Founded on 1 July 1960, Peru's national canine organisation, the Kennel Club Peruano (KCP) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. Its headquarters are located in Lima, the Ciudad de los Reyes or the three times crowned City of the Kings. The KCP is the organisation in charge of keeping Peru's Studbook, a responsibility conferred by the Ministry of Agriculture. Originally named the Asociación Sporting and Kennel Club Peruano, the club later became known as the Kennel Club Peruano (KCP).

Dogs in Peru

Dogs have been around in Peru just as long as mankind has been present in the central part of South America. Since earliest civilisations, dogs have been at the sides of Peruvian ancestors, remaining there over the course of the country's various cultural evolutions.

The first traces of dogs were found at Jaywamachay in the Andes, where remains dating back to the Lithic Age were unearthed at a site 9,000 - 11,000 years old located in the Ayacucho Valley. Remains dating back to the Formative Period were found on both the coast and in the Sierra Central, for instance at Ancón, a site to the north of the Chillon Valley, where remains of dogs belonging to at least four different breeds, all with hair, were found in the cemeteries discovered by Nehring.

Peruvian prehistory consists of three periods of unification: the Ancient Horizon civilisation (Horizonte Temprano - Horizonte Chavín), the Middle Horizon civilisation (Horizonte Medio - Horizonte Tiahuanaco or Tiahuanaco-Wari) and the Late Horizon civilisation (Horizonte Tardío - Horizonte Tawantinsuyu). First depictions of dogs appear on pottery belonging to the Vicús civilisation (500 BC - 400 AD). This civilisation owes its name to a hill on the territory of the old Pabur domain, to the East of Piura, where anthropomorphic, phytomorphic and zoomorphic sculptures are often to be found. In addition to the actual modelling, these are decorated with motifs painted in red or made using negative impression.

On the left, a Vicús pot, and on the right, a huaco Mochica depicting a Peruvian Hairless Dog.

Around 100 BC the Mochica Civilisation emerged, a civilisation which was to develop exquisite, fine and realistic pottery. The realistic depiction of dogs produced by the pottery-makers of that time enable us to recognise the Peruvian Hairless Dog, together with its haired counterpart. Despite the amount of time that has passed, they can be seen to have the same traits as such dogs now show. These dogs aroused interest through their loyalty and good guard-dog qualities.

The Mochica civilisation was superseded by the Sicán civilisation, a civilisation owing its name to the ceremonial city of that name. Following in the footsteps of the Moches, though without achieving their stylistic level and quality, the Sicán pottery-makers also depicted the Peruvian Hairless Dog in a very characteristic and detailed way in their sculptured pottery - depicting it in a stereotype way, with concentric lines around the eyes, warts on the face, scratches around the body and erect ears. This style was to be developed later by the Chimú between 1100 and 1470 AD in their predominantly black pottery. The Sicán civilisation covered a period of transition between the Wari hegemony (700 - 1100 AD) and the Incas.

The emergence of the Incas announced dark times for dogs, with the sun-worshipping Incas dislodging the former pre-Inca political and religious structures where the presence of dogs - enjoying the interest of the elite - is highlighted in works of art. In great contrast to the preceding periods, there are few depictions of dogs in Incan art during this period preceding the Conquista. This can be seen as a sign of the change in the way dogs were regarded. In spite of this, the different ethnic groups living along the coast, enslaved as a result of war or the system of reciprocity, retained the habit of worshipping its effigy, drawing nourishment from it, and burying their dead with their dogs, a custom that the Incas tried without success to stamp out.

With the defeat of the Incas, the situation of the native breeds changed abruptly and a number of pre-Hispanic dogs disappeared altogether. This was not just due to their extermination but also through crossing with European breeds imported by the Spaniards. In the case of the “Viringo”, an ancient Moche word for the Peruvian Hairless Dog still used in Piura and surroundings, the strength of the genetic factor causing its hairlessness has enabled such dogs to remain our companions with unchanged characteristics - despite the centuries that have passed by.

There can be no doubt that this breed has been able to survive till now thanks in part to its reputation, widespread among the population of the Northern coast, of it having curing "qualities". Its acceptance was aided not only by these qualities, but also by its skills as an exterminator of the rodents which used to cause extensive damage to crops. A selection occurred unconsciously, preserving the breed as it was in antiquity.

Chimú sculpture and a Chancay biglobular artefact representing the Peruvian Hairless Dog.

A breed of Peruvian origin

Peru has only one breed recognised internationally - the Peruvian Hairless Dog. It was officially recognised - and confirmed as a breed originating in Peru - by the FCI General Assembly of 12 June 1985 in Amsterdam (the Netherlands), being given the standard number 310. Since then, an increasing number of people have started showing interest in breeding the dogs with their marked racial features, enabling a few representatives to be among the prize-winners at shows and to top national rankings, as was the case in 2009 with the dog LUNA (VASQUEZ). This year, in the light of the advances made in genome studies, a proposal has been made to the FCI Standards Commission to change the standard, recognising the variety with hair as a variety of the breed. This change is expected to come into force from 2011 onwards.

About the club

Before the club was founded, canine events were organised by the Asociación de Médicos Veterinarios de Lima, whose objectives were not necessarily breeding purebred dogs. These events represented the starting point for dog-lovers - with Reynaldo Pochopp at their head - to consider the need to found a club which, in addition to organising dog shows, would also be responsible for managing Peru's studbook. The KCP began its work on 1 July 1960 with Reynaldo Pocchop as its first president. At the head of a group of enthusiasts, he led the club on a long journey, guiding it into the 21st century with new perspectives for the future, both as a club and with regard to breeding.

The first show organised by the KCP took place on 24 - 25 November 1962 as part of the Club Regatas de Chorrillos. It was judged by the well-known doctor Frank Porter Miller from the American Kennel Club (AKC), a man with an unparalleled passion for dogs, whether purebred or not, and whose dogs had won the famous Kentucky Derby in 1951. A little more than 150 dogs took part in this show, with the honours going to the little Italian Greyhound, JACQUELINE, belonging to José Castañeda, This first show was to mark the start of Peru's cynology activities. Thanks to the work of the club's directors and members, the club has been successful in spreading the passion for dogs, achieving the high standard now found. This was to be witnessed at the recent show of the Americas and Caribbean Section, which took place in our capital city in commemoration of the club's Golden Anniversary. Events such as the 1988 World Dog Show, SICASUD in 1983, the Championships of the Americas and the Caribbean Section in 1994, 2002 and 2010, and SICALAM in 1998 and 2008, have become historic milestones for the club, during which the fruits of Peruvian breeding could be shown to the entire region and the world.

On the left, cover of the catalogue of the first show held by the KCP. On the right, the small Italian Greyhound, JACQUELINE, winner of the show, in the arms of its owner.

The second historic milestone in the life of the KCP was its affiliation to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), adopted at the General Meeting held on 27 - 28 June 1963 in Portugal, after nine meetings held during the four months of discussions.

Activities

The KCP's managing body is its 7-member Management Committee (Consejo Directivo). The club's premises are in Miraflores, a district of Lima. The club has a Director and four permanent employees. KCP funding is provided by its 170 members, from whose midst the members of the management board and committees are elected every two years. Mandatory committees are stipulated in the statutes and include the Audit Committee and the Disciplinary Committee. To achieve its objectives, the elected officials appoint the directors of Registers and Subsidiaries, as well as the members belonging to the Breeding Committee. In addition, there are other technical committees, including the Genealogy Committee and the Board of Judges which works to support and provide assistance in dealing with technical aspects and is composed of all official judges in possession of a valid license, without distinction of breed or specialty. All posts within the club are held on a voluntary basis.

The KCP manages the Studbook (RD) for the dogs with a genealogy going back three complete generations in accordance with FCI Circular Nr 17 of 15 September 1975, and the Initial Register (RI) in which Peruvian Hairless Dogs awaiting a three-generation pedigree are listed (once this is achieved, they are transferred to the Studbook).

As part of a new breeding strategy which begun in 2010, the KCP has changed its procedure for issuing genealogy documents, as well as the format of national and export pedigrees, with them now bearing features guaranteeing their authenticity. Moreover, in addition to the obligation to implant microchips when registering all puppies in a litter, the breeds most prone to hip dysplasia must pass the required test before being deemed fit for reproduction. In 2009, 712 litters (with 3142 puppies) were registered, demonstrating the upward trend of the last few years as well as the arrival of new breeders, in itself a fact reflecting the annual increase in applications for kennel names.

The KCP has 14 judges, including 4 international, 9 national, and 2 working judges. It has two subsidiaries, the Club Canófilo Arequipa (CCA) and Caxamarca Kennel Club (CKC), in addition to the clubs for specific breeds such as the Asociación Peruana de Perros Pastores Criadores Alemanes (MAP APA), the Boxer Club del Perú (BCP), the Asociación Peruana del Mastín Napolitano (APEMANA) and the Club del Rottweiler (CDR).

On average, 40 shows are held each year, whether regional, national, Latin-American or international. In 2010 11 CACIB-awarding shows were held, including the Circuito de Las Américas y el Caribe, the Section's Dog Show and the region's most important show, which were organised by the KCP. In addition, Agility Championships are held. Top-rated judges are invited to these, illustrating the increase in popularity this sport is witnessing in our country.

Finally, the development of Peruvian cynology reflects, in part, Peru's current economic growth and the effectiveness of the administrative work being done by its proponents. These two aspects have enabled breeders to rely on dedicated resources for improving their kennels, thereby raising the average level of such activity in our region. The club's management committee is committed to encouraging measures aimed at making use of current-day technologies, such as DNA tests, sperm-banks and tests for detecting the various hereditary problems which dogs are prone to. This can all be seen as part of the functional health concept promoted by the FCI. Looking to the future, the KCP is facing new challenges. These will be met through the joint efforts of its management and members.