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Quick Glance

  • size-icon.svg
    Size
    Medium (11kg - 27kg)
  • exercise-icon.svg
    Exercise
    40 min/day
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    Training
    Weekly
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    Size of home
    House with garden
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    Time at home
    Alone with support
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    Grooming
    Low maintenance
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    Barking preference
    Low
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    Personality
    Independent + affectionate
6919. ffire

History

The majority of purebred dogs have been designed for a specific purpose, the Xoloitzcuintle was not; being unique in the fact that it is formed by natural selection, created and moulded by environmental adaptation, rather than selected by man. The breed is estimated to be more than 3,500 years old and is amongst the world’s most ancient breeds.

Many thoughts are that the early Xolos resulted from a hairless mutation of native Indian breeds. The Xolo had to be tough and adaptable and the mutation may have given the Hairless dogs a big advantage in surviving, making it versatile with strength, hunting prowess, guarding instinct and a tractable character.  

Appearance

To fulfil such a range of purposes, the Xoloitzcuintle obviously possessed incredible survival instinct; furthermore, it had to be efficiently constructed for power, endurance and agility, to fill such a wide range of demands. The breed had to be moderate in every way. Extremes of type or structure always come at a price and the Xolo could not afford to sacrifice any skills to survive. 

The breed is a moderate, natural dog, extreme variations of temperament, size, proportion, balance or angulation would have also been counter-productive to the maximum functionality of the breed.

The Xolos outline is rectangular; it is slightly longer than tall, in a ratio of 10:9. This length of body is ideal for smooth, efficient trotting, with maximum reach and drive. It will not result in a rangy appearance, as long as the dog is properly constructed, with well laid-back shoulders and well-angulated hindquarters, a short, strong loin area and sufficient depth of chest.

Coated or Hairless, the Xolo evolved as a naturally low maintenance breed. They should never require complicated trimming, shaving or skin care to appear typical or well-groomed. The breed comes in three sizes, Miniature, Intermediate and Standard and two types, Hairless and Coated.

Temperament

The Xoloitzcuintle is quiet and adaptive in the home when he feels safe, has all the attention and a lot of personal interaction.

The breed is wary of strangers and becomes very protective of his home and territory. The key to a good Xoloitzcuintle is the hard work you put into them, by taking them to as many places and experiences as you can (this excludes the show ring). All this frequent social training will build the Xolo into a confident and stable dog; the more work you put in, the more rewards you will gain with his character and temperament.

The Xoloitzcuintle will always be primitive in behaviour, and they excel well with structure and consistency in life. Reactions are instinctive and lightning fast reflexes often catch us out. It’s important that owners harness these fast reflexes, and his sensitivity, by utilising the breed’s extreme intelligence to mould the Xoloitzcuintle into his eventual character with positive reward based training. Harsh discipline should never be used on a Xoloitzcuintle.

Amorenekid standard 2

Health

The Xoloitzcuintle is considered a hardy dog with no particular health problems and no breed specific genetic issues. As with most hairless dogs missing teeth are prevalent, due to the gene for hairlessness, but this does not alter them being able to eat like any other canine.

The skin of the Xoloitzcuintle is tough, and although protective, Xoloitzcuintle require regular attention to the skin with baths, loofahs and lotions applied to keep the skin healthy. Some Xoloitzcuintle’s are born with hair (Coated Xolos) which have short hair and no undercoat. The Xolos ears are large and open to the elements, so they must be cleaned weekly to prevent dirt build up. It is also advisable to clip their nails each week, as they grow at an alarming rate, and also to prevent growth of any length, which may off balance the toe and lead to gait problems.

The Xoloitzcuintle needs to be closely monitored when anesthetised, due to their limited ability to regulate body temperature freely (Hairless). 

Suitability

Xoloitzcuintle are suited to experienced people with primitive breeds and families with older children. They do best as being part of the family and do not do well in kennel situations, as constant stimulation and interaction are a must. A firm and direct approach is needed in their training.

Words and image by Jacqi Dinis

In Conclusion

Now you know a little about the Xoloitzcuintle, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Xoloitzcuintle and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

 

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 05 Nov 2014)

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Breed Standard - Xoloitzcuintle - (Miniature) (Intermediate) (Standard)

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

The Xoloitzcuintle is an ancient natural primitive dog, modelled by evolution, going by the general conformation, it is a very attractive slim and elegant dog, moderate in all aspects, that express speed, harmony and strength without appearing coarse, possess a clean cut outline, it has a well-proportioned body, chest is ample, ribs well sprung, limbs and tail are long. There are two varieties in the breed, hairless and coated, both identical in conformation except for coat and dentition.Hairless variety: The most important characteristic is the complete or almost complete lack of any hair in the body, with a smooth and soft skin. The particular feature is that the dentition is nearly always incomplete, associated to the congenital hairless gene.Coated variety: A very attractive, completely short coated dog. Coat should be tight, flat and smooth with no undercoat. The coated variety should have the same harmonious proportions as the hairless variety in conformation, the dentition must be complete (42 teeth) normally developed and in a normal position.IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:The body, measured from the point of shoulder to the point of buttock and from the highest point of the withers to the ground, is slightly longer than high: approximately 10:9. Females may be slightly longer than males due to their reproductive function. The skull and the muzzle are approximately of equal length.There are three sizes in the breed, all lean and sturdy, well-muscled, with a spacious ribcage and moderate bone, the outline is rectangular and the distance from the elbow to the ground is equal to or slightly greater than the distance from the withers to the elbow.

Temperament

The Xoloitzcuintle   is a silent  and  calm  dog,  cheerful,  alert  and  intelligent, he might   be suspicious toward strangers, he is a good watchdog and an excellent companion. He is never aggressive. The coated variety should be equal in every aspect.

Physical Standards

Head and Skull Skull: Broad and strong, wedge-shaped. Seen from above it is wide and elegant; tapering towards the muzzle with an occipital protuberance that is not well-defined. The skull and muzzle planes are almost parallel.Stop: Slight, but well defined.FACIAL REGION:Nose: The nose should be dark in dark-coloured dogs. It can be brown or pinkish in bronze-coloured dogs, spotted in spotted dogs.Muzzle: Seen from the side, the muzzle is straight and the upper and lower jaws are square and very strong The tongue is generally pink but may have black markings, spots or marks, which is a common characteristic of the breed. The tongue is always inside the mouth, a paralyzed tongue hanging outside the mouth is disqualifying.Lips: Tight and close fitting.Cheeks: Slightly developed.
Eyes Medium size, almond-shaped, with an alert and very intelligent expression. The colour varies according to the skin/coat colour in black, brown, hazel, amber or yellow tones. Darker colours are preferred and both eyes should match. The eyelids should be well-pigmented black, brown or grey in dark-coloured dogs. Light-coloured or pink eyelids are tolerated in light-coloured dogs but this is not a desirable colour.
Ears In both varieties the ears are long, large, expressive and very elegant and of fine texture; they are reminiscent of “bat” ears. They should be held erect when alert. In the alert position their axis should be 50 – 80 degrees from horizontal.Both ears should be in the same position, when alert. Droopy or cropped ears are disqualifying.
Mouth Jaws / Teeth: Both varieties: with strong jaws. The incisors should close perfectly in a scissor bite with the superior incisors overlapping; the interior surface of the superior incisors touching the external surface of the lower incisors, set square to the jaw. A level bite, edge to edge, is also permitted. Hairless variety: Complete set of incisors is preferred.The absence of a few incisors, canines, molars, pre-molars or rotated teeth should not be penalized, as many dogs do not have deep roots. Genetically, the absence of hair is closely linked to the absence of teeth. Coated variety: Full dentition (42 teeth), a scissor or pincer bite is required, normally developed and normally positioned teeth.
Neck In both varieties the neck is carried high, smooth and dry. Slightly arched. Proportionately long. Slim, flexible, well-muscled and very elegant. The skin on the neck is firm, elastic and close-fitting, without dewlap. Puppies show folds which disappear with age.
Forequarters Shoulder: Flat and muscled with good scapula-humeral angulation which allows a long, free and elegant stride.Elbow: Strong and firm. They fit close to the chest, never turned outwards.Forearm: Forelegs seen from the front are straight and perpendicular to the ground.Metacarpus (Pastern): Firm and almost perpendicular.
Body BODY:  Strongly built.Topline: Perfectly straight and level.Back: Short, strong and firm.Loin: Strong and muscular.Croup: Profile should be slightly convex with an inclination of approximately 40 degrees to the horizontal.Chest: Seen in profile it is long and deep, descending to the elbows. The ribs are well sprung, not exaggerated, nor flat. Seen from the front the upper chest is of good breadth. The point of the sternum should not protrude.Underline and belly: Graceful line. Abdomen muscled and moderately tucked up
Hindquarters General appearance: The hindquarters should be strong and well-muscled. Seen from behind they are perfectly straight and parallel and never close. The angle of the pelvis to the upper thigh joint, stifle and hock, are adequately open to permit both free and strong movement of the legs.Thigh: Well-muscled.Stifle (Knee): With a moderate bend.Hock joint: Cow hocks are highly undesirable.
Feet Forefeet: Of medium length (hare’s foot) with toes arched and close together, may have short coarse hairs in the Hairless variety, and be covered with short hair in the Coated variety. Nails are black in dark-coloured dogs, and lighter in bronze or blond dogs. The nails should be trimmed. The foot pads are strong and very resistant to any terrain. The inter-digital membranes are well-developed.Dewclaws should not be present on all four limbs except in countries where it is illegal to remove them.Hind feet: As forefeet.
Tail Long, thin and may have some tufts of hair, tapering from the base to the tip in the hairless variety, and completely covered with short hair in the coated variety. In movement, it is carried up in a curve, never touching the back. When resting, it should hang with a slight curve at the end. Sometimes it is placed between the legs due to cold temperatures. The tail should nearly reach the hock. The tail set should be an extension of the croup when the dog is at rest.
Gait/Movement The dog should move freely with a long, elegant, springy step; the trot is quick and flowing with head and tail carried high. Hindquarters with free and strong movement.
Coat SKIN:Hairless Variety: Due to the total absence of hair, the skin of this breed is of great importance. It is smooth, sensitive to touch and feels warmer because of direct heat emission due to the lack of hair; however its body temperature is the same as in other dogs with hair. The difference with haired breeds, which disperse body heat through natural ventilation, is that the skin requires more care from exposure to the sun and elements due to its lack of natural protection. Accidental scars are not penalized. The dog tends to sweat through its feet (foot pads and inter-digital membranes), which is why it seldom pants, except in extreme heat. It should be free of obvious skin problems.Coated Variety: The skin of the coated variety is smooth and must be completely covered with hair.COAT:Hair:Hairless variety: The characteristic of this breed is the total lack of hair on the body (hairless or nude dog) although there are some short, coarse thick hairs of any colour on the forehead and back of the neck that should never be longer than 2.5 centimetres and should never form a long, soft topknot. It is common to find coarse hair on the feet and on the end of the tail; however its absence should not be penalized.Coated Variety: This variety has hair all over its body. It can be expected to have very little hair on its belly and inside the rear legs.The hair should be short, flat, preferably smooth and with no undercoat.
Colour Hairless Variety: Solid, uniform, dark coloured skin is preferred. The range includes black, blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey, reddish, liver, bronze or blond. There may also be spots of any colour, including white markings.Coated Variety: Solid, uniform, dark colours are preferred. The range includes black, blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey, reddish, liver, bronze or blond. There may also be spots of any colour, including white markings.
Size There are three sizes for males as well as females.Standard Variety: From 46 to 60 centimetres, tolerance of +2 cms in top quality dogs.Intermediate Variety: From 36 to 45 centimetres.Miniature Variety: From 25 to 35 centimetres.

Faults

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.• Very broad head.• Slack, loose or wrinkled skin in adult dogs.• Loose, slack or wrinkled skin on the neck in adult dogs.• Excessive dewlap.• Light coloured, round or protruding eyes.• Sunken (lordosis) or arched (xifosis) back.• Steep croup.• Excessively cow hocked.• Tail tightly curled over the back.• Short tail.• Flat feet.SEVERE FAULTS:• Long narrow body with short legs.DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:• Aggressive or overly shy.• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.• Atypical dogs.• Blindness or deafness.• Any Hairless or Coated Xoloitzcuintle with prognathism or• enognathism.• Deviated jaw (very wry mouth).• Dogs with a poor bite, denoted by poor positioning of the jaws.• Paralyzed tongue (Outside the mouth).• Blue eyes or different coloured eyes (Heterocromia).• Cropped or droopy ears.• Docked tail, short tail.• Hair on any part of the hairless varieties body, except slight hair on the head, ears, neck, feet and tail.• Hair other than short or smooth in the coated variety.• Albinism.• Merle colour. Also any other colour not mentioned in the standard, i.e. black and tan, brindle, white, sable etc.• Dogs over 62 cms or under 25 cms.

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

History

PREAMBLE: The gene that produces the absence of hair is dominant. Nevertheless, some puppies are born with a coat. The hairless to hairless breeding will produce the least numbers of coated dogs therefore this has been preferred. It has been proven that this breeding maintains and improves the quality of the breed.For providing genetic diversity, well-constructed coated Xoloitzcuintles, with excellent type, conformation, standard accepted colours and coat, may be used for breeding purposes.The breeding between two coated Xoloitzcuintles is not permitted.Xoloitzcuintle coated breeding stock must be the offspring of registered parents with at least three generations of hairless to hairless breeding. The coated variety must be evaluated as a true breed at dog shows, to be able to be bred to hairless dogs only.BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:Their origin dates far back in history. The meat of the Xoloitzcuintle or Xoloitzcuintli in Nahuatl language, Xoloitzcuintle in Spanish was considered a delicacy in pre¬ Hispanic Mexico, eaten by the indigenous Mexicans in special ceremonies as a ritual to their beliefs and was regarded as a representative of the god "Xolotl", from which its name obviously originates.Its task was to guide the souls of the dead to their eternal destination. Therefore the dog became scarce, reaching a point of near extinction. The Federación Canófila Mexicana (Mexican Kennel Club) rescued this native breed and has used the Xoloitzcuintle on its logo since 1940. The hairless variety of the breed is also known by the name “perro pelón mexicano" (Mexican Hairless Dog). The coated variety was known by the natives as "itzcuintle".

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