Bracco Italiano vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison

Bracco Italiano vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed ComparisonAmerican Hairless Terrier is originated from United States but Bracco Italiano is originated from Italy. American Hairless Terrier may grow 22 cm / 8 inches shorter than Bracco Italiano. American Hairless Terrier may weigh 28 kg / 61 pounds lesser than Bracco Italiano. Both American Hairless Terrier and Bracco Italiano has almost same life span. Both American Hairless Terrier and Bracco Italiano has almost same litter size. Both American Hairless Terrier and Bracco Italiano requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Gun dog
undefined
United States
Italy
Height Male:
18 - 45 cm
7 - 18 inches
58 - 67 cm
22 - 27 inches
Height Female:
16 - 40 cm
6 - 16 inches
55 - 62 cm
21 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
3 - 12 kg
6 - 27 pounds
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 10 kg
4 - 23 pounds
23 - 40 kg
50 - 89 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 6
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
AHT, American Hairless Rat Terrier
Italian Pointer Italian Pointing Dog
Colors Available:
variety of colors and patterns (blue, black, brown, pink, sable and tan) with white
Orange and White, Chestnut and White with some freckling
Coat:
hairless, coated variety has a short dense coat
Short, dense and glossy
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Lively, Loving, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
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.

bracco italianoThe attractive and popular breed in Italy, the Bracco Italiano was used for tracking and retrieving, evolving in Piedmont and Lombardy. It is believed the Bracco Italiano came about from crossing the Segugio with the ancient Asiatic Mastiff.

There are people however, who believe that the breed goes back to the St Hubert Hound, but it is certain that both hounds and gundogs are part of the breed’s ancestry. The dog only arrived in Britain in the last decade of the 20th 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.

His Looks:

bracco italiano puppy - descriptionThe Bracco Italiano is a large athletic, muscular dog. He stands at 58–67cm, weighing anything between 25 – 40kg. He reminds one somewhat of a German Short-haired Pointer. He has long ears and a serious expression, and this reminds one of a Bloodhound. He has short, shiny hair with his coat being white and chestnut or orange. The tail of the Bracco Italiano has always been docked, giving him an attractive, distinctive look but with rules and regulations coming in regarding docking, the long tail is often left intact. His eyes are brown.

His Temperament

Braccos are wonderful pets – they are intelligent, loving, gentle and amicable, getting on well with children in the home as well as with other pets. Socialize and train them and they become gentle and obedient. They long to be involved with their human family and will adapt to life in the city or the country so long as they are made to feel like family. He is alert and makes a good watchdog. As with most other dogs, they can’t be bought, loved as a puppy and then ignored and left to themselves when they grow into adults.

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.

bracco italiano dog - characteristicsThe gentle, amicable Bracco Italiano is a versatile dog that can be a super sport companion for active people and it can also be an exceptional companion for families and older people. He has a sweet, gentle expression and his amicable nature makes him easy to love. He is alert though, and therefore can be both protector and friend at the same time.

Overall, this easy going dog with his low maintenance coat can make an excellent 4-legged addition to any family.

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.

bracco italiano puppies - health problemsThere don’t appear to be any major health issues with your Bracco Italiano and he can live to be 12, 13 or 14 years of age. Because he is a large breed however, you will need to watch out for hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is a common skeletal disease with dogs and larger dogs have the genetic predisposition for hip dysplasia. Your dog can develop joint inflammation with pain and lameness.

Other health problems to look out for include kidney disease (Amaloidosis), cherry eye which results in dry eye. If you want to buy a Bracco Italiano, you should ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents.

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:

bracco italiano dogs - caringThese dogs are moderate shedders so he will simply need a good brushing twice a week to ensure the coat is kept shiny and free from loose hairs. Nails should be clipped from time to time and he will also need to have his long ears checked for cleanliness. Long-eared dog breeds are more susceptible to canine ear infections.

Feeding:

The Bracco is a large dog and therefore he will require a high quality, large-breed dog food formula. Your veterinarian can even recommend a quality commercially manufactured food for large, energetic dogs and which comes with all the vitamins and minerals required for such a breed.

Your vet will recommend you steer clear of foods with cheap fillers, lots of preservatives, sugar and colorants. He has a glossy, dense short coat and you want to ensure he gets raw meat, rice and vegetables from time to time to ensure that the beautiful coat never becomes dull and dry.

Cool, fresh water must always be available to him. Diet and nutrition is an important decision for your pet as it will ultimately affect his long term health.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Bracco Italiano vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Bracco Italiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Bracco Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Bracco Italiano vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Bracco Italiano vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bracco Italiano vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Bracco Italiano vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Bracco Italiano vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bracco Italiano vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Bracco Italiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Bracco Italiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Bracco Italiano vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Bracco Italiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Bracco Italiano vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Bracco Italiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Bracco Italiano vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Bracco Italiano vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Bracco Italiano vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Bracco Italiano vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Bracco Italiano vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Bracco Italiano vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Bracco Italiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Bracco Italiano vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Bracco Italiano vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Bracco Italiano vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. American Hairless Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. American Hairless Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. American Hairless Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. American Hairless Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. American Hairless Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. American Hairless Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. American Hairless Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. American Hairless Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. American Hairless Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. American Hairless Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. American Hairless Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. American Hairless Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. American Hairless Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. American Hairless Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. American Hairless Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. American Hairless Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. American Hairless Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. American Hairless Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. American Hairless Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. American Hairless Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. American Hairless Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. American Hairless Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. American Hairless Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. American Hairless Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. American Hairless Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison