Your guide to finding and caring for an American Hairless Terrier in Sioux Falls
American Hairless Terriers suit apartment living in Sioux Falls, as long as you keep a warm layer handy. In All Saints, where the old school building now holds apartments a short walk from McKennan Park, a small dog that wants a couple of brisk walks and a game of tug fits right in. They're alert and will announce every footstep in the hallway. There's no coat to buffer a 10-degree morning, so the sweater goes on before the leash.
Find your American Hairless Terrier
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The American Hairless Terrier is the only hairless breed developed in the United States. It began in 1972 in Louisiana, when a hairless puppy named Josephine was born into a litter of coated Rat Terriers, and the AKC recognized the breed in 2016. Hairless puppies are born with fuzz that falls out within weeks, while a coated variety has a short, smooth coat.
These small, muscular terriers are curious, alert and playful, with a terrier's zest for chasing and digging. Many are affectionate and quick to learn with reward-based training, though dogs vary. In Sioux Falls, skin care turns seasonal: sunscreen or a light shirt in summer, sweaters and coats in winter, and regular baths year-round, in exchange for very little hair on the furniture.
Having an American Hairless Terrier in Sioux Falls
Small, energetic and sensitive to both sun and cold, this terrier does best in Sioux Falls in a home that stays warm in winter. Coated dogs have fewer skin worries, but their short fur gives little protection from the cold.
Many are affectionate, playful and closely attached to their families, and they often do well with respectful children. They tend to bark at unfamiliar sounds, which matters in shared hallways, and some chase squirrels or cats. Reward-based training works well, though terrier independence shows up. A dog's comfort with other pets matters more than breed.
Plan on daily walks plus active play such as fetch, tug or sniffing games. Sioux Falls has fenced dog parks with small-dog space where a terrier can run, and indoor games and puzzle feeders fill in on subzero days. Add a coat in cold weather and sun protection in summer.
Hairless skin can sunburn, dry out, develop blocked pores or get scraped, and cold winters raise the risk of chilled paws and ears. Patellar luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and allergies are reported in the breed. Coated dogs avoid most skin issues. Regular vet visits should cover skin, joints and teeth.
The small size suits Sioux Falls apartments and houses alike, provided exercise and play needs are met. A hairless dog can't live outdoors, so it needs a warm indoor spot year-round. A securely fenced yard helps, but coyotes live inside the city, so supervise yard time and keep a small dog close.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $20 to $45 per month | $240 to $540 |
| Pet insurance | $35 to $70 per month | $420 to $840 |
| Routine vet care | $200 to $400 per year | $200 to $400 |
| Other* | $430 to $1,375 per year | $430 to $1,375 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,290 to $3,155 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* The Sioux Falls dog license ($5 a year for a spayed or neutered dog, $25 if unaltered), flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, baths and skin care, and sunscreen, shirts and sweaters for hairless dogs.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls has an open-admission humane society and foster-based rescues, and the groups listed below place dogs with local families. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Sioux Falls area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether an American Hairless Terrier is coming in.
Yes. Sioux Falls has no breed bans, and South Dakota law forbids cities from passing rules aimed at a specific breed. You'll need a city license and a rabies vaccination once the dog is six months old. Landlords and insurers can still set their own breed or weight limits, so read a lease carefully before adopting.
They can, as indoor dogs with proper gear. Use a coat or sweater for every trip outside, booties for salted sidewalks, and keep potty breaks short when wind chills drop. Watch ears, paws and tail for signs of chill. Coated dogs tolerate cold slightly better, but neither variety should spend long outdoors in a Sioux Falls January.
Yes, its small size suits apartments well. The main challenge is noise: these terriers tend to bark at hallway sounds, so reward quiet behavior early. Plan daily walks plus indoor tug, fetch and puzzle games for days when it's too cold to stay out, and map a short, sheltered route for winter potty trips.
Pawsible Dog Park is a strong pick because its small-dog section is fenced and separate. Spencer, Family, Lien and Hayward parks also have city dog parks, and the Big Sioux River Recreation Trail suits leashed walks. Bring proof of license and vaccines, and pack sunscreen in summer or a coat in winter.
Very little coat care, but plenty of skin care. Most owners give a gentle bath every few weeks with mild shampoo, and winter's dry indoor heat may call for moisturizer. Summer needs dog-safe sunscreen. Coated dogs just need a quick weekly brushing. Baths at home keep costs within the yearly Other figure on this page.
It can be, for adopters who are home a fair amount and don't mind dressing a dog for winter. The breed's playful energy fits the city's dog parks and river trails. It's a weaker match for anyone wanting a dog that lives outdoors or handles long, cold walks, though each dog differs.
Sometimes. City health officials have said dogs may join diners on patios and even indoors unless the city, county or the business prohibits it, and dogs must stay out of food-preparation areas. Access is each restaurant's choice, so patios are the safer bet. Keep your terrier leashed and off chairs, and watch for sun or chill.
Sioux Area Metro runs buses only, with no subway or rail. Service animals ride, but SAM has no posted pet policy, so check its rules before planning a trip with a small dog. Dress your terrier warmly for waiting at stops in winter, and keep fares and schedules in mind before heading out.
No dog is completely hypoallergenic, but the hairless American Hairless Terrier sheds almost no hair, and many people with mild dog allergies tolerate it well. Allergens also come from dander, saliva and urine, so reactions still vary by person. The coated variety sheds a short coat. Spending time with a specific dog before adopting is the safest test.
Expect roughly $20–$45 a month for food, $35–$70 a month for insurance, $200–$400 a year for routine vet care and $430–$1,375 a year for other costs such as prevention, dental care, the license, and skin and winter gear. Totals vary with each dog's health and needs.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Sioux Falls.
