The main characteristic of the breed is the lack of hair all over the body. Another particular feature is that the development of the teeth is nearly always incomplete. They are noble and affectionate at home with those close to him while at the same time being quite lively and alert.  The breed is also wary and guarded in the presence of strangers.

Origin

The Peruvian Hairless Dog has its origins from the Peruvian pre-Inca cultures. It is one of several breeds of hairless dog. It is not to be confused however with the Xoloitzcuintli.
It is an ancient breed that is often perceived to have been of inca origin with depictions of the breed dating back to around 750 AD on Moche ceramic vessels and later on Andean ceramic relics.  However the breeds main characteristic of being hairless would mean that the inca empire locations is too cold for the natural existence of the Peruvian Hairless Dog.  They were kept as pets in pre-Inca cultures from the Peruvian coastal zone.

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.

General Appearance

The Peruvian Hairless Dog is an elegant and slim dog, whose aspect expresses speed, strength and harmony without ever appearing coarse. The most important appearance is its hairlessness.  However the dog may have short hair on top of its head, on its feet, and on the tip of its tail. The colour of the skin can be chocolate-brown, elephant grey, copper, or mottled. They can be totally one colour or one colour with tongue pink spots. Albinism is not allowed. The eye colour is linked to the skin colour. It is always brown, but dogs with light colours can have clearer eyes than darker-skinned dogs. He is of noble and affectionate nature with those nearest to him. He is reserved towards strangers, lively, alert and a good guard dog.

Temperament

Noble and affectionate at home with those close to him, at the same time lively and alert. They are reserved towards strangers and a can be protective and guarded.  They are very agile and fast.  The Peruvian Hairless Dog does not like to be left alone, but when trained can do well for short periods isolated.  They are best suited to experienced dog owners and not recommended for the novice dog owner.

Care

The lack of hair leads to a reputation for being clean, for being easy to wash with a sponge, and for a natural lack of fleas or other parasites. Despite this, the dog needs care, but in another way. The skin should be washed from time to time to remove dirt and prevent clogging of pores. Baby cleaners are a good choice provided that they do not contain lanolin. Some dogs are prone to having acne or at least blackheads. The skin sometimes becomes too dry and can then be treated with moisturising cream.  Again, baby lotion without lanolin is a good product choice to soften and moisturize cleansed skin.

Protection against sunlight is necessary on lightly coloured/white dogs.  Sun-block might need to be used to prevent sunburn.

Protection against cold is necessary when the dog is not able to move around at its own speed under adverse weather conditions. Sensitivity to cold may vary from dog to dog. Smaller dogs seem to be more sensitive to the cold than their larger counterparts.

The rims of the ears sometimes need special attention as they can become dry and cracked.