Xoloitzcuintli dogs were often buried with their owners to guide them in the underworld. Photo courtesy of AKC
THIS dog didn’t shed all its fur due to stress – it was born that way!
This is a Xoloitzcuintli, or Xolo for short, but it has an English name too: the Mexican hairless dog.
The Xolo is an ancient breed that can be traced back to the Aztec and Mayan empires and is at least 3 500 years old.
Interestingly, the Xolo comes in three sizes – toy, miniature and standard – and all three can come from the same litter!
The dogs were considered sacred by the Aztecs, Mayans and other groups, and were often buried with their owners to guide them in the underworld.
They are intelligent and regarded as good watchdogs to this day.
The breed is not completely hairless, sporting some hair in the face and on the paws.
