Chicago Dog Obedience Training

Hairless breeds such as the Xoloitzcuintle, Peruvian Hairless, Peruvian Inca Orchid, and Khala are generically considered pila which simply means "without hair”.

They are the oldest known dog breeds to live with people. Most of them were used to hunt small game, thus they have a high prey drive. They were raised as guard dogs, for medicinal purposes, and yes, even as food.

Many hairless dogs share similar traits; they have a hairless and coated variety often born in the same litter, the hairless are often missing teeth, they are naturally hardy and healthy, and they tend to recognize and gravitate towards their own kind. Much of the following information on breed traits and personality I have included in the Xolo category since these are the most common of the hairless dogs found today.

The Xoloitzcuintle, or Xoloitzcuintli (show-lo-eets-qweent-lee), commonly referred to as the Mexican Hairless, is an ancient breed whose ancestors ranged from Mexico to South America.

Proof that they shared their lives with many early civilizations of the pre-Columbian era can be found in pottery shards and relics. Aztecs raised hairless dogs for food and for their medicinal purposes. It was thought that the dogs could heal arthritis, asthma, and other ailments. The meat was thought to have curative properties. We may think of this as barbaric, but to these people it was no different than raising say, a herd of sheep or goats. They depended on these dogs for their survival.

The Mayans and Toltecs worshipped them as gods. Legends tell us that the god Xolotl sent a messenger, Itzcuintle, made of a sliver of his bone to guide mankind in his life journey through the afterlife to be reborn. It is said that the xolo was born flesh from deep within a volcano that left the hair singed from his body so all would know the pain he endured to help mankind.

The dog was the only domestic animal to be buried with their master when they passed on. It was thought that to be without a dog when you die would forever block your passage to the underworld. The stories say that the dog would stand before the gods at his masters side and judge the man on how he treated his dog. This same theme can be found in Egypt as Anubis, the dog-headed god of the dead.

Xolos share the genetic makeup of many of the hairless breeds and therefore the personality traits among the groups are the same. Differences in appearance abound due to inbreeding and the lack of recognition between hairless breeds until very recently.

The xolo can also be a cobby type, or pottery style; that is short and squat and very muscular as seen in relics. They can also be deer type which is fine boned, tall and thin. Deer type have more of the sight hound ancestry and closely resemble whippets or greyhounds.

Body hair can also vary greatly in the xolo. The ears may be pricked (upright), tipped (folded at tips), or rose (folded back against the head). Some may have little to no body hair, while others may have a sparse amount on the head, tail, and feet.

They are devoted and loving to those they know, reserved and shy with strangers. Xolos, like all primitive breeds are pack animals used to living in groups, and distrust outsiders. Outsiders may mean a stranger, solicitor, or perhaps a neighbor or family member they have not met before.

They can be wonderful companions and bond strongly with their human families. It is said that the xolo is a very stubborn dog. I don't view this as stubbornness, they are merely extremely intelligent. Xolos can be very dominant, remember they are pack animals and will take on the role as alpha if allowed.

The Hairless Khala, Kahla, Perro K'ala, Chala, K'ala, or Caa allepo, is native to Central and South America and is still used by the native people of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru as a hunting dog.

The coated variety of the breed resemble a Borzoi. They are considered to be the largest of the Xolo breeds weighing in at around 45-55 pounds. The Khala come in two varieties; the Khala Grande, and the Khala Medio, which is cobby style. These dogs are highly prized by the tribe and their parentage can usually be traced back through generations.

The most notable difference in appearance in this breed is the high, domed forehead and the large ears. Khalas have coarse hair covering their head, feet, and tail. Like the xolo, Khalas are very wary of strangers and bond quickly to their family. They are intelligent, gentle dogs and keenly sensitive to the emotional state of their owners.

The Peruvian Inca Orchid, PIO, Moonflower Dog, or Perro Flora, was raised by the Inca civilization of South America. Thought to be magical creatures they were allowed to roam freely about only at night. This was most likely due to the fact that the PIO has very light pigmented skin which causes them to sunburn easily. Inca rulers guarded these dogs fiercely and kept them as bed warmers and pets.

The natives viewed them as gifts from the gods and thought them to have healing capabilities. The Inca Orchid is distinguished by their primarily white or pink skin that is spotted by color. They also have a trademark tuft of hair on the top of their head (known is the "kissing spot").

The Peruvian Hairless, Inca Hairless, or Perro Sin Pello Del Peru, is another breed of hairless dog, not to be confused with the Inca Orchid although the lines have been mixed.

Peruvians are usually a solid dark color, normally brown to grey black. Hair growth is minimal, but some (called the "fuzzy-face" variety) can get hair on the head and tail. Like the xolo they resemble hairless sight hounds.

The Peruvian is recognized in three sizes; toy, miniature, and standard. The genetic registry for this breed has been extremely mixed over the years since any breed of hairless dog in Peru was considered a Peruvian. In recent years the formation of the Inca Hairless Club of America has helped to define this breed and develop a standard to which breeders can strive for.

The Chinese Crested Dog got it's name from the Emperors of China who collected these rare dogs to decorate their palaces. Chinese merchants helped to spread this breed throughout the world by taking them on their ships. It's thought that they were handy rat killers, and not having hair they did not carry fleas!

The Chinese Crested is much older than the merchant ships of China though. Small hairless dogs roamed the African dessert for thousands of year before being "discovered". Hair growth on the Chinese Crested varies greatly but is commonly known by the full silky main of hair on the head- the crest, the tail- or plume, and the feet- or socks. Days on the African deserts get to unbearable temperatures, while nights become cold, even frigid! This hair pattern protects the dogs extremities susceptible to frostbite, but prevents the dog from overheating in the hot sun. They resemble tiny ponies in both appearance and gait.

The coated variety, called the Powderpuff, can be born in the same litter as the hairless and has a full fluffy coat. The only notable difference between the two is in dentition. Hairless dogs have primitive, or tusk teeth that do not have a full root system. Often the hairless are born with missing or malformed teeth. This is not considered a fault and is normal for the hairless variety of the breed.

'Tap-N-Tell^sm" Dog Training Method | Dog Training | In Home Dog Training | Puppy Obedience Training | Small Dog Training | Big Dog Training | Dog Obedience Training | Puppy House Training | Dog Behavior | Dog Obedience School | Dog Aggression | Chicago Dog Boarding | K9/Canine University | K9/Canine Seminars | Apprentice Program | The Traveling Dog Trainer | Doggie Boot Camp | Yuppie Puppy Prep School | K9/Canine Separation Anxiety | Doggie Day Training | Group Dog Training Classes | Java Jog | Brunch With The Pups | Dinner With The 'Big Dogs' | Back to the Pack Classes | Lifetime Unlimited Training Agreement