PERUVIAN INCA ORCHID*
Official Standard of
The Peruvian Inca Orchid of America, Inc.
Revised Standard, January 1994
GENERAL APPEARANCE: A slender sighthound of moderate size give- the appearance of elegance and fitness denoting great speed, power and balance with out coarseness.
TEMPERAMENT: Adult dogs will be calm and quiet, but very reserved with strangers. Highly intelligent and extremely independent, they are seldom aggressive.
Faults: any sign of viciousness
HEAD: Slightly rounded skull with a narrow forehead, barely perceptible Stop, and a moderately tapering muzzle.
Skull and muzzle should be approximately equal in length.
A Lozenge or "Kiss Spot" on forehead is highly desirable, but is not heavily penalized if missing or off center.
EARS: Large and pricked, may fold back at rest and when gaiting. The leather is extremely thin, almost transparent in the hairless. Wide at the base, set in a direct line back on the skull from the outer corner of the eyes and gently taper to a point.
EYES: Moderately full, somewhat almond shaped with alert, intelligent expression. Color may be gold in dogs with light gold markings to a black/brown in dogs with darker pigmentation. Completely filled in eyerims desirable.
*Excellent distance eyesight hunts by sight, rather than scent.
TEETH: COATED VARIETY: Level to Scissor bite.
*Attention
HAIRLESS VARIETY: Missing premolars are correct and Adults with additional missing teeth should not be faulted, as it is part of the hairless factor.
** Please note: At this time heavy emphasis is not placed on bites, as the breed develops and dentition improves, the standard will be revised accordingly.
NOSE AND LIPS: May be of any color. Fully pigmented preferred.
NECK: Long and graceful with good muscle development. Well arched at the head, blending elegantly into the shoulders. Lowers to its work when moving.
BODY: Boning is light, but strong and substantial. The chest deep and moderately narrow and reaches almost to the elbows. Ribs are well sprung. Shoulders sloping and well set back. The back is substantial, long practically level from the shoulders to the well-muscled slightly arched loin. Dogs may roach, when cold or nervous. The abdomen is well muscled and clearly drawn up, the rum slightly rounded.
There is a rise over the loins when the dogs are gaited. * See gait.
FORELEGS: Straight and long from the elbow to the knee. Pasterns slightly rounded and flexible.
Faults: Weak pasterns
HINDLEGS: Long and powerful, moderately angulated. Thighs broad and muscular. Well bent stifles.
Hocks: Moderately low to the ground, clearly defined.
Faults: Cow hocked
FEET: Hare foot preferred with webbing between toes (especially apparent in the hairless). Good strong claws.
TAIL: Long and tapering to a point. Will reach past the hipbone when drawn through the legs. Saber tail when moving.
Fault: Carried between the hind legs when moving.
COLOR: Any color or color combination. Spotted or a solid color (for a detailed description, see "Varieties" following the general standard).
GAIT: Free flowing, smooth and lively. Covers a maximum distance with minimal effort. The forelegs reach well forward with good drive in the rear. The feet tend to move closer to the centerline when the dog moves at a fast pace. When coursing the dog moves into a double suspension gait. Viewed from the back, the hind legs are wider than the front.
Faults: Weaving, crossing, or hackneyed motion with mincing gait.
SIZE: Dogs: to 23 inches Bitches to 20 inches
(* Adult Inca 17 inches -- up).
Weight is proportionate to height and all over development. Approximately 30-40 pounds. They are lean and strongly muscled often weighing more than they appear.
Faults: Emaciation, Overweight.
VARIETIES: Though both varieties are structurally the same, there are some finer points which will differ and should be judged accordingly.
Hairless:
Ears: priced when alert, folded and set back when at rest or in a fast gait.
DISQUALIFICATION: Surgically altered ears.
Teeth: Pre-molars are absent. Good dentition preferred, but additional missing teeth not penalized.
Skin: Smooth and supple, warm to the touch. A short soft fuzz on skull, lower one-third of tail or low on the hock is the maximum hair allowed.
Color: Skin is pink or white with moderate to heavy mottling of any color, or completely one solid color overall. A dog may not be penalized for scratches or scars on the body.
DISQUALIFACTION: Albino
Coated:
Ears: Semi-pricked braking one third of the way down (due to the weight of the hair). Folding back at rest as well as pricked ears are permitted.
Teeth: Full dentition, level to scissor bite.
Coat: Short, single coat, texture moderately coarse to soft and longer with feathering on the ears and tail. Hair lies close to body with or without slight wave.
Color: White with defined splashing or spotting of any color, preferred.
* Both Varieties compete for one set of points.
Open classes are divided by sex, coat and skin color type (spotted or solid).
* NOTE: This information has been contributed by, and is property of The Peruvian Inca Orchid Club of America, Inc., and is gratefully used here with permission.
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