At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
hairless (coated variants also occur)
Mostly bare-skinned, sometimes with a few tufts on the head, tail or feet, or a faint fuzz. Coated puppies with short, long or wiry hair can appear in the same litters.12
Personality what they are like
Watchful and alert, with plenty of agility: it runs fast and is happy to climb and jump. Historically it was treasured as a warm companion that shared its owners' beds.2
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Quick and athletic, so it enjoys daily play and chances to run and jump.2
The story where it all began
Hairless dogs were known in the Andes long before the Spanish arrived and were given as prized gifts within the Inca world. After the conquest, local populations developed separately, and the Argentine type became a regional breed that gained national recognition in 2007.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
One of its old names, 'khalas', comes from Quechua and means 'naked'.2
- 2
In 19th-century towns around the Río de la Plata it was nicknamed 'calientapies', the foot-warmer, because people kept it in bed for warmth.2
- 3
Its hairlessness comes from the same FOXI3 gene variant found in other South American hairless breeds.1
- 4
Hairless and fully coated puppies can be born in the same litter.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Asociación Canina Argentina (as named by Wikipedia)
- Recognised nationally in 2007.1
- FCI
- Not recognised internationally by the FCI (unlike the Mexican and Peruvian hairless breeds).2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Argentine Pila. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery 3 weeks
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery day
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 10every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Argentine Pila - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for origin, recognition, sizes, colours, genetics
- Perro pila argentino - Wikipedia (es) es.wikipedia.orgused for other names, history, varieties, coat, temperament, fun facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.