Peruvian Hairless Dogs Back Home

January 22nd, 2007

Photo: REUTERS/Pilar Olivares

Once the pet-dogs of ancient Peruvians, the Hairless God has survived for many centuries on the brink of extinction.

The Incas and, in particular, native Pre-Inca civilisations located along Peru’s coast (where the dogs find their ideal habitat) kept them for hunting and for company. They are widely portrayed on the ceramics of many coastal cultures: Vicus, Chimu, Moche and Chancay.

But with the Spanish conquest of Peru, the breed was almost annihilated. Only a few dogs survived, mainly in rural and marginal areas along the coast, feeding on whatever they could find.

At some point in time they became so scarce as to turn mythical: were vegetarian, couldn’t bark, alleviated stomach pain, or healed asthma.

Now, after a successful initiative by Huaca Pucllana (an archaeological site located in the heart of Lima), the breed is ready for it’s come back. The government has ordered that all archaeological sites along the coast keep at least a pair of Peruvian hairless dogs. In what seems an effective safeguard measure, the dogs can finally return to their historic scenery, the habitat they lived in for more than 3000 years.

“Now we can say they are safe, saved by this project, but a few years ago the Peruvian Hairless Dog was under threat of extinction in Peru,” said to Reuters Pedro Vargas, coordinator of the Huaca Pucllana archaeological project. “We know there are quite a few now, and there are people breeding them and people buying them here and for export - it is a luxury dog now,” added Vargas.

Peruvian Hairless dog was recently accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, and thus became Peru’s only own world-registered breed.

The dog’s skin can be chocolate-brown, elephant grey, copper, or mottled -but strictly naked. Hair is only allowed in the tail, legs or head, where it usually grows to resemble a Punk’s mohawk. Dog’s size ranges from Miniature (25 to 40 cm -10 to 16 inches) to Large (50 to 65 cm -20 to 26 inches), with the smallest weighting from 4 kg (9 lb) and the largest up to 25 kg (55 lb).

The dogs should be slim and elegant, with the impression of force and harmony, without being coarse.

Peruvian Hairless dogs are very smart, independent, loyal and good with children, which makes them an excellent pet.

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