Xoloitzcuintli
Mexico's hairless dog, and one of the oldest breeds in the Americas: the Aztecs held that it guided souls. It comes in three sizes and a coated variety too.
Photo by Petful.com, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The Xoloitzcuintli, pronounced show low eets QUEENT lee and usually shortened to Xolo, is one of the oldest dog breeds in the Americas, dating back over three thousand years in Mexico, where it had religious significance and was believed to guide souls to the underworld.
It comes in three sizes and in hairless and coated varieties. The hairless gene is dominant and lethal in two copies, which is why coated puppies always appear in litters.
Temperament
Calm, watchful and deeply attached. Xolos are devoted to their own household and genuinely reserved with strangers, and they are more primitive in temperament than most companion breeds.
They are alert watchdogs, they can be territorial, and they need early socialisation because the wariness can become fearfulness without it. They are quieter and calmer than most similar sized dogs and they bond very closely.
Care and grooming
The hairless variety needs skin care rather than coat care: sun protection because they burn, regular bathing, moisturising and a coat in cold weather. Acne is common in adolescents.
Missing or malformed teeth are common in the hairless dogs and are linked to the same gene. The coated variety needs a weekly brush. The breed is otherwise very healthy and long lived at thirteen to eighteen years.
Living and exercise
An hour a day plus play. They suit flats given the exercise and warmth.
They are indoor dogs by necessity, since sun and cold both reach the skin directly. They are one of the healthiest and longest lived breeds on this shelf.
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