Description

There is a Hairless Khala Medio (short legged, also called the pottery type) and a Hairless Khala Grande (long legged or sighthound type.) The Medio is a medium sized hound, powerful yet graceful. The Grande gives the impression of a sighthound, well coordinated and able to move with ease and agility. Color is immaterial, but most Khalas are a dark gray at maturity.

Origin

From the American Khala Association standard for the breed: "The hairless hound is indigenous to Latin America from Mexico throughout Central and South America. Almost every Latin country has a variety, whether the medium sized, somewhat heavy bodied 'pottery' type or the taller, leaner 'gazehound' type. The difference between the two is more of substance than of height. Both types can and do appear in the same litter and no attempt has been made, as yet, to breed selectively for one type or the other. The dogs are known by different names, even within the same country. We have only recently classified them simply as KHALA which is the Bolivian Quechua Indian word meaning 'without clothing.' The Peruvian Quechua word for the breed is 'caa allepo' which translates to 'without vestment.' In other countries, the Indian names translate similarly, which would indicate a difference in dialect rather than in the breed. The Khala is a naturally healthy, hearty animal that survives without pampering from the coastline to high in the Andes. It is a dog of the people and shares their meager existence with affection and a willingness to make do that is common to most unrefined canines. Like their human's family tree, Khala pedigrees are seldom written down and are more of common knowledge and spoken word. It is normal for the entire village to know the names, and a lot more, of any dog's parents, grandparents, and so on for many generations. Some effort is being made in several countries, most notably Argentina, Bolivia and Peru, to track and record pedigree and to exchange breeding animals between geographic locations. Exportation to the US and Europe is limited but not impossible."

Temperament

Loving and docile with family and friends. Aloof, standoffish even unfriendly with strangers. Tolerant and packish with household animals, but not submissive. The Khala is not pushy with other dogs but they are not submissive either. Since they don't have hair and adult teeth are usually few and far between, they tend to walk (or run away) from a serious confrontation. When startled, they freeze... which is great for stacking in the show ring! This is a primitive breed, it needs very little in care BUT requires an owner with dog experience to understand them. Generally, because of the lost of protection provided by hair and good dentition, flight is preferable to fight. The Khala tend to identify very closely with others of their kind (most hairless dogs do) and are happiest when there are at least two of them in a home.

Height

Height: Medio 14-17 inches (36-41 cm.)

Weight

Weight: Medio 15-30 pounds (6.8-13.9 kg.)

Known Health Problems

By necessity, Khalas are a naturally healthy breed. In the countries of origin, veterinary care is seldom available or affordable to the Indian peasants the dogs live with. As with most hairless dogs, adult dentition is very bad. The root system is shallow and even puppy teeth are primitive.

Conditions for Living

Coats/sweaters as well as protection from the sun may be necessary, depending on the weather ALTHOUGH little is provided for them in their homelands where they live from the seaside to high in the mountains. One owner/breeder of the Khala states "When the temperature is too extreme for them, hot or cold, they let you know! (Each of ours has a complete wardrobe of sweaters and sweatshirts with a different color for each dog; when it's cold out and I pick up a sweater the dog who has that color comes up to get dressed! If I don't go for the dog clothes, one... or all of them... will bring me a sweater and they usually bring their own. They are uncanny... and I'll never again believe that dogs can't see colors!)"

Exercise Requirments

A fenced yard is suggested as, being a hound, the Khala tends to give chase without thought. This breed needs to be taken on a daily

Life Expectancy

Unknown in the US where they are provided for and protected.

Grooming

An occasional bath. The Khala's nails are described as 'heavy claws somewhat longer than most breeds' and the dogs are very sensitive and resistant to having them trimmed.

Group

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