You might be thinking ‘What is a Xoloitzcuintli?’ Well, the Xoloitzcuintli, or Mexican hairless dog, is a fascinating breed of dog that originates from South America. The 5,000-year-old Xoloitzcuintli is an ancient breed that has evolved fairly naturally without too much selective breeding.
Today, the Xoloitzcuintli is considered a loving companion and vigilant watchdog. They’re a stunning and very unique-looking breed not commonly seen, so you will catch people’s attention with one on the end of your lead!
The Xoloitzcuintli is a loving guard dog that can make a great addition to a family. The breed comes in three sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. It also comes in two varieties, hairless and coated. The hairless has tough, smooth, close-fitting skin. The coated variety is covered by a short, flat coat. The largest can weigh up to 23kg.
They have upright ears, long snout, deep chest, straight back, and a thin tail.
Both varieties come in dark colors ranging from black, gray-black, and slate to red, liver, or bronze. Its face is thoughtful and intelligent, and a Xolo's forehead will wrinkle when he's deep in thought. The Xolo's graceful, elegant body is surprisingly strong and muscular, perfect as they enjoy long walks.
The friendly Xoloitzcuintli is pronounced as "show-low-eats-QUEENT-lee"! Most people refer to the Xoloitzcuintli as a ‘Xolo’ which is pronounced ‘show-low’.
Xoloitzcuintlis are very affectionate, thoughtful, and loving with family members. They will need to be well-trained to ensure they grow up to be responsible and well-adapted companions. Known to be attentive, intelligent, and responsive dogs they respond well to training and are relaxed at home. But they will need plenty of enrichment and mental stimulation to ensure they don’t get bored.
They are fairly well-tempered, but as guarding dogs, your Xolo will need to be introduced carefully to new people and dogs. Like all dog breeds, they should be supervised around young children but can get on well with children if suitably trained.
Xoloitzcuintli are an ancient breed of dog that has evolved, rather than being selectively bred. They have been domesticated for about 5000 years, were spiritual guides to the Mayans, and were eaten by the Aztecs! Their natural evolution means they will generally live a good lifespan of up to 18 years of age.
The hairless variety of Xoloitzcuintli is an ideal hypoallergenic choice for those who have an allergy to dog hair. A hairless Xoloitzcuintli may still have small patches of hair, particularly on the head, feet, or tip of the tail. You should keep the coat of your Xoloitzcuintli clean and healthy with regular brushing.
If your Xoloitzcuintli is hairless you will need to apply a dog-safe sun cream to protect your dog's coat from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
A Xoloitzcuintli coat must be given plenty of time to breathe, so it is not coated in lotions too frequently as this can result in skin problems like acne. An adult Xoloitzcuintli’s skin should be nice and smooth. You might also need to provide a warm coat for your Xoloitzcuintli in cooler seasons, especially if you have a hairless variety as they come from a warmer climate and can feel the cold. This is especially true for smaller varieties.
The Xoloitzcuintli is a fairly expensive breed of dog to purchase as they are not as commonly available as other breeds. The general price range is considered to be between $2500 and $4000. You will need to source a reputable breeder to ensure that you are purchasing a well-bred Xoloitzcuintli and so you might need to pay towards the top end of this budget to ensure that you are going to source a healthy Xoloitzcuintli that will thrive and live to a good age.
It is a good idea to select a reputable Xoloitzcuintli breeder when you are looking to welcome a Xoloitzcuintli to your home. You should look for a breeder that can share testimonials from owners of previous litters, is registered and you should also be able to see the parents of the puppies.
A good breeder will ensure their puppies have a great start in life. This means beginning their training early and ensuring they’re healthy with screening tests and vaccinations. A good Xoloitzcuintli breeder will test their dogs for hip, patella, eye, and cardiac issues. These are potential health concerns of Xoloitzcuintlis. They also can have fewer teeth than normal dogs as a result of the hairless gene.
So, what is the Xoloitzcuintli? The Xoloitzcuintli, or Mexican hairless dog is a loving, playful, watchful dog that can make a great addition to your family. They’re an old breed that has been around for over 5000 years. They can either be hairless or full coated and are available in a variety of colors.
You will need to ensure that your Xoloitzcuintli are well-trained and socialized as a puppy so they are able to behave well around children and other dogs. They are also intelligent, alert, and muscular so will need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. The Xoloitzcuintli are guard dogs so they are likely to bark at strangers and they can take time to relax around strangers.
Finding a reputable breeder is essential, and the Xoloitzcuintli can be expensive as they are not a particularly common dog breed and to ensure that you purchase a healthy puppy. The Xoloitzcuintli have some additional needs, for example, they may need sun cream or a dog coat depending on the weather and they can have issues with their teeth.
The Xoloitzcuintli makes a wonderful companion and this intelligent and thoughtful dog can be a wonderful addition to any family. So if you’re looking for one, check out our xoloitzcuintli for sale page.
08 April, 2025