(Admin, 2016)
Have you ever heard of magical creatures that you can have for pets? The Xoloitzcuintle (also known as the Mexican dog or Xolo), the oldest breed of dog known to man, first appeared in the state of Colima, Mexico. It is believed to be a descendant of Xólotl, the underworld god of the Aztecs. Its name comes from this very god’s and the word itzcuīntli–which means dog in Náhuatl. And yes, Xolos have been domesticated for thousands of years now, meaning that you could have one for pet. They are also known to be extremely loyal and noble.
If you ever come across one, you may find that it is missing a tooth or two, as well as some hair. The latter may be because Xolos are commonly known as a hairless breed of dogs, but technically, they just have an extremely short and fine coat that is almost unperceivable unless one were to come into contact with the dog. Even more, there is a complete variety of Xolos that has typical dog fur, they are known as Xolos with hair.
(Design, T. T. W., n.d.)
In ancient times, Xolos were believed to be spiritual guides of those who passed away and went to the underworld. For such reason, they were sacrificed and buried along with the deceased in order to fulfill their purpose. As for their magic powers, Xolos are considered to be healing dogs that radiate natural heat that heals pains and, they can absorb their owner’s illnesses, thus curing them. Another mystical power attributed to Xolos is the ability to keep away evil spirits and intruders. Therefore, those of you who often hear weird spooky noises at home, may want to consider getting a Xolo.
Also, Xolos are much a celebrity dog breed. They have appeared in movies (the Disney movie “Coco”), you can find sculptures of them in museums (“Dolores Olmedo”) or, as the name of professional soccer teams (Los ”Xoloitzcuintles”). So, if you find a Xolo, keep it…it may dial some numbers and make your dreams come true!
MARIGOLD BRIDGE — In Disney•Pixar’s “Coco” ©2017 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
(Wikipedia, 2019)
References:
Admin. (2016, January 22). Info. Retrieved from https://animalsadda.com/xoloitzcuintli-mexican-hairless-dog/.
Dante. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Dante.
Design, T. T. W. (n.d.). Animalinfo Publications … For all things ‘animal’. Retrieved from https://www.animalinfo.com.au/fact_sheets/view/2/1/167/fs:Xoloitzcuintle_Breed_Profile.
Xoloitzcuintle. (2019, November 30). Retrieved from https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xoloitzcuintle
5 fun facts about Xolos, Mexico’s hairless dogs | CBC Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/5-fun-facts-about-xolos-mexicos-hairless-dogs.