1.  What is the most defining physical characteristic of your breed?
  2.  Which behavioral characteristic most typifies your breed?
  3.  What is the single biggest misconception about your breed?
  4.  What one attribute lends itself especially well to the show ring?
  5.  What is the most common judging mistake?
  6.  Would you prefer your dog to be judged standing or moving?
  7.  What is of most concern to breeders?
  8.  What is the most endearing characteristic of the American Hairless Terrier?
  9.  What three words best describe your breed?
10.  Do you think the current standard is adequate?
11.  What tips or advice would you give perspective owners?
12.  What kind of judge would you like to see judging your Nationals?

Melissa B. Kidd - Kidd Kennels - MABKidd@triad.rr.com

1. Hairlessness! And wonderful smooth skin that requires minimal care.

2. Typical “terrier” attitude and intelligence, meaning an active dog that thinks on his feet. Smart owner will use these characteristics to advantage.

3. That they are delicate or fragile, that could not be further from the truth. They are as sturdy as any breed of comparable size and think they are 10 feet tall and can take on the world!

4. Terrier attitude! The “look at me” attitude they exude is fun to work with in the show ring!

5. Some judges have a hard time viewing hairless and coated dogs equally. The coated dogs are an important part of our breeding program and as such should be rewarded when closer to the breed standard than the hairless. If the two are of equal quality, then the hairless should be chosen.

6. Moving, by all means. Proper movement = proper conformation.

7. Bringing genetic diversity to a new breed. We need to continue the outcross programs with the Rat Terrier to increase our gene pool, set breed type, and to produce structurally sound and healthy dogs.

8. Ahhhh, that would be the terrier attitude tempered with the personality and ability to be a great all around family pet!

9. Attitude, Loyalty, Intelligence

10. The current standard is adequate at this time.

11. Prospective owners should seek out a reputable breeder that is committed to improving the breed with each litter they produce and willing to mentor, not someone just interested in producing puppies! The breeder should be an invaluable source of information and be there to answer the inevitable questions that a new owner will have.

12. One who is familiar with our breed standard and terriers in general. A judge who understands we’re a new breed, still working on type, and who would reward the best representative, be that coated or hairless.

Therese Murphy - WudNshu AHT’s - terimurphy.geo@yahoo.com

1. The lack of a hair coat. A soft healthy skin texture like the skin on the underside of one’s arm feels to the touch - also that the AHT is one of the most tolerable of all breeds to those who suffer from allergies to dogs.

2. Its inquisitive nature and capacity to learn, the strong desire to please, from the conformation ring to obedience, agility, weight pull, terrier racing and dock jumping.

3. Thinking it’s a fragile breed and must be clothed at all times. Although, I admit it is fun to put together a seasonal wardrobe, it isn’t a breed requirement.

4. The “Here I am” attitude and strong desire to please comes to light in the show ring.

5. Fault judging. A dog should be evaluated for the contribution it can give to a breeding program.

   We ask Judges to look at each dog with the eye of a breeder finding which dog best meets the written standard and can move the breed forward within a breeding program. Judges should understand what the breed needs to work on and if found in the line up, use that dog and be able to tell exhibitors why they rewarded that particular dog with the win.

6. Overall balance, best seen moving at a trot. We began with a breed that had structural flaws. Our front and rear assemblies have improved greatly yet have a ways to go before the “Ideal” is seen more consistently.

7. Closing the stud books, that creates a genetic bottle neck. This is especially true of a breed whose beginnings were inbred. Breeders are mindful of health concerns and work toward the inclusion of lines that will benefit the breed’s future and keep the AHT as healthy as possible.

8. The AHT personality! Its strong desire to be with its family makes it an ideal family pet.

9. Intelligent.... Impish.....Healthy Skin. (A hairless breed should be judged and bred for the quality of its skin just as a breed with hair is judged for the coat.

10. I feel the current standard is adequate for now.

11. Set ground rules from the onset and stick to them. A rule must remain the same each time with each family member or the AHT set their own rules, often to the dismay of their families,

12. A Judge who is capable of looking past a fault and see what the dog can contribute to the breed’s future. We ask that our dogs are judged as the breeding stock they are, which really isn’t as hard as it may sound if judges are looking for that “one” dog to keep.

Karyn and Ryan Pingel - Woodland Manor Kennel - wmk@ahts.net

1. Certainly its hairlessness. They have a smooth, soft skin that is naturally hairless and does not require shaving or excessive care.

2. Intelligence. This is both a positive trait and a negative one. Being smart, the AHT learns quickly and is easily trained. Sounds great, right? Well, quick thinking dogs need quick thinking owners who are always one step ahead. It is very important for AHT owners to establish themselves as the “pack leader” from the get-go. Even letting the dog “get away with something” once, can prove very difficult to undo in the future.

3. That Hairlessness = fragile. These dogs are as healthy and sturdy as any small breed. Sure their skin can get scratched, but so can ours and we do not let that limit our participation in various activities. Sunburn is a real concern, however, what you would do for yourself (sunscreen, protective clothing), it really is not all that difficult. That Hairlessness = “hypoallergenic.” The only hypo-allergenic breed is a ceramic one! All dogs produce the proteins in their dander, urine and saliva, responsible for allergic reactions. There is some evidence of breed specific allergens, variation in dander turnover rates, allergic reaction generated from a puppy vs. and adult, and a decrease in allergic reaction to non-shedding dogs (fewer allergens released into the air). The allergic reaction varies from person to person. Many people who suffer from allergies discover that the American Hairless Terrier does not trigger their typical allergy symptoms. While the AHT may not be the answer for everyone, the uniquely smooth skin (slower dander production), lack of hair (no shedding and releasing dander into the air) and ease of removing dander with regular bathing, make it a successful choice for many families that have been unable to have a pet. I’ve been involved in setting up allergy trials around the country. The data suggests that only about 25% of allergy sufferers have NO reaction to the breed. Another 25% has the SAME reaction to this breed as any other breed. The remaining 50% have SOME reaction, but it is less severe than their typical reaction.

4. OK…here I go again…the hairlessness!! Why?? This is the easiest dog to wash and dry… scrub up, rinse off, and towel dry (for 5 seconds).

5. Judges tend to favor the hairless variety over the coated variety. Yes, we are aware that the word ‘hairless’ is in our breed name, but that does not mean that our coated AHTs should be penalized. Coat is not a fault. We want judges to select the best dog, regardless of coat or hairlessness. We have been working diligently to help judges understand that IF they find the coated and the hairless entry equal in quality, then, and only then, should they choose hairless over coated. Also “fault judging” i.e. to “throw away” a dog that exemplifies breed type and temperament, yet may have an imperfect bite or other minor fault. Our breed is young, and we need these outstanding dogs in our gene pool. A dog with a roachy top-line, straight in the stifle, out at the elbows, BUT with a perfect bite… well, we hope the judge awards the dog that most closely approximates our standard, even if a tooth is out of alignment.

6. One should “examine the breed on table” but “judge” the breed on the ground. P.S. Hackney gait, although widely seen, is NOT proper for the AHT.

7. The AHT is not where it needs to be yet … sound dogs still produce structurally flawed offspring; those with perfect bites and knees yield imperfect pups. This is to be expected and we must not become discouraged. Instead, we should do our utmost to select the best possible AHTs and/or Rat Terriers to help us move towards our goal. Remember, out-crossing will come to an end. We need to take advantage of our opportunity now.

8. Their eternal youth. The AHT retains it’s “puppy-hood” throughout its life. They continue to play and act silly ….very few seem to get/act “old.”

9. 1. American 2. Hairless 3. Terrier The AHT is an American breed, hairless and finally they are terrier, meaning they are feisty, smart, active, etc.

10. The breed standard is sufficient at this time but I would like to see “absence of white” eliminated from the standard in reference to the coated dogs color. To date, this has not been an issue but you will see hairless dogs without white (the white areas become smaller as the color spreads as the dog ages and with increased sun exposure), the coated dogs should not be DQ’d for absence of white.

11. We welcome newbies to help us continue momentum. Ask questions…seek out a mentor. Avoid the “wow this is a rare breed and I can make lots of money” misconception. Unfortunately, many newcomers are drawn to the AHT due to its uniqueness, rarity and the quest for an easy dollar.

12. Had you asked me prior to the death of one of the most instrumental AHT breeders, I would have selected Bonnie Turner to judge our Nationals… she had a wonderful eye for a dog and moved forward in her quest to improve, promote, and preserve the breed.

Kathie Treacy - Blue Granite Kennels - bluegk@gmail.com

1. Its hairlessness and beautiful, soft skin.

2. That despite their appearance, they are terriers with an innate tenacity and “lust for life” which may not be appreciated by those that just want a couch adornment or lap puppy 24/7.

3. That the breed is “high maintenance”. While they do need to be protected from the elements, a spritz of sunscreen before heading out of the door will do or for extended outdoor periods, a t-shirt for sun protection. In winter, fleece outfits keep them warm and snuggly.

4. The “terrier spirit” - self confident, outgoing, with a “spark” in their eye and a “bring on the world” attitude.

5. The tendency to expect this breed to be small, arm chair companions. They should move effortlessly around the ring and present the picture of a well balanced, nicely boned terrier with good muscle definition without being over done.

6. Moving because balanced movement can only be achieved through correct form and structure.

7. Our gene pool is still very small and size is often inconsistent. We must move in a positive direction through open communication with other breeders to improve our breed one litter at a time.

8. That they need and want to be with its owners and thrive on personal attention.

9. Endearing, Entertaining, Terrier.

10. I think our standard is adequate for the present.

11. Learn to be an alpha in your own home. These guys can commandeer the ship if no one is at the helm!! Have consistent rules, boundaries and expectations and most importantly, get ready to have your heart (and space in bed) stolen for life.

12. An unbiased judge, well versed in our breed, who understands that we are a young breed and who would therefore, judge dogs on their merit (including conformation and movement) not on size (as long as within standard) or minor faults.

Johnna Lintz - Lighthouse AHT's jlintz@triad.rr.com

1. Well I am new to the breed, but having 4 living with me, and 2 with me at work I would says its their loyalties to their owners. They just love to be with people. Of course the hairless dogs have made it possible for many people with allergies to have dogs too.

2. Before I learned more about the breed I would say the hairlessness, but knowing we have coated carriers as well I would say their attitudes. They are terriers and if you have two that have all the right breed standards and one has more terrier-tude I would have to pick it!

3. Well of my 4, I have 2 loving snugglers and 2 that like to be the center of attention and scream look at me! They would rather show off then sit and be snuggled, but they all have the terrier attitude which I love. They seem to love life and can make you smile, laugh and just be plain silly sometimes. Imagine a grown woman rolling on the floor playing with her dogs. Silly Huh?

4. Not really. Grooming is very simple, nails and quick bath for the most part.

Sari Uusitalo - Kennel Sarantais - sari_uusitalo@kolumbus.fi

1. The hairlessness absolutely. There are so many allergic families, we could not keep any other kinds of dogs. Compared to other hairless breeds American Hairless Terriers (AHT) have a full set of teeth, terrier like with big canines. AHT's hairlessness is recessive compared to other hairless dog breeds that have dominant hairlessness.

2. There are so many important things to look for. To say one, I would look a lot at how a dog moves - and our breed standard says very clearly how an AHT should move. Movements tell so much about a dog's structure and also temperament.

3. American Hairless Terriers are very alert, cheerful and active dogs. They are able to calm down, too. AHTs are best family dogs and also very good hobby dogs in various activities.

4. AHTs have the same health concerns as Rat Terriers have. I hope that gene research will bring some gene tests in the future to help small breeds like AHTs to keep as many dogs in the breeding program as possible and so increase genetic heterogeneity and healthiness in the breed.

Lynn K. Poston - Kalon - kalons@pacbell.net or kaloncc@hotmail.com

1. The first thing that attracts most is the hairlessness. The skin has such a different feel to it and it’s very different than any other hairless breed. But after you touch one, it’s their loving personality that really wins you over.

2. Breed type is very Important, as is structural soundness and temperament. So it’s not just one thing or feature – it’s the overall package.

3. This is a very people oriented breed. They are very intelligent and can be active, yet still sensitive to you, your mood and needs. They will melt into your life, making you laugh along the way.

4. Since this is a genetic twin of the Rat Terrier, any health concerns of the Rat Terrier breed may also crop up in this breed. A knowledgeable breeder is aware, alert and doing the necessary health screening.  While the hairless variety doesn’t require a lot of grooming, they do need routine attention to the nails and teeth, along with the occasional bath to keep the skin clean. Lighter colored dogs or dogs with pink skin will also require sunscreen and monitoring to prevent it from sun-burning.

https://www.thedogplace.org/Breeds/American-Hairless-Terrier/Breeder-Interviews.asp 128