This week’s column is going to be a little different…instead of writing about health issues or fun things to do, yours truly decided to write about a rare breed, one which many readers probably aren’t familiar with. (I know, I just ended that sentence in a preposition, which isn’t proper English, but to not do so sounded awkward. So shoot me.)

The breed highlighted in this week’s column is the Xoloitzcuintli. (Say that fast three times!) The breed, pronounced ‘Sholo-eez-QUEENT-lee’, is known a bit more commonly as the Mexican Hairless. (Although there is a variety of Xolo that has hair, the hairless type is the most desired.) The hairless Xolo has very smooth, soft, but strong skin, with or without a tiny tuft of hair on top of the head. They come in several different colors (skin, not hair): black, slate-gray, fawn, red, spotted. (And Xolos do change color as they mature.) If the Xolo does have a coat, the fur will be short and sleek, like a Doberman’s, and will require little maintenance, with almost no shedding. Because of this, the Xolo, particularly the hairless variety, is very popular with allergy sufferers. Also, because of the lack of hair, the Xolo’s skin gives off a soothing heat, making it useful for those with arthritis or other joint pain.

After the lack of hair, the most noticeable thing about a Xolo is its large, bat-like ears standing at attention. This dog possesses a very keen sense of hearing and is good at alerting the presence of danger.

Xolos come in three different sizes (toy, miniature, and standard), and can be anywhere from nine inches (toy) to thirty inches (standard) tall at the shoulder, and weigh anywhere from five lbs. (toy) to over sixty lbs. (standard). With such a variety of sizes, whether you’re a purse-dog person, or you prefer the bigger guys, there’s a Xolo for you.

This breed is highly intelligent, agile, and family-friendly, but a little aloof with strangers. Since Xolos are so smart, training is a must to prevent this dog from thinking it’s the head of the household. This dog’s athleticism allows it to climb just about anything (including trees); combining this with the breed’s natural energy equals a dog capable of excelling in agility or other canine athletic events.

Think that a Xoloitzcuintli might be in your future? Read more about the breed on dogbreedinfo.com.