Peruvian Hairless vs Doxiepom - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Doxiepom is a small dog known as a designer breed which has originated from crossing the well known Dachshund dog with another well known pure-breed dog, the Pomeranian.

This has resulted in the hybrid breed – the Doxiepom.

Both these pure bred dogs have their own history each but the Doxiepom is a new dog breed. It is believed that this mix of Pomeranian and Dachshund was originally developed in the United States in the 1990’s and while he doesn’t have much of a history, you can have a look at the history of the parent dog breeds.

This is an ancient breed, and he even looks like he comes from ancient times. This particular dog, the Peruvian Hairless, was part of the Inca Empire and it is amazing that depictions of Peruvian hairless dogs have been seen around around 750 A.D.

It is believed the dogs were a meal for many in those ancient times, and that together with the Spanish conquest of Peru resulted in the dog almost being wiped out.

Today the dog is held in esteem in Peru and it is looked upon as the national dog of Peru – an accolade this dog received in 2001. The Federation Cynologique Internationale has accepted this breed and also adopted an official breed standard.

The Doxiepom is a small dog - a cross between the Dachshund and the Pomeranian, and this means he can have characteristics from each of these breeds.

They’re short dogs, standing at roughly 12cm to 27cm. A full grown Pomeranian Dachshund mix can weigh between 3kg and 12kg.

With a fairly long body from the Dachshund side, he has floppy ears or they can be semi-erect and the tail is long.

You can’t really say what the dog will look like exactly and the coat may be long or short with some of the coat colors being tan, black or brown.

Temperament:

Their dependent nature can mean these little dogs battling with separation anxiety, and he is a dog that doesn’t like being left alone for long periods of time.

He easily attaches himself to just one member of the family while being friendly and loving to everyone else as well.

They’e fun loving, playful dogs and want to be involved in their family’s activities, whether indoors or out. They’re friendly, but are aloof with strangers. He makes a great watchdog too, barking when strangers enter the property.

There is no doubt that the most important feature of this dog is its hairlessness, but there is nearly always a little bit of hair on top of its head and on the tip of the tail.

The color of the dog’s skin can be dark brown, mottled or a grey shade. They can be a solid color or grey or brown but with pink spots. The eyes of the dog are brown and the ears can be floppy or erect and the tail is long.

He stands at anything between 25 to 50cm, depending on whether he is a small or medium sized Peruvian. Weights can vary too but can be 4kg for the smaller type, going up to 25 kg for the larger dogs. The dogs are always slim.

Temperament:

Peruvian Hairless dogs love their human families, being somewhat wary around strangers. They are lively, intelligent, alert and protective.

Lean and agile, they can be quick too. Just like with any other dogs, he will require training and socialization if you want him to be obedient and well behaved. He gets on well with other pets in the house and will get on well with disciplined children. This is a quiet dog but even so, he makes a good guard dog.

One of the strong characteristics of the the Doxiepom is that he shares a strong bond with his human family.

He is such a amicable little dog, ready to join in with the children in their games as well as in the activities of the adults.

He craves human companionship, and if you provide him with a happy home, he promises to give you devoted companionship throughout his life.

From ancient times, the Peruvian Hairless has been man’s best friend, and June 12th is the official day of the Peruvian Hairless Dog. These dogs love being surrounded by their human family. They are cheerful, playful, social dogs and they make great playmates for children when the children don’t rough play too much so as to injure him.

He is also a good watchdog and when he isn’t protecting you or playing he can be calm and quiet, and slot easily into life in the countryside or the city. Treat him well and you'll enjoy excellent friendship from this hairless canine friend.

The Doxiepom is a little dog who isn’t going to cost you a lot of time at the vet, however there are some typical dog illnesses that you will do well to know about.

Generally the Doxiepom has a lifespan of about 12 to 16 years and with good care, your pet can reach this age too.

As far as health problems go, your dog could be affected, although it is unlikely, as he is a robust dog breed.

Your pet could inherit health problems more common to either of the breeds. Little dogs suffer with their own set of heath problems and these could be back problems, dental- and eye disease and allergies.

A common health problem with a small dog like this is obesity. They don’t need a lot of food but because they’re so friendly and entertaining, some owners over-feed them.

Like all breeds there will be some health problems with your Peruvian Hairless, although with good care care this dog can live to be 12 years of age or maybe even a little older. Some things to look out for include -

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

You may notice your dog not eating his food, having an upset stomach and vomiting. Irritable bowel syndrome in a dog is a persistent upset stomach, resulting in diarrhea and bloating. IBS isn’t reserved for older dogs, and it can affect any breed or sex. You’ll notice your pet being listless and without energy. In severe cases of IBS, you may notice blood in your pet’s feces. Don’t allow your canine friend to suffer – get him to the vet.

Seizures:

Also known as epilepsy, it can be disturbing for you to see your canine friend having a seizure. Uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in your dog’s brain cause these seizures which are a mix of twitching and shaking. The seizure can last for less than a minute or for several minutes. A number of things can cause these seizures in dogs – head injuries, anemia, kidney disease, liver disease, electrolyte problems, brain cancer among others.

Skin Problems:

Many dogs suffer with one or other skin problems and these can be painful and frustrating. Hairless breeds are more likely to suffer with skin issues and they require special grooming and skin care to prevent dryness, insect bites, sunburn etc.

Grooming:

The Doxipom has moderate grooming requirements, shedding somewhat throughout the year, so brushing him twice a week will keep the coat shiny and healthy.

If your pet has turned out to have more long hair than short, he may require some professional grooming. His nails will also need clipping and his ears will also need to be checked for infection.

Small dogs often battle more with dental and gum problems, and plaque and tartar buildup results when food gets trapped between the teeth, leading to gingivitis which can lead to premature tooth loss. Keeping the teeth clean is therefore important.

Diet:

Small dogs have quicker metabolisms than big dogs and they also mature faster than the larger dogs. Smaller dogs actually require more calories per kilogram than big dogs because they burn up energy faster than larger breeds.

It is therefore important to feed your small dog the right amount of food to support their growth rate and to maintain weight in adulthood. Homemade foods for your Doxiepom are always wonderful, but of course many people who work make use of some of the good commercially manufactured dog foods out of sheer convenience.

Go for the better quality brands which have top ingredients in them so as to avoid deficiencies.

Raw meat should also make up part of the diet – fish, chicken and red meat. Always make sure your pet has access to fresh, cool water.

For some, the lack of hair is appealing to some people who battle with allergies. The skin of the dog will need to be washed to remove dirt. You’ve got to be careful however, what you wash your dog with because these dogs are known to get blackheads and acne because of blocked pores.

Then again, the skin can become quite dry, so you need to strike a balance. Talk to a dog expert or your vet on how to care for such a dog’s skin.

You’ll also need to consider your dog when he goes outside into the sun. Protection against sunlight is recommended and once again you might want to find out about sun blocks. Because of the lack of hair, he may also be sensitive to the cold.

Make sure this unusual pet gets the right diet. You want to be sure that whether you feed him commercially manufactured foods or he gets some home-made food it is full of vitamins and minerals. Steer away from spicy, unusual foods as dogs love simplicity and consistency.