Koolie vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison

Koolie vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed ComparisonAmerican Hairless Terrier is originated from United States but Koolie is originated from Australia. American Hairless Terrier may grow 15 cm / 5 inches shorter than Koolie. American Hairless Terrier may weigh 12 kg / 26 pounds lesser than Koolie. Both American Hairless Terrier and Koolie has almost same life span. Both American Hairless Terrier and Koolie has almost same litter size. Both American Hairless Terrier and Koolie requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Working dog
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United States
Australia
Height Male:
18 - 45 cm
7 - 18 inches
40 - 60 cm
15 - 24 inches
Height Female:
16 - 40 cm
6 - 16 inches
40 - 60 cm
15 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 12 kg
6 - 27 pounds
15 - 24 kg
33 - 53 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 10 kg
4 - 23 pounds
15 - 24 kg
33 - 53 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
12 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 6
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
AHT, American Hairless Rat Terrier
German Koolie
Colors Available:
variety of colors and patterns (blue, black, brown, pink, sable and tan) with white
merle pattern, Red, black
Coat:
hairless, coated variety has a short dense coat
Shortish to medium
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Lively, Loving, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, 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.

koolieThe Koolie's ancestors were both the smooth coated blue merle Collie as well as the Black and Tan Collie. The dog hails from Australia.

Looking much like the Heeler dog, the Koolie is thought to have got its name from German immigrants to Australia who couldn’t pronounce the name ‘collie’ properly, so the name came out as Koolie. The Koolie of today is a product of a cross between the German Koolie and the Australian Dingo.

The dog has been around for a long time and in 2000, the Koolie Club of Australia was formed. It was in 2004 that the Koolie was recognized by the Australian Sporting Registrar. In May 2006, the Stockdog Committee of the Australian Shepherd Club of America accepted the Koolie as a recognized and accepted herding 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.

koolie puppy - descriptionKnown also as the German Koolie or German Collie, the Koolie is a working- or herding dog standing at between 40 – 60cm in height and weighing up to 24kg.

The Koolie's coat is a merle coat pattern in red or black and possibly with some tan and is mostly short and smooth, though it can be medium length too. Depending on the coat color – red or black – the nose and eyes can be either brown or black, although eye color can also be blue or yellowish.

Temperament:

The Koolie is such a wonderful pet who has some excellent characteristics to his name. He is active, energetic, fun, clever, friendly and playful, but if you have him trained and socialized he becomes even more of a great family pet. He is intelligent too and will require an owner who is steady, firm, fair and consistent. You wouldn't call him an aggressive 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.

koolie dog - characteristicsMany people today like the idea of a ‘wild’ animal as a pet, and the Koolie, with his Dingo ancestry, can be a challenging dog breed to keep. People eventually blame these animals for having a poor temperament – meantime all they are essentially, are high-energy animals.

If you keep a Koolie, it will be better if you were a firm, kind, patient, consistent dog owner who understands the special needs of these kinds of dogs. They’re an energetic, care-free animals who will do better on a large property or farm as he is lively and will need a good deal of exercise.

He is quite capable of being a splendid pet with training and socialization and will settle down well to family life when he is loved and cared for.

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.

koolie puppies - health problemsThe Koolie is a long-lived dog and there are records of it being able to reach 18 years of age. Because they have a diverse gene pool, you won’t find many genetic problems with this dog.

It is always wise when you’re the owner of a dog, to look out for his health and wellbeing -

Vaccination:

This is to prevent your Koolie picking up fatal diseases such as distemper and parvo-virus. Dogs can be vaccinated from 6 weeks of age for protection.

Parasites:

Working dogs like the Koolie are susceptible to parasites such as tapeworm. Worming of your dog can be included in your vet visit. Dogs with worms may show tell-tale signs such as being pot bellied, very pale gums, anemia and a dull, thinned coat.

A look at his droppings may reveal white segments or worms. Fleas are another kind of parasite and they breed quickly in warm months. Mange is a skin disease caused by small parasitic mites which can actually live inside the hair follicles of dogs. Veterinary treatment will be required.

Heat Stroke:

This is when your pet’s temperature rises out of control. Dogs pant to reduce their body temperature so a dog puffing heavily is putting in extra work to reduce his body temperature.

Never leave you pet in a boiling hot car as the body becomes weak and he has difficulty with breathing. Without immediate treatment, the dog will collapse and die.

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.

Training:

koolie dogs - caringThe Koolie is an intelligent dog that will benefit from training and socialization to make him obedient and able to cope in diverse situations.

Exercise:

These dogs show an untiring enthusiasm for exercise and work and wherever you live, you will need to ensure that he gets regular exercise.

Diet:

Only the very best - both home-made and commercially manufactured food - will be good enough for this energetic dog. Good quality food ensures health and longevity. Always see that there is a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Relaxing Time:

Make sure that your dog has a warm, dry place to sleep inside and that when outside, he has a cool, sheltered spot from the sun.

Comparison with other breeds

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