Canis lupus familiaris
American Hairless Terrier
Featured photoamerican-hairless-terrier.jpgThe American Hairless Terrier is a small-to-medium terrier breed and the only hairless breed developed entirely in the United States. It originated in Trout, Louisiana, in 1972 from a single hairless female puppy — named Josephine — born in an otherwise normally coated Rat Terrier litter. Edwin Scott and his wife Willie maintained Josephine's line, and subsequent generations confirmed that the hairlessness was a recessive genetic trait. The AKC admitted the breed in 2016. Both hairless and coated varieties are recognised; the breed stands 18–41 cm and weighs 5–16 kg.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Terrier
- Origin country
- United States
- Origin period
- Late 20th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Any Color, Any Pattern
- Average lifespan
- 14-16 years
- Recognition
- AKC 2016 · UKC 2004
Origin
The American Hairless Terrier traces to a single hairless female puppy named Josephine, whelped in 1972 in a Rat Terrier litter owned by Edwin and Willie Scott of Trout, Louisiana. Josephine's hairlessness was the result of a recessive genetic mutation that had apparently been present but unexpressed in the Rat Terrier gene pool. The Scotts intentionally bred Josephine to identify and propagate the hairless gene, and in 1981 a litter produced the first hairless male (Gypsy) and female (Jemima), confirming the inheritance pattern. The breed's foundation rests on Rat Terrier ancestry combined with selective retention of the hairless mutation.
Recognition
The Scotts founded the American Hairless Terrier breed registry in the 1980s and worked to achieve formal recognition. The UKC recognised the breed in 2004 as a distinct terrier type. The AKC admitted it to the Terrier Group in 2016, making the American Hairless Terrier the only hairless AKC breed classified as a terrier. The FCI has not recognised the breed.
Standard
The AKC standard recognises both hairless and coated varieties. The hairless variety is born with a sparse fuzz that disappears by 6–8 weeks; as adults, hairless individuals may show some eyebrow and whisker hair but are otherwise completely smooth-skinned with warm, soft skin that may feel slightly rough in sun-exposed areas. The coated variety has a short, dense, shiny coat. All colours and patterns are accepted. The breed is identical in conformation to the Rat Terrier — muscular, alert, and compact. Two size varieties: toy (18–31 cm) and miniature/standard (31–41 cm).
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-07
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-07
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-07
Frequently asked questions
What AKC group does the American Hairless Terrier belong to?
The AKC places the American Hairless Terrier in the Terrier Group. Although it is hairless, the breed's ancestry is entirely terrier — specifically Rat Terrier — and its conformation, temperament, and working heritage are those of a terrier. It is the only hairless breed in the AKC Terrier Group. Other hairless breeds (such as the Xoloitzcuintli) are classified in the Non-Sporting Group.
Is there a coated variety of the American Hairless Terrier?
Yes. The AKC standard recognises two varieties of the American Hairless Terrier: hairless and coated. The hairless gene is recessive, meaning two copies produce the hairless phenotype; one copy produces a coated dog that can pass the gene to offspring. Coated American Hairless Terriers have a short, dense, shiny coat and are identical in conformation to hairless individuals. Both varieties compete together in AKC competition.
When was the American Hairless Terrier recognised by the AKC?
The AKC granted full recognition to the American Hairless Terrier in 2016, placing it in the Terrier Group. The breed had been registered and shown under the UKC since 2004. All modern American Hairless Terriers trace to Josephine, a hairless Rat Terrier female born in 1972 in Louisiana.
