American Hairless Terrier Dogs for Adoption in Nashville, TN

Your guide to finding and caring for an American Hairless Terrier in Nashville

American Hairless Terriers are a good match for Nashville's apartment neighborhoods, like Hillsboro Village and Germantown. At 12 to 28 pounds, they fit apartments and bungalows alike, and a short loop past the shops or to the 3rd Avenue dog park covers a lot of their energy. They're curious and alert, so expect commentary on every passing scooter. Hot, humid summers mean sunscreen and a shirt on most hairless dogs, but the coated variety needs far less. Either way, they love a lap on the couch afterward.

9752 dogs similar to American Hairless Terrier available in Nashville and nationwide

Find your American Hairless Terrier

American Hairless Terriers and Similar Breeds Available for Adoption Near Nashville

About the American Hairless Terrier breed

The American Hairless Terrier is the only hairless breed developed in the United States. It started in 1972 in Louisiana, when a hairless puppy named Josephine was born into a litter of coated Rat Terriers, and her descendants became the foundation of a new breed the AKC recognized in 2016. Hairless puppies are born with fuzz that falls out within weeks, while the coated variety keeps a short, smooth coat.

These small, muscular terriers tend to be curious, alert and playful, with the same zest for chasing and digging as their ratting ancestors. Many are affectionate and quick to learn with reward-based training, though they vary from dog to dog. In Nashville, that means a dog who wants a daily walk, a plan for storm season and a wardrobe that changes with the thermometer, in exchange for very little hair on the furniture.

Weight
12–28 lbs
Height
12–16 in
Lifespan
13–16 yrs
Temperament
Energetic, Alert, Curious, Intelligent
Group
Terrier
Shedding
Low

Owning an American Hairless Terrier in Nashville

Having an American Hairless Terrier in Nashville

Terrier energy and skin that needs extra care define this breed. In Nashville, that comes down to a daily walk, sun protection through the humid summer, a sweater for freezing nights, and a warm, dry spot indoors.

Temperament

Many American Hairless Terriers are affectionate, playful and closely bonded to their families, and they often do well with respectful children. They tend to bark at unfamiliar sounds, which matters in shared Nashville apartment buildings, and some chase squirrels or cats. Reward-based training works well. Each dog differs, so comfort with other pets matters more than breed.

Exercise Needs

Plan on a daily walk plus active play such as fetch, tug or sniffing games. Nashville's leashed greenways and fenced dog parks give a small terrier room to run, but heat and rain shape the timing: walk early or after dark in summer, and skip creekside greenways after heavy rain, since trails can flood.

Health Considerations

Hairless skin can sunburn, dry out, get scraped or develop blocked pores, so routine skin checks and gentle baths matter. Patellar luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease and allergies are reported in the breed. Nashville's ticks, fleas and mosquitoes make current parasite prevention worthwhile, and a veterinarian can check joints, skin and teeth.

Living Space

At 12 to 28 pounds, an American Hairless Terrier fits Nashville apartments, ranch houses and bungalows if its exercise needs are met. It can't live outdoors, so it needs a warm indoor bed year-round. A securely fenced yard helps, since many chase small animals or dig, and coyotes are a reason to supervise small dogs outside.

What it costs to own an American Hairless Terrier in Nashville

ExpenseTypical costPer 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*$433 to $1,358 per year$433 to $1,358
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,293 to $3,138

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, the $8 Nashville rabies tag that serves as the dog license, toys and bedding, baths and skin care, and sunscreen, shirts and sweaters for hairless dogs.

Adopt an American Hairless Terrier in Nashville.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Nashville.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Nashville's animal code has no breed-specific restrictions, and Tennessee has no statewide breed ban. Once the dog is six months old, it needs a rabies vaccine and a Davidson County rabies tag. If you rent, get your landlord's okay first, since building policies on pets, weight and fees vary from one property to the next.

Yes, with precautions. Nashville summers are hot and humid, and hairless skin sunburns, so use dog-safe sunscreen or a light shirt and keep walks to early morning or evening. Provide shade, fresh water and air conditioning on the hottest days. A coated dog has less sunburn risk but can still overheat, so the heat plan is the same.

Usually, yes. At 12 to 28 pounds with moderate energy, it fits apartments well when it gets daily walks and play. Barking is the usual snag: alert terriers react to hallway and street noise, and Metro's noise rules cover frequent, loud, continued barking. Review the building's pet policy for weight limits and fees before you apply.

Fenced dog parks suit a small dog: the small dog area at Centennial near Vanderbilt, Shelby Dog Park in East Nashville and Two Rivers in Donelson. Dogs there need rabies and ID tags. For walks, try the paved Shelby Bottoms Greenway on a leash of 6 feet or less. Skip Radnor Lake's trails, which ban dogs.

Only to patios. Metro allows leashed dogs on the outdoor patios of restaurants that hold a city permit, so not every restaurant participates, and dogs aren't allowed inside. Your dog needs a license tag on its collar and a non-retractable leash no longer than six feet. Dress a hairless dog for the weather, since patios can be sunny or chilly.

Only in a carrier. WeGo's rules allow non-service animals on its buses and the WeGo Star train only in an approved transfer cage, and carrier dimensions aren't published. A smaller American Hairless Terrier may fit, but a dog near 28 pounds probably won't. Service animals are exempt from that rule. Nashville has no subway.

Very little coat care, but regular skin care. Hairless dogs need baths with a mild shampoo, moisturizer if the skin dries out in winter, and sunscreen during Nashville's humid summers. The coated variety needs only occasional brushing. Home baths and skin care fall within the Other line of the cost table, so a professional groomer isn't required.

It can be, for adopters who like an active, curious small dog and will manage the weather. Hot summers, icy winter spells and spring storms all call for planning, and coyotes mean supervising a small dog outside. Fireworks are banned in Davidson County but still heard from nearby, so a quiet indoor spot helps noise-sensitive dogs.

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 $1,300 to $3,100 a year in recurring costs. Food runs $20 to $45 a month and insurance $35 to $70 a month, routine vet care $200 to $400 a year, and other costs such as parasite prevention, dental care, skin care and sun or winter gear $433 to $1,358 a year. Totals depend on the dog's health.