Peruvian Inca Orchid: Your Complete Guide
The Peruvian Inca orchid is an extremely rare dog breed originating from Peru. Although they are one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, their numbers are dwindling due to various factors, such as a small litter size and a high puppy mortality rate due to their genetics. There’s also a lack of awareness of the breed, especially outside Peru.
Despite all these factors contributing to the breed’s rarity, many consider the Peruvian Inca orchid a potential companion. Whether you’re simply interested in learning more about this ancient dog breed or planning to add one to your life, our article is here to guide you through the characteristics of the Peruvian Inca orchid. Read on to learn everything there is to know about this Peruvian dog.
A Quick Look at the Peruvian Inca Orchid
Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs. You will find a more detailed overview of each point in the coming parts.
| Weight/Height | 9-55 pounds / 10-26 inches (the exact range depends on the variety) |
| Coat Type | Hairless or short-to-medium length |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Affectionate, active, loyal |
| Good With Kids |  |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years |
What Is the History of Peruvian Inca Orchids?
The Peruvian Inca orchid is an ancient dog breed that dates back to 700 AD. They are depicted in the pottery left behind by many civilizations and cultures, including the Moche, Chimu, and Chancay, long before the Inca Empire was established.
The breed is most commonly associated with the Inca Empire due to the popularity of the empire, but the exact origins are unknown. It is thought that Jack Walklin, an American who brought eight of these dogs in 1966 to the US, named the breed the Peruvian Inca orchid, with other sources claiming that the Spanish Conquistadors named the breed because they were found in caves where orchids grew.
Regardless of their origins, which we know very little about, the Peruvian Inca orchid is protected in Peru and is commonly kept as companions. Outside Peru, they are incredibly rare – so rare that the American Kennel Club didn’t even include the breed in its most popular dog breeds list with over 200 breeds.
What Do Peruvian Inca Orchids Look Like?
Although not all, many Peruvian Inca orchids are hairless. While some dogs have a patch of fur on top of their heads, they are completely hairless. All you will see is their skin, but despite not having a coat, Peruvian Inca orchids have a long list of colors. Some of the permitted colors under the breed standards include black, brown, gray, white, cream, gold, and red, along with tan, red, and gray brindle.
With all these, Peruvian Inca orchids have more color combinations than many other breeds despite being hairless.
What Size Is a Peruvian Inca Orchid?
The long history of the Peruvian Inca orchid led to these dogs having multiple sizes. Just like poodles, their size varies greatly depending on the variety. Here’s a summary of the average size ranges for small, medium, and large Peruvian Inca orchids.
- Small: 9-18 pounds / 10-16 inches
- Medium: 18-27 pounds / 16-20 inches
- Large: 27-55 pounds / 20-26 inches
The most common out of all these varieties is the medium Peruvian Inca orchid, whereas the large variety is the rarest.
What Is a Peruvian Inca Orchid’s Coat Type and Length?
As mentioned, Peruvian Inca orchids are typically hairless, though coated varieties also exist. The ones that do have short-to-medium length coats that are straight or slightly wavy.
Although these dogs don’t have a coat, they still have care needs in a different way than brushing to maintain their overall health and appearance. We will discuss more about caring for hairless varieties below.
What Is a Peruvian Inca Orchid’s Temperament?
Peruvian Inca orchids are well-balanced dogs with an affectionate and loyal personality. Given that they were kept as companions for hundreds of years, Peruvian Inca orchids are devoted dogs that bond strongly with their immediate family. While affectionate with the family, Peruvian Inca orchids tend to be reserved around strangers.
This gives a quick overview of the Peruvian Inca orchid’s temperament, but there is more to discuss about its personality traits. Below is more on what these dogs are like, covering everything from family life to their tendency to bark.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Good With Kids?
Peruvian Inca orchids typically get along well with children of all ages. They have a soft spot for kids in the family and make good companions to keep children active. However, the Peruvian Inca orchid also has a sensitive side. If children in the family aren’t respectful of their space, they may not tolerate their behavior.
With this in mind, Peruvian Inca orchids do best with older children who know how to act around dogs. Since they aren’t overly playful or energetic, these dogs are better suited for families with children who are gentle.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Good With Other Animals?
Peruvian Inca orchids are great with dogs. They have a fairly social temperament that makes them enjoy meeting friendly dogs. As long as a Peruvian Inca orchid and other dogs are well-socialized, you won’t have issues with everyone getting along. They can also coexist peacefully with cats, but introductions must be managed.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for prey animals. Peruvian Inca orchids have a high prey drive that may make them chase after small animals like squirrels, hamsters, or rabbits instinctively. Due to this, they aren’t the best fit for households with prey animals.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Aggressive?
Peruvian Inca orchids aren’t known for being aggressive. They tend to be wary of strangers at first, but they rarely act in ways that can be associated with aggression. However, like any other dog breed, a lack of socialization and training can make a Peruvian Inca orchid aggressive. These must be prioritized during puppyhood to ensure a Peruvian Inca orchid grows up to become a well-mannered, confident dog.
Besides this, Peruvian Inca orchids aren’t known for aggressive tendencies, such as being overly territorial or growling at strangers at first sight.
Do Peruvian Inca Orchids Bark?
Peruvian Inca orchids were utilized for many purposes throughout the centuries these dogs have existed. An essential part of that was keeping an eye on their territory to deter intruders and predators. Because of this background, they have a tendency to bark, but this usually happens only to alert the owner.
While this can present some challenges, especially if living in an apartment building or condo with noise restrictions, they can learn when and when not to bark through training. This is one of the top reasons that enable these dogs to adapt well to apartment living.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Affectionate?
Peruvian Inca orchids are extremely affectionate and loving towards their family members. These dogs enjoy receiving all the attention they can get from their people, whether it is gentle pets, praise, or cuddles on the sofa. Even larger Peruvian Inca orchids can think of themselves as lap dogs and demand attention without being aware of their size. In fact, they can get so cuddly that their warmth was used for treating conditions like arthritis and respiratory problems in the Inca Empire.
This affectionate nature makes Peruvian Inca orchids great family companions. However, as mentioned, they aren’t loving towards everyone. These dogs tend to be wary of strangers and take their time to warm up to unfamiliar faces.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Intelligent?
Peruvian Inca orchids are highly intelligent dogs that keep an alert eye. They understand social cues well and can read the owner’s body language fairly easily to understand their mood and whether or not they need comfort.
Peruvian Inca orchids are also intelligent in other ways. They are natural problem solvers with a determined nature that will do anything that they set their minds to do. However, this trait can make them act independently and ignore the owner’s commands. It is essential to have a firm grip over training to ensure the Peruvian Inca orchid’s intelligence and independence don’t come together to create problems.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Energetic?
Peruvian Inca orchids are considered to be low-to-medium energy dogs. They need daily walks that range between 20 and 30 minutes to stay active and healthy. However, they are athletic dogs that can keep up with long walks, hikes, and other physical activities that would be demanding for another breed with similar exercise needs.
In addition to walks, Peruvian Inca orchids benefit from daily playtime in the form of games like fetch or solving dog puzzles. These are also great ways to provide the mental stimulation a Peruvian Inca orchid needs, which they require plenty of, as they are smart dogs that need to keep their minds sharp.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Easy to Train?
Peruvian Inca orchids have many traits that are considered favorable in dog training, such as an intelligent mind and a devoted nature. However, these dogs are also independent and strong-willed at the same time. Due to these traits coming together, Peruvian Inca orchids require firm, consistent training using positive reinforcement training to encourage them.
It might take some effort to train a Peruvian Inca orchid, but with patience and consistency, there is nothing that these dogs can’t learn. Follow a reward-based approach, avoid harsh corrections, and you will have a dog that’s fairly easy to train with a Peruvian Inca orchid.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Good Watchdogs?
Peruvian Inca orchids typically make good watchdogs as they tend to be wary of strangers and have an alert personality that keeps an eye on their surroundings. If someone suspicious enters the yard or gets close to your home, you can count on these dogs to alert you.
However, you shouldn’t expect protection work from this breed. Even though the large varieties can be quite imposing, they don’t have the same drive and protectiveness as guardian dog breeds. A Peruvian Inca orchid will simply bark to alert you and leave its duties at that.
Are Peruvian Inca Orchids Good Service Dogs?
Peruvian Inca orchids don’t have the level of trainability and reliability when it comes to service dog training. Sure, they are highly intelligent dogs that can learn pretty much anything, but considering everything a service dog is responsible for, they aren’t the first choice for this type of work due to the extensive training required.
A Peruvian Inca orchid’s independent nature can get the best out of them during real-life scenarios, which can leave their handler with a disability without help. However, a Peruvian Inca orchid can be helpful to the owner in other ways, such as being their emotional support animal. The affectionate nature of this breed makes them excel in this regard, providing emotional support whenever they sense that their owner needs comfort.
How to Care for a Peruvian Inca Orchid?
The Peruvian Inca orchid, like any other dog breed, has care needs that require an involved owner. These range from taking care of their hairless bodies to taking them out for daily walks. While some of their care needs are small and others are demanding, providing the care these dogs need is essential to ensure their happiness and well-being in life.
Here’s an overview of how to care for the Peruvian Inca orchid, covering everything prospective owners should know.
Do You Need to Groom a Peruvian Inca Orchid?
Coated Peruvian Inca orchids require regular brushing like any other dog breed. They need their coats brushed weekly to maintain a good appearance and remove dead hair. The hairless varieties, which make up the majority of Peruvian Inca orchids, don’t need any grooming in the traditional sense.
However, they have unique care needs that involve moisturizing their skin, applying sunscreen, and cleaning regularly to prevent bacterial growth. Otherwise, they can be susceptible to severe skin problems that may require intensive care using specialized creams and lotions.
Do Peruvian Inca Orchids Shed?
The coated Peruvian Inca orchid sheds minimally year-round and a little more during seasonal changes. The hairless variety, on the other hand, doesn’t shed as they don’t have a coat to begin with. Therefore, the coated Peruvian Inca orchid isn’t hypoallergenic, but the hairless variety is.
What Health Problems Do Peruvian Inca Orchids Have?
Peruvian Inca orchids are generally healthy dogs with very few genetic health problems. Still, owners of this breed should watch for early signs of luxating patella, cardiovascular issues, eye disorders, and neurological problems. If buying a Peruvian Inca orchid from a breeder, work with one who screens the health of their breeding stock to ensure the puppy you buy won’t have a genetic predisposition to developing the problems associated with the breed.
How Long Do Peruvian Inca Orchids Live?
Peruvian Inca orchids have an average life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years, which is pretty average compared to most other dog breeds.
However, this doesn’t mean that every Peruvian Inca orchid lives up to 12 years or less than 14 years. There are many factors that go into the lifespan of a dog, with genetics, environmental factors, diet, lifestyle, and overall care ultimately deciding it.
What Should a Peruvian Inca Orchid Eat?
Like all dogs, a Peruvian Inca orchid should eat dog food appropriate for their age, activity levels, and size. Since this is a hairless breed, watching for skin problems is important if and when switching dog food brands.
If you don’t know what to feed your Peruvian Inca orchid, you can ask your vet for recommendations. After examining their health, they can guide you to the best dog food to benefit their health.
Is a Peruvian Inca Orchid the Right Dog for Me?
The Peruvian Inca orchid can be an ideal dog breed for anyone who’s up for their care needs. They are hairless dogs that require moderate exercise and daily playtime, along with unique care needs compared to other dog breeds, like moisturizing their skin and applying sunscreen when going for walks. The lack of a coat also means that they require winter clothing to keep warm.
While all these sound simple, caring for a Peruvian Inca orchid requires major adjustments in life unless you’ve had or have a hairless dog like the Chinese crested. If you’re willing to adapt to their care needs, a Peruvian Inca orchid will return the favor with endless companionship like no other.