Home / Breeds / Compare / Brittany vs Peruvian Hairless Dog
From Brittany, France, the Brittany is a medium sized companion breed whose traditional work was to be close company for people, a role dogs have filled for thousands of years. From Peru, the Peruvian Hairless Dog is a medium sized companion breed whose traditional work was to live as close company for people, work dogs have done at our sides for thousands of years. This page puts the two side by side on the numbers that actually differ: size, exercise, grooming, what each costs to keep, and the health tests a breeder should show you.
The biggest gap is shedding: the Brittany is rated 3 of 5 against 1 of 5 for the Peruvian Hairless Dog.
The next biggest gap is grooming needs: the Brittany is rated 3 of 5 against 2 of 5 for the Peruvian Hairless Dog.
The third gap worth noting is monthly cost: the modeled total is about $85 a month for the Brittany against $70 for the Peruvian Hairless Dog.
| Brittany | Peruvian Hairless Dog | |
|---|---|---|
| Group | Non-Sporting | Non-Sporting |
| Origin | Brittany, France | Peru |
| Height | 18 to 21 in | 10 to 26 in |
| Weight | 30 to 40 lb | 9 to 55 lb |
| Lifespan | 12 to 14 years | 12 to 13 years |
| Coat | Dense, flat or slightly wavy coat of medium length, with light feathering on the ears and backs of the legs. It sheds moderately and brushes out easily once a week. | Hairless skin with hair only on the head, feet and tail in many individuals. |
| Temperament | Sweet, adaptable, playful and devoted | Sweet, adaptable, playful and devoted |
| Energy | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Trainability | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Grooming needs | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Shedding | 3 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Barking | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| With children | Good with children | Good with children |
| With other dogs | Good with dogs | Good with dogs |
| With strangers | Friendly with strangers | Friendly with strangers |
| Apartment fit | With enough exercise | With enough exercise |
| Daily exercise | 30 to 45 min | 30 to 45 min |
| Food per month (model) | $25 (2.3 cups a day) | $23 (2.2 cups a day) |
| Insurance per month (model) | $45 to $75 | $34 to $61 |
| Monthly total (model) | $70 to $100 | $57 to $84 |
| Yearly total (model) | $841 to $1,201 | $689 to $1,013 |
| Lifetime total (model) | $10,092 to $16,814 | $8,273 to $13,175 |
| Breeder health tests | 2 recommended tests | Panel not published yet |
| Health watch | Hip screening and eye checks are the mainstays, with epilepsy reported in some lines. A generally sound, energetic gundog. Ask to see health test results for both parents before you commit to a puppy; a good breeder will offer them before you ask. | Sunburn and skin care are the daily realities of the hairless variety, and missing teeth are expected in hairless dogs. The breed is otherwise a hardy sighthound type. Ask to see health test results for both parents before you commit to a puppy; a good breeder will offer them before you ask. |
Peruvian Hairless Dog: scores 16 on the first-time-owner rule (trainability weighted double, then calmer energy, grooming and barking), against 15 for the Brittany.
Peruvian Hairless Dog: matches the Brittany on the apartment rating ("With enough exercise") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks: barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Both are listed the same way for children and tie on the tie-breaks; supervision matters more than the breed label here.
Peruvian Hairless Dog: sheds less, rated 1 of 5 for shedding against 3 of 5 for the Brittany. Shedding is only a proxy for loose hair in the home; no breed is allergen-free.
Peruvian Hairless Dog: runs about $15 a month less than the Brittany on modeled food plus insurance ($70 against $85 at the midpoints).
For the Brittany and the Peruvian Hairless Dog, the verdicts follow published rules: first-time owner scores 2 x trainability + (6 - energy) + (6 - grooming) + (6 - barking); apartment ranks the apartment rating, then barking, exercise and weight; children ranks the children rating, then trainability and stranger friendliness; allergy ranks lowest shedding, then grooming; budget ranks the lowest monthly modeled total. Level scores are declared ties.
On the modeled figures the Brittany costs more month to month: about $85 a month at the midpoint of food plus insurance, against $70 for the Peruvian Hairless Dog. Run across the lifespan ranges, the model gives $10,092 to $16,814 for the Brittany and $8,273 to $13,175 for the Peruvian Hairless Dog. These are planning estimates, not quotes.
They are level: both plan on 30 to 45 minutes a day, and energy is rated 3 of 5 for the Brittany against 3 of 5 for the Peruvian Hairless Dog.
The Peruvian Hairless Dog sheds less, rated 1 of 5 for shedding against 3 of 5 for the Brittany. Coat notes for the Peruvian Hairless Dog: Hairless skin with hair only on the head, feet and tail in many individuals.
Not equally. The Peruvian Hairless Dog is the better fit for an apartment: it matches the Brittany on the apartment rating ("With enough exercise") and edges ahead on the tie-breaks, barking, then daily exercise, then size.
Choosing between more than two? Open the comparison tool and put up to four breeds side by side, or read all written breed comparisons.
Every Brittany and Peruvian Hairless Dog fact on this page follows the standards and club guidance summarized on that breed's profile. Cost figures are modeled estimates for planning, labeled with their basis, and are neither quotes nor veterinary advice. Health test panels are the recommendations published by the breed clubs and CHIC, as set out on each breed's health testing page.