The Peruvian Hairless
aka - Inca Hairless Dog

by Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D., NetPetsŪ Staff

National Club: Inca Hairless Club of America

Companion Dogs & Toys HAIRLESS Bichons Poodles Asiatic Longhairs Small Bulldogs Small Spitz Companion Terriers Toys

Breed Introduction:

Not to be confused with the Peruvian Inca Orchid, the Peruvian Hairless is a distinct rare breed that, like other hairless breeds, was developed strictly for companionship. Some authorities lump the Peruvian Inca Orchid with the Peruvian Hairless Dog. Here, we consider the Peruvian Inca Orchid a separate breed.

There are three size varieties of this rare breed:

• small: 9.75 to 15.75 inches at the shoulder (withers) and 8.8 to 17.6 pounds.
• medium: 15.75 to 19.75 inches at the shoulder (withers) and 17.6 to 26.4 pounds.
• large: 19.75 to 27.5 inches at the shoulder (withers) and 26.4 to 55 pounds.

This this one hairless breed covers all the size ranges exhibited by Latin American hairless dogs. Larger Peruvian Hairless Dogs have been used for sight hunting. As for hairless breeds, both coated (called "powder puff") and hairless dogs may appear in the same litter. However, excessive hair is not permitted in the standard. Latin American hairless breeds have a sighthound-like physique, a gracefully arched neck, and a head with a long, relatively thin nose and prominent stop (the rise between the muzzle and the skull).

The Peruvian Hairless Dog is both odorless and flealess. Its soft, warm skin is considered "therapeutic." The Peruvian Hairless Dog, like other hairless dogs, has a higher than expected body temperature (making it an ideal canine "hot water bottle"). They are said to be excellent, alert, and intelligent companions.

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 Hairless Dog was developed by the Incas strictly as a companion dog--a bed warmer, but they are reserved with strangers and make good watch dogs. In is said that Spanish explorers first encountered the Peruvian Hairless in Inca dwellings in the 1500s, but in fact it would be difficult to demonstrate which hairless breed the explorers encountered.

Country of Origin: South America (Peru)

Detailed Description:

• PROPORTIONS, BODY & FEET: Sighthound-like in appearance, these dogs are graceful, squarish, medium-boned, and well-muscled. Feet show webbing between the toes.
• HEAD: Slightly elongated 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 Peruvian Hairless 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. Like the Peruvian Inca Orchid and other hairless breeds, the Peruvian Hairless Dog requires considerable attention to avoid sunburn and both hyper- and hypothermia. Skin injuries are not uncommon. 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. Breeding hairless-to-hairless could result in considerable health problems. However, the Peruvian Hairless standard penalizes powder puff varieties. The Peruvian Inca Orchid has a higher than average incidence of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and infantilism (small testicles).
• REFERENCES:
  • David Alderton's "Dogs," Eyewitness Handbooks, Dorling Kindersley, New York, NY, 1993 (who considers this breed a variant of the Peruvian Inca Orchid)
  • 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).

Hairless breeds have undergone a surge in popularity in the United States since the 1980s.

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