Xoloitzcuintli

The Xoloitzcuintli, often shortened to Xolo, is a Mexican breed with roots extending back well before European contact. Archaeological finds and ceramic figures show hairless dogs living among cultures including the Colima, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec, although the exact relationship between every ancient dog and the modern breed cannot be reconstructed. Its name combines Xolotl, an Aztec deity associated with death and the underworld, with itzcuintli, a Nahuatl word for dog. In Aztec belief, dogs could help guide the dead on their journey to the afterlife, giving them an important spiritual role. They also lived as ordinary domestic animals and could serve as companions and watchdogs. Xolos occur in both hairless and coated forms because the genetic trait responsible for hairlessness does not occur in every puppy. They also come in Toy, Miniature, and Standard sizes. After centuries of change following Spanish colonization, the breed became uncommon and was formally surveyed and preserved by Mexican enthusiasts during the 20th century. The Federación Canófila Mexicana recognized it as an important native breed, and the Xolo has since become an internationally recognized symbol of Mexico's pre-Columbian canine heritage.