
Head
The head is proportionate to the size of the body. When viewed from the side,
the skull and muzzle are of equal length and joined by a moderate stop. Viewed
from the front and the side, the American Hairless Terrier’s head forms
a blunt wedge shape.
Fault: Abrupt stop.
SKULL – The skull is broad and slightly domed. It tapers slightly toward
the muzzle. The jaws are powerful with well-muscled cheeks.
Serious fault: Apple head.
MUZZLE – The muzzle is well filled-out under the eyes, well-chiseled,
and tapers slightly from the stop to the nose. Jaws are powerful and hinged
well back allowing the dog to open his mouth wide enough to catch rats and
other rodents. Lips are dry and tight with no flews. Lip pigment matches
nose pigment.
Fault: Snipey muzzle.
TEETH – The American Hairless Terrier has a complete set of good-sized,
evenly spaced, white teeth. A scissors bite is preferred but a level bite
is acceptable.
Faults: Missing teeth; overshot or undershot bite.
NOSE – The nose is black or self-colored.
Faults: Dudley or butterfly nose.
EYES – Eyes are set obliquely and are round, moderate in size, and somewhat
prominent. Eye rims match nose pigment.
Hairless Variety: Eyes may be any color found in the coated variety.
Coated Variety: Eye color ranges from dark brown to amber and corresponds
with coat color. Hazel eyes are acceptable in dogs with lighter coat color.
Blue or amber eyes are permitted in blue-colored dogs only, but a dark gray
eye with gray eye rims is preferred.
Faults: Bulgy eyes; deep-set eyes; light-colored eyes in a dog with black
coat color or black pigment; both eyes not of matching colors; eye with iris
containing more than one color; wall or china eye.
EARS – Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull. Erect
ears are preferred but tipped or button ears are acceptable. Matching ears
are strongly preferred. Non-matching ear carriage should be penalized to
the degree of the variation. Note: Ear carriage may not stabilize until a
dog is mature. Dogs under one year of age should not be penalized for variations
in ear carriage.
Faults: Erect ears with the sides curved inward forming a shape like a tulip
petal; rose ears; flying ears; non-matching ear carriages.
Disqualification: Hanging ears.
Neck
The neck is clean, moderately long, smoothly muscled, slightly arched, and
tapers slightly from the shoulders to the head. The neck blends smoothly
into well laid back shoulders.
Forequarters
Shoulders are smoothly muscled. The shoulder blades are well laid back with
the upper tips fairly close together at the withers. The upper arm appears
to be equal in length to the shoulder blade and joins it at an apparent right
angle. The elbows are close to the body. Viewed from any angle, the forelegs
are straight, strong, and sturdy in bone. The pasterns are strong, short,
and nearly vertical.
Body
A properly proportioned American Hairless Terrier is slightly longer (measured
from prosternum to point of buttocks) than tall (measured from the withers
to the ground), and length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow
to the ground) should approximately equal one-half of the dog’s height.
Whether the dog is standing or moving, the line of the back is strong and
level. The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and muscular, with
moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping. The ribs extend well back
and are well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then
curving down and inward to form a deep body. The brisket extends to or just
below the elbow. Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is
well filled and of moderate width. Viewed from the side, the forechest extends
in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are muscular with the length of the upper and lower thighs
being approximately equal. The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance
with the angulation of the forequarters. The stifles are well-bent, and the
hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear
pasterns are perpendicular to the ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel
to one another.
Feet
The feet are compact and slightly oval in shape. The two middle toes are
slightly longer than the other toes. Toes may be well split up but not flat
or splayed. Front dewclaws may be removed. Rear dewclaws must be removed.
The tail is set on at the end of the croup. The natural tail is thick at
the base and tapers toward the tip. When the dog is alert, the tail is carried
in an upward curve. When relaxed, the tail may be carried straight out behind
the dog. The tails of the coated variety dogs may be docked. If so, docking
should be between the second and third joint of the tail.
Hairless Variety: Puppies are born with a soft, vestigial down that generally
covers the body. This “down” gradually diminishes until age 6 to
8 weeks, by which time the pup should be completely hairless. A mature American
Hairless Terrier, Hairless variety, is free from hair except for whiskers
and guard hairs on the muzzle, and eyebrows. Short, very fine (vellus) hair
may be present on the body of a mature dog. The skin is smooth and warm to
the touch. The hairless variety may sweat when overheated or stressed, but
this is not to be faulted in the ring.
Coated Variety: The coat is short, dense, and smooth, with a sheen. Whiskers
are not removed.
Serious faults (Hairless variety): Vellus hair longer than 1mm on a dog over
six months of age.
Disqualifications (both varieties): Wire or broken coat; long coat.
Color
Hairless Variety: Any skin color is acceptable. The skin is usually parti-colored
with an underlying skin color and freckles or spots of contrasting color.
Freckles enlarge with age, and skin color will darken when exposed to the
sun.
Coated Variety: The coated American Hairless Terrier may be solid white,
bi-color, tri-color, sable or brindle, but must always have some white, which
may be of any size and located anywhere on the dog. The white area may be
ticked as long as white predominates. The remaining accepted colors are:
black, tan (ranging from dark tan to very light tan and from intense dark
mahogany red to light red with black nose and eyerims), chocolate (ranging
from dark liver to light chocolate with self-colored nose and eyerims), blue
and blue fawn (with self-colored nose and eyerims), apricot (ranging from
orange to faded yellow with black nose and eyerims), and lemon (ranging from
orange to faded yellow with self-colored nose and eyerims).
Faults (Coated variety): Fawn (pale yellowish tan with self-colored nose),
cream (pale yellow to off-white), fallow with black mask (very light yellowish
tan with black mask), and silver (the extreme dilution of blue).
Disqualifications (Coated variety): Merle; absence of white; any solid color
other than white.
Disqualification (both Varieties): Albinism.
Height and Weight
The American Hairless Terrier ranges in height from 10 to 16 inches tall.
Faults: Height under or over allowed range; obesity.
Gait
The American Hairless Terrier moves with a jaunty air that suggests agility,
speed, and power. American Hairless Terrier gait is smooth and effortless,
with good reach of forequarters without any trace of hackney gait. Rear quarters
have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending. Viewed from any position,
legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other.
As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Unilateral
or bilateral deafness. A short-legged dog whose proportions vary significantly
from the 10:9 rat io. Hanging ears. Natural bobtail. Wire or broken coat.
Long coat. Albinism. Merle.
United Kennel Club, Inc
http://www.ukcdogs.com/breeds/terriers/americanhairlessterrier.std.shtml
Part II
Standard for the American Hairless Terrier: Miniature Approved December 5, 1988 - Revised August 1, 1998 AHTA/AHTC
General appearance: The dog's body is neat and trim, resembling a
small deer. The dog's carriage and confident manner should give the appearance
of vigor and self-importance. They are active, lively, and alert.
Height: From the withers to the ground 11 1/2 to 19 inches
Weight: 10 1/2 to 20 pounds
Head: Slightly rounded, muzzle is medium long, medium stop. Muzzle
is thinner tapering to the nose. Stop is approximately one half the length
from the tip of the nose to the occiput.
Ears: Moderate. Erect or tipped
Teeth: Full dentition, level or scissor bite. Slightly over or under
is permissible due to small gene pool. Once the gene pool is sufficient slightly
over or under will not be allowed.
Eyes: Round with an alert expression, may be any color
Nose: Self colored
Neck: Medium length with a graceful arch
Body: Length of body is slightly longer than height, rump curving
slightly to tail set. Long straight front legs, moderately angulated back
legs.
Tail: Carried up or back, moderately long
Feet: Compact and oval, dewclaws may be removed or left
Skin: Warm to the touch, soft, smooth, free from hair except for the
whiskers and eyebrows. Puppies are born with hair. They will begin losing
the hair in a week starting at the nose and receding in a band toward the
back until hairless at 6-8 weeks. When hot or scared they will break out
in a sweat.
Color: Dog may be any color. Parti-colored with general color of pink
and freckles or spots of contrasting colors will darken with the sun and
freckles enlarge with age. Brown and black colored dogs will remain the same.
Gait: Graceful, kind of cocky
Faults: Missing teeth, severe underbite or overbite, hair on any part
of the body other than whiskers or eyebrows, hound dog or hanging ears.
Standard for the American Hairless Terrier: Toy Approved March 16, 1989 - Revised August 1, 1998
AHTA/AHTC
General appearance: The dog's body is neat and trim, resembling a
very small deer. The dog's carriage and confident manner should give the
appearance of vigor and self-importance. They are very active, lively, and
alert.
Height: From withers to the ground 7 1/2 to 11 inches
Weight: 6 to 10 pounds
Head: A rounded skull, cheeks and jaws are lean. A well defined stop
is formed where the muzzle joins the skull. The muzzle is thinner than the
head, tapering to the nose. The length of the muzzle from the tip of the
nose to the stop is approximately one half the length of the head from the
tip of the nose to the occiput.
Ears: Moderate size, naturally erect or tipped
Teeth: Full dentition, level or scissor bite. Slightly over or under
is permissible due to the small gene pool at this time. Once the gene pool
is sufficient slightly over or under will not be allowed.
Eyes: Round, full, slightly bulging with an alert expression, eyes
may be any color
Nose: Self colored
Neck: Medium length with a graceful arch
Body: Length of body is slightly longer than height, rump curving
slightly to tail set, long straight front legs, moderately angulated back
legs.
Tail: Carried up or back, moderately long
Feet: Small slender toes well split up, but not spread. A dainty foot
with nails medium length
Skin: Warm to the touch, soft, smooth, free from hair except for whiskers
and eyebrows. Puppies are born with hair. They will begin losing the hair
in a week starting at the nose and receding in a band toward the back until
hairless at 6-8 weeks. When hot or scared they will break into a sweat.
Color: Dogs may be any color. Parti-colored with general color of
pink and freckles or spots of contrasting colors will darken with the sun
and freckles enlarge with age. The black and brown colored dog will remain
the same.
Gait: Graceful, kind of cocky
Faults: Missing teeth, severe underbite or overbite, hair on any part
of the body other than whiskers or eyebrows, hound dog or hanging ears.
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Part I