Otherwise known as the Mexican Hairless or Xolo, the Xoloitzcuintle has existed in South America for over 3000 years but is now one of the rarest breeds in the world. The breed’s unusual hairlessness is thought to have originated due to a mutation of dogs in the region. These dogs may have had a survival advantage in the hot, tropical environment causing the mutation to spread. 

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Xolos blev betragtet som hellige af aztekerne og andre oprindelige kulturer, og mange gjenstander overlever, der afbilder racen. I aztekisk mytologi blev Xolo skabt af guden Xolotl. Han instruerede denne mand til at beskytte hunden med sit liv. Til gengæld ville hundene beskytte deres masters sjæle gennem farerne i underverdenen til himlen. 

Skin colours in the Xolo range from black, to blue, to red. Occasionally, Xolos with a coat are born amongst a litter of hairless siblings. 

Image courtesy of Jacqi Dinis

For many years, the Xolo remained largely ignored by dog breed authorities, only sporadically making appearances in Mexican dog shows of the 1940s. By the 1950s interest had increased at it was realised, unless drastic action was taken, the breed would go instinct.

In 1954 the FCI (the World Canine Association) began the ‘Xolo Expedition’. Mexican and British dog enthusiasts set off to the remote regions of Mexico to discover and preserve purebred members of the breed. Ten were found and formed the foundation of Mexico’s program targeted at a Xolo revival. 

Image courtesy of Diana Andersen - AnimalImages

Interestingly, Xolos were one of the very first dogs recognised by the American Kennel Club. In 1887, ‘Mee Too’ was registered and in 1940, ‘Chinito Junior’ owned by a Mrs Radtke of New York became the breeds first, and only, American Kennel Club champion. As of 2012, the Xolo has been included in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. 

Image courtesy of Jacqi Dinis

Xolos har tendens til at være sunde hunde og er kendt for deres intelligens. Som en gammel race, stort set uændret fra dens tidlige rødder, har den mange 'primitive' egenskaber, der er gået tabt i mange mere populære hundesorter. De er nysgerrige, høj energi og har ivrige jagt- og beskyttelsesinstinkter. 

Den løftede pote kan fremstå som vinkende mod vestlige øjne. Det er dog en japansk gestus af tilkaldelse, deraf katternes udseende. Enten kan venstre eller højre pot hæves. Det antages, at den type held, katten bringer, varierer med hvilken poten er løftet. Den højre pote menes almindeligvis at give generel held og lykke, mens den venstre pote bringer kunder ind.

Funktionsbillede med tilladelse fra Jacqi Dinis