Many people have no idea that there is a breed of hairless dog, as dogs are known for being very hairy. Some have no hair at all, others have very thin hair or only hair on their heads. Whatever the type, naked dogs generate a lot of curiosity.

At first, the hairless dog breed may seem exotic, but it is more common than you might think in many countries. Currently, these pets have gained the taste of many Brazilians. Let’s get to know the most famous breeds!

Hairless American Terrier

The hairless American Terrier originates from the United States and was officially recognized in 2016 by the American Kennel Club — an organization that registers purebred dog lines. He can be small to medium in size and loves to do physical activities. Its descendants are dogs from the Terrier group, used for hunting.

Thus, it is an agile, smart, and energetic animal, always alert. It is an extremely sociable dog and easily adapts to new places and people.

Xoloitzcuintle

As its name has a difficult pronunciation, this breed ended up being better known as the Pelado Mexicano. It is a very well-known pet and is now spreading around the world.

It is a calm animal and is loyal to its owner. Generally, he becomes attached to a specific person in the family, but he has a lot of affection for everyone. Small and medium in size, there are two varieties of this pet: in the first, it is completely hairless, in the second, it has short hair on the head, tail, and paws.

This breed of hairless dog was once close to extinction, as it was considered a sacred animal in the past, being sacrificed and buried with its owner for the purpose of guarding the living and guiding the souls of the dead. Since the 1970s, the Pelado Mexicano has not been at risk of extinction.

Dick Dog

The Pila Dog, which means “naked” in the Quechua language, is also called the Peruvian Pelado. It can be small or medium in size and is considered one of the oldest breeds in the world, being recognized as Peru’s national heritage.

These dogs have supple, soft skin. Some of them have a narrow lock of fur on the top of their heads, like a mohawk, and have some fluff on their foreheads or sparse tufts of fur on their tails and paws.

With thin, slender legs, its behavior is calm and friendly towards children and other animals, but caution should be exercised around strange people. Still, it can become an excellent companion!

Chinese Crested Dog

The Chinese Crested Dog is a small pet, weighing, on average, 7 kg. Its appearance is quite peculiar, and it can be completely hairless, with hair only on its paws, tail, or head — hence its name.

He is a very happy and playful dog, ideal for families looking for a companion pet to have fun. It easily gets attached to its owner and doesn’t like to be alone. So you need to have plenty of time to dedicate to this little dog.

Special care for the hairless dog

The fur that covers the dog’s entire body has the function of warming the body and protecting against sunlight and physical friction. In the case of hairless dog breeds, some precautions deserve special attention.

It is very important to be aware of cold days. These dogs generally need to wear clothes and blankets. Even when it’s not so cold, as well as having a warm place to sleep.

More special care should be taken with the skin, which tends to dry out and is exposed to the sun. Therefore, the use of sunscreen is essential. Shampoo, creams, and body moisturizers are also necessary.

The skin becomes more sensitive and can be injured more easily. These products, as well as the frequency of baths, must be followed according to the veterinarian’s instructions.

Advantages of having a hairless dog

One of the advantages of adopting a hairless dog breed is not having hair scattered around the house. There are those who are passionate about pets or are allergic to dog hair but do not like or cannot come into contact with loose fur. In this case, these breeds are more than suitable.

If having a hairless dog doesn’t please you, there are still breeds that, despite being hairy. Don’t shed much hair, such as Maltese; Poodle; Morkie; Bichon Frize; Yorkie-Poo; Shih-Tzu; Schnauzer; Portuguese Water Dog; Yorkshire; Boston Terriers; Schnoodle; Shih-Poo and Lhasa Apso.