There are eight to ten distinct types of hairless dogs in the world and they are rare and regional.
Most hairless dogs have a missing or mutated gene in the FOX 13 genome, and only four furless breeds are recognised by major kennel clubs. They are;
- American hairless terrier which is completely hairless, not even whiskers.
- Xoloitzcuintle is the national dog of Mexico used by the Mayans and Aztecs 5,000 years ago, they are very loyal and clever.
- Chinese crested dog, recognised by their distinct appearance, featuring fine hair on their head (crest) ears and tail.
- Peruvian Inca orchid, an elegant, fast and agile sighthound originating in Peru.
The Mexican dog is named after the God of lightening and death – ‘Xoloti’.
This breed was believed to have been created from the bone of life to guard the living and safely guide souls of the deceased through the underworld.
Interestingly, this is the same belief of the ancient Egyptians, their canine guide in the after-life was called Anubis.
The Xolo dog had a fascinating, highly revered yet complicated place in ancient culture and history.
They were also considered a delicacy to eat, but primarily reserved for very special ceremonies rather than regular food.
The ceremonial dogs were kept and raised separately from companion, guard and hunting dogs.
The ancients also used these dogs as heat generators and slept with them in winter.
The Xoloitzcuintle dog is calm and intelligent. In appearance, they are regal and quite beautiful with strong, well-proportioned bodies. The breed was near extinction in the early 1950s when expeditions to remote Mexican villages gathered breeding stock to start a breeding program that began in 1956.
The Mexican Xolo has a type that is fully-furred, which can be born in the same litter as the furless.
They also come in various sizes from standard, intermediate and miniature. Tending to live a long life around 13-18 years.
Obviously these dogs are not suited to cold climates and if temperatures drop less than 15 degrees celsius, they require a coat or sweater to maintain body heat.
Another possible problem is that these dogs like to sunbathe, which means sunburn if they have prolonged lazing in intense sunshine, so canine sunblock lotion can be applied, or their sunbathing supervised and limited.
There is a waiting list for most hairless dogs, especially the Xolo and prices start at about $5,000.
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