Mexican Hairless Dog

The Mexican Hairless Dog is one of the world’s oldest breeds. He might have been brought to Mexico from northeastern Asia by the nomadic ancestors of the Aztecs. The Toltecs, the first inhabitants of Mexico, kept Chihuahuas in their temples. When the Aztecs conquered the land, they introduced the Mexican Hairless Dog. Some believe that these two breeds were crossed to produce the Chinese Crested Dog. The name Xoloitzcuintle comes from the ancient Aztec god Xolotl, who accompanied souls to the afterworld. Despite this godly name, native peoples ate these dogs and kept them for protection and healing purposes. The first descriptions of the Mexican Hairless Dog date to the seventeenth century. The American Kennel Club published a standard in 1933. The breed is rare in Europe.

Lively but calm, merry, very affectionate, and good-natured, the Mexican Hairless Dog is a delightful pet. He is reserved toward strangers, making him a good watchdog.

He needs minimal exercise. Because of his delicate skin, he must be bathed regularly and rubbed with a moisturizer. He cannot tolerate cold or bright sun.

Head:Long. Fairly broad skull. Minimal stop. Long, slender muzzle. Tight-lipped. Nose dark pink or brown, depending on coat color.
Ears:Large (up to 10 cm), thin. Held stiff and slanted in action.
Eyes:Medium-sized, slightly almond-shaped, preferably dark, ranging from yellow to black.
Body:Fairly long. Neck carried high, slightly arched, graceful, without dewlap. Chest deep but fairly narrow. Tuck-up. Straight back. Well-rounded croup.
Tail:Set on low, smooth, fairly long.
Hair:Tuft of short, stiff hair on the skull. Crisp hair on the tip of the tail. Complete absence of hair is not penalized.
Coat:Preferably solid dark bronze, elephant grey, greyish-black, or black. Unpigmented areas with pink or brown patches are acceptable. Hair on the head and tail must be black in dark varieties. In light varieties, it can be any color that blends with the overall appearance.
Size:30 to 50 cm.
Weight:Varies according to size.
Group:Spitz and primitive types