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Xoloitzcuintle Dog Breed Facts
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Photo taken by Hajor, December 2001. Released under cc.by.sa and/or GFDL.
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Breed: Xoloitzcuintle
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Also Called: Mexican Hairless Dog, Tepeizeuintli, Xoloitzcuintli, Xolo
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Height: The Xoloitzcuintle is about 11-12 inches tall for the Toy variety, 12-15 inches tall for the Miniature variety, and 16-22.5 inches tall for the Standard version.
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Weight: The Xoloitzcuintle weighs between 9-18 lbs. for the Toy variety, 13-22 lbs. for the Miniature variety, and 20-31 lbs. for the Standard variety.
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Colors: The Xoloitzcuintle can be many different colors. The Xoloitzcuintle's skin, which falls in heavy folds over its body and neck, is colored reddish gray, black, elephant grey, dark bronze or gray-black, coffee or pink spots occur sometimes. The baby Xolos are pink like pigs when born, they should change to one of the colors above by the age of 1 year. One out of three Xolos will be born with hair.
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Physical Appearance: The Xoloitzcuintle has a clean and graceful outline, combining the elegance of a sighthound with the strength and proportions of a terrier. There are two varieties: hairless and coated. The hairless variety exhibits a total, or almost total, absence of hair. The coated variety has a short, flat coat with no thin or bare patches.
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Temperament/Personality: The Xoloitzcuintle is a very peaceful dog that is affectionate and extremely adaptable. They are happy dogs that show no fear. They do well with children but should be introduced gradually and in a calm manner. The Xolo is a small dog that should be watched around children so that it is not harmed.
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Care: The Xoloitzcuintle is a natural vegetarian but will convert to meat easily. The Xolo's skin must be protected from the sun with sunscreen to prevent burning. This dog also needs to have lotion applied to it's skin regularly. This breed has no fleas or doggy odor.
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Health Concerns/Problems: The Xoloitzcuintle is a very hardy breed of dog and has no known health problems that are breed related.
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Training: The Xoloitzcuintle is a very easy breed to train.
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Activity: The Xoloitzcuintle does not require much exercise. This dog should get enough exercise through play.
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Life Span: The Xoloitzcuintle lives an average life of 12-15 years.
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Litter Size:
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Country of Origin: The Xoloitzcuintle originated in Mexico.
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Brief History: The Xoloitzcuintli is a very ancient Latin American breed, dating back to before the time of the Aztec Empire and its existence can be substantiated for as far back as three thousand years. The Aztecs called these dogs ""Biche"" meaning naked. They were held in high esteem by the native Toltec and Mayan civilizations also. The Aztecs, enjoyed these dogs as pets but also used them for bedwarmers, food and sacrificial offerings. With the defeat of the Aztecs and their culture by the Spanish, the breed diminished drastically, essentially becoming rare. It is thought the breed was saved from extinction by its adoption by remote, mountain-dwelling Indians.
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