Xoloitzcuintli Breed Introduction
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The Xoloitzcuintli breed is the national dog of Mexico and an an ancient one that had existed in the New World for millenia and faced near extinction in the mid-20th century. Members of the breed survived because of the concerted effort by concerned individuals with the backing of the Mexican government. They were considered sacred and were eaten by indigenous people in rituals.
The Xoloitzcuintli's Behavior
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Source: Canadian Kennel Club
Recommended for: pet dog
The Xoloitzcuintli dog breed is a very active breed. Xoloitzcuintlis are calm and cheerful to those they know, and attentive, alert, and aloof when it comes to strangers. This makes them somewhat good guard dogs. They are a rare breed.
Remember that breed only provides a general clue as to any individual dog's actual behavior. Make sure to get to know dogs well before bringing them into your home.
The Xoloitzcuintli's Physical Characteristics
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Here are some of the characteristics of the Xoloitzcuintli breed as determined by the Canadian Kennel Club's published breed standard.
- Size: 16 - 22 1/2 inches
- Coat: hairless: absence of hair, smooth skin, firm; coat: short, dense
- Color: black, grey, red, liver, bronze, golden yellow
- Eyes: almond-shaped, mid-size, yellow to black
- Ears: large, set medium high, thin leather
- Muzzle: bit longer than skull
- Nose: black, lighter on light colored dogs
- Tail: long, thin, set low, tapering
The Xoloitzcuintli's Origins and History
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Source: Wikipedia
Country/Region of Origin: Mexico
Original purpose: pet, food for rituals
Name: Derived from the Aztec God Xolotl who legends claimed created the breed; also known as Xoloitzcuintli, Xoloitzcuintle, Xoloitzquintle, Tepeizeuintli or called Xolo for short.
Historical notes: Xoloitzcuintli dogs date back thousands of years and were already known in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Ancient Indians and some today consider them sacred animals that helped their owners' souls through the underworld, called Mictlan, towards the Heavens' Evening Stars.