Xoloitzcuintli

Temperament:
The Xolo is very intelligent, loyal, alert, athletic, and extremely loving to it's family. It is important that all family members play a role in rearing, training, and feeding the Xolo, or it will bond to the one person or people who do. It is naturally protective and aloof to strangers. With proper socializing it is very good with company and children. It is a myth that Xolo's are vegetarian's, however they do love veggies. This breed is easy to house train, and learns very quick. 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, therapy, agility, great pet, 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, they seem to know when you are not feeling well, and stay with you, comforting you when alone or depressed. The Xolo is often called a velcro dog, staying with it's owner at all times, it very seldom runs off or away. One owners 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. Which brings up a very important fact. Xolo can escape anything, climb anything only to get to were you are. However since they are so smart they can also learn to stay were you want them as long as it is not forever. Another testament to the intelligence of a Xolo is: an owner was having trouble teaching her five year old child to sleep in her own bed, after many a sleepless night and at her wits end, the pet Xolo jumped in the child bed to the child's delight and slept with the child for two weeks, till the child was comfortable to go to bed on her own. It was then the Xolo returned to the parents bed were they had all slept for five years. 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 the clean, neat person, those with allergies and asthma, and with people who suffer from pain, arthritis type ailments. Being hairless, they radiate a warm, soothing, healing heat. This is only because they are hairless and not hotter. This is not a yappy or hyper breed so do listen when your Xolo alerts you.

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 protection's 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 Xolos bath and lotion products at the dollar store with great success. Top breeders recommend hypo allergenic gentle human products, a nice bath, exfoliating cream, lotion and sun screen. Keep it simple. Favorite products are: Johnson's baby bath and lotion. favorite is the bedtime 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 hypo allergenic light product. There are some nice lotions with sun screen in them. Or a favorite is bull frog for baby's. 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 bath after a day out at a show or park to remove unwanted germs and or dirt and oil build up. In between baths at home a warm water rinse is best, wash dirty face and feet with warm water and wash cloth. 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 toe nails and brush teeth weekly. Although the dark solid colors 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 sun burn 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 who do not get to go on daily walks are more likely to display behavior problems. They are very hardy and adapt to many life styles as it comes in many sizes for every need. All hairless breeds must be protected from severe cold, and heat as you would yourself, were ever humans are Xolos can also be, providing they can live in the house with you. They make very poor kennel dogs, or permanent out door 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 there 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 outdoor as much as a Xolo, they do like to sun bathe and bask in warm weather.

Living Condition:
Young Xolo's require allot 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.

Origin:
The Xoloitzcuintli also spelled Xoloitzcuintle, is more commonly known as the Mexican Hairless, or Xolo. It resembles a robust Manchester Terrier. The Xolo is one of the worlds oldest and rarest breeds dating back over 3,000 years. Artifacts and clay pottery of this ancient breed has been found in the tombs of Colima, Mayan, Aztec Indians. They were highly prized for their loyalty, intelligence, curative and mystical powers. The Xolo of today remains virtually unchanged. Ancestors of the Aztec Indians brought hairless dogs called "Biche" (meaning naked) with them when they arrived in Mexico from Asia. The Aztecs enjoyed the hairless dogs as pets, but also found them useful as bedwarmers, food, and sacrificial offerings. The toasty warm body heat of the toy hairless dogs made them in demand as ancient hot-water bottles, relieving stomach pains and rheumatic joints, or simply for warming beds during cold nights. Extreme cold made for a "Three Dog Night." The breed's palliative qualities magnified until its "healing powers" became a cure-all. Clay figures and remains of these dogs, dating from 300 to 900 AD, have been found in burial sites, where dogs guided the souls to a happy afterlife and furnished nourishment until it was reached. The Xolo is native to Mexico and is widespread throughout South America. It is named after the ancient dog Xoloti. At the end of the nineteenth century, it became completely a companion dog. The warmth from these dogs is still enjoyed today, particularly by the elderly. The Xolo is no longer in danger of Extinction and is not in danger do to lack of interest. The Xolo today is being acknowledged with increased interest, for there companion ship, loyalty, cleanliness and flexibility to do it all! They make great companions, show, agility, obedience, therapy and service dogs.