Tahltan Bear Dog vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison

Tahltan Bear Dog vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed ComparisonAmerican Hairless Terrier is originated from United States but Tahltan Bear Dog is originated from Canada. Both American Hairless Terrier and Tahltan Bear Dog are having almost same height. Both American Hairless Terrier and Tahltan Bear Dog are having almost same weight. Both American Hairless Terrier and Tahltan Bear Dog has almost same life span. Both American Hairless Terrier and Tahltan Bear Dog has same litter size. Both American Hairless Terrier and Tahltan Bear Dog requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Working dog
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United States
Canada
Height Male:
18 - 45 cm
7 - 18 inches
36 - 43 cm
14 - 17 inches
Height Female:
16 - 40 cm
6 - 16 inches
36 - 43 cm
14 - 17 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 12 kg
6 - 27 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 10 kg
4 - 23 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
3 - 5
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
AHT, American Hairless Rat Terrier
Chien d'ours de Tahlta
Colors Available:
variety of colors and patterns (blue, black, brown, pink, sable and tan) with white
Brown, some white, black
Coat:
hairless, coated variety has a short dense coat
Short to medium length, thick
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Lively, Loving, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

american hairless terrierDerived from the Rat Terrier, the American Hairless Terrier was born in a litter of Rat Terriers in 1972.

The evolution of this breed is very different from other hairless breeds. The American Hairless Terrier was independently developed when a hairless pup was produced in a litter of normal Rat Terriers. The owners of this pup, Edwin and Willie Scott attempted to breed her to other Rat terriers but were not successful in having another hairless pup until years later. Then they had a litter with one male and one female hairless puppy.

From that point on they worked with a veterinarian and a geneticist to develop the breed until it was accepted as a separate breed from the Rat Terrier in 2004 and accepted into the AKC in 2016.

The breed is very rare and with hairless dogs breeding only produces about two thirds of the litter as hairless and one third as coated. If a hairless is bred to a coated terrier, the chances of getting hairless puppies are 50% hairless and 50% coated. It is very rare to get a hairless when breed two coated terriers. The difference between the American Hairless Terrier and other hairless breeds is that the hairless gene in most breed is a lethal dominant gene, but in the AHT it is a recessive gene.

tahltan bear dogThe primitive Tahltan Bear Dog comes from Canada. The dog was developed by the Tahltan people to hunt bears, so you can imagine he was a strong, brave dog.

They also had fox-like yaps that confused bears until the hunter could come and kill the bear. These dogs are descended from pariah-type dogs with their diet being birds and fish.

It was in 1988 that the Canadian Post Office honoured the Tahltan Bear Dog by having a picture of it appearing on a stamp.

Some people claim that after the 1960s there are no longer any living descendants while others say that breeding projects were established and that there are still a few of these dogs around today. There are records on the other hand that claim the dog became extinct in the 1970s.

These dogs have been recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Description

american hairless terrier puppy - descriptionThe American Hairless Terrier is similar to it’s breed of origin, the Rat Terrier, and the coated AHT looks very much like a Rat Terrier. They are small to medium in size, very muscular and have more refined features than the Rat Terrier. Their round eyes can be a variety of colors including amber, brown, grey, turquoise and blue. The tail is not docked but rather long and thin.

The AHT might have eyebrows and whiskers or they might only have whiskers. Their head is broad, and wedge shaped with upright ears. They are an energetic, social and intelligent dog.

tahltan bear dog puppy - descriptionNot like a bear, but more foxy in appearance or even more like a husky, the Tahltan Bear dog is medium sized, standing at between 36 – 43cm in height and weighing between 6 – 9 kg.

It is believed that they were similar to spitz and pariah type dogs, and were athletic. The short to medium length coat of the dog was mainly black or brown with some white.

He had fairly large pointed, erect ears and also a fairly pointed muzzle. The tail was interesting and was short and furry and always carried erect.

Temperament:

The Tahltan Bear Dog is fearless, not being deterred when meeting large bear. It's why the dog has been valued by hunters – their bravery and fearlessness.

They’re great family dogs too and will get on well with children. He is intelligent and easy to train if you want to give him training and socialization.

Characteristics

american hairless terrier dog - characteristicsThis is a curious, intelligent, little dog. They are terrific family dogs with a note to say they are better with older children than with younger. If they are raised with small children, then they are terrific with them. They are territorial, and the children become part of their territory. They will guard and protect them.

They need to play, and this is the biggest requirement for owners. Be sure you have time for them. This is not a couch potato dog. They have a lot of energy and can be destructive and “barky” if that energy is not dissipated. They are terriers through and through and love to “go to ground” whether going in holes they find or digging the holes themselves. They will go after small rodents like chipmunks. They need to be protected in these activities since their skin is vulnerable to scratches and cuts from brush. Their prey drive is strong, so it is important to protect them from themselves in this respect.

They are curious and feisty and every inch the terrier. Affectionate, friendly, and social it is also important to remember they can be scared easily, hurt if play is too rough, and this will trigger barking. They make very good watch dogs.

tahltan bear dog dog - characteristicsBecause some claim that this dog is extinct, there are only a few accounts of what he is actually like.

Even though they were hunting dogs, they were devoted pets and companions of the people of the Yukon.

If these dogs are still to be found today, you will find them to be easy going, protective, loyal, intelligent, playful, alert, watchful and energetic. Just don’t allow them to get too hot as they prefer cooler climates.

Health Problems

american hairless terrier puppies - health problemsThere are not many health problems bothering this sturdy little dog.

The American Hairless Terrier has limited breeding stock and it is still a rare breed. Its health problems are mostly related to its hairless state. The breed is highly susceptible to sunburn, rashes, pimples, and allergies. They often need clothing in all seasons to protect them from the heat of the sun or from the cold. The skin must be cleaned regularly often daily with soap and water. This is especially true if sunscreen is used as they are open to skin infections.

Hip dysplasia is also a common issue for this small breed.

tahltan bear dog puppies - health problemsHealthy dogs are unlikely to pick up any of the many common dog illnesses there are. There are many – cancer, diabetes, bloat, hip dysplasia, ear infections, dental disease and many more.

Kennel Cough:

This is a contagious and infectious disease known as canine tracheobronchitis and which is transmitted through the air. Treatment is usually administered as a nasal spray, but your dog will need to get to the vet because of his dry, honking cough and lack of appetite.

Rabies:

This is a viral disease which in most instances is fatal. It is mostly transmitted when an animal that carries the disease bites the dog. Your dog develops behavior which is totally uncharacteristic of him. He'll also froth at the mouth and become aggressive. Death is nearly always guaranteed.

Caring The Pet

american hairless terrier dogs - caringThe American Hairless Terrier has some food needs that might be different from other breeds. They should not be given food that contains soy, wheat or corn. They need to be fed at least 3-4 times a day in small amounts as puppies and twice a day as adult. Be sure to avoid overeating and obesity. Puppies need about 400 calories a day whether you feed four times or two times. The adult American Hairless Terrier needs about 500-600 calories per day. This might be half a cup to a cup per day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the American Hairless Terrier has skin health issues and is also prone to hip dysplasia.

Exercise and games

This is a great breed for games if you make them small to match his size. He is energetic, athletic and playful. He loves agility, lure chasing and barn hunt activities. They need a good half hour of vigorous exercise per day.

Grooming:

tahltan bear dog dogs - caringThis double coated hunting dog’s thick coarse coat will require brushing at least twice a week to free the dog of loose hair. He is regarded as a low mainenance dog.

During brushing, you would check inside his ears and make sure there are no signs of redness. Eyes of the dog should be bright, eager and free of discharge.Always keep the nails of the dog trimmed.

If you keep your pet outside for any lengths of time it is imperative that this dog has shade to lie down in as he doesn’t do well in too much heat.

Exercise:

Because he is a hunting dog, he is used to being outdoors and being active. He wont be content to lie around inactive for too long. He’ll want at least a walk every day and some ball games.

Diet:

A pet dog can’t choose his own food so they depend on us to make the right choices for them. It’s always convenient to have a packet of commercially manufactured dog food available, but who knows if this dog, which some claim is extinct, ever ate commercially manufactured food.

If he did, you would want to mix it every now and again with home made food - boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach. This food could be chopped up and added to the dog’s kibble.

Ensure that a constant supply of fresh, cool water is available to him.

Comparison with other breeds

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  9. American Hairless Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. American Hairless Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  26. Tahltan Bear Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Tahltan Bear Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Tahltan Bear Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Tahltan Bear Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Tahltan Bear Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Tahltan Bear Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Tahltan Bear Dog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison