upper thigh is proportionately long and well muscled . The second thigh is also well muscled and forms a marked angle with the upper thigh . Pasterns are rather long .
Norrbottenspets are double coated , and the top coat can be short or long and is straight , lying close to the body . The base color is white with varying amounts of red or yellow color . A colored mask must cover the sides of the head and ears . A saddle break must be present .
Norrbottenspets are calm , keen and attentive with a kind disposition . Self-confident , they carry their heads high with a fearless attitude . Dogs vocalize while hunting , so they may bark in the ring due to excitement . Norrbottenspets are never nervous , shy or aggressive .
The breed is extremely versatile with participation in many AKC activities . There are Norrbottenspets with multiple titles in agility and barn hunts . Others have obtained senior coursing titles . There are Norrbottenspets in rally and obedience , and some have been trained in search and rescue . Currently , there are four dogs that have gained the Certificate of Merit title in conformation , with several Best in Miscellaneous wins .
The breed is gaining popularity ; more than 200 are now registered with the AKC . The breed club is progressing toward full recognition — registrations are up , membership in the parent club is steadily increasing around the US , the parent club has held one of two required open shows and a judges education package is being finalized .
THE PERUVIAN INCA ORCHID
SUSAN LUNDEBJERG
Brief Historical Summary : According to certain experts , this dog was introduced in Peru during the Chinese immigration , soon after the promulgation of the law abolishing the slavery of the blacks by the president of Peru , Don Ramón Castilla . On the other hand , other researchers suppose that this dog comes from the African continent through the intermediary of nomads who arrived in America accompanied by their hairless dogs . Another possible explanation is that the presence of this dog would be due to the migration of men and their dogs from Asia to America through the Bering Strait . However , next to all these suppositions , there are certain proofs such as the representations that appear on ceramics of different pre-Inca civilizations ( Vicus , Mochica , Chancay , Chancay , under Tiahuanacoid influence , Chimu ); in many cases the hairless dog has replaced the puma , the snake or the falcon ; this in particular and in a more evident way in the Chancay culture . As we can gather from the reproductions , the hairless dog appears during the pre-Inca archeological periods , i . e . between the years 300 BC and the years 1400 AD .
General Appearance : The Peruvian Inca Orchid / Peruvian Hairless Dog is a sighthound . Going by his general conformation , it is an elegant and slim dog , whose aspect expresses speed , strength and harmony without ever appearing coarse . The fundamental characteristic of the breed is the absence of hair all over the body in the hairless variety . The minority are the coated examples , which are an important part of this breed ’ s genetic makeup . Another
particular feature is that the dentition is nearly always incomplete hairless examples .
Important Proportions : The ratio between the height at the withers and the length of the body is 1:1 ; the body of the females can be slightly longer than that of the males .
Behavior / Temperament : Noble and affectionate at home with those close to him , at the same time lively and alert ; he is wary and a good guard in the presence of strangers . Head : Of lupoid conformation . Cranial Region : Skull - Mesocephalic . Orthoid , i . e . the upper axis of the skull and muzzle are parallel ; a slight divergence is accepted . Seen from above , the skull is broad and the head tapers toward the nose . The superciliary arches are moderately developed . The occipital crest is hardly marked . Stop - Cranialfacial depression barely marked ( approximately 140 degrees ).
Facial Region : Nose - The color of the nose must be in harmony with the different colors of the skin . Muzzle - Seen in profile , the nasal bridge is straight . Lips - Moderately tight to the gums . Jaws / Teeth - Scissor bite . Incomplete dentition in the hairless variety is normal . The lower jaw is only slightly developed . The coated variety should have full dentition . Cheeks - Normally developed . Eyes - Alert and intelligent expression . The eyes must be of average dimensions , slightly almond shaped , neither deep-set nor prominent , normally and regularly placed , i . e . neither too close together nor too wide apart . The color can vary from black , going through all shades of brown up to yellow , in harmony with the skin color . In any case ,
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