Xoloitzcuintle

The Mexican Hairless Dog is a very affectionate dog - but only towards those they’ve chosen! This breed tends to have a favourite person and stick to them (quite literally) like glue. If you want this breed to be equally affectionate towards all family members, make sure each and every person spends equal time training, playing with and exercising the dog.

This breed is known to be energetic, fun-loving and playful and for the most part, will be more than happy to play games as a family or take part in sports on the beach or at the park. However, some Xolos are more aloof to others and may not enjoy long periods of playtime.

The Mexican Hairless Dog is known to be particularly relaxed and laid-back around the house. Assuming they’re being kept well, have plenty of company and are getting lots of exercise, this is a super chilled-out breed. However, like most dog breeds, you may find they cause mischief if bored, lonely or stressed.

The Xoloitzcuintli is extremely intelligent, inquisitive and smart - they pick things up easily and seem to be emotionally in tune with their family. However, this breed takes longer to mature than many other dog breeds and won’t be fully mentally developed until around 2 years of age.

He doesn't have any hunting instincts.

The Mexican Hairless Dog is naturally protective of their family, making them wary of unfamiliar faces. Consistent socialisation from a young age can help this significantly, leading to a friendly, warm pooch.

In terms of independence, the Xolo is somewhat in the middle. Their intelligence means they’re more than capable of free-thinking and may cause mischief in the right move. However, most dogs of this breed are so eager to please and devoted to their owner that it’s rarely a problem.

The Mexican Hairless Dog loves its owner and wants to be around them all the time. As such, they don’t cope well with being left alone and will become lonely, and possibly destructive, pretty quickly. They’re best suited to families who can provide constant company between them.

The Xolo doesn’t fully mature until 2 years of age, meaning training can be slow to start. However, it’s important to be consistent with both socialization and training from a young age to avoid ending up with an aloof, shy or overly-protective dog. Due to their long puppyhood, make sure training sessions are short, sweet and full of fun games and activities. The Xolo can be rather sensitive, so stick to positive reinforcement and avoid shouting or scolding at all costs.

The Xolo’s bark is more like a howl! Unfortunately, this breed can be prone to excessive barking - it’s just a natural instinct. The best way to relieve this is to ensure enough exercise, play and affection are being given to the dog in question. As soon as they feel unsatisfied, it’s likely to become a problem.