American Kennel Club adds hairless terriers, sloughis to list of dog breeds

In this file photo, African sight hounds, or sloughis, walk through the exhibitor's hall at the Long Beach Convention Center at the Tenth Annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship dog show on Sunday Dec. 5, 2010, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP/Richard Vogel)

NEW YORK - A hairless terrier and an ancient North African hound are ready to run with the pack of dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The organization announced Tuesday the American hairless terrier and the sloughi can now compete in most AKC shows and competitions.

While many American hairless terriers are bare-skinned, others have short coats but carry the hairless gene. Lively and inquisitive, they can do well at canine sports and as pets for people with dog-hair allergies.

The highly athletic sloughi was developed to hunt game as big as gazelles. Sloughis are known for speed, grace and rather reserved demeanours. They have some similarities to salukis, another hound breed.

There are now 189 AKC-recognized breeds. Criteria include having several hundred dogs of the breed nationwide.