Xoloitzcuintle Hairless Dog - The Unique Dog Breed of the Aztecs

The Xoloitzcuintle (Xolo) hairless dog - the spiritual guide of the Aztecs, not only has a long history, but also has a unique hairless appearance.

Xoloitzcuintle Hairless Dog - an ancient, rare and unique breed of dog, originating from the legendary Aztec civilization. With its smooth skin, large upright ears and deep eyes, the Xolo not only impresses with its "unique" appearance but also has a calm, loyal and intelligent temperament.

If you want to explore ancient dog breeds with a strong historical imprint, don't miss the article shared by the dog breed below to learn more about the Xolo hairless dog!

Origin of the Xoloitzcuintle hairless dog

Learn about the origin of the Xolo hairless dog.

The Xoloitzcuintle hairless dog, also known by many other names such as Xoloitzcuintle, Xolo dog, Xolo hairless dog, originated in ancient Mexico with a history of at least 3000 years. This is a sacred dog breed - the spiritual guide of the Aztecs, May and associated with ancient Central American culture.

The name “Xoloitzcuintle” is derived from:

• “Xolotl” is the name of the dog god in Aztec mythology.
• “Itzcuintli” means dog in the ancient Nahuatl language.

=> Xoloitzcuintle means “dog of the god Xolotl”

The development and recognition of the Xolo dog:

• The Xolo dog's genes are the result of genetic mutation, not the product of human breeding.
• During the Spanish colonial period, the Xoloitzcuintle was considered an inferior breed and was killed and banished.
• By the 20th century, Mexican researchers were working to restore the Xolo breed as part of the nation's cultural heritage.
• In 1956, the Xolo breed was officially recognized by the Mexican Canine Federation - FCM.
• In 2011, the Xoloitzcuintle was recognized as the “national dog of Mexico.”
• In 2011, the Xoloitzcuintle was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

The Impressive Appearance of the Hairless Xoloitzcuintle Dog

The sleek look of a hairless Xolo dog.

The Xoloitzcuintle is known for its slim, sleek, hairless body. Let’s take a closer look at the physical characteristics of this breed!

Size :

Xoloitzcuintle comes in three main sizes:

All three sizes have a well-proportioned, slim but very solid body, deep chest, slim belly, straight back.

Head & face :

• Wedge-shaped (inverted V) head, symmetrical
• Muzzle is slender, moderately long, and not wrinkled.
• Noses are usually black, gray, brown or liver, depending on skin color.
• Strong teeth, scissor bite
• Oval eyes, medium size, usually light or black in color - in harmony with skin color, look very intelligent and deep
• Large, triangular, upright ears - ancient hunting dog breed

Skin - most prominent feature :

• Hairless (main variant)
• Smooth skin, slightly wrinkled on forehead and neck
• Leather comes in many colors like black, gray, bronze, liver, and mottled.
• The skin is thick and elastic, not easily damaged.
• Some individuals may have fine hair on the top of the head, legs, and tail, but not too much.

Legs and tail :

• Straight legs, strong muscles, long slender feet
• Tail long, hairless or with a few sparse hairs

Coated Xolo Variant :

• Appearance of the hairless Xolo dog
• Has short, close-fitting, smooth coat

What is the personality of the Xoloitzcuintle hairless dog?

Learn about the temperament of the Xolo hairless dog.

The Xoloitzcuintle is not only known for its "unique" appearance but also impresses with its loyal, calm and intelligent personality - a dog breed with deep inner feelings and strong family attachment.

Absolute loyalty and affection

Xolo hairless dogs tend to bond closely with one main owner, who cares for and trains them from a young age - also known as "one-person dogs". They are very emotional, like to express emotions such as leaning on people, always staying by their owners' side or following them everywhere. Although they are not noisy, they will stay by their owners' side in a calm, quiet manner.

This personality is explained because the Xoloitzcuintle was once kept as a “sacred companion” by the Aztecs.

Intelligent and observant

Besides, Xolo is also a very intelligent dog, quick to grasp the emotions of the owner. They are also easy to train, especially with positive methods.

At first, you will see this hairless dog always stay away from strangers when they do not trust them, but once they get to know them, they will remember them for a long time.

Highly alert but not aggressive

The Xoloitzcuintle has a strong protective instinct, they will alert if there are strangers or unusual situations, and are wary of strangers. But they are not aggressive and do not bark too much.

Calm and quiet

Despite its "massive" appearance, the Xolo hairless dog is actually quiet, barks little, makes little noise, likes quietness and is completely suitable for people living in apartments.

Because they always maintain a stable mental balance, are always quiet and observant, they are called "Meditation Dogs".

Gets along well with children and pets if socialized early.

If you socialize your Xoloitzcuintle early, they will get along well with children and other pets. But if not socialized early, they can be very cold.

Are Xoloitzcuintle hairless dogs popular in Vietnam?

The Xoloitzcuintle breed is very rare in Vietnam.

Currently, the Xolo hairless dog is very rare and not popular in Vietnam because there is no professional breeding farm and most of the time only people who like to play with unique and strange dogs discover the Xoloitzcuintle dog.

Here are some reasons why Xolo is not popular in our country:

• Expensive price: The cost of importing a Xolo dog can range from 70 - 150 million VND or more, not including shipping, quarantine fees,...
• Xoloitzcuintle is not suitable for Vietnam's climate, susceptible to allergies, insect bites or sunburn because of its hairless skin.
• Market demand is limited because Vietnamese people often like to play with popular, easy-to-care-for pet dog breeds such as Poodle, Pomeranian, Corgi,...
• Because of its unique hairless appearance, the Xoloitzcuintle is often considered "ugly", "strange" and not to the aesthetic taste of the majority by those who are not familiar with it.

Interesting facts about the Xoloitzcuintle hairless dog

Below are some interesting facts about the Xoloitzcuintle (Xolo) hairless dog - a strange breed of dog with rich spiritual values, guaranteed to surprise you.

• With a history dating back over 3,000 years, the Xoloitzcuintle is the oldest native dog breed in the Americas.
• During the Aztec period, Xolo dogs were buried with the deceased because they believed that when a person died, their soul needed a Xolo dog to guide them through the underworld.
• The Xolo has no hair and smooth skin, so its body heat radiates more clearly than other dog breeds - it is considered a "living heater" and was once hugged by Mexican natives when going to bed to keep warm.
• Because the hairless gene affects the teeth, hairless Xolo dogs often lack a few premolars or canines - this is completely normal.
• Xolo dog is modeled after Dante - the dog that appeared in Pixar's famous animated film "Coco" released in 2017 - representing the spirit and culture of Mexico in "Day of the Dead".

Beautiful and unique Xoloitzcuintle hairless dog pictures

The photo series of the Xolo hairless dog shared below will make you admire the "unique" but very attractive appearance of this sacred dog breed. From the smooth skin to the deep eyes, this dog breed takes the spotlight in every frame. Let's admire it right away!

Two Xolo hairless dogs in two different colors.

Xolo Hairless Dogs with a “fierce” appearance.

Dante the dog in the animated film “Coco” was modeled after the hairless dog Xolo.

He is a hairless Xoloitzcuintle with a tall appearance.

Xolo dog with a small tuft of fur on top of its head.

Xolo hairless dog with large upright ears.

The Xolo dog has a unique spotted coat.

Through the article that dogbreed.wiki shared above, we hope you have grasped all the information related to the Xoloitzcuintle hairless dog - both a cultural symbol of Mexico and a loyal, calm and intelligent companion, conquering dog lovers with its rustic beauty and unusual charm.

Although Xoloitzcuintle is not popular in Vietnam today, they are still a desirable breed for those who love to collect "one-of-a-kind" pets.

If you want to learn more about other dog breeds, don't forget to visit our Blog section every day to read many interesting related articles!