GROUP 7 - NON SPORTING

Brief History
The Xoloitzcuintles have played a very interesting role throughout Mexican history. The name is of Nahuatl origin, with two words: "Xolotl", deity of transformation or sunset, and 'Iztcuintli ", which means dog. Xoloitzcuintles were part of religious celebrations in which they were sacrificed, and their meat was prepared for special dishes, as a representative of the god "Xolotl", from which its name obviously originates. The breed became quite rare, but has since reappeared due to the great efforts of the Mexican Canine Federation.

Average Life Span
When considering a dog, please realise that you are taking it on for its lifetime. The average life span is 12 to 14 years.

Temperament
The Xoloitzcuintle is a silent and calm dog, cheerful, alert and intelligent. However, he might be suspicious toward strangers and he is a good watchdog and an excellent companion. He is never aggressive.

General Breed Description
This breed comes in three sizes. The Xoloitzcuintle is an ancient natural primitive dog, modelled by evolution, going by the general conformation. He is a very attractive, slim and elegant dog, moderate in all aspects, displaying speed, harmony and strength without appearing coarse, and possessing a clean-cut outline. He has a well-proportioned body, chest is ample, ribs well sprung, and both limbs and tail are long. There are two varieties in the breed, hairless and coated, both identical in conformation except for coat and dentition. Colours are solid, uniform, dark coloured skin is preferred. The range includes black, blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey, reddish, liver, bronze or blond. There may also be spots of any colour, including white markings.

Coat and Care requirements
Hairless variety: The characteristic of this breed is the total lack of hair on the body (a hairless or nude dog), although there are some short, coarse thick hairs of any colour on the forehead and back of the neck, on the feet and on the end of the tail. Coated Variety: This variety has hair all over its body. It can be expected to have very little hair on its belly and inside the rear legs. The hair should be short, flat, preferably smooth and with no undercoat. The skin requires care and moisturising.

Size
STANDARD:
Height: 46 to 60cms.

INTERMEDIATE:
Height: 36 to 45cms.

MINIATURE:
Height: 25 to 35cms.

Health
All breeds have individual health issues. When speaking to breeders it is recommended you enquire about breed health and what health testing the breeder does. The Xoloitzcuintle is generally a healthy breed, however health conditions do occur occasionally. Breeders may test breeding stock, including Hip Evaluation (Standard), Ophthalmologist Evaluation (Miniature, Standard, and Toy), Cardiac Exam (Miniature, Standard, and Toy) and Patella Evaluation (Miniature and Toy)

Suitability
This breed is best suited to a person who has the time to take a walk and exercise them most days. Owners must have the patience to socialize their Xolo well, which must be at an early age. Ideal for families, but the Xolo should be socialized carefully with small children, as with all other breeds. Larger variety require more exercise than the smaller ones.  

In Conclusion
Now you know a little more about this breed. If you have decided this is the dog for you and wish to investigate further, please contact the Breed Club or Dogs Victoria. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog events where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the breed and its needs. With any breed of dog, it is important to research and determine suitability for your lifestyle before committing to a puppy which will be a part of your family for many years to come.

Whilst many breeds are recommended for families, it is imperative that when children are with dogs they are supervised at all times. Basic obedience training is a vital part of dog ownership.

Dogs Victoria is about the responsible ownership of all dogs and in particular the preservation of pure breeds.

Link to Dogs Australia Breed Standard: https://dogsaustralia.org.au/breed/detail/89