Blue Lacy vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison

Blue Lacy vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed ComparisonBoth American Hairless Terrier and Blue Lacy are originated from United States. American Hairless Terrier may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Blue Lacy. American Hairless Terrier may weigh 11 kg / 24 pounds lesser than Blue Lacy. Both American Hairless Terrier and Blue Lacy has same life span. Both American Hairless Terrier and Blue Lacy has same litter size. Both American Hairless Terrier and Blue Lacy requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Herding dogs
undefined
United States
United States
Height Male:
18 - 45 cm
7 - 18 inches
46 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
Height Female:
16 - 40 cm
6 - 16 inches
46 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 12 kg
6 - 27 pounds
16 - 23 kg
35 - 51 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 10 kg
4 - 23 pounds
14 - 23 kg
30 - 51 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
14 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
3 - 5
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
AHT, American Hairless Rat Terrier
Lacy Dog, Lacy Game Dog, Texas Blue Lacy
Colors Available:
variety of colors and patterns (blue, black, brown, pink, sable and tan) with white
Grey, blue, black, cream, tri-coloured
Coat:
hairless, coated variety has a short dense coat
short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal, Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Lively, Loving, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, 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.

blue lacyThe Lacy brothers came to Texas in 1858, and this breed is named after them. They wanted a strong, robust working dog. It is a working/herding dog breed that originated in Texas in the mid 19th century.

It is interesting to note that in June 2005, Governor Rick Perry brought about legislation adopting the Blue Lacy as the official Dog Breed of Texas. The breed is also registered by the National Lacy Dog Registry and the Animal Research Foundation.

Today the Blue Lacy is considered to be the perfect all-around dog, with the Lacy family history noting the breed to come from a mix of scent-hound, greyhound and coyote cross. There are theories around the scent hound used, with some believing it could have been an Italian Gray Hound, but whatever the case, the Lacy brothers established this breed under the guidelines required to develop a recognized breed.

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.

Lithe, Sleek and Agile to Look At

blue lacy puppy - descriptionThe medium-sized, well proportioned, muscular and lithe Blue Lacy stands at roughly 46–53cm. He has a coat which is smooth and short and in an attractive gun-metal gray color which can be classified as blue or almost black. Other shades are also available such as cream, yellow, reddish and you also get tri-colored Lacy’s.

Pure Blue Lacy’s have some white markings on their brisket. Whatever color you have, these clean-looking dogs with their low maintenance coats are referred to as Blue Lacy’s. Their brown eyes are bright and alert, they have long tails and their ears hang down.

A Wonderful All-Round Dog

The American Blue Lacy gives one the sense of speed, agility and endurance. He is intelligent, active and alert, being an all-round dog who can adapt to being among ranchers and cowboys and then become gentle with children and his family.

With socialization, he is also tolerant of other dogs. Because he is so intelligent he can be quickly trained, and training and socialization will be recommended for him to ensure he is the perfect all-rounder he was designed to be. His alertness makes him an excellent watch dog.

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.

blue lacy dog - characteristicsYour Blue Lacy is such a low-maintenance, easy dog to have. Remember to have your puppy vaccinated from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These vaccinations start from 6 - 8 weeks of age. Also, because different areas have different regulations surrounding the rabies injection, check with your vet about this one.

A socialized, trained Blue Lacy makes such an awesome pet but you have responsibilities towards him. You need to know precisely what is required to keep him healthy and happy.

This is a versatile working dog who is intelligent and alert but also sensitive to being mistreated. Treat him decently and in exchange you’ll have a loyal, devoted canine family member.

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.

blue lacy puppies - health problemsThe Blue Lacy is generally a healthy breed, but just like with any other dog breed they will be prone to some health conditions. Blue Lacys can also suffer with the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint is malformed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop normally. It needs to be watched as it can result in loss of function of the hip joints. The disease can often begin when the dog is still very young.

Hypothyroidism

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards hypothyroidism, but environmental factors and certain medications can trigger autoimmune reactions. Not only that, a tight collar can also cause thyroid damage. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, skin problems, dislike of the cold and even hair loss and then it’s time to get your pet thyroid-tested.

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.

Exercise

blue lacy dogs - caringTypically of working breeds, the Blue Lacy is going to need a firm owner who provides guidance and leadership, and who is responsible with providing the Lacy with plenty of exercise. This dog was created for work, so they will be totally at home on a farm. If not, they will require long walks every day with lots of ball games too.

Grooming

Care for the Blue Lacy doesn’t take much effort. He isn’t much of a shedder and therefore has low grooming requirements. He’ll require being brushed twice a week to get rid of loose hairs. If you start early with this grooming routine, he looks forward to this ‘bonding’ session.

Routine maintenance will require nail clipping and teeth cleaning as plaque can build up and leave your pet with dental problems and gum disease. Ask your veterinarian about dental care because there are special dog-designed toothpastes and brushes. Also check for ticks and fleas in and around the ears of your dog.

Food

Your Blue Lacy is a high energy working dog so he will require a balanced diet to cater for his energy levels. He will certainly require some raw meat from time to time to avoid skin problems. Home prepared meals are also good and these can include rice, meat and vegetables.

Remember when in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about dog food which meets the requirements of your dog, his age, his breed and his activity levels. Always have a bowl of clean, cool water available to him around the clock.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. American Hairless Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. American Hairless Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. American Hairless Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. American Hairless Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. American Hairless Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. American Hairless Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. American Hairless Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. American Hairless Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. American Hairless Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. American Hairless Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. American Hairless Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. American Hairless Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. American Hairless Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. American Hairless Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. American Hairless Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. American Hairless Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. American Hairless Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. American Hairless Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. American Hairless Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. American Hairless Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. American Hairless Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. American Hairless Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. American Hairless Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. American Hairless Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. American Hairless Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Blue Lacy vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Blue Lacy vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Blue Lacy vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Blue Lacy vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Blue Lacy vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Blue Lacy vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Blue Lacy vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Blue Lacy vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Blue Lacy vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Blue Lacy vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Blue Lacy vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Blue Lacy vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Blue Lacy vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Blue Lacy vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Blue Lacy vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Blue Lacy vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Blue Lacy vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Blue Lacy vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Blue Lacy vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Lacy vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Blue Lacy vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Blue Lacy vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Blue Lacy vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Blue Lacy vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Blue Lacy vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison