Beabull vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison

Derived 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.

The Beabull is known as a designer breed rather than a purebred. The Beabull is a cross between a Beagle and an English Bulldog. This breed is a loving dog, playful and physically strong. They are independent and can be stubborn. Their origins are not well documented, but it is thought they were developed about 20 years ago. Although not recognized by the American Kennel Club because they are not purebred dogs

The 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 first generations of the Beabulls are a 50-50 mix, but most of the breed today are multigenerational dogs. This means a Beabull is mixed with another Beabull to try to create a purebred over time. Most of the Beabulls are a mixture and are very unpredictable in their looks and characteristics, depending upon which of the original parent breeds they favor most. Many will retain the wrinkles, short legs, underbite and short tail of the Bulldog. Others will have the long droopy ears and long muzzles of the Beagle. Most will have coarse, short coats and shed quite a bit. They are medium to large depending upon which size Beagle is used in the crossing.

This 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.

1.Children friendliness – Very good with children. 2.Special talents intelligent and many with a great sense of smell. 3.Adaptability – They can live anywhere in an apartment or a home with a yard. 4.Learning ability – Very intelligent but with a stubborn, independent streak that is inherent in both parental breeds.

There 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.

Although most Beabulls will not have inherited health problems there are some issues they are all prone to: • Bloat – can be fatal if not addressed immediately – inverted digestive organs. • Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness. • Canine Disk Disease – can cause paralysis, loss of legs. • Hypothyroidism • Ear infections – keep them clean. • Patellar Luxation – floating kneecaps – can cause lameness. • Reverse Sneezing

The 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.

1.Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed due to tendency for obesity and don’t feed right before or after exercise due to threat of bloat. Feed 3-4 meals per day a total of 1.5 cups in a day. 2.Feeding the adult - Don’t overfeed due to tendency for obesity and don’t feed right before or after exercise due to threat of bloat. Feed 3-4 meals per day a total of 3 cups in a day. 3.Points for Good Health no hereditary issues 4. Games and Exercises – both the laziness of the Bulldog and the scent driven energy or the Beagle can be seen in the Beabull. They have short bursts of the Beagles hyperness. Enjoy playing fetch and participating in agility. They need a daily 45-60 minute walk.