Breed Spotlight: Peruvian Inca Orchid

As the name suggests, this breed hails from Peru. What is so interesting is that it has no body hair, and that it is a very old breed. These hairless wonders are known for being pets during the Incan Empire, but depictions on ancient pottery shows that these dogs were around long before that. The Spanish almost caused the extinction of the breed during their conquest of Peru, but the breed was held in such high esteem by locals that they thrived in rural areas that went untouched by the Spanish.

These dogs are great for owners with allergies. They do not shed and they are very easy to clean doing a wipe down with a sponge. They can become very dry skinned though, requiring extra care and hygiene. They also need to be protected from too much sunlight, either by shade or sunblock. Most dogs are darker chocolates and brown colors, but can be gray or golden, and spotted. They do have a patch of hair on top of their heads, feet, and tip of the tail.

Peruvian hairless dogs   are extremely smart and very loyal. Though wary of strangers, they are very affectionate towards their owners and tend to be very protective of women and children in the family. They cannot withstand extreme weather temperatures, but are very comfortable wearing clothing for warmth. They are not a good dog for beginners, needing special training and lots of attention.