American hairless terriers are much easy to groom, these are low-maintenance dogs, and owners who are too busy with their daily schedules can adopt these dogs easily. Thus we will here be sharing the details of the grooming requirement of American hairless terriers.
This breed of dog comes with some authentic colored coats like apricot, blue fawn, black, and chocolate and rare ones are lemons, seal or lilac dilute. Their skin is smooth and completely hairless except for the whiskers and eyebrows.
These dogs are funnily called “bald and beautiful” as they have smooth hairless skin and they are really adorable in their own way. They need regular bathing to keep their skin in the best condition. The clipping of nails is yet another grooming aspect of this breed. Their ears and eyes need to be cleaned often.
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How can you take care of the skin of an American hairless terrier?
As this dog breed comes with almost naked skin you do not have to spend time brushing the coat. It does not require regular detangling of their coat. But their skin is susceptible to sunburn, just like us humans.
This breed of dog gets born with a soft coat though. The soft and light fur covers their body but it starts shedding soon afterward. An 8 to 10-week-old American hairless terrier puppy will be completely hairless.
Bathing this dog is easier as we have already mentioned. So you just have to find a mild dog shampoo with which you will regularly bathe the dog. As it needs to be bathed regularly, the shampoo should never be harsh, or else it will make the dog itchy. Shampooing is a simple process. You just have to make the skin of dog wet and apply an adequate amount of shampoo on the skin. Then you have to massage the skin of the dog and afterward wash it away with water.
After patting the skin dry you have to apply sunscreen lotion or any mild body lotion. Treat the skin of the American hairless terrier as the skin of humans as this is much similar in context. The bare skin, after bathing, will be exposed to harsh sun rays and thus, you need to apply some kind of lotion to keep it protected.
If the skin of your American hairless terrier is burnt by sun rays, then you can apply extra virgin coconut oil on the affected area. It heals the damaged skin and brings back nourishment.
The skin around the mouth needs to be cleaned more frequently. The facial skin around the mouth needs scrubbing too. You may use a light scrubber to clean that area of the face. You should not use the medicated scrubber that is usually applied to human skin. Some owners prefer to use coconut oil and sugar and make a mixture of them. This mix will act as a natural scrubber and will benefit the dog.
Does the American hairless terrier need daily bathing?
Bathing the dog regularly has its own cons. The skin of the American hairless terrier is not moist nor dry. But if you meticulously bathe the dog daily then it may strip off its natural oil and thus, making the skin dry.
Usually, it is best to bathe the dogs when it gets dirty. Also, it depends upon the weather and humidity. Some owners bathe the dogs once a week and that is sufficient to keep them clean.
Using wet wipes to clean the dogs promptly is another good idea. But do not use any wipe that contains any medication or perfume. The bare-skinned American hairless terrier may suffer from itching and rashes if its skin comes in contact with such chemicals.
How can you clean the ears and teeth of the American hairless terrier?
The ears of the dogs get buildup inside, and the owner should clean them with cotton balls. The vet or the pet shops will offer you some solutions that can be used to clean the ears. You can dab the cotton ball in such liquids and use it.
The teeth of the American hairless terrier need to be brushed regularly like any other dog breed. You should get non-sweetened toothpaste for pets. Also, pay attention to oral health when you take it occasionally to the vet for a thorough checkup.
Should you trim the nails of your American hairless terrier?
Yes, regular trimming of nails is mandatory for this dog breed. Their toenails get longer soon enough so you need to trim the nails every 3 weeks. Some owners prefer to leave the dewclaws while others trim them off. But the frontal dewclaws should be trimmed always. Do not let the dirt sit under the claws as it will later lead to further infection.
Can American hairless terriers suffer from pimples?
Yes, this is quite unlike the dogs, but American hairless terriers get pimples at a certain age. They get pimples when they are about to get matured. When the pimples arise the owners need to keep an eye on the dogs so they do not tear these.
The skin gets itchy and that disturbs the dog very much. The pimples may have puss and later get cured on their own. If there is any infection from the scratches of the pimples the dog should be taken to the vet.
Is clothing necessary for the American hairless terrier?
Yes, clothing is necessary for American hairless terriers. In winter you must keep the dog protected from the cold weather and make it wear some warm clothing. In summer too, the harsh sun can damage its skin so using some light cloth on the body of the dog will be a good idea.
While carrying the dog on your lap you must rest it on a blanket. This way the skin of the dog will be protected from the harsh friction of other elements and its bony figure will not be poking your body as well.
