Mexican Naked: Everything You Need To Know About This Breed
The Mexican nude, also known as xoloitzcuintle, is a dog whose origins date back to the ancient Aztec Empire.
origin of the mexican naked
The word xoloitzcuintle comes from the term náhuatl xólotl , which means strange, deformed, slave, buffoon. The word itzcuintli means dog.
In Mexican mythology, Xolotl was the god of transformation, darkness, the unknown, the monstrous and death. He was considered the twin brother of the god Quetzalcoatl, who represented life, light and knowledge.
This already gives an idea of how old this race is, whose name is associated with mythological gods. The Mexican naked is one of the oldest breeds in the world: it is believed to have more than 7000 years of history and that its domestication began some 5500 years ago.
This dog was considered a sacred animal, and the ancient inhabitants of Mexico hunted it for its meat, mainly for wedding banquets and funerals.
During European colonization, it was on the verge of disappearing. They were eliminated in order to eradicate religious traditions with animals, considered pagan. Fortunately, populations of these dogs have fled to other regions and their numbers have recovered to the present day.
Artists like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera rescued the image of this dog and came to have it as a pet, and represented it in their paintings. In 2016, the xoloitzcuintle was declared a cultural heritage and symbol of Mexico City.
A hairless dog?
Yes, indeed, this breed lacks fur, and its skin is smooth and smooth, with some loose tufts, for example, on its head.
It can be black, grey, red, purplish, coppery and tan. They come in three different sizes: miniature, medium and standard. The standard type is a medium dog about 46-60 centimeters. In addition, it has a very proportionate body, the chest is ample and the legs and tail are long.
The gene that produces the absence of hair is dominant. From a litter of hairless dogs some puppies may be born with fur due to a recessive gene. These crosses maintain the genetic variety of the breed.
As a curiosity, their body temperature is around 40 degrees, which together with the absence of hair makes them perfect natural heaters. They are also considered to be hypoallergenic dogs, since, as they lack hair, they cannot cause allergies in people who are normally allergic to dogs. Also, this lack of fur prevents them from getting fleas.
These dogs are calm animals, happy and with a guardian character : they are always alert. They are a little reserved with people they don’t know, but they are kind to their family.
care of the mexican naked
The main health problems of this dog are related to its skin, since it is very exposed to solar radiation and they are prone to burns. For this reason, it is necessary to be careful with the time of exposure to the sun and remember that there are sunscreens for dogs.
They also need protection from the cold and heat. It’s also important to keep your skin hydrated as it tends to be dry. After bathing, it is recommended to apply some moisturizing cream with vitamin E to moisturize the skin and keep it smooth and smooth.
Being such a primitive breed, it does not usually have major health problems associated with it, other than those that affect its hairless skin. Thus, their life expectancy is around 12 to 14 years.
These dogs are very charismatic and need daily exercise to maintain their physical and mental fitness. On the other hand, too much energy can make them destructive.
As we can see, this is a dog with a lot of history, and is considered an important symbol in Mexico. Due to its past, its skin and temperament, it is a unique dog, worthy of being preserved and appreciated.
