The name Xoloitzcuintle (Show-low-eets-kwintleh) is the distinctive name given to the Mexican Hairless dog, not to be confused with other hairless breeds. It's ancestry dates back centuries and some assert the theory that they originated in China and came across the Bering Straits when the land bridge existed. This does not explain why they should have established themselves and flourished so far south. This hairless dog also exists in Peru and is called the Pero sin Pelo de Peru or the Peruvian Inca Orchid.

 

The "Xolo" (short for Xoloitzcuintle) was cherished in Aztec times and after the Spanish conquest of Mexico when many of the indigenous people withdrew into the mountains and the most remote parts of the country with these dogs. Those which were left behind became a mixed breed but with their hardy genes the hairless characteristic endured. Fray Xavier de Clavijero (1731-87) mentions the Xolo as 'hairless with smooth skin' and adds that unfortunately the breed was slowly dying out. It's durability, however, has carried through to the present day.

 

Unfortunately, lacking precise knowledge of how a Xolo should look, many Mexicans who were anxious to preserve the breed have outcrossed with dachshunds , poodles and other breeds. It was not until the early 1950's that the F.C.M. (Federacion Canofila Mexicana, A.C.) determined to take the matter in hand. An expedition was organized to the River Balsas region in the southern state of Guerrero to bring back breeding stock and start a serious program to renew the breed. This first of several expeditions headed by Norman Pelham Wright and Lascelles de Premio Real, both members of F.C.M., resulted in the formation of a nucleus of reasonably pure specimens. One must take into consideration that the indigenous peoples in these remote areas of Mexico, although they valued their Xolos, were not vigilant as regards breeding. It has, therefore, taken many years and generations of breeding hairless to hairless to reduce the number of coated puppies that are produced.

 

The responsible Xolo breeders who breed only hairless to hairless seldom have litters which include coated pups. The F.C.M. now has a large stock of hairless Xolos registered. Many of the progeny of Xolos from Mexico have found their way to other countries and have been successful in F.C.I. (Federacion Canofila International) shows around the world. The F.C.I. is the World Dog Federation, based in Belgium and affiliated with nearly a hundred countries around the world. The only countries that do not use the F.C.I. Standard no. 234 for the Xoloitzcuintle are Canada and the United States The definitive standard for the Xoloitzcuintle was approved by the F.C.I. after considerable research. Because of the pre-Columbian ceramic images of dogs, with short bandy legs, there existed a misconception of how the Xolo should look. This is actually how the puppies look at two to five weeks of age.

 

The indigenous people of the Aztec Empire did consume the meat of the xolo, both as a ritual part of their worship and as a delicacy. It was the fattened puppy meat that was relished and not the adult meat. These young dogs were castrated and fattened for sale in the public market. The consumption of this meat, they believed, warded off anguish and bad dreams and protected one from evil influences. It was also believed that this meat increased a man's potency.

 

In Nahuatl (Aztec) mythology, the Xolo was the representative of the god Xolotl.(pronounced: Show-low-tull) Xolotl was one face of a god that had two faces. The second face was that of Quetzalcoatl, his twin bother, the plumed serpent. (pronounced: Ket-sal-coe-wah-tull) The name Xolotl means 'the one who snatches food with teeth sharp as obsidian.' Xolotl was represented by the image of a dog's head. This dog's head is easy to find on the Aztec Calendar. It is at about the "7 o'clock position".

 

The Nahua people granted less importance to life on earth than to the life that they believed existed after corporeal death. They called the "underworld", or place of death, Mictlan and believed that the dead spent four years traveling it's nine levels, enduring and overcoming a series of trials and obstacles to pass into Ameyoacan (The happy place in the interior of Heaven.) To reach this paradise, they believed that the company of the Xoloitzcuintle was essential. He, the Xolo, was the guide who knew how to cross the unknown rivers and lakes and find the way to eternal happiness and rest. The Xolo shared the life of his master as well as his death and was buried with him. He protected against all evils, both temporal and spiritual.

 

In view of these age-old beliefs and a certain loss of identity among the Mexican people after the Conquest, nevertheless, much lives on and the Xoloitzcuintle is not treated as a mere dog in Mexico. One never sees an abandoned hairless xolo roaming the streets in Mexico as a stray and they are still highly regarded by the indigenous people of the remote areas of the country. Women consider them a palliative against rheumatism and female disorders, and welcome them as companions to snuggle up to. Their warmth is consoling and healing.

 

Over the years, the numbers of Xolos at the shows has gradually increased. They are represented at most every show held in Mexico now. Cooperation of the serious U. S. breeders, following the F.C.I. Standard, has greatly increased the stock and they regularly compete in Mexican shows throughout the country.

 

For those not acquainted with the Xolo, three sizes have been accepted in Mexico. The Standard size which measures 45 to 58 centimeters (17.75-22.75 inches), the Intermediate size which measures 35 to 45 centimeters (13.75-17.75 inche and the Miniature size which measures 25 to 35 centimeters (9.75-13.75 inches. Xolos under 20 centimeters (8 inches) are considered undersize and disqualified. One must expect to see an absence of premolars in the hairless Xolo. This is genetically tied to the hairlessness. The Xolo puppy has a full set of puppy teeth. An occasional adult Xolo will have "full dentition." Canine dentition experts have determined that these are adultXolos that did not lose their compliment of puppy teeth because there were no teeth coming in under them to dislodge them.

Xoloitzcuintle fanciers have seen a gradual improvement in the general health and dentition of the Xolo as they are provided with improved modern diets. The diet of the indigenous peoples was mainly corn and the dogs had been fed tortillas and other very basic subsistence foods for centuries. In most cases this has changed.

 

Preparation for the show ring is simple. No brushing, clipping, plucking or blow-drying. But, the preparation for a beautiful healthy Xolo begins long before the show is scheduled, and is an ongoing task. The skin must be kept clean and a non-greasy lotion is best. The diet should be nutritious and rich in fresh cooked vegetables and a high-quality kibble. The hairless body of the Xolo is a cumulative mirror of the nutrition and exercise that the dog has experienced. Their attitude and stance reflect the care and enthusiasm that has been invested in them. This is not a dog that can just be put on a lead at the last minute with a quick bath and some powder. There is nothing to conceal a problem.

"What you see is what you get."

 

The Xolo is highly intelligent, although very individual. They learn quickly and respond gladly to those who treat them well and understand their remarkable qualities.

At the World Dog Show in l984 a special postage stamp was issued portraying Premio Real Kennel's World Champion and Champion of the Americas "Pelona", a beautiful Xolo bitch. At the Sixth Exposition of Dogs in Mexico City in 1974, which involved the countries of Latin America, the United States and Canada, a special postage stamp was issued showing the "Dancing Dogs" of Colima. This is a depiction of a special Xolo statuette that was found in the ruins at Colima. It is a favorite among Xolo-fanciers.

 

At the World Dog Show in Mexico in June ,1999, the Xoloitzcuintle will be presented with pride as one of the indigenous dogs of Mexico and as the
National Dog of Mexico.