The Argentine pila dog is a small breed native to Argentina. Its most striking feature is the absence of fur, in fact, the word pila means "naked" in the Quechua language. Specimens of this breed are friendly, affectionate and playful, which makes them excellent companion animals, despite being little known outside of their native Argentina.
Do you want to know more about the Argentine Pila Dog? If so, join us in the next tab on our site where we will talk about the main characteristics of this dog breed.
Origin of the Argentine pila dog
The pila dog is a hairless dog native to Argentina, recognized as a native breed of this country. There are various theories about the origin of these dogs, although everything seems to indicate that they come from the Peruvian hairless dog. It is said that these dogs were used by the Incas as gifts to neighboring populations. Thus, these hairless dogs were able to reach northwestern Argentina, specifically the province of S alta, from Peru.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the breed began to be forged after the Spanish conquest in the 15th century, as a consequence of the isolation of these canine specimens in Argentina. However, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that this breed began to gain popularity in Argentina. In its origins, the pila dog was used as a “medicinal dog” to accompany the bedridden patients, since having no hair, its temperature was easily transmitted and allowed to warm the people they accompanied.
Characteristics of the Argentine Pila Dog
The Argentine Pila is a breed recognized by the Argentine Canine Association, however, to date it has not been registered as a breed by the International Cinological Federation (FCI). The Argentine Canine Association recognizes two varieties of pila dog:
- Small pile dog: those less than 35 cm tall at the withers.
- Medium stacked dog: those with a height at the withers of 35 to 45 cm.
Its most obvious characteristic is the absence of fur, which makes it a dog that is particularly sensitive to the cold and loves to lie in the sun To heat up. As they lack hair, it is important to protect them from the sun with sun protection creams. Something characteristic of this breed is that it tans in summer to protect itself from the sun, recovering a more pink skin color in winter.
Below, we collect some of the most important traits of its racial standard:
- They are small dogs: weighing between 6, 5 and 8 kg. Despite being slim, they have a strong and well-proportioned body.
- The head is longer than it is wide: in addition, it has a moderate stop. The nose (nose) is small and can be any color.
- Eyes can be any color: except blue. Dark-skinned dogs generally have almost black eyes, while lighter-skinned dogs have more yellowish eyes. The eyes are bright and have a cheerful and lively expression.
- The ears are medium large and very mobile: when they are alert they keep them straight, but at rest they are usually folded backwards.
- The neck is moderately long: fine and slightly arched, meeting the back with a gentle curve.
- The tail is set rather high: it is long, thin and curved. In movement, it is arched backwards, while at rest it remains low and arched backwards, never towards the belly.
- The skin is fine and smooth: warm to the touch and completely free of body hair. Some specimens have a small amount of hair on the head, ears, underside of the tail, or on the ends of the limbs. However, this hair does not form a true coat, but rather a thin coat, with a bristle texture when it is short and somewhat silkier when it is longer.
Colors of the Argentine pila dog
The breed standard described by the Argentine Canine Association establishes that both the skin and the hair in those dogs that have it, can have any color or combination of colors.
Character of the Argentine pile dog
The Argentine Pila is a sweet, affectionate and playful dog, which makes him an excellent companion animal. It is a breed that is faithful to its caregivers, good with children and friendly with other domestic animals. However, he tends to be wary of strangers.
Despite being a good guard dog, almost never has aggressive reactions. Nor does it usually present marked behavior problems, although it is a very active dog, which needs daily physical exercise to be able to release its excess energy.
If you want to know The best guard dogs, don't hesitate to read this article on our site that we recommend.
Care of the Argentine pila dog
Like any breed, the Argentine Pila requires a series of care to stay physically and mentally he althy. One of the most important points is skincareLacking hair to protect them, their skin can be damaged much more easily than that of other breeds. Below, we collect some of the recommendations to take into account:
- Feeding: diet is very important to mark good growth in our dog. In the case of the Pila Argentino dog, we need to pay a lot of attention to its diet since it has a tendency to gain weight In addition, as it gets older it loses most of your teeth, so we will have to adapt your diet to this need. Do not hesitate to take a look at this post about Food for dogs without teeth, here.
- Exercise: It is important to bear in mind that the Argentine Pila, despite being a small dog, has a high level of energy, so you need to exercise at least a couple of times a day The ideal is to combine walks with games or sports that keep you physically and mentally active for a good part of the day
- Grooming: for bathing, special soaps for hairless dogs should be used. You should apply sunscreen to your skin and avoid exposing yourself to the sun for a long time or during the hottest hours of the day. They are especially cold dogs, so they should never be kept outdoors in the winter season. When going outside, it is convenient to protect them with special coats for dogs. Argentine pila dogs are more susceptible to insect bites, so it is a good idea to periodically check their skin for mosquito bites or other insects.
Education of the Argentine pila dog
The Argentine Pila is an intelligent dog that is easy to train. Like any other breed, it is essential to offer it proper education and socialization from an early age, to avoid behavioral problems in adult life.
He alth of the Argentine Pila Dog
The Argentine Pila is a long-lived dog, with a life expectancy of between 15 and 20 years. This breed is not prone to he alth problems, although over the years they can develop chewing problems due to their weak and incomplete teeth. For genetic reasons, all Pilas lack premolars and often other posterior teeth as well.
In addition, they are more likely to develop dermatological problems because they lack a coat of hair to protect their skin. It is important to protect them from the sun by applying cream sunscreens. Do dogs need sunscreen? Discover the answer.
Where to adopt an Argentine pile dog
The Argentine pila is a rare breed and very little known outside of Argentina. Therefore, if you are thinking of including a dog of this breed in the family, it may be difficult for you to find a specimen. There is a conservation movement for the breed, with protection and breeding programs, although most of these programs are carried out in the American countries where the breed is bred. However, you can try to get in touch with one of the associations in charge of conservation of this breed so that they can direct your search.
In any case, remember that what is truly important when adding a new pet to the family is not that it meets any breed standard, but that you can faithfully adapt to its needs and lifestyle.
