A hairless Doodle dog? I thought they were all fluffy! Forget popular Doodle breeds like Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. Sometimes it’s good to stand out from the crowd and the American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix does just that.
This Doodle breed is very uncommon, which makes it all the more interesting.
Continue reading to learn about the American Hairless Doodle.
Overview
The American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix has a few names: American Hairless Doodle, AHT Poo, AHT Doodle, Hairless Terrier Doodle, and Hairless Toodle.
Since it is a new and unusual hybrid mix, it does not have a well-documented history or origin story. However, both its parent breeds have records that are worth checking out.
Let’s give them a look so we can get a better understanding of the AHT-Poodle mix.
The AHT
Looking a bit like Dobby from Harry Potter, the American Hairless Terrier (AHT) is a unique breed. Despite the name, this breed can come in both hairless and coated varieties [1]ahtca.info/about-the-aht.html.
As a variation of the Rat Terrier, the American Hairless Terrier has a terrier personality. They are intelligent, energetic, and spunky dogs with great love and affection for their families [2]ahtca.info/about-the-aht.html.
History
The history of the American Hairless Terrier does not go back very far. The first AHT, Josephine, was born hairless to a litter of purebred Rat Terriers in Louisiana in 1972 [3]www.ukcdogs.com/american-hairless-terrier.
Josephine was used to breed another litter in which there were both coated and hairless puppies. One of the hairless puppies, Snoopy, was bred with his sisters to create more hairless puppies [4]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
As intended by the original breeder, Edwin Scott, this variety later became known as its own breed. The American Hairless Terrier was recognized as an official breed by the UKC in 2004 [5]www.ukcdogs.com/american-hairless-terrier and the AKC in 2016 [6]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
They are the only hairless dog breed native to the United States [7]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
Popularity
Within the past few years, the American Hairless Terrier has hovered around the 130th position in breed popularity polls [8]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
The Poodle
The Poodle originated in Germany as a hunting dog. Its origin stretches back nearly four centuries.
One of the best ways to learn all about the Poodle dog breed is through the informational video below:
Appearance
The appearance of the American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix is very unique. The AHT has V-shaped ears, a chiseled face, and a lean muscled body. The breed looks a lot like their ancestors, the Rat Terrier, but without hair [9]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
Miniature Poodles have long, curly coats. They have slender, athletic bodies.
It is standard for the AHT to have a full tail. The coated variety can have either a docked or full tail [10]ahtca.info/aht-illustrated-breed-standard.html. Miniature Poodles have medium-length, undocked tails.
Unlike other breeds of hairless dogs, the AHT has normal teeth and, in the case of the hairless variety, usually no body hair [11]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
Since Poodles have long coats of hair and the AHT doesn’t, the Hairless Toodle has the potential for a very unique coat. The length and type of fur (if they have any) will depend on the parents and which breed was used for the sire or dam.
Size
The American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix ranges in height from 10 to 16 inches.
Weight
The average weight of an adult AHT-Poodle mix is between 10 and 16 pounds.
Coat Colors
Both coated and naked American Hairless Terriers come in a wide variety of colors. They will typically be any color or combination of white and another color. It is not standard to see these dogs with brindle coloring, but it can happen [12]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
For the hairless variety, most dogs have parti-colored skin. It is also standard for the coated variety to have some white on their body [13]www.ukcdogs.com/american-hairless-terrier.
Poodles have a large variety of colors to choose from when it comes to coat colors. They can be blue, brown, black, white, apricot, beige, silver, red, and café au lait to name a few.
This gives the AHT-Poodle mix quite the color canvas. You can expect the mixed breed to be any of these colors, either as one solid or a mix of many.
Coat Type
The coat type for the typical American Hairless Terrier is…nonexistent. Some of them might have whiskers or eyebrows, but they are quite naked overall. This means that they do not have hair to shed or brush, so grooming is pretty easy [14]ahtca.info/index.html.
It should be noted, however, that some American Hairless Terriers do have short coats. So, if you love this breed but have no desire to put sunscreen on a dog, the coated variety may suit you better [15]www.akc.org/dog-breeds/american-hairless-terrier/.
Poodles have curly coats that can grow to be quite long. The combination of a long coat with no coat should produce a shorter or medium-length coat. As mentioned, this will depend on the genes of the parents for the particular litter.
Traits and Characteristics
Below is a visual summary of how American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mixes rank in an assortment of categories.
Temperament
With good socialization, the AHT-Poodle mix is an amazing breed. They are friendly, loving, playful, and fun. These fun-loving dogs are willing to please, making them great training students.
Directly related to Rat Terriers, the American Hairless Terrier has a temperament very similar to that of a Rat Terrier. They are smart, alert dogs with a strong hunting instinct, though the hairless variety is not suitable for hunting [16]www.ukcdogs.com/american-hairless-terrier.
The Poodle is the second most intelligent dog breed in the world. They are easy to train.
Your American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix will be willing to do just about anything with you. This makes them exceptional companions.
Energy Level / Activity Needs
As with most terriers, the American Hairless Terrier has a minimal to a moderate need for activity. They are an energetic breed, but they still do well in apartments [17]ahtca.info/about-the-aht.html.
Poodles are relatively energetic. They require mental stimulation and adequate exercise to keep them happy and healthy.
Going on regular walks, hikes, and trips to the dog park should keep your pup’s energy levels at bay. Consistent training paired with the occasional puzzle or game is great for mental stimulation.
Are American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mixes good with young children?
Though your young child may confuse your American Hairless with E.T., your dog will still love the child. Both American Hairless Terriers and Poodles are known to be loving with young children in the same way that they are loving with the rest of their family.
As with any dog, it is important to closely monitor any interactions with young children.
Health
The health of this mix is dependent on the parent breeds.
The tests recommended for both the AHT and Mini Poodle are a patella evaluation, Legg-Calve-Perthes radiographic, hip evaluation, and cardiac exam.
It is also important to note that skin problems are a rarity among American Hairless Terriers. However, like other dogs, you should still regularly brush your AHT’s teeth and keep their ears clean.
Common Health Issues
Like with any breed of dog, this Doodle dog breed is prone to certain health issues. Based on the parent breeds, these health issues consist of knee, hip, and heart issues.
Be sure you are taking your dog to the vet regularly to ensure they are happy and healthy.
Life Expectancy
The average healthy American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix can be expected to live between 10 and 18 years.
Conclusion
Despite looking slightly less like a raw chicken than a hairless cat, the American Hairless Terrier is a fun and energetic breed. When crossed with a Poodle, you get a unique and incredible dog breed.
They are curious, intelligent, and adaptable dogs known for loving their families. Now, just imagine what people will say at the dog park when you tell them you have an American Hairless Terrier-Poodle mix?!
Related Posts
- Another unique Terrier-Doodle breed is the Foodle: a Fox Terrier mixed with a Poodle.
- Looking for a large-sized Terrier-Poodle mix? The Airedoodle is big, goofy, and cute.
References