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.