The peruvian hairless dog

It is said that the dog is "the man's best friend. " In fact, it has been his best friend since the ancient times of the Andean settler approximately 4 thousand years ago up to the modern period. This dog is as Peruvian as the "Caballo de paso", the "Pisco", the "Papa a la Huancaína", the "Cebiche", the Flag or the National Coat of Arms. It has aroused great interest in Sciences, Archaeology, History, and Popular Medicine. It is known in English as the Peruvian Inca Orchid or the moonflower dog, but it also goes by the Spanish names "perro calato", "perro chino", "perro viringo", "perro tai-tai", "perro pila", "perro pelón", and "perro yagua." However, they all referred to the unique Peruvian Hairless Dog and this is its exciting story.

By: Iván Reyna Ramos 

The first news about the existence of the Peruvian Hairless Dog were collected from versions transmitted by the first chroniclers who came with Francisco Pizarro's expeditionary army. 

The exact origin of the thousand-year-old Peruvian Hairless Dog is not clear yet. However, some experts state that the dog came to Peru when the Spanish conquerors arrived. Others say that they came with the Chinese immigration, short after the president Ramon Castilla promulgated the Law of Slavery Abolition on December 3, 1854. 

There is a sector of people that assures the presence of the Peruvian Hairless Dog from Africa together with the nomads that came to America, while a fifth group supports that the dog came from Asia accompanying the man on crossing Behring strait. 

There is no consensus either with the origin of the name of this quadruped. In several regions of Peru it is known as "perro chino" and in the northern villages like Cajamarca it is called viringo. According to the expert ambassador Juan Alvarez Vita, the name "chino" is a variant of the Quechua word "china" meaning 'woman' , which becomes masculine after being hispanicized. The word viringo is a derivative of the Quechua word Willihuachic meaning 'warner'; although in the northern department of Cajamarca the word viringo is used to name 'the maize that does not have corncobs' or 'the tree that does not have branches'. 

Beyond all theories, the Peruvian Hairless Dog is as Peruvian as the Pachamanca in the light of multiple proofs supporting its existence since approximately 4 thousand years BC. This dog was portrayed in ceramics of the most ancient cultures such as Chavín, Mochica, Tiahuanaco, Wari, Vicus, Chimú and Chancay, thus replacing the figures of pumas, serpents and falcons. This demonstrates with absolute certainty that the Peruvian Hairless Dog appeared in Peru from the earliest years of our history, turning into the best friend and faithful companion of the Andean settler. A clear example of its relationship with the Andean Peruvian man. 

First portraits 
The Chavín Culture (1000 - 400 BC), based in Huantar, La Libertad, is considered as the most ancient Andean society by archaeologists. The archaeologist Marco Curatola has discovered an important relationship between the Tello's Obelisk and the Achkay's Myth about the Hairless Dog. 

The Vicus Culture (500 BC - 400 AD) received that name after the hill placed in the lands of the former Pabur estate, approximately 50 kilometres to the east of Piura. Their sculptures represented and molded anthropomorphic, phitomorphic and zoomorphic figues. The top of the vessels represented the head of a Hairless Dog. 

The Mochica Culture (100 BC - 600 AD) found an excellent way of communicating their art by interpreting life, using their Master's personality as a model, their customs, rites and facial expressions in different states of mind, represented in huacos where the figure of the loyal Hairless Dog appears next to the Mochica man as another member of the family. It was so significant in their lifes that the Hairless Dog accompanied even the priest and the warrior, as can be seen in the pottery. This was confirmed in 1987 when the archaeologist Walter Alva discovered - in the center of a platform known as Huaca Rajada - the tomb of a chief Moche warrior and priest who was called the "Lord of Sipán." He was surrounded by eight skeletons of servants, two concubines and a Hairless Dog. 

The Nazca Culture (100 - 700 AD) produced pottery characterized by a natural style in the second period. This culture made very simple and refined red figures polychromed with several designs of plants, fruits and animals like the Hairless Dog, which was portrayed in an admirable way. It must be pointed out that this dog also appears in a number of Petroglyphs found in the Pampa del Ingenio. This fact is related to the Nazca Lines because of the zoomorphic figures; thus it is believed that the dog is the Andean Fox. In this regard, the astronomer Barthelemy D'ans Alleman, member of the Peruvian Institute of Astronomy, points out that the zoomorphic figure in the Lines of the Pampas de Nazca is the Peruvian Dog. 

The Sicán Culture (1000-1200 AD), which means House of the Moon in the ancient Muchuk language, was located in the middle valley of Leche River, in Batán Grande region, department of Lambayeque. These people knew about the Hairless Dog since they represented the dog mating, eating, and being on the alert position. The dog was also drawn in wind instruments like bugles and whistles. Their pottery shows the dog with a necklace that identifies it genetically. 

The Chancay Culture (1000 - 1450 AD), characterized by their beautiful black-on-white vessels, represented private experiences of the Hairless Dog like its coitus; whereas their handles represented the extremities of the male dog on an alert position.

The Chimú Culture (1100 - 1400 AD) appeared after the fall of the Sicán Culture. Just like the Moches, they represented the Hairless Dog nursing its youngs, resting placidly and doing other canine activities. The Chimus trained these dogs for taking care of the house, for alerting their masters to enemy raids, and for exterminating rodents and bugs that were threatening the crops. 

When the Spanish Conquerors came, the luck of the Hairless Dog changed dramatically. It became part of an oppressed population and was accused of being related to idolatrous rituals; therefore, the dogs were killed without mercy. 

On the other hand, according to the writer Abel León, Spaniards took to Europe many species as curiosities from the New World such as these strange dogs without hair. 

An original and unpublished manuscript - which is kept in Madrid - includes some notes of Francisco de Hernández saying that "... in New Galicia there is a caste of hairless dogs, with smooth dappled skin, similar to gundogs, although they are slightly older and bark in a different way. Our Lord Prince Charles has one of them." 

The Start
In order that this breed was accepted as autochthonous of Peru, the Italian Engineer Ermanno Maniero - accompanied by Peruvians Enrique Ureña and Hugo Quevedo in representation of Peru and members of the Peruvian Kennel Club - appeared before the General Assembly of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). Mr Maniero conducted an extraordinary defense of the "Peruvian Hairless Dog", and after long and tough discussions, the dog was registered on a historical June 12, 1985, in Amsterdam (Holland) with the number 310 in the nomenclature of breeds corresponding to the Group V of the FCI, in the section of primitive dogs. Finally, on May 30, 1994, the standard was approved with the official name of "Perro sin pelo del Perú" (Peruvian Hairless Dog). 

To date, the FCI has only admitted 344 dog breeds and possesses world legal authority in canine matter to authorize institutions like the Peruvian Kennel Club to represent the Federation in almost all countries of the world,. Nevertheless, the same breed was registered before, following indication of some other person, by Germany. In fact, this country registered this dog in the FCI as "Perro Peruano" (Peruvian Dog) and with the poetic name of "Inca orchid moon flower." 

The Peruvian Hairless Dog has spread across different countries of the world like France and Germany. There are also several clubs in Holland, Czechoslovakia, and even in Russia.

Specimen
On January 4, 2000, the National Institute of Culture issued the National Executive Resolution Nº 001-INC, whose Article 1 states "To provide for the conservation of a canine specimen of the "Peruvian Dog" breed in the Site Museums belonging to the National System of Museums and in those Archaeological Areas of the Peruvian Coast that have the necessary conditions allowing for their breeding and natural development." The Article 2 states "To entrust the Administrative Management of the National Institute of Culture with the acquisition of the necessary canine specimens and the assignment of the necessary resources for their nourishment and care." The Article 3 states that "The Directors of the Site Museums and Archaeological Areas will provide for the necessary actions to assume responsibility for the care, nourishment, breeding and development of the dog." 

On October 22, 2001, the Congress of the Republic ordered to publish the Law 27537 in compliance with the Articles 108 of the Political Constitution and 80 of the Congress Regulations due to the fact that the President of the Republic did not promulgate the Law within the established constitutional term, and declared the Peruvian Hairless Dog as National Patrimony. The Article 1 "recognizes the "Peruvian Hairless Dog" as canine breed native to Peru, being awarded with the status of National Patrimony, specimen to be preserved." The article 2 states the "regulation of the Law before the Ministry of Agriculture and entrusts public or private entities with the conservation, breeding promotion and exportation of the "Peruvian Hairless Dog" canine breed, under their responsibility." 

Hairless
The Peruvian dog lacks hair due to the fact that the hair follicle does not develop as in any other canine breed, thus giving this dog a particular and unmistakable characteristic. According to Pedro Weiss, MD., founder of the Cayetano Heredia University and dog expert, the Peruvian Hairless Dog is not a zoological breed but a teratologic variety; that is to say, a "mutant" being, and its lack of hair is a genetic characteristic named Syndrome of Ectothermic Hypoplasia, a symptom that means " totally bald." 

Also it is an elegant, slender, fast, awake, attentive and jealous guardian; of noble and affectionate character with its owners; a reserved animal with strange persons; its teeth almost always are incomplete; and its sense of hearing is very developed. It is a very fast dog that can reach 60 km/h compared to a car and is able to jump more than 2 meters of height. 

Some specimens with hair are not for the crossing of a Peruvian Hairless Dog with another different breed that the Spanish brought as the general people believe, but it is only about genetics. So a Peruvian Hairless Dog carries since birth a dominant recessive gene which causes a dermal dysfunction that produces hyperpigmentation in the skin. This is also the cause for the alopecia (hairless), and the more alopecic a dog is, the less teeth the dog will have. 

The skin pigment of the Peruvian Hairless Dog changes in accordance with the solar exposition during certain seasons of the year. For instance, a slate-black specimen left outdoors the whole summer will increase the pigment, but if it is left to the shade the whole year its skin will turn almost pink or fair; that is to say, it loses the pigmentation and lowers the production of melanin.

Nevertheless, there are also other hairless dogs, which are called "chinos" due to the fact that in the city of Manchuria in China this canine breed exists with the name of "tai-tai crestado." The difference between the "perro chino" and the Peruvian is minimal since the former only has a lock of hair in the head. 

Another variation of our hairless dog is the Mexican specimen, known as "xoloitzcuintle" or "perro pelón mexicano" (bald Mexican dog), and it is characterized for being a bit more robust than the "perro chino" or the Peruvian. There are also hairless dogs in Argentina known as "pila", as well as in Paraguay, where it is called "yagua".

The nourishment of hairless dogs is just like any other breed of dog; it does not need special food because it eats domestic as well as balanced food. They have neither ticks nor fleas and do not produce allergies to their owners.

Besides, there are three sizes of this canine breed. The small one that measures between 25 and 40 centimeters of height; the medium one between 40 and 50; and the large one with a height between 50 and 65 centimeters. 

Due to their historical importance, breeders of hairless dogs sell these specimens at up to 5 thousand dollars for puppy in Europe; whereas on the national market, the price of a specimen fluctuates between 100 and 150 dollars.

Finally, the phenomenon of the lack of hair has appeared in other species of animals; now there are mice, porks and cats without hair.

The story
From pre-Columbian times, there have been diverse and exciting myths, legends and stories about the Peruvian Hairless Dog. For example, the ancient settlers of Mexico and Peru associated the dog with the Moon worship because they believed that the human race resulted from the crossing with a woman. Also the black specimen was considered as the guide of the souls of dead towards eternity.

In the Chimú and Inca Cultures there were a major ritual connection with the Peruvian Hairless Dog and the adoration and the lunar divinity. During the Inca period, the hairless dog took part of some rituals but was seldom sacrificed; only in necessary cases they were used to protect the Inca from the evilness and enemy poison. 

There was also the Achnay's myth, a story that tells about two little brothers, a child and a girl, who came to Cavan de Huántar during an epoch of inclement famine; and Achnay and his daughter Oronnay pretended to receive them affectionately at their home. However, at night they killed the boy; and the little sister, warned by a frog, escaped secretly with the remains of his brother to the territories of the Nullkush, who transformed the dead boy into a Kashmi (white hairless dog). This way he became companion of the girl during her flight to the altiplano to finally reach Heaven. 

Some people believe that Kashmi changes into Ongoy (Pleyades Constellation) in Heaven, while others say that he becomes Achachi Uturi (Star of the Morning); but they all agree that the girl turns into Apachi Ururi (Star of the Night). Since then, the oral tradition says that the stars are guides for travelers, shepherds, and farmers. 

Another legend tells that the ancestors believed that eclipses happened when the Moon got sad and ill and finally died. Then, it would fall down on Earth, destroying everything. But soon they would use a spell and the Peruvian Hairless Dog was induced to howl when the moon started falling ill, so that the earthly catastrophe could be prevented.

A dark chronicle says that centuries ago in Chincha Province, the "perros calatos" were stoned to death because they were considered evil; and in Chancay they were eaten because people believed that their skin was medicinal.

Nice and Warm
The Peruvian Hairless Dog hair accompanied the ancestors during diverse activities and manifestations such as customs, rites and traditions. It was also appreciated for its apparent curative power, used with singular creativity even nowadays.

It is known that the lick of the Peruvian Hairless Dog favored cicatrization of wounds, that puppies were used as compresses to reduce the eye inflammation, that dead dogs were put still warm on the patient's stomach to attack typhoid and typhus or in the back to treat pneumonia, that its saliva cured scabies, and that its blood could be used to treat asthma. Indeed, as they do not have hair, they have no mites and dandruff which affect asthmatic people; therefore, they are ideal for people with respiratory diseases. 

Moreover, the soup made with head of the Peruvian Hairless Dog was used against problems of nervous origin. It was also thought that urine removed granulation tissue and warts, that grease controlled bone pains, that ashes of its cranium were ingredient of an ointment to combat gangrene, that its excrements stopped diarrheas and made the stomach stronger, and if someone rubbed the eyelids with its sleepy-dust he would immediately have visions of colorful images.

This dog also helped to fight asthma, bronchitis, and rheumatism because of its high body temperature; this happens due to its lack of hair. It was also used as dissinflammatory because of the fact that its heat was felt with higher intensity. 

That is why many people prefer sleeping with the Peruvian Hairless Dog in bed even though this animal does not need any special coat and can adapt itself to very low temperatures in cities like Cusco. The Peruvian Hairless Dog's temperature acts as a natural hot-water bottle, near the spot where it hurts. In other words they do not cure but they warm.

This is the end of this important story. We are proud to know that June 12 has become the institutional "Day of the Peruvian Hairless Dog" in the National Calendar; a day that will endure in the history not only of Peru but of the world.

To date, there are many people and institutions committed to the conservation and development of this specimen that represents the only dog breed native to Peru. 

The mysterious Peruvian Hairless Dog is in danger of extinction. Nowadays nobody knows exactly how many of them remain, but we do know that, from now on, it will not be considered ugly or evil, and it will not be abandoned. Without a doubt, it is the man's best friend. 

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