Xoloitzcuintle - Mexican
Hairless Dogs and Puppies

is the newest member of the AKC Miscellaneous Dog Group.

They are known by several names such as: Mexican Hairless Dog, Xolos or Mexican Hairless.

The Xolo dog breed is native to the areas of Mexico, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.

Believe it or not, there is also a coated version, which is the original version, and most litters of Xolo puppies contain both hairless and coated puppies.

Xolos are an ancient breed and have been around for thousands of years. They can be traced back to the time of the the Toltecs, the Aztecs and the Mayans. Xolos also come in three different sizes: from toy to intermediate and standard.

The hairless version, which is now the most popular, started as a genetic mutation many years ago and is now also the dominant form for this dog breed however 1 out of every 4 Xolo puppies or so are born coated (with hair).

Watch a few Xolos play

These dogs come in a variety of different shades: gray, black, brindle, red, slate, bronze, fawn or spotted. Coated Xolos should have an entire coat of hair, similar in length to that of a Doberman.

The Xoloitzcuintli is a very long lived dog breed with 15 to 20 years being very common. A sweater is needed in very cold climates. As you can imagine, skin health is very important in particular to the hairless Xolo variety.

In fact, over bathing or over lotioning and sun screening can clog pores and damage their skin. As you'd expect, the dark colored or solid colored Xolos have the hardiest skin while the spotted or light colored dogs need more care.

It is true that Xoloitzcuintles do require a lot of exercise, plenty of toys, discipline and attention - especially the younger dogs. As these dogs mature they will calm down later on. Overall these dogs are very easy going and quite laid back.

Return from Xoloitzcuintle to AKC Miscellaneous Dog Group