It’s time for the next Dog of the Month! The Mexican hairless Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo for short. Perfect choice for the month of Halloween!

Originally, the Xolo was the ancient Aztec dog of the gods, similar to the Sphinx cat to the Egyptians. They are national treasures in Mexico, with a history that goes back at least 3,000 years. They are mentioned in the journals of Columbus and other European explorers. Ancient Aztecs named the breed after their dog-headed god Xolotl. Xolos were considered sacred by the Aztecs and often were buried alongside their owners to serve as protective guides to the spirit world. (akc.org)

Xolos, sometimes called the Mexican Hairless, may have descended from the first dogs in North America. In their homeland, Mexico and Central America, they were popular “doctors” because the heat given off of their bodies were comforting to people with arthritis and other ailments. Today, people still love to snuggle them! (dogtime.com)

Interesting fact! Unlike dogs that were created by crossing or mixing two or more breeds, the Xolo is considered to be a natural breed, meaning they are more likely created through spontaneous genetic mutation. Historically, the breed was molded by natural selection, not by human influence. There is archaeological evidence that suggests that the Xolo’s ancestors were dogs that accompanied the people crossing the Bering land mass from Asia to the New World, which is now completely submerged under water. How neat! (dogtime.com)

Today, they are considered a national treasure in Mexico and were named “Dog of the Year” there in 2010! Surprisingly, only approximately 30,000 are known to exist worldwide. (dogtime.com)

The Xolo can be any size and color! They can be born miniature, toy and standard sizes, all in the same litter. They are known as the “Mexican Hairless”, but there is also a fuzzy variety. If they are of the fuzzy variety, their coat is usually smooth, thin and short. They can have any colour of hair and skin, as well as a variety of markings. Xolos can be black, gray black, slate, to red, liver or bronze, and having little white markings is also common. Who doesn’t love those cute little freckles! (akc.org)

Xolos are calm puppies. They aren’t the biggest fan of strangers but love their families. They usually pick one person as their favorite but still snuggle and protect all their family members. They are very active, however, a lot of the time you’ll find them sunbathing and soaking up the warm rays, or snuggling with their favourite people to stay warm and toasty. They want to go with their puppy-parents any chance they can as they aren’t the biggest fans of being left alone. Xolos are also an amazing security system! They don’t bark often, but when they do, it means something is going down in their territory. (dogtime.com)

Xolos are an overall healthy, resilient breed. They have no breed-specific genetic health issues. Just like all dogs, once they get into their senior years, they are susceptible to the same health issues as any other breed. Ailments such as: joint pain, arthritis, blindness, deafness, heart murmurs and hip dysplasia. Regular checkups are important for all dogs to ensure they live long and healthy lives. (petful.com)

To adopt one of these lovely pups, there is an organization that is a specific rescue society just for Xolos. There aren’t too many breed specific rescue societies for this breed because they are so rare. They are called: Xoloitzcuintli Primitive Breed Rescue or XPBR. They are located in the U.S and you can find them on Facebook! (https://www.facebook.com/XoloPBR/)

That’s it for our October Dog of the Month! Stay tuned for the next one!