Hairless Khala vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison

Following World War II, the American Bulldog was almost extinct.

Thanks to John D. Johnson from Summerville, Georgia the breed is still with us today. He gathered the best dogs he could find throughout the rural South and bred them back into popularity among his family and other rural families. His father bred the American Bulldog before John did and they have bred them longer than any other in any part of the world. His dogs were regularly used for tracking, hunting, guarding, watchdog and weight pulling. At some point Alan Scott joined Johnson breeding other bulldogs to Johnson's and forming the Standard American Bulldog.

The American Bulldog/ is popular today as a family pet and companion as well as a working dog.

The Hairless Khala is from a number of Latin American countries, and these countries have a variety of these hairless hounds.

The dogs are known by different names. Khala is the Bolivian Quechua Indian name and it means 'no clothing' - an absence of fur. Both Central and South America have their hairless dogs, descendants of ancestral dogs owned by the Incan Empire.

The American Bulldog is a powerful and muscular dog in a sturdy and compact frame. The female is more refined than the heavy boned and stocky male, but both genders are athletic, agile and quick. The have large heads, strong jaws, a muscular neck and with a moderately deep and wide chest.

They have a square head, with muscular cheeks and a clearly defined furrow between his eyes. With broad, square and strong muzzles, they have a reverse scissors, scissors, moderate underbite and an even bite. Ears come in a variety of shapes and sizes and eyes can be any color as well. The nose however should be black and lips black as well. Their legs are strong, heavy boned and straight with well-defined muscles in the hindquarters. Finally ,they have a thick, low set tail that comes to a point at the end.

There are 2 kinds of hairless Khalas – the Medio one which is a short legged dog which stands at roughly 36 – 41cm in height and weighs roughly 6 – 14kg. The other kind of khala is the Hairless Khala Grande, a long legged type.

Although the dog is hairless, you'll find some hair on the top of his head. For sake of space we'll refer to the Medio variety, a medium-sized hound with hairless skin which is dark grey in color.

Temperament:

The Hairless Khala is a friendly dog with his family but tends to be reserved with strangers. He gets on well with children in the home and because he isn't a particularly energetic dog, elderly people also find that he makes a super pet for them.

He is able to adapt easily to city- as well as country living. You need to be careful with him and not allow him out in the garden in the boiling sun as his skin can burn badly. Then again, without fur, he also tends to get cold easily.

He has dark brown eyes and the ears are fairly large in size and erect. He has a chest which is deep and broad and his tail is set fairly low and is held according to his mood.

He is an intelligent dog, and therefore easily trained. He is a loving, loyal dog who is capable of bonding closely with his human family.

The American Bulldog is characteristically loyal, brave and reliable. It is a friendly, gentle dog that truly loves children. There is not a hostile bone in his body despite his history and reputation for bull baiting. Though he is protective of its family and affectionate with most, he still needs a human companion who is strong willed and a genuine pack leader. Without this he might become aggressive around other dogs and pets. They are immensely self-confident and they do slobber and drool and will become excited and hard to handle without daily exercise of both their body and their minds.

The Hairless Khala will make you an excellent pet, and children and the elderly are attracted to the dog because it is loving and docile. They are aloof with strangers, but training and socialization make him far more tolerant of strangers.

The Hairless Khala is an adaptable dog breed, and will adapt well to life in the city or in the country. Found throughout the Latin American nations, today he is essentially a companion dog, loving to be a devoted friend to his human family.

Though generally healthy, the American Bulldog is prone to a few problems.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a serious issue in many breeds of dogs and is especially prevalent with the American Bull Dog. This may seem ironic in such a short legged dog but it is unfortunately very common. It is a genetic disorder that causes the bones in the joint to separate and causes the dog much pain and lameness.

Skin and Ear Issues

Due to skin folds you need to be care and watch for irritation and infection in the folds. They are also prone to ear infections.

Obesity

The American Bulldog is prone to overeating and all the health issues that presents. With short legs and a genetic predisposition to arthritis and hip dysplasia, obesity is a real health risk for your bulldog.

The life expectancy of this dog is 10-14 years when he is treated well. The Hairless Khala is a robust dog breed but even so, there are diseases to look out for -

Skin Allergies:

Skin allergies are one of the reasons you may have to take your Hairless Khala to the vet. These sorts of skin allergies can be frustrating for a dog because the skin is irritated and itchy and he may have scaly areas or red bumps on his skin. If your dog is licking and scratching frantically, you will need to get him to the vet.

Dental Disease

Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gums, and if food and bacteria accumulate on the gums, it forms plaque and transforms into calculus, leading to gingivitis. Check your pet's teeth regularly and also brush them with special canine toothbrush and toothpaste at least 2 or 3x a week.

Feeding Puppies

Three times a day from 12 weeks to a year for a total of 3 cups per day.

Feeding Adults

After 6 months cut back to one cup twice a day of high quality dry dog food.

Bulldogs will eat anything at anytime and are prone to obesity. Don't overfeed them.

Exercise:

He isn't a super energetic dog but still, he will need to be taken for a walk every day.You can also include typical games that all dogs love – fetching a ball or pulling on a rope.

Grooming:

Because of the dog having little or no hair, they are considered fairly hypoallergenic and also low maintenance. You'd need to brush a dog with fur, but a hairless dog requires different grooming.

Speak to your vet about bathing your dog, the type of body wash to use and how frequently it should be done. Because your dog is hairless, he may require a sun cream in the Summer and a jersey in the Winter.

He will also need his nails clipped and his teeth brushed as part of his grooming process.

Diet:

He may not have much hair, but when it comes to diet he is much the same as any other dog. If you feed him commercially manufactured food, always choose the best quality one in accordance with his age, height and activity levels.

Home-made food is always a welcome treat for your pet, but whatever you feed him, make sure it has the necessary minerals and vitamins to ensure his health. Essential fatty acids will be needed to keep the skin moist. With too much washing, the skin of these dogs will become irritated, dry and flaking if he doesn't received a nutritious, balanced diet. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

When in any doubt as to how to look after a hairless dog, speak to your vet.