Talbot vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison

American Hairless Terrier is originated from United States but Talbot is originated from France. American Hairless Terrier may grow 24 cm / 9 inches shorter than Talbot. American Hairless Terrier may weigh 38 kg / 83 pounds lesser than Talbot. American Hairless Terrier may live 4 years more than Talbot. American Hairless Terrier may have less litter size than Talbot. Both American Hairless Terrier and Talbot requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Gun dog
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United States
France
Height Male:
18 - 45 cm
7 - 18 inches
58 - 69 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
16 - 40 cm
6 - 16 inches
58 - 69 cm
22 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 12 kg
6 - 27 pounds
36 - 50 kg
79 - 111 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 10 kg
4 - 23 pounds
36 - 50 kg
79 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
8 - 10
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
AHT, American Hairless Rat Terrier
Talbot Hound
Colors Available:
variety of colors and patterns (blue, black, brown, pink, sable and tan) with white
White
Coat:
hairless, coated variety has a short dense coat
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Lively, Loving, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
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.

Known as the Talbot Hound, nobody really seems to have accurate records as to the origins of the Talbot dog breed but it seems to have originated in France.

It is believed that the Talbot, with his excellent nose, was a hunting dog, but he is now extinct.

It is thought that the dog descends from the beagle and the bloodhound. It came to England in 1066 and vanished towards the end of the 18th century.

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.

The Talbot hound was a large, white purebred dog. He stood at roughly 58 to 69cm and weighed between 36 and 50kg.

He had a large head and a short, smooth, coarse pure white coat. He has a long tail which he held upright and fairly long floppy ears. He was a slow but efficient scenthound.

Temperament:

It is believed that this strong, hard working dog was gentle, loving and loyal and that he would have made an excellent family pet.

They were the kind of dogs that needed lots of social interaction with his human family. His amicable nature would have meant him getting on well with children and other dogs.

Slow, it’s a dog that had low intelligence and he may have taken a long time to learn any simple tricks or commands. If he were around today he wouldn’t have been suited to city living as he was a vocal breed – having quite a selection of barks and howls to voice his opinion.

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.

The Talbot is extinct, but he was no doubt a docile, calm kind of dog that would have made a great family pet.

He would have been an ideal dog for first time dog owners too as he was a gentle, affectionate dog.They were tough, protective, stubborn but loving and loyal, and more’s the pity that this dog has disappeared.

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.

Nobody can say what the health status of the Talbot dog was, but being a hunting dog, out in the open and getting plenty of exercise, he was no doubt a healthy dog. But all dogs can fall ill at some time or another with any one of the many dog illnesses there are -

Ear Infections:

Ear infections in dogs are quite common, but more so with dogs that have floppy ears.

You’ll see your pet scratching and pawing at his ears and shaking his head. There will in all likelihood be redness in your pets ears and you may even detect an abnormal odor.

There are quite a few things that can cause these ear infections in dogs such as ear mites, an excess of dirt and wax and bacteria.

Don’t allow your pet to suffer – get him to the vet. Your veterinarian will also show you how you can clean the ear for future times with a gentle cleanser. You have to be so careful not to rupture the ear drum, and some people prefer to get their vet to do this or professional groomers.

Ectropion - eyelid abnormalities:

The Talbot could have suffered with ectropion – when the lower lids are turned out. Ectropion disrupts the function of the lower lid so that it can't protect the eye, and there is abrasion of the surface of the eye.

This condition can also bring on conjunctivitis. Get your pet to the vet for treatment and relief.

The lifespan of the Talbot was anything from 9 to 12 years of age, and one or two other health problems that could have shortened his life were dermatitis, cancer, hip dysplasia and eye infections.

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.

Grooming:

The Talbot with his short hair would have been looked upon as a low maintenance breed and would have required a brush now and again.

Because of the floppy ears, they would have needed to be checked inside for infection.

Diet:

The Talbot was a strong, hard-working kind of dog so if commercially manufactured dog food was available in that time, you would have ensured a good quality one for strong, energetic dogs.

At that time, Talbot dog owners tossed their dogs bits of raw meat. Home-made food like boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes without any exotic flavorings would have been an excellent diet.

Any dog will need a constant supply of fresh, cool water to drink.

Comparison with other breeds

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  26. Talbot vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Talbot vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
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  29. Talbot vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Talbot vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Talbot vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Talbot vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Talbot vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Talbot vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Talbot vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Talbot vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Talbot vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Talbot vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Talbot vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Talbot vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Talbot vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Talbot vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Talbot vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Talbot vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Talbot vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Talbot vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Talbot vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Talbot vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Talbot vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Talbot vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison