Additonal Breeds Starting
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COUNTRY:
Peru
WEIGHT:
Small 9-18 pounds; medium 18-26 pounds;
large 26-55 pounds
HEIGHT:
Small 10-16 inches; medium 16-20 inches;
large 20-28 inches
COAT:
Hairless; short fuzzy hair on top of head, edge
of ears, feet and tail
COLOR:
Solid dark skin
OTHER
NAMES: Peruvian Hairless Dog
REGISTRY:
FCI
GROUP:
Southern
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Hairless dogs have been bred in
Peru since the time of the Incan civilizations. But today very few professional
breeders of Inca Hairless Dogs live in Peru; only a handful breed dogs
according to genetic studies and with careful planning.
A
few of the Hairless dogs were sent to Germany, where rare breed club members
helped the Peruvians draft a standard and obtain FCI recognition in 1985.
A few are found in the United States.
Like the Inca Orchids, the
Inca Hairless have missing premolars, often causing their tongues to hang
out the side of their mouths. They also have the two coat varieties, with
the same dominant hairless gene. In fact, owners say that the Peruvian
dogs choose their canine friends on the basis of the length of their hair.
Unlike their relatives of the night (Orchids), however, they have small
eyes "from squinting in the sun."
Appreciation of their warmth
was expressed by a peasant owner who said they are "nice to have
in bed . . . warm as an oven on a chilly night. They are very clean, and
they have no fleas."
They are agile dogs, with
a light gait which comes "from centuries of walking the endless coastal
sand." Two gaits are seen: the free trot and the restricted front
rhythmic movement. Dogs with very straight fronts walk in tiny little
steps, giving an impression of the Paso Fino horse.
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