The Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)
aka - Xolo, Tepeizeuintli

by Robert Jay Russell, Ph.D., NetPetsŪ Staff

National Club: Xoloitzcuintli Club of America Amy Fernandez, President

Companion Dogs & Toys HAIRLESS Bichons Poodles Asiatic Longhairs Small Bulldogs Small Spitz Companion Terriers Toys

Breed Introduction:

The Mexican Hairless Dog or Xoloitzcuintli is one of the best known of the rare breed hairless dogs. Most people are familiar with the large, powerful Standard Mexican Hairless, but this breed comes in two other sizes as well giving fanciers a choice of Mexican Hairless dogs from 9 pounds through 31 pounds. The Miniature Mexican Hairless was the result of a breeding program initiated by the Mexican Kennel Club in the 1950s. Only the large Peruvian Hairless Dog is a larger Latin American hairless than the Standard Mexican Hairless.

All three size varieties make excellent pets. They are relatively calm dogs but will sound an alarm at the approach of strangers. All must be protected from excessive sunlight, heat and cold, and all have dental problems related to their hairless condition. These curious dogs are amongst the only canines who sweat through their skin. Their body temperatures tend to be higher than predicted as well.

The Mexican Hairless is intelligent, alert, and loyal. It is wary of strangers and makes a good watch dog. Because it is hairless, it is also hypoallergenic, odorless, and flealess.They clean themselves by licking their body like a cat.

Breed History:

Little is known of the origin of hairless breeds. Some authorities consider them African dogs developed in South America. Extinct hairless breeds are reported from Africa, including the Abyssinian Hairless Dog, the African Sand Dog, the Barbary Dog, and the Turkish Naked Dog. None of these African hairless dogs survive today, although Spanish traders could have introduced hairless dogs to the New World. Other authorities attribute the Latin American hairless breeds to China and state that the extant breeds were developed in Latin America by native peoples who had originally migrated from Asia. This is a more likely scenario and it may have resulted in hairless breeds making the long march from Africa and Central Asia to Central America. The Mexican Hairless, its clay likeness uncovered in an ancient Mexican archaeological site, may date back more than 5,700 years.

The Chihuahua was kept in Toltec temples in ancient, pre-Columbian times. Aztecs, the successors to the Toltecs, introduced the Mexican Hairless to temple culture. Interbreeding between these two ancient Mexican breeds may have produced the Chinese Crested Dog, a now-popular hairless breed. The Mexican Hairless is named " Xoloitzcuintli" after the god Xoloti. Spanish conquerors first encountered the Mexican Hairless Dog in the 1500s. Native Americans venerated the Mexican Hairless, They used the dog for companionship, for medicinal purposes (contact with its warm, moist skin was considered a cure for headaches and even insomnia), and even for food!

The first Mexican Hairless was shown in the US in 1883 and was recognized fully two decades before the Chihuahua. As early as the 1840s, hairless dogs were common in Mexico. However, as few dogs were registered in the US, in 1959 the AKC withdrew recognition of the breed (demonstrating that the AKC equates recognition with the strength of a breed's registration income).

The Mexican Hairless was developed strictly as a companion dog--a bed warmer. The Mexican Hairless, like other hairless dogs, has a higher than expected body temperature (making it an ideal canine "hot water bottle").

Country of Origin: Middle America (Mexico)

Detailed Description:

• SIZE: The three size varieties are:
  • The Toy: 11-12 inches at the shoulder (withers) and 9 to 18 pounds.
  • The Miniature: 12-15 inches at the shoulder (withers) and 13-22 pounds.
  • The Standard: 16-22.5 inches at the shoulder (withers) and 20-31 pounds.
• PROPORTIONS, BODY & FEET: Like a heavy-bodied sighthound in appearance, Mexican Hairless are graceful, medium to strong-boned, and well-muscled. Feet show webbing between the toes and are somewhat prehensile, showing an ability to grip objects.
• HEAD: Slightly rounded skull with a narrow forehead. Round-to-almond-shaped eyes may be yellow-to-black. Prick ears are set outwards like bat wings. Hairless dogs are frequently missing teeth. The Mexican Hairless' canines often extend forward like tusks.
• SKIN: Both a coated (powder puff) and uncoated (characteristic) dog can be produced in a litter. Approximately one-third of all dogs are powder puff, covered with a fine downy coat. Skin color is pink at birth, turning to an adult solid orange, slate or black at about 1 year old. Both hairless and coated dogs may appear in the same litter.
• WHO SHOULD or SHOULD NOT OWN THIS BREED? The Mexican Hairless lives about a 12-15 years and requires protection from both overheating and cooling. This breed requires a sweater in cool weather and needs protection from sunburn. In addition, the breed has some health problems which may require long-term veterinary care (see below). This dog breed requires attention from family members, who will be rewarded with a loving and devoted companion.
• HEALTH & BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS. The Mexican Hairless requires considerable attention to avoid sunburn and both hyper- and hypothermia. Further, the breed has long had eye and dental problems (e.g., missing premolars; sometimes all but the incisor teeth are absent), conditions which require veterinary care. Most experts argue that interbreeding between coated and uncoated varieties is necessary to maintain the breed's vigor. This is likely because the allele that leads to hairlessness also results in the loss of teeth. Breeding hairless-to-hairless could result in considerable health problems. Breeding hairless-to-hairless could result in considerable health problems.
• REFERENCES:
  • David Alderton's "Dogs," Eyewitness Handbooks, Dorling Kindersley, New York, NY, 1993
  • Stanley Dangerfield & Elsworth Howell (editors), "The International Encyclopedia of Dogs," Howell Book House, New York, NY, 1974
  • Bruce Fogle's "The Encyclopedia of the Dog," Dorling Kindersley, New York, NY, 1995
  • Dee Gannon's "The Rare Breed Handbook," Golden Boy Press, Hawthorne, NJ, 1990 (2nd Edition)
  • Joan Palmer's "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds," The Wellfleet Press, Edison, NJ, 1994; Gino Pugnetti (author) &
  • Elizabeth Meriwether Schuler (editor) "Simon & Schuster's Guide to Dogs," Simon & Schuster, New York, NY, 1980.

Throughout the centuries, the Mexican Hairless was a dog of the Toltecs, Aztecs, Zapotecas, Colima Indians, and now modern Westerners. Hairless breeds have undergone a surge in popularity in the United States since the 1980s. It remains to be seen how these new peoples--us--will manage the health and happiness of these historically interesting and exceptional companions.

NetPets Main Page

contact information Dog Library Breed Classification Page Xoloitzcuintli Breeders

The Dog Center