The 24th breed in our dog of the day series is the Xoloitzcuintli!
The Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eats-queen-tlee), or “Xolo” for short, is an ancient breed from Mexico that comes in three sizes (toy, miniature and standard) and two varieties (hairless and coated). Pictured is the hairless variety, which features a tough yet smooth skin. The breed is also called the Mexican Hairless.
The Xolo is the first known dog of the Americas, and it’s also one of the world’s oldest and rarest breeds. Archaeologists have found evidence that Xolos accompanied humans on the very first migrations across the Bering Straits. The name comes from the name of the Aztec god, “Xolotl,” and the Aztec word for dog, “Itzcuintli.” Xolos are considered a national treasure in their native country, and they appear in paintings by famous Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.