American Hairless Terrier

As far as temperament goes, the American hairless is a terrier through and through. Intelligent, playful and energetic, these delightful little dogs are as eager to please as they are clever, which makes training easy. Alert and inquisitive, this breed is loyal and protective and makes an excellent watchdog. American hairless terriers are loving and affectionate companions who get along well with children and other animals, making them a great choice for a family pet. This dog's compact size and loyalty also make them a good choice for singles, couples and apartment dwellers.

Although they're bundles of energy, American hairless terriers also enjoy curling up in laps and cuddling next to their favorite people. They need about 30 minutes of walking each day to burn off excess energy, as well as vigorous play to alleviate boredom. This breed enjoys participating in activities and tends to excel at agility courses and competitions.

Bred from rat terriers, the American hairless has a strong prey drive and loves to chase small animals and dig in the yard. It's best to keep this dog on a leash or inside a fenced yard so they don't run off after squirrels and other small animals. They may require supervision to prevent them from digging up garden beds.

While their intelligence and agreeableness make them highly trainable, the American hairless also has a stubborn streak. They need a patient leader who can remain calm and assertive in order for training to be successful.

This breed has genetic predispositions to heart conditions, hip dysplasia, hip joint disease and luxating patella, so it's important to research both the breeder and health history of the parents when considering a puppy. While many hairless dogs tend to suffer from skin conditions, the recessive nature of the hairless gene means that the American hairless is exempt from such disorders, according to Dogster. However, the hairless variety does need extra protection from the elements. You'll need to keep them covered with sunscreen and shade in the summer and bundle them in sweaters during the colder months.

Both variations of the American hairless dog breed are light on grooming needs. They only need occasional bathing and require no brushing. Shedding is minimal for the coated variety and nonexistent for the hairless version, which makes them great pets for moderate to mild allergy sufferers. However, both types of the American hairless still have allergy-producing dander and saliva, so even the hairless variety might not be suitable for those with severe allergies.