PERUVIAN HAIRLESS , XOLITZCUINTLE AND PERUVIAN INCA ORCHID PH - XOLO - PIO   By Tullio Peschiera M. Lima, August 26,1999   The hairless dogs of the new world are all descendants of the Chinese Crested Dog. There are two theories about their origin. The first, claims that these dogs came from the orient crossing the Bering Strait, together with their masters when America was first populated, this would make them as old as the first American men. Curiously we do not find hairless dogs further north of Mexico.   The other theory, which I think is correct, is that they were brought by the Chinese merchants of the V dynasty in exchange for the jade of Central America ( jade is not found in China ) and the gold of Peru, in pre-columbian times. Proof of this are the numerous pottery artifacts found in Colima ,Mexico, and the Peruvian pre-Incan cultures of Chancay, Mochica, Vicus and Chimu.This last theory is matter of great discussion among some archeologists who claim there was no contact between China and early America. Therefore I believe that it is wrong to have 3 different names for the same breed and that they all should be called "Pre-Columbian Hairless " or " New World Hairless " or some other combination of words that would include all of them. As Mexico was the first country to register this breed internationally, maybe they should all be called Xolos. But, Peru has also recently registered them as "Peruvian Hairless" as if they were another breed, race. The name Inca Orchid is a North American creation based on someone's ( i wonder who ?) wild romantic imagination , that associates the dogs with the flowers (there is no historical data about this relationship or the story of being found among orchids) .I have also heard the name " Butterfly " associated with them. As the physical characteristics are almost identical to all of them, I think that we should start thinking about giving them a new name. I am sure that the Mexicans and the Peruvians will be infuriated and totally opposed to this proposition , and thing will continue the same, all because of political and silly nationalistic reasons. But at least we can try to rename the "inca orchid" as "Peruvian Hairless" and have only two hairless American breeds . In Peru there are records of all sizes and colours, from as large as an Afghan hound to the smallest miniature ("Juanita " that measured 7 (seven) centimeters at the cross.)

 

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PERUVIAN HAIRLESS by Tullio Peschiera M. Lima,29/10/99   The hairless breed has existed in Peru since before Christ, over 2000 years ago. Proof of this are the many objects made of, ceramic, stone,wood and metal, found in the tombs of members of different pre Incan cultures that inhabited the north of Peru, mainly in the coastal region. The coast of Peru is a very arid region, a desert strip of land of about 20 Kms. wide by almost 2,000 Kms. long. On one side is the Pacific Ocean`s cold and extremly rich Humboldt current that flows along all of South America, as far as Ecuador, where it turns left towards the Galapagos Islands . On the other side is the mighty Andes mountainious chain. This arid strip is crossed by several rivers that have their origin in the high Andes, thus forming very fertile valleys. Almost every valley gave birth to a different culture at different times, all of them influenced each other, the strongest and more developed ones were Vicus, Chavin, Sipan, Lambayeque, Chimu, Chancay and Moche, all on the northern coast and Andes lowlands. There is a legend, that talks about Naylamp, a Chimu god, that came from beyond the sea with all his wives, servants, artists and that the hairless dog came with them. But pottery portraying dogs have been found in older tombs further north. The finest ceramic was that of the Chimu people, all black and highly polished show the dogs in different attitudes. Among the most important Chimu kings are Takaynamo, Guaccicaur, Ñancempinco and Michacaman. During their time the Chimus occupied all the northern coast, building palaces, fortresses and many temples. In all these cultures, the hairless dog was considered semi divine and as a guide for his master during his trip into the other life, they also were supposed to have healing powers. They were represented in all kind of objects, such as brooches, pins, cups, funerary offers, Paddles, whistles, stirring sticks, toys and miniatures. There are many pieces that portray them with their tongues sticking out of their mouths, because of the lack of pre-molars. (Some naturalists claim that this is due to the vegetarian character of the race) also wearing some sort of dress, or a mother feeding her pupies, or with protruding male genitals, or during reproduction, also a fertility ritual drinking mug in which the handle is the male dog`s sexual organ in its mouth . Later on the Incas, in the X century, comanded by Pachacutec and later by his son Tupac Yupanqui, conquered and added all these small kingdoms to their Great Empire, which extended from Ecuador to northern Chile and Argentina including all of Bolivia. The Incas learned and adopted the arts and crafts of the people they conquered, and among these the hairless dogs, which they called Kalla, ( naked) and took them to Cuzco and then to Bolivia and Argentina. In Cuzco, according to Garcilazo de la Vega and other chroniclers, they were considered to be sons of the moon and were brought out into the town squares and beaten for them to howl and cry ( as they did not bark) for their mother not to go away during the lunar eclipses. During the day they were usually kept indoors due to their sensitivity to the strong rays of the sun in high altitudes. They also tell us, that they were among the first presents given to the kings of Spain by the conquistadores, upon their return, together with macaws, llamas ,potatoes , tomatoes, indians, gold ,etc.

 

 

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