At a glance the quick version
Three sizes: small 4-8 kg, medium 8-12 kg, large 12-30 kg (FCI); the AKC and UKC cap the large size at about 25 kg.
Coat and looks how to spot one
hairless (with a coated variety)
A slim, graceful, sighthound-like dog that gives an impression of speed and strength. Most are hairless with smooth, supple skin and perhaps a little hair on the head, feet and tail tip, while a coated variety has a short, close coat. Hairless dogs naturally have fewer teeth.134
Personality what they are like
Gentle and loving with its own people, lively and quick as a youngster and calmer as an adult. It is an independent thinker, watchful and reserved with strangers, which makes it a good watchdog.134
Daily activity how busy a day looks
An agile, swift dog that enjoys running, lure coursing, rally and agility.5
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Hairless dogs have no coat to brush; the standard forbids shaving coated dogs.34
Company who they like around
Very attached to its household and happiest close to its people; wary of unfamiliar visitors.14
The story where it all began
Hairless dogs appear on ceramics of Peruvian cultures such as the Vicús, Moche and Chancay from around 300 BC onward, and they were kept through Inca times. The breed has changed little since, and today Peru treats it as part of its national heritage.124
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Spanish conquistadors reportedly found these dogs among orchids in Inca homes, inspiring the name 'Inca Orchid'.4
- 2
On pre-Inca pottery the hairless dog sometimes stands in for other symbolic animals.1
- 3
Hairless and coated puppies can be born in the same litter, roughly two hairless to one coated.2
- 4
It comes in three sizes: small, medium and large.1
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 310, Group 5 Spitz and primitive types, Section 6 Primitive type; standard dated 26.10.2021.1
- AKC
- Recognised under the name Peruvian Inca Orchid; current standard effective 1 January 2011.3
- UKC
- Recognised as the Peruvian Inca Orchid in 1996, Sighthound & Pariah Group.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Peruvian Hairless Dog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Skin careMoisturise the skin and check for drynessevery 3 days
- Sun protection summerPet-safe sunscreen on sunny daysevery day
- Bathevery 2 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery 3 weeks
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- 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.
- FCI Standard No. 310: Perro sin pelo del Perú fci.beused for recognition, sizes, coat, colours, temperament, history
- Peruvian Hairless Dog - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for names, colours, history, litter fact
- AKC Official Standard of the Peruvian Inca Orchid images.akc.orgused for sizes, temperament, coat
- UKC Peruvian Inca Orchid ukcdogs.comused for recognition, history, temperament, colours
- AKC breed page: Peruvian Inca Orchid akc.orgused for activities
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.