The Peruvian Inca Orchid
aka - PIO, The Moonflower Dog,
Perro Flora, Perro Sin Pello Del Peru
by Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D., NetPetsŪ Staff
National Club
- Peruvian Inca Orchid Club of America
- Debby Morris
- 9102 West Brimfield-Jubilee Rd
- Dunlap, IL 61525
- Phone: 309-243-9186
- e-mail: willabe@netnitco.net
Companion Dogs & Toys
- HAIRLESS
- Bichons
- Poodles
- Asiatic Longhairs
- Small Bulldogs
- Small Spitz
- Companion Terriers
- Toys
Breed Introduction:
Smaller than a standard Mexican Hairless yet larger than a Chinese Crested Dog, some authorities consider this medium-sized hairless rare breed to be distinct from other South American Hairless breeds including the Peruvian Hairless. Other authorities lump the Peruvian Inca Orchid with the Peruvian Hairless Dog, reinforcing three size varieties for the hairless dogs from Peru. Here, we consider the Peruvian Inca Orchid a separate breed.
The Peruvian Inca Orchid, PIO, has a unique, thin, leathery prick ear that usually stands erect. The muzzle is broader than in other hairless breeds. The PIO is a rare breed, albeit the AKC is currently attempting to register these dogs. As for most hairless breeds, both coated (called "powder puff") and hairless dogs may appear in the same litter. Latin American hairless breeds have a sighthound-like physique, a gracefully arched neck, and a head with a long nose and prominent stop (the rise between the muzzle and the skull).
Breed History:
Little is known of the origin of hairless breeds. Some authorities consider them African dogs developed in South America. Other authorities attribute hairless breeds to China and state that these individual breeds were developed in Latin America by native peoples who had originally migrated from Asia. The latter is a more likely scenario.
The Peruvian Inca Orchid, PIO, was developed by the Incas strictly as a companion dog--a bed warmer. The PIO, like other hairless dogs, has a higher than expected body temperature (making it an ideal canine "hot water bottle").
Spanish explorers first encountered the PIO in Inca dwellings in the 1500s.
Country of Origin: South America (Peru)
Detailed Description:
- SIZE: PIOs stand about 17-to-26-inches tall at the shoulder and weight 26-to-50 pounds.
- PROPORTIONS, BODY & FEET: Sighthound-like in appearance, PIOs are graceful, light-boned, and well-muscled. Feet show webbing between the toes and are somewhat prehensile, showing an ability to grip objects.
- HEAD: Slightly rounded skull with a narrow forehead. Almond-shaped eyes.
- SKIN: Both a coated (powder puff) and uncoated (characteristic) dog is described in the standard. Skin color varies, although pink with gray spots seem most common. Both hairless and coated dogs may appear in the same litter.
- WHO SHOULD or SHOULD NOT OWN THIS BREED? The PIO lives about a dozen years and requires protection from both overheating and cooling. This breed requires a sweater in cool weather and needs protection from sunburn. In addition, the breed has some health problems which may require long-term veterinary care (see below). This dog breed requires attention from family members, who will be rewarded with a loving and devoted companion.
- HEALTH & BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. The PIO requires considerable attention to avoid sunburn and both hyper- and hypothermia (overheating and chilling). Further, the breed has long had eye and dental problems (e.g., missing premolars; sometimes all but the incisor teeth are absent), conditions which require veterinary care. Most experts argue that interbreeding between coated and uncoated varieties is necessary to maintain the breed's vigor. This is likely because the allele that leads to hairlessness also results in the loss of teeth. Breeding hairless-to-hairless could result in considerable health problems.
- REFERENCES:
- David Alderton's "Dogs," Eyewitness Handbooks, Dorling Kindersley, New York, NY, 1993 (who considers this breed a variant of the Peruvian Hairless)
- Bruce Fogle's "The Encyclopedia of the Dog," Dorling Kindersley, New York, NY, 1995
- Dee Gannon's "The Rare Breed Handbook," Golden Boy Press, Hawthorne, NJ, 1990 (2nd Edition);
- Joan Palmer's "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds," The Wellfleet Press, Edison, NJ, 1994.
Hairless breeds have undergone a surge in popularity in the United States since the 1980s.
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