American Hairless Terrier
In the early 1970s, a hairless puppy was born in a litter of Rat Terrier puppies. That puppy was the origin of the American Hairless Terrier (AHT) breed. In fact, for many years, the breed was known as Rat Terrier—Hairless Variety. In January, 2004, the breed was renamed.
The breed has two sizes: toy and miniature. The toys are 7.5 to 11 inches tall and weigh between 4 and 8 pounds. The miniatures are 11.5 to 16 inches tall and weigh between 8.5 to 16 pounds. In both sizes, the dogs strongly retain their Rat Terrier heritage and appearance. They are well-balanced and muscular. Although puppies are born with short, fuzzy hair, by 8 weeks old, they have lost it. Their skin is soft, smooth, and warm. They have freckles or spots of black, brown, or red.
Grooming and Health Concern
Grooming is very easy. The skin can be washed with a damp rag. They can sunburn so they must be protected from too much sun exposure.
This is a high-energy breed. They can go for a long walk morning and night and will enjoy several games of catch and fetch. As befitting their terrier heritage, they also enjoy hunting for small critters in the backyard. They excel at agility training.
Health concerns include knee problems, hip and elbow dysplasia, and allergies. The small gene pool in the breed is concern to some.
Training
This breed needs early socialization, as these dogs can be wary of strangers. Early training is a plus, as AHTs have a quick, bright mind and if you don’t set some rules, they will. After basic obedience, have some fun.
AHTs love trick training. AHTs are devoted and loyal to their family. They are active and can be great with older children who respect them and are not too rough. They can be good with other dogs, although play with larger dogs should be supervised. They are not always good with smaller pets.
TRIMMING TOENAILS
Most dog owners hate trimming their dog’s toenails, probably because they worry about cutting into the quick, making their dog bleed, and causing pain. Although this can happen, letting the nails grow too long isn’t good for the dog, either. Long nails can cause the paw to become painful as the toes are stretched into awkward positions. If the toenails remain too long for an extended period, the paw can actually become deformed.
There are several types of toenail trimmers on the market, but the two easiest styles are the scissors type and the guillotine type. Ask for help at your local pet store to find the correct size for your breed of dog. You will also need some styptic powder on hand (also available from the pet store) in case you do make one of your dog’s nails bleed.
To trim the nails:
- If you are nervous and afraid, you might make your dog nervous, too. Have some peanut butter on hand so you can distract her, as you did during ear cleaning.
- Take one paw, separate one toe, and pull all the hair away from the nail. If the nail is clear or white, you will be able to see the pink quick inside. If you cut into the quick, the dog will cry and the nail will bleed. The nail beyond the quick has no feeling at all—just like your nails—and this is where you should cut.
- If your puppy has black nails, check all her toenails. If she has even one white nail, you can use that nail as a trimming guide.
- If there are no white nails, look at the nail from the side. The top of the nail is evenly curved but the underside has a small curve under the tip and then bulges down a little under the quick. You can safely cut the tip off.
- If you do cut into the quick, dip the bleeding nail into styptic powder and hold the paw still until the bleeding stops. Then, continue with your trimming.
Trim the nails weekly so that you and your puppy get used to it. You may need to trim only the tips of the nails, but that’s okay. You will become more skilled and sure of yourself, and your dog
will learn to trust you.
American Foxhound
Foxhounds were brought to the American colonies from England in the mid-1600s. The dogs known today as American Foxhounds descend from those dogs and from others imported from England, Ireland, and France.
The American Foxhound is recognized by both the AKC and UKC, but many foxhounds are not registered with either and may be mixtures of other foxhounds. Many hunters simply want a foxhound who will hunt in a specific way or who can handle certain terrain or conditions.
Claudia Bazinet, of Foxhound Relocation and Retirement, says, “There are about two dozen strains of American Foxhounds, and they vary widely in type.” She continues, “The American Foxhound was bred from the English Foxhound but has a medium build and is faster. They have a shorter neck and longer legs. The American Foxhound has longer ears, but again, that can vary according to the strain.”
As a general rule, American Foxhounds stand between 21 and 25 inches tall and weigh between 40 and 70 pounds. The coat is short and can be any color but is often the typical hound white and red or rust with a black saddle or cape.
Grooming, Character and Health Concern
Grooming this Foxhound is easy; simply brush him with a soft bristle brush or curry comb a couple times a week to loosen the dead hairs. Foxhounds need daily aerobic exercise. Many will not play catch or fetch games, so a long, vigorous walk or a jog beside a bicycle will be needed. Never allow a Foxhound to run off leash outside of a fenced yard; as a hunter, if a rabbit or other critter is flushed, he will be gone and no amount of calling will bring him back.
Although American Foxhounds can be kept as pets and can be quite calm and gentle in the house, the breed is first and foremost a hunter. Training can be a challenge. They are good with other dogs (although they should never be trusted with small pets) and can be quite tolerant of children’s antics. They do bay and may cause neighborhood complaints. Health concerns include ear problems.
Combating Fleas, Ticks, and Mites
FLEAS
Fleas, ticks, and mites are external parasites that feed on your dog. In addition to taking a drop of blood each time they feed, they can also transmit diseases—some quite serious—and can cause significant discomfort. A dog infested with fleas will scratch and chew until her skin is raw, and secondary infections will follow. Controlling these pests is essential for your dog’s good health.
Fleas are tiny, crescent-shaped insects. They have flat sides so they can move through animal hair easily. They have a small head and a large abdomen. Fleas are the intermediate host for tapeworms and can cause anemia from blood loss, especially in small puppies or older dogs. Fleas feed on your dog and then move away. They actually spend most of their time in the dog’s environment—in the house or yard, hiding in the dog’s bed, or in your carpet.
New products introduced in the past decade have made flea control considerably easier. Some of these products kill adult fleas (which are the only ones that bite), while others are insect growth regulators that stop immature fleas from maturing. Some of the newer products do both. If your dog is infested with fleas, you will want to approach flea control with a three-pronged attack:
- On your dog: Talk to your veterinarian about a prescription for a systemic product such as Program or Sentinel. As the flea bites your dog, it will take a drop of blood that will be carrying the flea-control product.
- In the house: Spray carpets, dog beds, baseboards, cracks, and crevices with an insect growth regulator and a quick-kill ingredient designed for indoor use. Make sure you read and follow the directions.
- In the yard: Use a spray designed for outdoor use that contains an insect growth regulator.
Don’t mix flea control products. Using a systemic product and then spraying your dog or putting
a flea collar on her could potentially be deadly. Instead, talk to your veterinarian or groomer
about which products are working best in your area, and then use them as instructed.
TICKS
Ticks are eight-legged insects that bury their heads in a dog’s skin to feed. They will stay on the dog until gorged, when they will drop off to breed and lay eggs. Like fleas, ticks can pass along diseases to dogs and people. The most deadly right now is Lyme disease, so ask your veterinarian if Lyme disease (or any other tick-carried disease) is prevalent in your area.
Some systemic flea control products are advertised as being effective at killing ticks as well, but nothing is as effective as a daily examination. If you massage your dog each day, you can feel with your fingers for bumps on your dog’s skin. Or visually check the favorite hiding spots, which include the “armpit” areas of the legs, in and around the ears, the neck, and under and around the base of the tail. When you find a tick, use tweezers or forceps to grab the tick and slowly pull it straight out of the skin. Twisting can break the head off, leaving it in the skin. Check the tick to make sure that the head is still attached; if the head has broken off in the skin, try to pull it out. If retained in the skin, an infection could result. Put some antibiotic ointment on the wound. Burn the tick or drop it in some alcohol. Do not flush it down the toilet; it will live!
MITES
Mites are everywhere. Experts say that we clean, well-groomed people are exposed to mites all the time. Dogs have their own mites, even though we can’t see them. There are two types of mites found on dogs: demodetic and sarcoptic.
Demodectic mites are on dogs all the time and usually cause no problems. But sometimes, when a dog is under stress or in puberty, the mites get out of hand. Small bald spots show up, usually on the face first, and then spread. The spots rarely itch, and the dog doesn’t seem bothered at all. Unfortunately, this demodectic mange can cause severe problems in older dogs, although with treatment young dogs usually recuperate easily. Any unexplained bald patches should be seen by a veterinarian; never try to treat demodex on your own. Demodectic mites do not live on people.
Sarcoptic mites cause severe itching, and dogs will scratch continually, even to the point of drawing blood. Like demodectic mange, this problem requires veterinary care. Sarcoptic mange is contagious to other pets and to people.
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