Hairless dogs are extremely unique animals: they are born without hair due to a gene, though some specimens have localized fur or a light fuzz on parts of their body.
Some specimens are born in two varieties, one with hair and one without, and what is certain is that you may or may not like them, but in their own way, they are truly fascinating animals.
Unfortunately, many breeds are considered endangered, and it's a real shame. In this article, we will tell you everything about hairless dogs and how to best care for naked dogs.
What are the hairless dogs?
The hairless dogs are as follows:
American Hairless Terrier
Bolivian Hairless Dog
Chinese Crested Dog
Ecuadorian Hairless Dog
Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintli)
Peruvian Hairless Dog (Peruvian Inca Orchid)
Hairless Chihuahua
Jonangi
Argentine Pila
American Hairless Terrier
The American Hairless Terrier originates from Louisiana, in the Southern United States. This small terrier was used as a rodent hunter.
It is derived from the Rat Terrier, with the first AHT being a Rat Terrier puppy born hairless in 1972. Its ancestors include breeds such as Feist Terriers, Beagles, Italian Greyhounds, and Miniature Pinschers.
Since the hairless gene is recessive, some specimens are born with fur, which is why this breed is classified into two variants, one hairless and one with a smooth coat.
They are all born with a light fuzz which they lose around 8 to 12 weeks of age, and then remain hairless.
The skin is pink with patches of many colors. The body is long and slender, with long, strong limbs. The muzzle is pointed, and its posture is proud, thanks in part to its erect ears and alert gaze.
The American Hairless Terrier is quite curious, cheerful, and playful. It is very good with children, with whom it loves to play, while it is rather wary of strangers.
Like many dogs originally used for hunting, this small terrier is not very compatible with cats or other small animals and needs a lot of exercise.
For this reason, it must be trained from a young age. It likes to run, dig, and chase prey, and has a tendency to escape, so it must be watched closely when off-leash. It also tends to bark.
Height at the withers and weight
Male and female dogs 24-40 cm x 4-11 kg
The Bolivian Hairless Dog
As the name suggests, this primitive hairless dog breed originates from Bolivia. It shares physical traits with other Latin American hairless breeds, but it is extremely rare and not recognized by any kennel club in the world.
The body is completely hairless, except for a beautiful crested tuft of white hair on the head and some tufts on the feet.
Unfortunately, there isn't much information available on this naked dog, but in terms of temperament, it is very similar to its larger-sized cousins: it becomes very attached to the family but is quite wary of strangers.
These dogs are rather introverted and need to be socialized from a young age, but they are excellent guardians and are devoted and loyal to their family.
They need a lot of exercise and tend to escape easily. Even though they adapt well, they need open spaces and good training.
Height at the withers and weight
Male and female dogs 35-51 cm x 6.8-15.5 kg
Chinese Crested Dog
The Chinese Crested Dog is believed to have originated in Africa, like all primitive hairless dog types. It counts among its ancestors a diverse range of breeds: Xoloitzcuintli, Abyssinian Sand Dog, Basenji, Ibizan Hound, Tibetan Terriers, and Maltese.
This unusual lineage means that each dog is practically unique. And it's worth noting that there is also a variant with a full coat of hair.
Initially, these animals were bred by the Han imperial dynasty but later the breed almost completely disappeared from China.
It first spread to the United States and then to Great Britain thanks to two devoted breeders who prevented its extinction.
The Chinese Crested Dog is sunny, cheerful, and playful. It has a lively and enthusiastic temperament, is very sweet and never aggressive, loves children and other animals, including cats.
It's practically the ideal companion dog even for first-time owners. It adapts well to apartment living and lives for its owner.
Unlike almost all hairless dogs, the Chinese Crested also gets along with strangers. Unfortunately, it suffers greatly from loneliness and should not be left alone for too long.
Training is not difficult, but sometimes it can be a bit stubborn and is also very shy, so it should be scolded as little as possible.
It needs a fair amount of exercise but also appreciates days on the couch. Since it's not completely hairless, the tufts of hair still need to be brushed.
Height at the withers and weight
Male Chinese Crested Dog 28-33 cm, weight 2-6 kg
Female Chinese Crested Dog 20-23 cm, weight 2-6 kg
Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintli)
The Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintli) is a primitive breed with ancient origins: it was considered a sacred animal by the Aztecs, who believed it was devoted to the god Xolotl and helped the souls of the dead reach the afterlife.
The breed was decimated by the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, who consumed its meat and used its skin to make clothing for the European market.
It is only thanks to the hard work of some enthusiasts, including the painter Diego Rivera and his wife Frida Kahlo, that the Xoloitzcuintli was saved from extinction.
This variety of hairless dogs comes in three different sizes, and in this case, too, it can be born completely hairless or with a short, flat coat.
In the case of the hairless dog, the body must be completely devoid of hair, but some tufts may be present on the forehead and the nape of the neck, with a maximum length of 2.5 cm, and some on the feet.
It comes in various colors (black, blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey, reddish, liver, bronze, or blonde) but solid and dark colors are preferred.
This dog has a very reserved character. It does not display a thousand expressions of affection, keeping to itself even though it loves its family members very much.
With strangers, it does not get along at all, while it coexists reasonably well with dogs and cats, although it requires a bit of patience to get used to them.
It needs to exercise and tends to escape (it is an excellent jumper). Unfortunately, it barks a lot, but it is an excellent guard dog.
An interesting fact about this dog: the hairless gene, which is responsible for the absence of hair, also causes the lack of various teeth.
This characteristic is accepted in the naked variety while the short-haired variety must have a complete set of teeth.
Height at the withers and weight
Miniature male weight 2.3 – 7 kg
Miniature female weight 2.3 – 7 kg
Medium male weight 7 – 14 kg
Medium female weight 7 – 14 kg
Standard male weight 11 – 20 kg
Standard female weight 11 – 20 kg
Peruvian Hairless Dog (Peruvian Inca Orchid)
The Peruvian Hairless Dog (or Peruvian Inca Orchid) was already present in the prehistoric remains of the earliest pre-Columbian populations.
It seems that the dog held a place of honor among ancient Peruvian tribes, as it was believed that its feces and urine had healing powers.
Unlike the modern breed, the ancient one was small in size; it was the Spaniards who crossed them to obtain a dog with a fierce appearance and larger size.
The body of the Peruvian Hairless Dog is strong and slender but not coarse. There is a variant with short hair and one without hair, although it usually has some occasional tufts on the head, back, or limbs. And the skin, or short hair, can be of any color.
Like its Mexican cousin, this breed often does not have a complete set of teeth. It's a normal characteristic but only in the hairless variety; the one with fur must have all its teeth.
The Peruvian Hairless Dog is very affectionate with its family but extremely shy and wary with strangers. It's very territorial and protective, which makes it an excellent guard dog.
Although an introverted animal, it needs constant companionship, as it indeed hates loneliness. By companionship, it means human companionship, because it's not particularly friendly with other dogs or cats.
It needs a lot of movement and to live in open spaces. It's not the ideal companion for children because of its somewhat reserved character, but it is very intelligent and, if educated from a young age, there will be no problems. It has a strong tendency to bark.
Height at the withers and weight
Small Size: 25-40 cm x 4-8 kg.
Medium Size: 41-50 cm x 8-12 kg.
Large Size: 51-65 cm x 12-30 kg.
Hairless Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is the quintessential purse dog. We all know it in its long-haired and smooth-coated versions, but there is also a hairless variant. Or rather, some specimens are born hairless due to a genetic defect, and they are beautiful.
The breed originates from Mexico, and this small beauty was the favorite dog of the wealthy indigenous Toltecs who considered it a sacred dog, and of the Aztec princesses who chose it as a companion dog. It almost faced extinction during the invasion of the Inca empire.
It has a petite body, slender and thin limbs, and the head can be apple-shaped or deer-shaped. It can be of any color except merle in the coated variants, while our hairless Chihuahua will obviously have colors and spots in different shades.
This is precisely the case where it can be said that good wine comes in small packages: the Chihuahua is small but has a strong character and can be quite rebellious, so it must be trained from an early age.
It adapts very well to apartment living, loves its family, and is ideal for both elderly people and children.
It's extremely protective of its owner and tends to be dominant and potentially aggressive with strangers. It has strong territorial instincts and barks a lot.
It's docile and gentle, does not require too much physical activity but needs a lot of attention; if left to its own devices, it might suffer from separation anxiety.
Height at the withers and weight
Male and female dogs 15-25 cm x 1-3 kg
Jonangi
Unlike all other breeds, the Jonangi originates from Asia, specifically in India. It is not a companion dog but a working dog, specializing in duck hunting and herding (essentially, it's the duck equivalent of a sheepdog).
Unfortunately, with the decline in duck farming, many specimens were abandoned and ended up on the streets in the wild, and the breed nearly became extinct.
This dog also has a strong and slender body, with the characteristic traits of dogs bred for running. The skin can come in various colors.
It is a loner by nature, adapts well to family life but does not like strangers and other animals, so it will need a good socialization process.
However, it is an active, energetic dog suited for work, and will greatly satisfy those willing to invest some time in training it.
It has a lot of energy to burn, loves to swim, dig, and jump. It's like a tornado and does not back down from anything. It is definitely not the right dog for those who love afternoons on the couch.
Height at the withers and weight
Males 45-63 cm x weight 25-39 kg
Females 45-63 cm x weight 20-29 kg
The Argentine Pila
This breed also developed in Latin America. It's especially widespread in the north of Argentina, where it appears to have arrived thanks to the Incas, who used the best specimens as gifts to strengthen political ties.
It likely descends from the Peruvian Hairless Dog, and there's no evidence of its presence in Argentina until the 15th century. It also came close to extinction, and very few specimens survive today.
Generally, the specimens are hairless, but they can have tufts of hair scattered about, though not as abundantly as the Chinese Crested Dog. Some are born with light fuzz scattered across their bodies.
They have an agile and slender body but are strong at the same time, a wolf-like head, and features that somewhat resemble those of the Pinscher. They can be of various colors, but the most common are shades of black and brown.
It has a friendly and cheerful temperament; unlike other hairless dogs, it's not aggressive, even though it's a good guard dog. It's easily trained and adapts to any environment.
It gets along fairly well with both children and other animals but is a very energetic dog and needs a lot of exercise.
It's a bit shy and takes some time to make friends with strangers, but it's friendlier than many of its hairless cousins.
Height at the withers and weight
Miniature Size: 25-35 cm x 4-8 kg
Medium Size: 35-45 cm x 8.1 – 11.3 kg
Standard Size: over 45 cm x 11.4 – 25 kg
Common Traits in Hairless Dogs
Generally speaking, these dogs require a bit of firmness in training: unlike more common companion dog breeds, hairless dogs are not always easy to train.
They mainly descend from hunting dogs and lived in open areas where they could chase prey and run free, retaining this wild dog instinct.
They don't get along well with other animals and very little with strangers, have strong guard dog instincts (hence they bark a lot), and tend to escape.
Generally, they are not ideal for families with children and also for the elderly, as they require a lot of exercise. And they bark quite a bit, so they are not suitable for people living in condominiums or with intolerant neighbors.
The Chinese Crested Dog, the Hairless Chihuahua, and the American Hairless Terrier, i.e., the smaller and more widespread breeds, are the most suited to apartment living and most suitable to be adopted purely as companion dogs.
The others definitely need some preparation and attention from the owner, not only because of their not so easy-to-manage character but also because their larger sizes can make even simple actions like walks more complicated.
In short: if you can't train the dog, consider a different breed. Or stick to the smaller breeds!
Then there's another factor: skin care. These dogs suffer a lot from the cold in winter and get sunburned in summer, the skin is very delicate and they often suffer from acne.
It's true that you save a lot on grooming, but can you take care of their sensitive skin? Also keep in mind that due to natural oils, the skin might have a particular odor.
Very sunny places are not for them; they get sunburned at the beach, and the sea dries out their skin. So also consider where you live before adopting a hairless dog.
Common Diseases in Hairless Dogs
Acne
Dermatitis
Sunburn
Contact allergies
Retinal atrophy
Hip dysplasia
Oral cavity problems
Skin sores
Extinct Hairless Breeds
In addition to the hairless dog breeds we've discussed, there are others that, unfortunately, have become extinct.
This is not a good sign for the remaining hairless dog breeds, as apart from the Chinese Crested Dog and the Hairless Chihuahua, all other breeds are considered sensitive, meaning there is a scarcity of births and specimens in the population.
And it's a real shame, not just for the uniqueness of these wonderful animals, but because losing any animal species or its variant is always a defeat for all of us.
The now-extinct breeds include:
African Dog (Abyssinian Sand Terrier)*
African Elephant Dog
Ceylon Hairless Dog
Egyptian Hairless Dog
Nubian Dog
Guatemalan Hairless Dog
Indian Hairless Dog (Greyhound)
Maya Hairless Dog
Thai Boran Dog
Turkish Hairless Dog
Small African Greyhound
*An important clarification
Regarding the extinction of the African Dog (Abyssinian Sand Terrier), opinions differ: some sources declare it extinct, while some say a few specimens exist.
In this blog, we haven't discussed it because the information available online is scarce and unclear, and also because, even if there were some specimens left, it would still be impossible to adopt or purchase one, so we have listed it among the extinct breeds.
Any certain information about this, if anyone has it, would be appreciated to improve the information provided in this article.
Should I or should I not purchase a hairless dog?
Personally, I love them, but the larger breeds are not for everyone, and they have a difficult character to manage. Moreover, they are very rare, and you would probably have to import them from abroad or pay a small fortune.
The smaller ones, however, like the American Hairless, the Chinese Crested, and the Hairless Chihuahua, are adorable companion dogs and are also suitable for first-time owners.
