HAIRLESS "WONDER DOGS"
By Ralph F. Graves
April 2001 Guadalajara-Lakeside Volume 17, Number 8
Can your pet do all this: protect you from
the flu, provide a ritual feast, even guide your soul through the gates
of heaven? If not, perhaps you should check out a Xoloitzcuintle (Xolo,
for short), a rare breed of Mexican dog with these and other reputed
Once nearly extinct, this unusual breed is attempting a comeback. Dubbed
"el perro mexicano," it is believed to be one of over 15 breeds
that accompanied the ancients in their migrations from Asia across the
then frozen Bering Strait to North America over 15,000 years ago. Today,
only the hairless Xolo and the tiny Chihuahua have survived as distinct
breeds in Mexico.
Although an exotic species, the Xolo is not the most glamorous breed
of dog around. Puppies are wrinkled, clumsy, unruly and will attempt
to eat or chew on anything within reach. They are easily trained and
housebroken, however, when reaching maturity Xolos are generally calm
The standard breed measures between 18 and 24 inches high at the withers
and weighs between 20 and 30 pounds, although there are smaller varieties
classified as toys and miniatures.
They have large erect ears, almond shaped eyes and a slightly elongated
muzzle. Varying in color between solid gray, patchy gray & white
and reddish brown in color, their most distinguishing characteristic
is their smooth, hairless skin. It is possible, however, that in any
given litter, one or two pups will be fully or partially coated.
Other characteristics include the lack of pre-molar teeth, sweat glands
in the chest and abdomen, and a body temperature several degrees higher
than other breeds. They seldom pant, growl or bark; don't harbor fleas;
and groom themselves like a cat.
But why hairless? Apparently it is caused by a fairly complicated process
of gene mutation which is not restricted to canines. Horses, cattle,
sheep, cats, mice and rats have been known to exhibit similar mutations.
Geneticists believe that some time in the distant past, this hairless
characteristic evolved among some animals to provide an advantage in
a hostile environment.
A number of myths surrounded the Xolo in pre-Hispanic Mexico, some of
which were related to the afterlife. It was commonly believed that the
dogs had the power to safely conduct the souls of the dead through the
complex maze of the underworld, enabling them to enter the interior
To this end, the Mayans sacrificed the dogs and buried them in graves,
along with their masters. This practice endured to the time of the Conquest,
although some cultures, especially those of Western Mexico, were content
to bury clay sculptures of the dogs instead of the real thing.
Another belief associated the Xolos with fire, rain and lightning. Blackfoot
tribes of North America believed that hairless dogs had the power to
cause rain to douse forest fires. In Mayan codices, the dogs are depicted
with bolts of lightning coming from their mouths. And the Aztecs used
Xolo puppies as sacrificial offerings to Tlaloc, the rain God (In later
years, the Aztecs fattened and ate the dogs in ritual feasts).
Even today, the Xolo is thought by some to have occult powers. Their
body temperature averages 104 degrees which makes them, for some people,
an ideal substitute for a hot water bottle. Just snuggling up, they
say, will provide relief from arthritis, rheumatism, the flu, toothaches
and insomnia, among other things.
The group credited with saving the Xolo from extinction was led by a
former attache to the British embassy in Mexico City, Norman Pelham
Wright. He apparently became fascinated with the breed after seeing
Xolos at exhibitions of the Mexican Canine Federation during the mid-fifties.
Upon learning that the breed was dying out, he and several acquaintances
dedicated themselves to finding breeding pairs and establishing standards
for the breed. After ten years, through their efforts, 70 Xolos had
been registered by the Federation, and today, the number has reached
The breed is gaining popularity outside Mexico, as well. The Xolo Club
of America was formed in 1986 by a group dedicated to gaining official
recognition of the breed by the American Kennel Club. It has made ongoing
efforts to establish ties among Xolo breeders and enthusiasts throughout
the world and has members in Europe, Canada and Mexico as well as the
U.S. It has documented over 750 of the breed in the U. S. but believes
there are quite a few undocumented animals north of the border.
The club has its doubts about the therapeutic attributes of the dogs,
however. In their handbook they caution, "the legendary healing
powers of the Xolo are just that, legendary.
Other than their wonderful ability to soothe and comfort, Xolos have
no place in modern medical treatment of today." Oh well, a hot
water bottle probably costs less, anyhow.