All drawings are copyrighted to the AHTA,Inc. and may not be reprinted/copied or altered in any manner without written permission. Illustrator: Jeanne Argostar (www.argostar.com)
Please Note: The drawings represent the "Ideal". We began with a breed that lacked in many areas. They had been bred for lack of hair coat and not conformation. In a few short years there have been dramatic improvemnts but there remain a few areas that will take longer. Breeders have had to make choices as to what needed to be improved upon, one fault and a time.
As you see the breed in the ring please keep in mind this is still a "work in progress" and we have not yet met our Ideal dog
From the Official UKC Standard: The first American Hairless Terrier, a female named Josephine, was born in 1972, part of a litter of purebred, coated Rat Terriers. The breeder, Edwin Scott, began to develop the breed from Josephine's descendants. Although he never used any dogs but Rat Terriers in his breeding program, it was always Scott's intention for the hairless dogs to be a separate breed. However, in 1999, when United Kennel Club recognized the Rat Terrier, Scott and his fellow breeders agreed to allow the hairless dogs to enter the UKC registry as Rat Terriers, hairless variety. Upon separation, all of the hairless Rat Terriers and all of their coated descendants, products of careful breeding to the finest coated Rat Terriers, were given the name originally chosen for the breed by Edwin Scott: American Hairless Terrier. While it may seem contradictory to have coated dogs in a hairless breed, it will be necessary for the foreseeable future to continue to include some Rat Terrier crosses until there are sufficient hairless dogs to maintain a separate and healthy gene pool. The American Hairless Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 2004.
[Credits: UKC Breed Standard, Elliott, Rachel Page, The New Dogsteps, Second Edition, Howell Book House, New York, 1983. Nicholas, Anna Katherine, The Nicholas Guide to Dog Judging, Howell Book House, New York, 1989. Spira, Harold R., Canine Terminology, First Edition, Howell Book House, New York, 1982.]
Date(s): August 25, 2005. Album by ~WudNshu~. 1 - 18 of 64 Total. 5220 Visits.
1 IDEAL MEASUREMENTS FOR THE AHT
The American Hairless Terrier is a smoothly muscled, active, small-to-medium terrier. The preferred ratio of length of body (prosternum to point of buttocks) to height (withers to ground) to is 10:9.
Viewed from the side, the forechest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs
2 PROPERLY SCALED SKELETON FOR THE AMERICAN HAIRLESS TERRIER
The importance of angulation cannot be overemphasized when evaluating gait. The most significant angles are at the shoulder and hip joints. These joints counterbalance one another as they lift, open and shut with the swing of the limbs. The front of the dog normally carries about 60% of the total body weight and works like a shock absorbing mechanism as it coordinates with drive from the rear and absorbs impact with the ground.
3 SKELETON FITTING CORRECTLY INTO THE AHT BODY
Lack of angulation or stiffness at the pastern restricts the shock absorption and exacerbates the pounding. Whether viewed from the side or from front or rear, the action should be smooth and harmonious with no twisting or jerking. Problems arise when one part has to overwork or compensate for lack of balance, injury or weakness in another. It is important to note that excessive angulation in any part of a dog?s body is detrimental to joint support and endurance. It is never a question of the more...
4 Good Angulation facilitates a long stride. Balance facilitates good foot timing.
5 PROPERLY PROPORTIONED MOVING AHT
A properly proportioned American Hairless Terrier is slightly longer (measured from prosternum to point of buttocks) than tall (measured from the withers to the ground), and length of the front leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) should approximately equal one-half of the dog's height. Whether the dog is standing or moving, the line of the back is strong and level. The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and muscular, with moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. The brisket extends to or just below the elbow. Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is well filled and of moderate width. Viewed from the side, the forechest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs.
6 IDEAL MOVING BITCH
Whether the dog is standing or moving, the line of the back is strong and level.
A dog with good angulation and balance will have joints that flex easily and smoothly, providing strong thrust from the rear and spring and resilience in the front.
7 IDEAL MOVING DOG
The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and muscular, with moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping. The ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. The brisket extends to or just below the elbow. Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is well filled and of moderate width. Viewed from the side, the forechest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs.
8 Ideal Moving Front The American Hairless Terrier moves with a jaunty air that suggests agility, speed, and power. American Hairless Terrier gait is smooth and effortless, with good reach of forequarters without any trace of hackney gait. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
9 This better demonstrates the action of the muscles and bones in the shoulder area as the leg moves accordingly.
10 Ideal Moving Rear
Rear quarters have strong driving power, with hocks fully extending. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward center line of balance.
11 Same rear movement with boxes and lines over it showing the straight column and "landing points." The foot fall depicts the dog moving at a medium trot with the fall converging toward the center line at the closest point of fall.
12 IDEAL FRONT
Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is well filled and of moderate width. (please note this is an area that nearly all ahts need improvement on.)
13 IDEAL REAR
The hindquarters are muscular with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal. The angulation of the hindquarters is in balance with the angulation of the forequarters. The stifles are well-bent, and the hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground and, viewed from the rear, parallel to one another.
14 IDEAL STANDING BITCH
The American Hairless Terrier is an exceptionally friendly companion, getting along well with children, other dogs, and even cats. American Hairless Terriers enjoy human companionship immensely and will enthusiastically share any activity with their owners. The hairless dogs require protection from the sun and winter cold weather. American Hairless Terriers should not be sparred during conformation judging.
15 IDEAL STANDING DOG
The American Hairless Terrier is an energetic, alert dog whose curiosity and intelligence make him easy to train. The ancestors of this breed were bred to hunt. The lack of coat makes the hairless variety unsuited for hunting, but has a strong hunting instinct.
16 Coated Dog With Tail...
17 Coated Dog With Docked Tail
While it may seem contradictory to have coated dogs in a hairless breed, it will be necessary for the foreseeable future to continue to include some Rat Terrier crosses until there are sufficient hairless dogs to maintain a separate and healthy gene pool.
