The American Hairless – Not Your Typical Terrier

By Amy Fernandez

There’s no need to state the fact that Terrier people are dead serious about their breed, like “take no prisoners” serious. And they have earned that right. After all, it was as Smooth Fox Terrier that first won Westminster and still holds the record for the most consecutive BIS wins.

All said, breaking into this group is tough. Just think about what it’s like for a novice exhibitor trying to do it with a recently admitted breed. I recently caught up with Karen Kimball who was attending her first Westminster with her Silver GCH. American Hairless Terrier. GCHS Ch. Elements Fully Charged was taking in the scene in true Terrier fashion.  She wasn’t chatty but Karen is the PR half of this pair. And she’s on it.

Karen’s introduction to the breed came via two rescue dogs listed on Craigs List. She’d never owned one before, but she could not resist and that lucky find eventually led her to Westminster 2024. “I didn’t know anything about the breed. They were beautiful dogs and I had always wanted to get into showing. So, I was determined to find a really good one from a reputable breeder.” Every bit of her story says one in a million.

My personal introduction to the breed came back in the 80s when Trout Creek Kennel arrived with this brand new breed at rare breed shows. The AHT began as a chance mutation in a Rat Terrier litter whelped August 12, 1972. Pipe’s Josephine, owned by Edwin and Willie Scott sparked the sort of plan that hasn’t had liftoff in this sport since the 1800s.

Prior to embarking on this insane endeavor to create a breed, the Scotts conferred with geneticists. They were skeptical about the idea because their Rat Terrier mutation did not conform to the well established genetic pattern of hairless transmission that had been documented in Xolos, Peruvians and Cresteds. This was something totally different. Dr. Phillip Sponenberg from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine thought different. He was fascinated. Working together they defined the gene transmission and the Scotts devoted 25 years to creating a true type.

There is much more to the story but let’s just say that the Terrier establishment didn’t quite share the wonderment of Dr. Sponenberg and Trout Creek. The breed was granted full recognition in 2018, and Karen Kimball was ready to roll. Since acquiring her rescues, she got serious. She’s bred five litters and finished six champions. That may not seem like much but when you are swimming against the tide, believe me, it is work of true dedication.

“Outside of California, you really couldn’t count on getting entries. But it is getting better. There’s no regional club on the West Coast but breeders do work together” and that’s critical for more than that reason. “The breed has become more consistent and we are really working on temperament. They have come a long way. But we really have to keep the breed out there in the ring.” Yes, Karen gets it.  Breaking into the Terrier crowd is challenging, but you need to be tenacious- just like them.

Terrier judges tend to obsess about coat texture, stripping, plucking and well, this is a different package. Although I had nothing to do with the breed’s success, I am thrilled. Taking a breed from chance mutation to Westminster is truly something to celebrate.  Good work Karen Kimball.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=297424

Posted by Liz on Jul 31 2024. Filed under Current Articles, Featured, The Buzz. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.