Description. The Peruvian Inca Orchid is a medium to large dog, standing 20-26 inches in height and weighing 26-50 pounds. They are not a particularly muscular dog, as you can tell by their weight, for the height. They have round dark eyes that are a little sensitive to light, which can cause them to squint on sunny days. There are coated and hairless, although the hairless is more common, in the breed, and both types can be born in the same litter. The hairless has some hair growth on the top of its head, giving the look of a balding man. Their soft skin can be any colour but is commonly mottled in shading, but can be a solid colour. Their ears are unlike the body skin, insomuch as they are quite leathery in feel. .

History. The breed originated in Peru, where they were discovered by the Spanish explorers of the 16^th century. They were kept mostly in the homes of the Peruvian nobles. The Peruvian Inca Orchids in the USA were bred from about a dozen dogs, which were imported, making it a very small original gene pool. Because of this great care has to be taken in the breeding. Due to this small gene pool the dogs in the USA are a little different in appearance to the present day dogs in Peru, as they had a much larger gene pool. More of the Peru bred dogs have been introduced to the US in recent years, and this obviously will increase the gene pool available to breeders.

Temperament. The Peruvian Inca Orchid is an excellent dog, for the right owner. They have a luxurious skin that is soft and warm to the touch. They tend to be intelligent, calm and very quick witted. They need to be trained in a consistent but firm manner. Do not shout at the dog, just give firm instructions and ensure they are carried through. You can’t expect perfection from day one, so patience is needed. As a breed The Peruvian Inca Orchid are reasonably trainable and with a little effort you can have a happy pet, which is well behaved. They are quite affectionate and do well with other pets in the household and small children. Small children should be supervised as the dog will not take well to teasing. Ensure the dog knows you are the master, and pack leader.

Health issues. Peruvian Inca Orchids can be prone to skin problems and dental issues. With a life expectancy of 11-12 years they are otherwise quite a healthy breed.

Grooming. With the coated variety of The Peruvian Inca Orchid some brushing is required, although not too much. The hairless however requires more care, surprisingly. They require sun cream, of a high factor, on sunny days. Their skin can become damaged, quite easily, so it is important to moisturise them. The skin can become dry and tear if not adequately moisturised. They are also prone to skin injuries, from plants, hedges, other animals etc. The Peruvian Inca Orchid can be bathed quite regularly, with a mild shampoo. You may also find it necessary to exfoliate the skin (if you do this then a high quality human brand can be used).

Living conditions. This breed needs to be walked once or twice, daily. You should keep the dog at heal or slightly behind you, so they see you as the leader. They will adapt to apartment life but require a fenced yard or garden. You must remember these are of the sight hound family and can suddenly take of, in pursuit. They need to be protected from the elements and should not be in the sun for too long. They are an indoor dog and may even need a pullover in the winter.