Peruvian Inca Orchid

The Peruvian Inca Orchid (also known as the Peruvian Hairless Dog) is an ancient breed, dating back more than a thousand years in Peru. Depictions of this breed first appeared on the local pottery of the Moche people around the year 750 AD. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, this was one of the major breeds prized by the Incan Empire. While the Incas did not originally breed this dog, it came to be associated with them. This breed declined swiftly after the end of their empire, and the remaining survivors were heavily mixed with Eurasian dogs; it has even lost the unique genetic signature that would identify it as a pre-contact American breed.

The Peruvian Inca Orchid goes by many names, including perro sin pelo de Perú (Peruvian hairless dog), perro de la flor (flower dog), Inca hairless dog, and Peruvian viringo. Since its body radiates a lot of heat, it was once used as bed warmers during the night. It was supposedly imbued with mystical properties to stop headaches or cure arthritis.

The Peruvian Inca Orchid is considered to be a sighthound, adept at hunting small game. It is characterized by a sleek and athletic body, long ears, and a thin and sinewy tail. Hairlessness (except on the head, feet, and tail) is the breed’s most important physical characteristic, but coated varieties can also appear, even within the same litter as hairless dogs. The coated variation is the result of a recessive trait.

The dog needs to inherit two recessive traits from both parents to grow a full coat of fur. If it inherits a dominant hairless trait and a recessive-haired trait, then it will result in a hairless dog. If the dog inherits two copies of the hairless trait, then the fertilized egg will die shortly after. This means all surviving dogs will have at least one recessive-haired trait. Accepted colors include black, brown, gray, and various shades of these, sometimes with white markings.

Peruvian Inca Orchid vs. Xoloitzcuintli

The Xoloitzcuintli (or Xolo for short) is another ancient hairless breed, this one hailing from Mexico. It bears a strong resemblance to the Peruvian Inca Orchid both in its temperament and physical characteristics. The untrained eye may accidentally mistake them for each other. They have similar builds, similar sizes, and come in both haired/coated and hairless varieties.

3 Pros And Cons Of Owning A Peruvian Inca Orchid

Size And Weight

The Peruvian Inca Orchid comes in three basic sizes: small, medium, and large. The small version generally weighs between 8.5 and 17.5 pounds. The medium version weighs 17.5 to 26.5 pounds. And the large dog weighs 26.5 to 55 pounds. The dog has a height of between 9 and 26 inches, depending on the version.

Common Health Issues

The Peruvian Inca Orchid has a good lifespan of 12 to 14 years, but it is prone to developing several different health problems, including acne, skin lesions, epilepsy, cancer, irritable bowel disease, and missing teeth. This dog will need routine checkups at the vet to catch health problems as early as possible.

Temperament

The Peruvian Inca Orchid has a “primitive” personality; this means it can exhibit a wide range of different temperaments, from docile to more feral. It’s also a sensitive and affectionate dog that loves people and always thrives in its owner’s presence. This is an indoor dog; it should not stay alone outdoors for long periods without supervision, even if you’re somewhere nearby. It also needs constant mental stimulation throughout the day. Otherwise, it could resort to annoying and destructive behavior.

How To Take Care Of The Peruvian Inca Orchid

The Peruvian Inca Orchid is best for experienced owners who have enough time to shower it with constant company and attention. It does well in both apartments and houses, but it should live indoors for most of the day.

The Best Dog Food

The Peruvian Inca Orchid will need a few cups of high-quality dog food per day, based on the dog’s age, size, and activity level. Both commercial dog food and home-prepared food should suffice to satisfy your dog’s needs.

Maintenance And Grooming

The Peruvian Inca Orchid should do well with minimal grooming. The hairless version needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth frequently to remove dirt and grime, and it will also need occasional baths every week or two to prevent the skin from developing blemishes and acne. In addition to these normal grooming habits, the nails will need a trim about once a month, or whenever necessary, to prevent them from splitting, cracking, or clicking on the floor. Check the ears every so often for signs of infection and then clean them out with a cotton swab and cleansing solution. Brush the teeth frequently as well. When you venture outside into the sun, the dog will need proper sunscreen or clothing to protect its fragile skin.

Training

The Peruvian Inca Orchid should be fairly easy to train with enough positive reinforcement methods, but owners may need to commit a substantial amount of time to work with them. Patience and consistency are a must to get the most out of them.

Exercise

The Peruvian Inca Orchid needs about 30 minutes or more of exercise per day. It enjoys indoor playtime, walks around the block, and free running, preferably in a fenced yard. Be careful about letting this dog off the leash, because it does tend to chase small animals around.

Puppies

Peruvian Inca Orchid puppies need to begin the process of socialization, housetraining, and boundary setting as early as possible. It should gradually ease into more advanced training after a few months. Crate training, while not mandatory, can help quite a bit with housebreaking and early behavioral issues. You should also try to get this dog out of the house and introduce it to as many new situations as possible.

In addition to all of this, this breed does have a few unique personality quirks that owners should be aware of. According to the American Kennel Club, rough play should be discouraged in a puppy because it could promote aggressive behavior later on. Puppies also do best with children and other animals if raised with them from a young age.

The Peruvian Inca Orchid And Children

This breed is generally not ideal for homes with smaller children. They will do best in households with older, more responsible children. Adults should supervise all interactions between this breed and their kids.

Dogs Similar To The Peruvian Inca Orchid

The PIO resembles several other breeds of small to medium-sized hairless dogs around the world.

• Xoloitzcuintli: Named after Xotlotl, the Aztec’s dog-headed god of fire and lightning (and the guide for the souls of the dead), the Xoloitzcuintli (also known as the Mexican hairless dog) is an affectionate, smart, and sensitive breed that looks like the Peruvian Inca Orchid. It comes in three different sizes: toy, miniature, and standard.
• Chinese Crested Dog: This small toy breed is almost completely hairless except for tufts of hair around the head, tail, and ankles. Its lively and affectionate personality should endear it to people of all ages.
• Whippet: The Peruvian Inca Orchid isn’t actually related to the whippet at all, but it does have a similar sleek body and strong desire to chase prey.