
AHT certainly gives a new meaning to the term "wash and dry"!! I use the following products and I found out that my dogs take well to these. For washing, I use any kind of children’s liquid soap. Because you will be washing skin, not hair, it is important to keep it clean and if possible, not apply any additives to it. I have discovered that children’s soap is ideal due to its effects, it moisturizes the skin and leaves it soft and supple like the skin of a child. It really doesn’t need anything else. The rule "less is more" applies here. After a bath, I apply moisturizing cream to my naked doggie children. After a long observation which cream works best and is most suitable for their skin, I have come to the conclusion that the most ideal is a Marigold Cream called Indulona. I have been buying many other products, many times more expensive, but truthfully, Indulona is most ideal. There is no need to apply any special type of care for AHT that would not apply to other dogs. On the contrary, I think that the care is far more practical!

AHT pups grow at a very fast rate, so there is a need to cut the claws EVERY week, so that they would always be of a reasonable length. Certainly do not let them overgrow, otherwise the paw will loose its nice appearance. Excessively long claws can negatively affect the movement ability of the dog. Short claws are very important. Too long claws may even grow into the soft inner flesh of the bottom side of the paw. I use the classic dog claw clippers and after cutting them, I file them down with a file. Above all, you must pay close attention so that you don’t cut the claws too much. This can be very painful for the dog. The claw can bleed a lot and the dog never forgets this negative experience. If your dog misbehaves during this procedure, never praise it in an effort to calm it down, because it may interpret this action as a reward for its bad behavior. Simply ignore it and reward it only when it behaves well. The dog should become well used to the cutting of claws.

For the filing of claws, use a manicure file. I always hold the dog in my lap and do the filing. It goes along quite fast and I do not risk the chance of bleeding. Another advantage is that you can file off all unevenness and sharp edges and the claw is smooth and neat afterwards.

Because the AHTs has no fur, we must take into account how much of the sun’s rays fall onto its bare skin.… I personally use cotton T-shirts. For winter, I buy some fleece clothes. I do not dress my dogs in T-shirts or fleece clothes every time, it all depends on the weather and on how suntanned they are at the time. AHTs have a tendency to become sunburnt especially in spring, when they loose their previous suntan throughout winter. But when the trees have developed a full coverage of leaves and therefore provide adequate shade, the dogs usually don’t need any further protection. Some even seek out the direct sunlight! These individuals must be closely watched and possibly protected by using a sunscreen cream. I would never use such products as a water resistant SPF 45 sunscreen, I have heard different horror stories of allergic reactions in other hairless breeds and therefore I do not recommend them. I personally do not use a sunscreen 99% of the time and I have never had the experience that my doggie children got sunburnt.
I think that that is about it, what you should know in the beginning. I hope that this information will help you and that it will be useful. It was my pleasure…If you have any questions – ask me!
Thanks,
Romana Dyntrová
Punto Valentino kennel
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