Peruvian Inca Orchid

COUNTRY: Peru
WEIGHT: 20-38 pounds
HEIGHT: 151/2-20 inches
COAT: Hairless—with crew-cut length hair on top of head permissible; Coated—with moderate length silky hair all over
COLOR: Heavy skin mottling of any color combination on pink or white background; or solid color
OTHER NAMES: Perro Flora, Moonflower Dog
REGISTRY: UKC
GROUP: Southern

Like their gentle Inca Indian masters, the Inca Orchid dogs are tranquil and intelligent. In the original Peruvian tongue, Oeuchua, the breed is called caa-alkpo, which translates to dog without vestments.

When Spanish explorers landed in Peru, they found these hairless dogs in the homes of the In-can nobility, surrounded by orchids decorating the darkened rooms. The Inca Orchid dogs were kept inside during the day because of their sensitivity to the sun's rays. At night they ran free under the light of the moon—hence the origin of both names.

The Incans exercised selective breeding among their own people—even brother/sister marriages to assure purity and a predictable consistency—and carried over the practice to their animals. Incan nobility prized the light-colored dogs and rivaled among themselves for creating the palest hues. The common people strove to breed the best quality dogs possible as a means of barter for favors from the nobility. Peruvian Indians still raise the dogs as beloved house pets but, reportedly, also as an occasional main dish.



The hairless head may be completely bald or be topped with a crew cut. The rarer powder-puff variety is not shown, but is kept for breeding purposes to correct teeth and skin problems that plague the hairless breeds. The ears of the hairless variety stand pricked at attention; the powderpufPs hair tips the ears forward, similar to a Sheltie's.

Oil is added to the dogs' food to keep the skin soft and healthy. The Inca Orchid must be protected from the sun, not only to ward off blisters and burns, but to prevent possible skin cancers. The Inca Hairless is dark-skinned, furnishing protection, and is considered the "daytime dog."
Deerlike in structure and movement, the breed is light boned but supple, lithe and swift. They are extremely sensitive in temperament and wilt under any roughness, even so much as a raised voice. They are laid back and unaggres-sive, and bloom with adult companionship. Kindness is repaid with utter devotion. The warmth received from their affectionate natures and heat-radiating bodies make them appealing to many as house pets. They can be found in America and Europe as well as in South America.