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Breed Characteristics
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Xoloitzcuintli
| Other Names | Mexican Hairless Dog, Xoloitzcuintle, Xoloitzquintle, Xoloescuincle |
| Nicknames | Xolo, Xolito |
| Country of Origin | Mexico |
| Weight | Toy: Weight 5 - 15 lbs. (2.3 - 6.8 kg) In the U.S. the smallest Xolo is called a Toy and in Mexico it is called a Miniature, which can be confusing. Miniature: Weight 15 - 30 lbs. (6.8 - 14 kg) In the U.S. the Miniature is called a Miniature and in Mexico it is called an Intermediate. Standard: Weight 25 - 40 lbs. (11 - 18 kg) and up to even 60 + lbs. (27 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Toy: Height 9 - 14 in. (23 - 36 cm) tall at the shoulder. Miniature: Height 15 - 20 in. (38 - 51 cm) tall at the shoulder. Standard: Height 20 - 30 inches (51 - 76 cm) tall at the shoulder. |
| Coat | The hairless variety has hair only on the tail and a tuft on the top of the head. The coated variety has a very short and sleek coat. |
| Colour | The coated Xolo comes in a wide variety of colours, including black, slate, bronze, brindle, fawn, and red. They can be solid or spotted. |
| Litter Size | There are an average of 5 puppies to a litter. In such a litter size, four of the puppies will be hairless and one will be coated. |
| Life Span | 15 - 20 years |
| Origin & History | The Xolo is one of the world's oldest and rarest breeds. They have been around for more than 3000 years, and are depicted in art and pottery of ancient civilizations like the Mayans and the Aztecs. Xolos were considered sacred dogs by the Aztecs (and also Toltecs, Maya and some other groups) because they believed the dogs were needed by their masters’ souls to help them safely through the underworld. They were also useful companion animals. According to Aztec mythology, the god Xolotl made the Xoloitzcuintli from a sliver of the Bone of Life from which all mankind was made. Xolotl gave this gift to Man with the instruction to guard it with his life and in exchange it would guide Man through the dangers of Mictlan, the world of Death, toward the Evening Star in the Heavens. Some people in Mexico continue to believe this breed has healing qualities. The Aztecs also raised the breed for their meat. Sixteenth-century Spanish accounts tell of large numbers of dogs being served at banquets. Aztec Merchant feasts could have 80–100 turkeys and 20–40 dogs served as food.[5] When these two meats were served in the same dish, the dog meat was at the bottom of the dish, either because it was held in higher regard or because it was increasingly considered a step above cannibalism. It is believed that the ancestors of the Aztecs brought hairless dogs with them when the came from Asia. The dogs were prized for their loyalty and intelligence but were also believed to have mystical powers. The ancient civilizations used the Xolos for family pets, but they were also highly prized as living bed warmers. The Xolo's hairless body radiates warmth, so they were often used to help the people stay warm or as a sort of heating pad for aches and pains. They were also sometimes used for food and sacrificial offerings. Xolos differ from most other breeds in the fact that they were not bred for a specific purpose. Therefore, their characteristics have developed through natural selection and a need simply to survive as a breed. The breed is native to Mexico, but can be found all throughout South America. The name comes from the ancient dog Xoloti. By the end of the 19th century, the dog had become solely a dog for companionship and their popularity is still on the increase, particularly in the United States. The Xolo today is being acknowledged with increased interest for its companionship, loyalty, cleanliness and flexibility to do it all! They make great companions, show, agility, obedience, therapy and service dogs. |
| Personality | The Xolo is very intelligent, loyal, alert, athletic and extremely loving to its family. It is important that all family members play a role in leadership, rearing, training and feeding the Xolo or it will bond to the one person or people who do. It is naturally protective and aloof with strangers. With proper socializing it is very good with company and children. It is a myth that Xolos are vegetarians, however they do love veggies. This breed is easy to housetrain, and learns very quickly. You must be the leader and teach the Xolo, or it will lead and run the house for you. This breed is becoming very popular as an obedience dog, in therapy, agility, and conformation. Many swear they have learned more from their Xolo than any other breed, because they are so intelligent and in tune with their family. The Xolo is often called a Velcro dog, staying with its owner at all times, it very seldom runs off or away. One owner’s testament claims she called and called for her Xolo only to look down and find it sitting right there looking up as if to say, “here I am.” So she learned quickly to simply look down first and there it will be. Another owner claims her Xolo loves to climb trees with the kids and ride the horses with the owner. The Xolo can escape anything or climb anything only to get to where you are. However, since they are so smart they can also learn to stay where you want them as long as it is not for forever. Being a primitive breed with great survival skills, a Xolo will not tolerate abuse or an unstable environment. With no shedding, no dander and no fleas, the hairless variety is very popular with clean, neat people, those with allergies and asthma, and with people who suffer from pain and arthritis type ailments. Being hairless, they radiate a warm, soothing, healing heat. This is only because they are hairless, lacking a fur barrier, their body temperature is not warmer. This is not a yappy or hyper breed so do listen when your Xolo alerts you. Do not let the Xolo fall victim to Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors where the dog believes he is pack leader to humans. This will cause varying degrees of behavior issues. Do not treat the dog like a human. Learn canine instincts and treat the dog accordingly, not forgetting the ever-so-important daily pack walk. You will be rewarded many times over with a stable, well-balanced dog. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The Xolo is a very hardy and healthy breed possessing no known breed-related health concerns. A top breeder will keep it that way by breeding only those specimens that have these health qualities, fine skin, temperament and conformation. A breeder who breeds for money and not the health and welfare of the breed may not be concerned with these health qualities, breeding only what they have on hand and not what they should. Breeding is a very big responsibility by the very dedicated fancier. We all know what has happened to many of our very popular breeds in the past and so we all know better than to breed for any other purpose other than the complete health and welfare of this very rare and magnificent breed. Skin health is very important to the hairless variety; a sweater in very cold climates is recommended. Despite what many have read on the Internet, the Xolo's skin is very hardy and requires very little care. In fact over-bathing can strip the skin of natural protection, causing more harm than good. Also over-lotioning and sun screening can clog pores and damage skin, causing acne and such. So only bathe and lotion or sun screen as needed. Let the Xolo's natural protection do its job. Dark-coloured and solid-coloured Xolos have the hardiest skin; spotted and light colours require more care: See Grooming. |
| Grooming | The coated and the hairless variety of Xolo are very easy to groom and care for. For the hairless: Most skin problems arise from poor breeding, neglect or over-bathing and over-lotioning, stripping natural protections and clogging pores. A well-bred hairless Xolo will have very fine, soft skin, yet hardy. Bathe and lotion once or twice a month, or only as needed. Sunscreen as needed as you would yourself in very sunny weather. We do not recommend a ton of products to keep the skin nice, as you might read on the Internet today. Products need not be expensive. An owner claims she buys her Xolo’s bath and lotion products at the dollar store with great success. Top breeders recommend hypoallergenic gentle human products, a nice bath, exfoliating cream, lotion and sunscreen. Keep it simple. Favorite products are: Johnson's bedtime baby bath and lotion with chamomile and lavender. Very calming and soothing to skin and smells great. For the winter dry ear tips and feet: Bag balm or udder butter. For the occasional acne or pimples, especially in teenage Xolos and to keep skin soft and remove dead skin build up: St. Ives exfoliating scrub or similar product. Exfoliate with a buff puff and bath a needed, then lotion with a nice hypoallergenic light product. There are some nice lotions with sunscreen in them. Or a favorite is Bullfrog for babies. People who show or if you are planning an outing and want your Xolo to look his best: Almond oil is nice; also Palmers spray on oil is great for shiny skin and smells nice too! Always bathe after a day out at a show or park to remove unwanted germs and/or dirt and oil buildup. In between baths at home, a warm water rinse is best; wash dirty face and feet with warm water and washcloth. For the coated: Bathe the coated dog as you would any coated breed, brush daily or at least weekly to keep shedding at bay. For both varieties: Clip toenails and brush teeth weekly. Although the dark solid colours do not burn, it is wise to sunscreen any hairless breed as we would ourselves in hot weather. The spotted and white marks can and do sunburn if not protected. The hairless variety is ideal for allergy sufferers because there is no hair to shed. The coated variety, with regular brushing, sheds very little. |
| Exercise | The smaller Xolo was bred as a companion and larger Xolo for protection. No matter which Xolo you choose, they need to be taken on a daily walk. While play can take care of a lot of the smaller Xolo's exercise needs, as with all breeds, it will not fulfill their primal instinct to walk. Dogs that do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. This breed is very hardy and adapts to many lifestyles, as it comes in many sizes for every need. All hairless breeds must be protected from severe cold and heat as you would yourself, wherever humans are Xolos can also be, providing they can live in the house with you. They make very poor kennel dogs or permanent outdoor pets, as they need to be part of the family. They do crate train very well and even prefer a nice quiet place to call their own for a few hours in the day or at night if they do not sleep with you as most do. Many owners paper train or litter box train the smaller size Xolo, so it does not need to go out in severe winter weather. However, when the weather is nice, no one loves the outdoors as much as a Xolo; they do like to sun bathe and bask in warm weather. |
| Other Considerations | Young Xolos require a lot of exercise, discipline and attention, lots of toys and things to do to keep them happy and out of trouble. If you do not have the time required for the first year, you may consider a trainer, dog walker, or doggy day care while at work all day. Or an older Xolo. As they mature, they calm down and are very easy going, quiet and laid-back, and are content to stay at home while you work. However, they would prefer to go with you if they can and do very well at work with you. This does not mean they are not game to go jogging, hiking or any other activity, it just means they don't require as much as, say, a working breed or terrier breed. In popular culture: Xolo was featured in Royal de Luxe's street theater performances in Guadalajara, Mexico (November 2010), Nantes, France (May 2011) and Liverpool (April 2012). A huge puppet of the dog accompanied the company's famous Giants. Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente is a Mexican football club named after the dog breed. The Xolo was featured for the first time in the 2012 Westminster Dog Show. 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure |
