Though unique and often striking in appearance, allergy friendly hairless breeds do not appeal to everyone’s taste. People seem to either love or hate their look! Less popularity means less demand and the result of this are fewer available breeders to choose from which can be a major problem when trying to buy one of these breeds.
The chances of finding a breeder locally will be remote, meaning that a potential buyer will need to search online to find one or contact an appropriate breed specific organization. In addition, buying a rarer breed can come with difficulties such as finding a suitable male dog for your bitch if you wish her to have a litter of puppies. In such cases, in order to prevent in-breeding, you may need to be prepared to travel considerable distances!
Hairless breeds come in a variety of sizes from small to medium large and despite their name, they may have some hair. Although some of the hairless breeds may appear visually similar on initial viewing, differences become apparent when compared side-by-side, as do variations in personalities and temperaments between breeds.
Hairless breeds typically enjoy human companionship and exercise, although a lack of hair can make them more susceptible to skin problems such as acne, dry or flaky skin and the risk of sunburn. Therefore, an aspect to grooming these dogs involves the possible application of skin creams and lotions to reduce irritation and prevent skin problems occurring. In addition, such breeds are not suited to being left outside in cold climates or where there is a cold draft, as they lack protection against getting hypothermia.
The following chart gives an introduction to the fascinating world of allergy friendly dogs that are characterized as being hairless:
| APPEARANCE | DESCRIPTION |
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AMERICAN HAIRLESS TERRIER The American Hairless Terrier has only ‘existed’ for a relatively short period of time, resulting as an accident of nature discovered in 1972 and with the first generation of puppies dating from 1981. It is an ideal breed for any dog allergy sufferer living in smaller accommodation as they tend to be small and friendly with little hair that does not have to be groomed. |
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CHINESE CRESTED The friendly Chinese Crested enjoys human companionship and is available in two varieties; the hairless or the powder puff. Both varieties are considered to be allergy friendly because such dogs shed little. The more common hairless form, does in fact have soft hair on its head, paws, tail and sometimes the chin. It is prone to various skin conditions including acne and sunburn. The second variety, the powder puff, has a full coat of long, soft and fine hair that resembles human hair. Allergy sufferers may have fewer problems with this breed because the hair is long and does not float through the air long enough for people to be affected. |
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MEXICAN HAIRLESS (XOLOITZCUINTI or XOLO) The Mexican Hairless (a.k.a. Xoloitzcuintli or Xolo) is available in 3 size categories that include Toy, Miniature and Standard. This ancient and nowadays rare breed, originated from before 2000 BC in the area between Costa Rica and Mexico. Although not to everyone’s taste, the breed does have a striking appearance similar to those dogs observed in ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics. The term hairless can be considered a misnomer given that some of these dogs have a very fine layer of hair on their head and body. Official recognition of the breed is not consistent between organizations, such that the American Kennel Club does not recognize it, whereas its equivalent in Mexico, does. |
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PERUVIAN HAIRLESS The name hairless can be aptly applied in the case of the Peruvian Hairless. Although intelligent and of a friendly and pleasant disposition, this breed is known for having a mind of its own. Even when well trained, the Peruvian Hairless has a tendency to ignore the commands of its owner. It is available in 3 size categories, namely small, medium and large and all versions can be affected by skin problems. |
Interactive Weight and Height Chart
- Values listed in the chart below represent a minimum and maximum range for a given breed in:
Imperial (in and Ib) and Metric (cm and kg) - Figures are approximate and guidelines may vary between Kennel Clubs and various breed specific organizations
- Males are typically taller and heavier than females by 10+%
| BREED | Height min (in) | Height max (in) | Weight min (lb) | Weight max (lb) | Height min (cm) | Height max (cm) | Weight min (kg) | Weight max (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HAIRLESS TERRIER | 7 | 16 | 5 | 16 | 17.8 | 40.6 | 2.3 | 7.3 |
| CHINESE CRESTED | 11 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 27.9 | 33 | 4.5 | 5.9 |
| MEXICAN HAIRLESS (XOLOITZCUINTLI or XOLO) | 10 | 24 | 12 | 45 | 25.4 | 61 | 5.4 | 20.4 |
| PERUVIAN HAIRLESS | 10 | 26 | 9 | 55 | 25.4 | 66 | 4.1 | 24.9 |
