xolo dog diet

Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless)

A rare breed, the Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eets-queent-lee) is a highly intelligent, calm, and compact dog. Also known as the Xolo and the Mexican Hairless, this breed is loyal and loving.

While their baldness, admittedly, isnt for everyone, the Xoloitzcuintli Club of America says Aztec tribes revered them for their healing properties. The Nahuas, a Latin American indigenous group, believed the Xolo guided souls through the underworld. After hundreds of years by their pet parents sides, the Xoloitzcuintli is now recognized as the official dog of Mexico.

Caring for a Xoloitzcuintli

Xoloitzcuintles tend to be healthy dogs. They live a long life of 1318 years and are happy to spend it with their family, both human and canine.

According to the breed club, Xolos come in three sizes:

• The Toy Xoloitzcuintli, which stands 1014 inches tall

• The Miniature Xoloitzcuintli, which is 1418 inches tall

• The Standard Xoloitzcuintli, at 1823 inches tall

No matter their size, Xolos have a very distinctive look that developed naturally over the centuries. They have big ears, a long muzzle, and almond-shaped eyes, but whats most eye-catching is their coat (or lack thereof). These hairless dogs from Mexico are mostly naked, but some can have coarse hair on the top of their head, on their feet, and on the tip of their tail.

Xoloitzcuintli Health Issues

Xolos are a very healthy breed that, thanks to their natural development, arent prone to many of the health conditions a lot of domestic dogs have. While the breed club recommends hip, cardiac, patella (kneecap), and ophthalmology tests for your Xolo dog, common conditions affecting these body parts arent super prevalent in the breed.

Skin Conditions

Adolescent Xolos are prone to acne on their lips and muzzle. Dogs with acne will have red bumps, pimples, or blackheads on their skin that can become scarred, especially if the dog scratches at them. To help keep your Mexican hairless dogs skin clear, Xolos need regular baths with special shampoo.

Youll also need to help them keep their face clean and dry, especially after eating, drinking, or rooting in the dirt. Consider using a special pet wipe to help.

Due to being hairless, Xolos are also prone to having sensitive skin. Care should be taken to ensure they are not exposed to chemicals, sun, or extreme changes in temperature. Consider a doggy sunscreen or a pet-friendly moisturizer to keep their skin healthy.

Orthopedic Conditions

Xolos are prone to a few orthopedic conditions, such as hip dysplasia and patellar luxations. Hip dysplasia is an abnormal development of the hip joint, while patellar luxations are caused by laxity in the tendons of the kneecap that cause the bones to slide off each other.

These are both conditions that occur during development and, depending on severity, may or may not cause symptoms in your pup. Lameness or limping, a bunny-hopping gait, and trouble with stairs are common symptoms in affected dogs. Your vet will treat your Xolo with anti-inflammatory medications and joint supplements, and surgery is recommended in severe cases.

Obesity

According to the breed club, Xolo dogs love to eat. This means that, if you dont stick to scheduled, measured-out meals, their appetite easily leads to obesity. Obesity in dogs can cause all sorts of additional health problems, including:

What To Feed a Xoloitzcuintli

Mexican hairless dogs need to eat a dog food that meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional guidelines. Xoloitzcuintli puppies should eat a puppy-specific food until theyre 1 year old, when they can transition to adult food.

How To Feed a Xoloitzcuintli

Xolo puppies should eat at least three times a day on a regular feeding schedule. Start feeding them twice a day once they reach adulthood. If your Xolo is eating too fast, reduce the gobbling with a slow feeder bowl.

How Much Should You Feed a Xoloitzcuintli?

How many calories your dog gets depends on their health, current weight, and lifestyle. Because there are three different Xoloitzcuintli sizes, the range these pups can eat varies a lot.

Use your dog food packaging to find basic guidance on how much food your Xolo dog needs. Talking to your vet will give you a better estimate, as they can take into account your specific dogs health history.

Nutritional Tips for the Xoloitzcuintli

As long as your Xolo is eating a well-balanced dog food, they shouldnt need supplements. That said, your vet might prescribe supplements on an as-needed basis if your pups health requires them.

Behavior and Training Tips for the Xoloitzcuintli

Xolo dogs are known for their smarts and loyalty, making them a good fit for new pet parents and experienced families alike. They need about 20 minutes of exercise every day, whether thats a long walk, neighborhood jog, or afternoon hike.

Xolos need daily exercise and enjoy long walks and some brief opportunities to run, says Paola Cuevas, MVZ. Daily mental and physical stimulation helps prevent the development of destructive or aberrant behaviors.

Xoloitzcuintli Personality and Temperament

As a working dog, Xolos are often reserved and wary of strangers, the breed club says. But while theyll never shower strangers with affection, they form strong bonds with their pet parents. They are also playful and can be great friends to kids who know how to properly interact with pets. But remember: Interactions between children and dogs always need to be supervised.

These dogs also have a high prey drive and might dart after squirrels, rabbits, and other small animals. Introduce this dog to a cat slowly and carefully, so they understand kitties arent something to chase. Always keep your Xolo on a leash or inside a fenced yard when theyre outside.

Xoloitzcuintli Behavior

Xolos are small, but their bark is big. Theyll often use their loud voice to alert their family to passersby, but they wont bark for no reason.

Xolos will for sure let you know if anyone is near your door, Cuevas says. Like most dogs, Xolos like to watch their home. And if they are not properly desensitized and used to visitors, they might get anxious about newcomers.

Xoloitzcuintli Training

As with all dogs, Xoloitzcuintles respond best to positive reinforcement training where they are rewarded for good behavior. Though theyre smart and can quickly pick up on cues, the breed club says this breed requires consistent training.

Its also important to socialize your Xolo puppy so they dont grow up suspicious of new people.

Fun Activities for the Xoloitzcuintli

• Walking

• Playing in the backyard

• Running

• Puzzle toys

• Hide-and-seek

• Tug-of-war

• Fetch

• Trick training

• Obedience training

• Snuffle mats

• Obstacle courses

• Frisbee

• Flyball

Xoloitzcuintli Grooming Guide

Because they lack a full coat, Xolos dont require the grooming routine many other dog breeds have. However, their skin needs regular attention.

Skin Care

As a hairless dog, Xolos need regular bathing. Between baths, youll need to:

Because acne is common for Xolos, you may need topical or oral medications to treat their skin. Chat with your veterinarian to see how you can help reduce your dogs acne.

Eye Care

Xolos shouldnt need special eye care. But if you see your Xolo pawing at their eye, squinting, or having eye discharge, take your dog to the vet to check for an eye infection.

Ear Care

Clean your dogs ears after every bath. Using a dog-specific ear cleaner will help prevent ear infections from occurring.

Considerations for Pet Parents

A Xolo is happy being by your side, whether youre in an apartment or a houseas long as they get daily exercise, that is. Keep these hairless dogs on a leash when youre out on your run or walk. Their high prey drive means they will run after smaller neighborhood animals.

While Xolos love the people theyre close to, it can take a long time for them to warm up to strangers. You must socialize your Xoloitzcuintli puppy early and often to help with their natural wariness.

Featured Image: Adboe/Masarik

Xoloitzcuintli FAQs

Are Xolo dogs good pets?

Yes, well-trained and socialized Xolos are great pets! They are a good fit in active families where they can get at least 20 minutes of exercise every day.

How much do Xolo dogs cost?

Are Mexican Hairless dogs hypoallergenic?

While no dog is completely hypoallergenic, Xolos can be a good fit for some people with allergies. But before you bring home a Xoloitzcuintli puppy, spend time with the breed to see how your allergies react.

How do you pronounce Xoloitzcuintli?

Xoloitzcuintli is pronounced show-low-eets-queent-lee. The common abbreviation for their name, Xolo, is pronounced show-low.

WRITTEN BY

Kaitlyn Arford

Freelance Writer

Xoloitzcuintle

Hairless dog breed from Mexico

Dog breed

Xoloitzcuintle
A lighter-colored Xoloitzcuintle
Other names	Xoloitzcuintle, Xoloitzquintle, Xoloitzcuintli
Common nicknames	Xolo
Origin	Mexico
Notes	National dog of Mexico
Dog (domestic dog)

The Xoloitzcuintle (or Xoloitzquintle, Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo) is one of several breeds of hairless dog. It is found in standard, intermediate, and miniature sizes. The Xolo also comes in a coated variety, totally covered in fur. Coated and hairless can be born in the same litter as a result of the same combination of genes. The hairless variant is known as the Perro peln mexicano or Mexican hairless dog.^[1] It is characterized by its duality, wrinkles, and dental abnormalities, along with a primitive temper. In Nahuatl, from which its name originates, it is xlitzcuintli [oloitskinti] (singular)^[2] and xlitzcuintin [oloitskintin] (plural).^[2] The name comes from the god Xolotl that, according to ancient narratives, is its creator and itzcuntli [itskinti], meaning 'dog' in the Nahuatl language.^[2]

History[edit]

Ceramic sculptures of a hairless breed of dog have been found in burial sites in ancient West Mexico.^[4] In ancient times, Xolos were often sacrificed and then buried with their owners to act as guides to the soul on its journey to the underworld. They have been found in burial sites of both the Maya and the Toltec.^[5]

Sixteenth-century Spanish accounts tell of large numbers of dogs being served at banquets.^[6] Aztec merchant feasts could have 80100 turkeys and 2040 dogs served as food.^[7] When these two meats were served in the same dish, the dog meat was at the bottom of the dish, possibly because it was held in lower regard.^[7]

The Aztecs consumed few domesticated animals, with over 90% of the bones found at archeological sites being deer.^[7]

Genetics[edit]

A 1999 genetic study using mitochondrial DNA found that the DNA sequences of the Xoloitzcuintle were identical to those of dogs from the Old World.^[8] In 2018, an analysis of DNA from the entire genome indicated that domesticated dogs entered North America from Siberia for 4,500 years and were isolated for the next 9,000 years. After contact with Europeans, these dogs were replaced by Eurasian dogs and their local descendants. The pre-contact dogs exhibited a unique genetic signature that is now almost gone^[9] due to their assimilation into the Eurasian dog gene pool. In 2020, the sequencing of ancient dog genome indicates that in two Mexican breeds the Chihuahua and Xoloitzcuintli derive 4% and 3% of their ancestry from pre-colonial dogs,^[10] almost entirely being descended from Eurasian dogs.

Their phenotype is a consequence of canine ectodermal dysplasia caused by a mutation on the Foxl3 autosomal gene.^[11]

Registry[edit]

Fdration Cynologique Internationale (FCI)[edit]

The breed did not receive any official notice in its homeland until the 1950s. The FCI, founded in 1940, was not prepared to declare the Xolo an official purebred at that time. According to breed historian Norman Pelham Wright, author of The Enigma of the Xoloitzcuintli, Xolos began to turn up at Mexican dog shows in the late 1940s. Although they were recognized as indigenous specimens of a native breed, interest in them was minimal at that time, because information was scarce and no standard existed by which to judge them. Within a decade, the FCI realized that the breed would become extinct if drastic action were not taken to save it. This led to the widely publicized Xolo Expedition of 1954. With the official sanction of the FCI, Wright and a team of Mexican and British dog authorities set off to discover if any purebred Xolos still existed in remote areas of Mexico.^{[citation needed]} Eventually 10 structurally strong Xolos were found and these dogs formed the foundation of Mexico's program to revive the breed. A committee headed by Wright authored the first official standard for the breed; on May 1, 1956, the Xolo was finally recognized in its native land and, as Mexico is a member of the FCI, worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

American Kennel Club (AKC)[edit]

Xolos were among the first breeds recorded by the American Kennel Club (AKC). A Mexican dog named "Mee Too" made breed history as the first AKC-registered Xolo in 1887. "Chinito Junior", bred and owned by Valetska Radtke of New York City, became the breed's only AKC champion to date. He earned his title on October 19, 1940.^[12]

In 1959, the Xolo was dropped from the AKC stud book due to the breed's scarcity and perceived extinction. The Xoloitzcuintli Club of America (XCA), the official parent club for the breed, was founded on October 26, 1986, to regain AKC recognition for the breed. On May 13, 2008, AKC voted to readmit the breed to its Miscellaneous Class starting January 1, 2009. The founding members voted unanimously to recognize all three sizes (toy, miniature and standard) and both varieties (hairless and coated) at their initial meeting. Since then, the XCA has compiled a stud book modeled on requirements for eventual AKC acceptance, held an annual independent specialty show, published a quarterly newsletter, The Xolo News, and maintained an active national rescue network, National Xolo Rescue (known before 2009 as The Xolo Rescue League^[13]). Since January 1, 2007, FSS registered Xolos have been eligible to compete in AKC performance events. The breed was moved into the AKC Studbook in December 2010 and has been eligible to be shown in the AKC Non-Sporting group since January 1, 2011.^[14]

Characteristics[edit]

Appearance[edit]

The breed ranges in size from about 10 to 55lb (5 to 23kg). The height is 9 to 26 inches (2367cm). Similar in appearance to a Pharaoh Hound, with a sleek body, almond-shaped eyes, large bat-like ears, and a long neck, the Xolo is notable for its dominant trait of hairlessness.^[15] The dominant hairless trait originated in this breed as a spontaneous mutation thousands of years ago. The recessive expression of the trait will produce a coated variety, which is genetically inseparable from the hairless, as the homozygous appearance of the hairless mutation is fatal to the unborn pup.^[16] Most litters contain both hairless and coated puppies. The coated variety, covered with a short, flat dense coat represents the original form of the dog, prior to the occurrence of the spontaneous hairless mutation.^[17] The hairless variety is completely hairless on the body, with many dogs exhibiting a few short hairs on the top of the head, the toes, and the tip of the tail. Most hairless dogs are black or bluish-gray in color.The allele responsible for the Xolo's hairlessness also affects the dog's dentition: Hairless Xolos typically have an incomplete set of teeth while the dogs of the coated variety have complete dentition.

The Xolo is moderate in all aspects of its appearance, conveying an impression of strength, agility, and elegance. Xolo body proportions are rectangular, slightly longer in total body length than the height measured at the highest point of the withers (top of the shoulders). The breed occurs naturally in two varieties, hairless and coated. Hairless Xolos are the dominant expression of the heterozygous Hh hairless trait.^[18] Coated Xolos (hh) are the recessive expression, and breeding hairless to coated or hairless to hairless may produce pups of either or both varieties. Breeding coated to coated will only produce coated pups because they are recessive to the hairless trait and do not carry the dominant H gene.

Both varieties occur in all hair or skin colors, and the skin is often marked, splashed, or spotted. The most common colors are various shades termed black, grey, bronze, yellowish-blonde, blue and red. The breed occurs in a range of sizes, which breeders have standardized into three designations: Standard, Miniature and Toy.

The Xoloitzcuintle has a calm and attentive temperament.^[19]

The Xolo has been developed by natural selection for thousands of years, and is therefore generally not prone to health and structure problems as other dog breeds more modified by human selection efforts. Xolos came from tropical climates and are not suited for outdoor life in colder temperate and northern climates; they should be considered an indoor dog breed.^{[failed verification]} They need bathing, light grooming and skin care as with other dogs of similar physical type, or acne can result. Most skin problems arise from poor breeding, neglect, or over-bathing and over-lotioning, stripping natural protections and clogging pores.^[20][21]

In contemporary culture[edit]

Xoloitzcuintles are represented in popular culture and are popular pets.^[22] Museo El Carmen in Mexico City exhibited a show titled Xolos, compaeros de viaje (Xolos, travel companions) in 201920 of more than 100 artifacts ceramics, remains, and artworks overviewing the importance of the Xoloitzcuintle in Mexican heritage.^[23] A Xolo named Dante stars in the US blockbuster CGI animation 2017 Disney/Pixar film Coco.^[22] On August 12, 2016, the Mayor of Mexico City Miguel ngel Mancera designated the Xoloitzcuintle a "cultural heritage and symbol" of Mexico City.^[24][25] The Dolores Olmedo Museum keeps a pack of Xolos on their grounds.^[26]

The Xoloitzcuintle is the symbol and mascot of Club Tijuana, the Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente, a professional soccer club founded in 2007. Xolos are depicted in some of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's paintings,^[27] one of which is commemorated on the 2007 500-peso note, featuring Frida Kahlo's painting titled Love's Embrace of the Universe, Earth, (Mexico), I, Diego, and Mr. Xlotl (1949) on the reverse of the note.^[28] Diego Rivera's large murals, The History of Mexico, in the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City feature numerous Xolos.^[29]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ FCI Breed Standard
2. ^ ^{a b c} Nahuatl Dictionary. (1997). Wired Humanities Project. University of Oregon. Retrieved September 1, 2012, from link Archived 2016-12-03 at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ ^{a b} "GCH Bayshore's Giorgio Armani Leads the Way for Xoloitzcuintli Breed". Purina ProClub. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
4. ^ "vessel in form of a dog". Indianapolis Museum of Art Online Collection. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
5. ^ "Mexico is in love with a $5,000 hairless dog that often wins competitions in the ugliest category". Los Angeles Times. 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
6. ^ Coe, Sophie D. (1994) America's first cuisines ISBN0-292-71159-X p112
7. ^ ^{a b c} Aguilar-Moreno, M. (2006). Handbook to life in the Aztec world. Oxford University Press: USA. p. 329 ISBN978-0-19-533083-0
8. ^ Vila, C. (1 January 1999). "Phylogenetic relationships, evolution, and genetic diversity of the domestic dog". Journal of Heredity. 90 (1): 7177. doi:10.1093/jhered/90.1.71. PMID9987908.
9. ^ N Leathlobhair, Mire; Perri, Angela R.; Irving-Pease, Evan K.; Witt, Kelsey E.; Linderholm, Anna; Haile, James; Lebrasseur, Ophelie; Ameen, Carly; Blick, Jeffrey; Boyko, Adam R.; Brace, Selina; Cortes, Yahaira Nunes; Crockford, Susan J.; Devault, Alison; Dimopoulos, Evangelos A.; Eldridge, Morley; Enk, Jacob; Gopalakrishnan, Shyam; Gori, Kevin; Grimes, Vaughan; Guiry, Eric; Hansen, Anders J.; Hulme-Beaman, Ardern; Johnson, John; Kitchen, Andrew; Kasparov, Aleksei K.; Kwon, Young-Mi; Nikolskiy, Pavel A.; Lope, Carlos Peraza; Manin, Aurlie; Martin, Terrance; Meyer, Michael; Myers, Kelsey Noack; Omura, Mark; Rouillard, Jean-Marie; Pavlova, Elena Y.; Sciulli, Paul; Sinding, Mikkel-Holger S.; Strakova, Andrea; Ivanova, Varvara V.; Widga, Christopher; Willerslev, Eske; Pitulko, Vladimir V.; Barnes, Ian; Gilbert, M. Thomas P.; Dobney, Keith M.; Malhi, Ripan S.; Murchison, Elizabeth P.; Larson, Greger; Frantz, Laurent A. F. (6 July 2018). "The evolutionary history of dogs in the Americas". Science. 361 (6397): 8185. Bibcode:2018Sci...361...81N. doi:10.1126/science.aao4776. PMC7116273. PMID29976825. S2CID206663458.
10. ^ Bergstrm, Anders; Frantz, Laurent; Schmidt, Ryan; Ersmark, Erik; Lebrasseur, Ophelie; Girdland-Flink, Linus; Lin, Audrey T.; Stor, Jan; Sjgren, Karl-Gran; Anthony, David; Antipina, Ekaterina; Amiri, Sarieh; Bar-Oz, Guy; Bazaliiskii, Vladimir I.; Bulatovi, Jelena; Brown, Dorcas; Carmagnini, Alberto; Davy, Tom; Fedorov, Sergey; Fiore, Ivana; Fulton, Deirdre; Germonpr, Mietje; Haile, James; Irving-Pease, Evan K.; Jamieson, Alexandra; Janssens, Luc; Kirillova, Irina; Horwitz, Liora Kolska; Kuzmanovic-Cvetkovi, Julka; Kuzmin, Yaroslav; Losey, Robert J.; Dizdar, Daria Lonjak; Mashkour, Marjan; Novak, Mario; Onar, Vedat; Orton, David; Pasaric, Maja; Radivojevic, Miljana; Rajkovic, Dragana; Roberts, Benjamin; Ryan, Hannah; Sablin, Mikhail (2020). "Origins and genetic legacy of prehistoric dogs". Science. 370 (6516): 557564. doi:10.1126/science.aba9572. PMC7116352. PMID33122379. S2CID225956269.
11. ^ Manin, Aurlie; Ollivier, Morgane; Bastian, Fabiola; Zazzo, Antoine; Tombret, Olivier; Equihua Manrique, Juan Carlos; Lefvre, Christine (October 2018). "Can we identify the Mexican hairless dog in the archaeological record? Morphological and genetic insights from Tizayuca, Basin of Mexico" (PDF). Journal of Archaeological Science. 98: 128136. Bibcode:2018JArSc..98..128M. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2018.08.008. S2CID135348745.
12. ^ "Xoloitzcuintli Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
13. ^ National Xolo Rescue Archived June 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine at the XCA website
14. ^ Xolo News Archived 2010-01-13 at the Wayback Machine at AKC.org
15. ^ Kimura, T.; Ohshima, S.; Doi, K. (1 January 1993). "The inheritance and breeding results of hairless descendants of Mexican hairless dogs". Laboratory Animals. 27 (1): 5558. doi:10.1258/002367793781082403. PMID8437436. S2CID21822477.
16. ^ "FCI-Standard N 234: XOLOITZCUINTLE (Hairless Variety & Coated Variety)". Fdration Cynologique Internationale. 2011-02-16. Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
17. ^ "xoloitzcuintliclubofamerica.com". Archived from the original on May 27, 2008.
18. ^ Drgemller, Cord; Karlsson, Elinor K.; Hytnen, Marjo K.; Perloski, Michele; Dolf, Gaudenz; Sainio, Kirsi; Lohi, Hannes; Lindblad-Toh, Kerstin; Leeb, Tosso (12 September 2008). "A Mutation in Hairless Dogs Implicates FOXI3 in Ectodermal Development". Science. 321 (5895): 1462. Bibcode:2008Sci...321.1462D. doi:10.1126/science.1162525. PMID18787161. S2CID206514824.
19. ^ "Official Standard of the Xoloitzcuintli" (PDF). American Kennel Club. 2004-06-20. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
20. ^ Kimura, Tohru; Doi, Kunio (1996). "Spontaneous Comedones on the Skin of Hairless Descendants of Mexican Hairless Dogs". Experimental Animals. 45 (4): 377384. doi:10.1538/expanim.45.377. PMID8902502.
21. ^ Kimura, Tohru (1996). "Studies on Development of Hairless Descendants of Mexican Hairless Dogs and Their Usefulness in Dermatological Science". Experimental Animals. 45 (1): 113. doi:10.1538/expanim.45.1. PMID8689575.
22. ^ ^{a b} Serrato, Jacqueline (17 November 2017). "Aztec dog gains popularity in US after 'Coco'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
23. ^ "Museo de El Carmen inaugura expo sobre los xolos por el Da de Muertos". www.milenio.com. 17 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
24. ^ "Xoloitzcuintle patrimonio de la CDMX", El Universal, August 12, 2016
25. ^ "Xoloitzcuintle, el perro azteca, patrimonio de la CDMX". Exclsior (in Spanish). 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
26. ^ "Museo Dolores Olmedo y sus xoloitzcuintles: todo lo que debes saber antes de visitarlo". El Universal (in Spanish). 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
27. ^ "Frida Kahlo and her Itzcuintli Dogs".
28. ^ "Presentacin del nuevo billete de quinientos pesos" (PDF). Bank of Mexico. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2010.
29. ^ Rivera, Luis-Martin Lozano & Juan Rafael Coronel. Diego Rivera The Complete Murals. Italy: TASCHEN GmbH, 2008. Print

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]