peruvian hairless dog
Okay... so this one is more of a mut, he's got some stubble so must be a mixed breed. These dogs were quite common around the Incan ruins, adding to the atmosphere I think.
Here's what The Oracle (wikipedia) says about these mongrels:
This is an ancient breed. Although it is often perceived to be an Incan dog because it is known to have been kept during the Inca-imperium, they were also kept as pets in pre-Inca cultures from the Peruvian coastal zone. Ceramic hairless dogs from the Chimú, Moche, and Vicus culture are well known.Depictions of Peruvian hairless dogs appear around 750 A.D. on Moche ceramic vessels and continue in later Andean ceramic traditions.[2] The main area of the Inca imperium (the mountains) is too cold for the natural existence of the dogs. The Spanish conquest of Peru nearly caused the extinction of the breed. The dogs survived in rural areas, where the people believed that they held a mystical value. In recent years, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) accepted the breed and adopted an official breed standard. Before that time, in the United States, some enthusiasts created another type of Peruvian hairless dog, the Peruvian Inca Orchid, which has never been officially recognized by a major all-breed kennel club. The Peruvian Inca Orchid is recognized by the AKC and it is the only open stud book for this breed in the US.
It is a persistent myth that the body temperature of hairless dogs is higher than other dogs; they may feel warmer due to the lack of hair. Letting the dog "hug" you is supposed to help with stomach pain and other disorders, according to Peruvian folklore. Other myths are the dog is a vegetarian or that it cannot bark. It is very likely that some of these myths have helped the breed to survive in Peru.
Note that I did not let the dog hug me. I did maybe scratch it's head a little but it was a little smelly and felt a little like a pig. Not that I have touched many pigs in my life, but I have been to a petting zoo or two.
peruvian hairless dog
Okay... so this one is more of a mut, he's got some stubble so must be a mixed breed. These dogs were quite common around the Incan ruins, adding to the atmosphere I think.
Here's what The Oracle (wikipedia) says about these mongrels:
This is an ancient breed. Although it is often perceived to be an Incan dog because it is known to have been kept during the Inca-imperium, they were also kept as pets in pre-Inca cultures from the Peruvian coastal zone. Ceramic hairless dogs from the Chimú, Moche, and Vicus culture are well known.Depictions of Peruvian hairless dogs appear around 750 A.D. on Moche ceramic vessels and continue in later Andean ceramic traditions.[2] The main area of the Inca imperium (the mountains) is too cold for the natural existence of the dogs. The Spanish conquest of Peru nearly caused the extinction of the breed. The dogs survived in rural areas, where the people believed that they held a mystical value. In recent years, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) accepted the breed and adopted an official breed standard. Before that time, in the United States, some enthusiasts created another type of Peruvian hairless dog, the Peruvian Inca Orchid, which has never been officially recognized by a major all-breed kennel club. The Peruvian Inca Orchid is recognized by the AKC and it is the only open stud book for this breed in the US.
It is a persistent myth that the body temperature of hairless dogs is higher than other dogs; they may feel warmer due to the lack of hair. Letting the dog "hug" you is supposed to help with stomach pain and other disorders, according to Peruvian folklore. Other myths are the dog is a vegetarian or that it cannot bark. It is very likely that some of these myths have helped the breed to survive in Peru.
Note that I did not let the dog hug me. I did maybe scratch it's head a little but it was a little smelly and felt a little like a pig. Not that I have touched many pigs in my life, but I have been to a petting zoo or two.