MyDogBreeds
Peruvian Hairless is originated from Peru but Himalayan Mastiff is originated from India. Peruvian Hairless may grow 21 cm / 8 inches shorter than Himalayan Mastiff. Peruvian Hairless may weigh 53 kg / 116 pounds lesser than Himalayan Mastiff. Peruvian Hairless may live 3 years less than Himalayan Mastiff. Peruvian Hairless may have less litter size than Himalayan Mastiff. Both Peruvian Hairless and Himalayan Mastiff requires Moderate maintenance.
This is an ancient breed, and he even looks like he comes from ancient times. This particular dog, the Peruvian Hairless, was part of the Inca Empire and it is amazing that depictions of Peruvian hairless dogs have been seen around around 750 A.D.
It is believed the dogs were a meal for many in those ancient times, and that together with the Spanish conquest of Peru resulted in the dog almost being wiped out.
Today the dog is held in esteem in Peru and it is looked upon as the national dog of Peru – an accolade this dog received in 2001. The Federation Cynologique Internationale has accepted this breed and also adopted an official breed standard.
The Himalayan Mastiff or Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient breed. Bred to be guardians of the flock, they could take care of leopards and wolves or anything else that tied to hurt the flock. The Himalaya Mastiff is found in the Himalayan area of Tibet. They are descendants of the Tibetan dogs that developed almost any Mastiff or Molosser on earth. They may have been in the mountains since the early 1100 BC. and have been fairly isolated. It was in this isolation that the Himalayan Mastiff developed.
Their function at that time was mostly to guard property. In some circumstances an entire village is guarded by one dog. It was also during this period that the breed was taught to be aggressive by tying them up as puppies. They guarded families while the men moved the village flock higher up in the mountains. They stayed in isolation until the mid-1800’s when the Queen of England was given a Himalayan Mastiff. For thousands of years, this dog was a nomad.
Soon the breed was being exported to England. A standard was developed, and the British began to breed them. Next, they were exported to Nepal, Afghanistan, India and the United States. They are rare in Tibet these days but more popular than ever in England and the United States. The first American Himalaya Tibetan Mastiff Association came into being in 1974 and in 2006 it was recognized by the AKC.
Today in the West, the Himalayan is a domesticated, family dog. It hardly fits in an apartment of course. These new western Himalayan Mastiffs are more easy- going than the Tibetan ones, but they are still wary of strangers and somewhat aloof. They are also still very protective and nocturnal. They are smart, independent and stubborn. They are not easy to train but socialization and obedience training is essential.
A study done in 2011 showed that it is very likely that many large breed dogs were descended from this Mastiff. This includes the St. Bernard, the Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog and the Great Pyrenees. Later studies showed that the Mastiff’s ability to survive in the rare air of the Himalayans was due to interbreeding with Tibetan wolves in ancient, prehistoric times. Now they are competing in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
There is no doubt that the most important feature of this dog is its hairlessness, but there is nearly always a little bit of hair on top of its head and on the tip of the tail.
The color of the dog’s skin can be dark brown, mottled or a grey shade. They can be a solid color or grey or brown but with pink spots. The eyes of the dog are brown and the ears can be floppy or erect and the tail is long.
He stands at anything between 25 to 50cm, depending on whether he is a small or medium sized Peruvian. Weights can vary too but can be 4kg for the smaller type, going up to 25 kg for the larger dogs. The dogs are always slim.
Peruvian Hairless dogs love their human families, being somewhat wary around strangers. They are lively, intelligent, alert and protective.
Lean and agile, they can be quick too. Just like with any other dogs, he will require training and socialization if you want him to be obedient and well behaved. He gets on well with other pets in the house and will get on well with disciplined children. This is a quiet dog but even so, he makes a good guard dog.
The Himalayan Mastiff is a giant, massive dog longer than it is tall. The breed has a heavy, broad head and square muzzle. They have black noses, a level bite and almond shaped, slanted, deep set eyes. They are brown, and the ears hang close to the head. They are heavy, muscular and sturdy. They have a feathered tail curving over their back. With a heavy, thick double coat and mane they resemble a lion at times. The coat can be brown, black, and gray-blue with gold or tan markings. These are impressive and noble dogs, athletic, with cat like feet. They are agile and light on their feet.
According to some breeders there are two different kinds or types of Himalayan Mastiff. These are the Tsang-khyi or the monastery mastiff type and the Do-khyi or the nomad mastiff type. The monastery is a heavier, taller dog who face is very wrinkled while the nomad is a leaner dog with less facial wrinkles. In any litter there can be both kinds. The kind of work that was given to each dog was dependent on their type. The Monastery kind is given stationary jobs and the nomad kind got the active jobs.
From ancient times, the Peruvian Hairless has been man’s best friend, and June 12th is the official day of the Peruvian Hairless Dog. These dogs love being surrounded by their human family. They are cheerful, playful, social dogs and they make great playmates for children when the children don’t rough play too much so as to injure him.
He is also a good watchdog and when he isn’t protecting you or playing he can be calm and quiet, and slot easily into life in the countryside or the city. Treat him well and you'll enjoy excellent friendship from this hairless canine friend.
yes, they are if properly socialized.
Their athletic ability
They cannot live in an apartment. They need a large yard.
They are intelligent, but difficult to train. They are stubborn and independent.
Like all breeds there will be some health problems with your Peruvian Hairless, although with good care care this dog can live to be 12 years of age or maybe even a little older. Some things to look out for include -
You may notice your dog not eating his food, having an upset stomach and vomiting. Irritable bowel syndrome in a dog is a persistent upset stomach, resulting in diarrhea and bloating. IBS isn’t reserved for older dogs, and it can affect any breed or sex. You’ll notice your pet being listless and without energy. In severe cases of IBS, you may notice blood in your pet’s feces. Don’t allow your canine friend to suffer – get him to the vet.
Also known as epilepsy, it can be disturbing for you to see your canine friend having a seizure. Uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause these seizures which are a mix of twitching and shaking. The seizure can last for less than a minute or for several minutes. A number of things can cause these seizures in dogs – head injuries, anemia, kidney disease, liver disease, electrolyte problems, brain cancer among others.
Many dogs suffer with one or other skin problems and these can be painful and frustrating. Hairless breeds are more likely to suffer with skin issues and they require special grooming and skin care to prevent dryness, insect bites, sunburn etc.
Being a large breed of canine, the Himalayan Mastiff has some of the typical health issues of large dogs. However, they also face a serious genetic disorder as well.
Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy (CIDN) – a fatal disorder seen in puppies by seven weeks of age. Puppies die before they are 5 months old.
For some, the lack of hair is appealing to some people who battle with allergies. The skin of the dog will need to be washed to remove dirt. You’ve got to be careful however, what you wash your dog with because these dogs are known to get blackheads and acne because of blocked pores.
Then again, the skin can become quite dry, so you need to strike a balance. Talk to a dog expert or your vet on how to care for such a dog’s skin.
You’ll also need to consider your dog when he goes outside into the sun. Protection against sunlight is recommended and once again you might want to find out about sun blocks. Because of the lack of hair, he may also be sensitive to the cold.
Make sure this unusual pet gets the right diet. You want to be sure that whether you feed him commercially manufactured foods or he gets some home-made food it is full of vitamins and minerals. Steer away from spicy, unusual foods as dogs love simplicity and consistency.
This breed will eat less than you think they should but don’t overfeed. Puppies need a solid dry food for large dogs. You can free feed 1 cup three times per day.
For dogs over a year old you can free feed anywhere from two to four cups of dry food per day. Unlike many other breeds, the Himalaya Mastiff will only eat when hungry and they may not eat more than once a day. They will not overeat. The males might not eat at all when females are in season if they are around them.
They have good strength and athletic ability.
The Himalayan Mastiff needs regular, routine walks. It is important during these walks that the human leads the way, or the dog heals. Do not overwork a young Himalayan Mastiff. They need work related jobs like structured play time, walking the boundary of their territory, playing frisbee or catch. They work and play in short bursts then rest.