Xoloitzcuintle

As its name suggests, the Xoloitzcuintle, named in Nahuatl in reference to the Aztec god Xolotl, whose representative it would be, finds its origins in Mexico. According to Mesoamerican religious traditions, this dog, whose hairless species was rarely represented compared to the overall population of hairy dogs, was supposed to guide the souls of the dead to the territory of the dead, the Mictlan. The Aztecs raised this dog breed to sacrifice them in funeral rituals so that the dog's spirit would guide that of the deceased to Mictlan; in the present Mexican states of Colima, Michoacán, and Jalisco, ceramic statues of xoloitzcuintle replacing the animal sacrifice are frequently found in ancient tombs. They were also sought after as companions, or even bed warmers due to their elevated body temperature. The presence of these hairless dogs is attested in the Caribbean, notably in 1492 in Christopher Columbus' journal. Similarly, Father Bernardino de Sahagún, who studied Mesoamerican culture in the 16th century, testified to the existence of these hairless dogs. The Mexican hairless dog is said to have been imported from Asia by nomadic peoples through the Bering Strait. It would thus be descended from a Manchurian dog, the Tai-Tai now called Chinese Crested Dog. However, the migration route of this dog may have been contradicted by the discovery of a xoloitzcuintle skull dated to 1,300 to 1,000 BCE, while the oldest Tai-Tai remains do not exceed 1,000 years old. The meat of the Xoloitzcuintle (xoloitzcuintli in the Nahuatl language) was considered a delicacy. The natives ate it during particular ceremonies, a ritual of their beliefs. The Canófila Mexicana (Mexican Kennel Club) made possible the rescue of the breed and has used a Xoloitzcuintle for its logo since 1940.

The Mexican Hairless Dog is a silent and calm breed indoors, cheerful, watchful and intelligent. Although it can show distrust toward strangers, the Mexican hairless dog is often extremely affectionate toward its family. It is a good guard dog and is never aggressive.

The Xoloitzcuintle exists in two varieties — with or without hair — and in three different sizes (small, intermediate and large FCI). The body is well-proportioned, the chest is broad, the rib cage spacious, the limbs and tail are long. The hairless variety has soft and smooth skin. The hairy variety is entirely covered with hair, although it may be sparse on the belly and in the region of the inner hind legs. For more information on the characteristics in force, a breed standard is updated under FCI reference 234.