What Makes a Xolo?

 Generic type represents a danger to the integrity of every purebred dog. As exhibitors vie for show records, vital breed traits are often sacrificed in favor of popular appeal, breeding fads, and showmanship. Breeders and judges are responsible for protecting a breed’s essential traits, but to do this effectively they need a thorough understanding of type, and exactly which traits are vital to preserve. In the case of a rare breed such as the Xolo, the dangers posed by such possibilities are magnified. Outwardly minor alterations can profoundly alter a small gene pool, quickly leading to undesirable and irreversible changes.

 Exactly what are the factors that establish Xolo breed type?

The foremost element of type is predicated on a breed’s origin and purpose.  And for the Xolo, this is by far the most fascinating aspect of its development. More than 3,000 years old, The Xolo is one of the world’s most ancient breeds. Most purebred dogs have been designed for a specific purpose; the Xolo was not. It is unique in the fact that it is a product of natural selection, created and molded by environmental adaptation, rather than selective breeding. The Xolo’s traits of type are traits of self-preservation.

It is generally believed that the earliest Xolos resulted from a hairless mutation of native Indian breeds. The primitive Xolo needed to be to be tough and adaptable and this mutation must have offered the first hairless dogs a crucial advantage to survival. To thrive under harsh conditions, the Xolo had to be versatile; it needed stamina, hunting ability, guarding instinct, and most of all, a tractable nature. Without that, the Xolo would have presented no practical advantage to man, and would have likely been dispatched to a more useful fate in the cooking pot.

To fulfill such a range of purposes, the Xolos obviously possessed incredible survival instinct; furthermore, it had to be efficiently constructed for power, endurance and agility. To fill such a wide range of demands, the Xolo had to be moderate in every way. Extremes of type or structure always come at a price, and the Xolo could not afford to sacrifice any skills to survive. Other than its unique hairless trait, the Xolo is a moderate, natural dog. Extreme variations of temperament, size, proportion, balance or angulation would have also been counterproductive to the maximum functionality of an all-purpose working breed. A massive dog seldom possesses endurance, and too much refinement precludes strength.  Regardless of size, it should exhibit robust bone and substance. A good Xolo not only trots effortlessly, but also is constructed to sprint, jump and climb.  To accomplish this it requires moderate angulation, for both stamina and agility. As a primitive working breed, the Xolo possesses the hardiness of a feral dog, the keen senses of a hunting breed, the fearlessness and natural reserve of a working breed, and the unwavering loyalty of the most well bred companion. It is neither timid, nor extroverted.

The Xolo cannot be described as a “head breed” but it must have certain essential head traits to be correct. Among these are a blunt wedge shaped skull, flat parallel head planes, and a tapering muzzle with sufficient underjaw. A Xolo with a snipey muzzle or weak underjaw would not be able to hunt, retrieve or fight effectively. A heavy, overdone head would compromise agility and balance. Like other Xolo traits, the wedge shaped head offers a moderate compromise; it is streamlined for wind resistance, but equipped with enough substance for proficient bite power.

For all sizes of Xolos, the head should be proportionally long to balance the desired body proportions and length of neck. All the muscles that draw the legs forward for good reach rely on the neck for support.  Short necks restrict the muscles that move the shoulder blade and limit reach of the foreleg. Ewe-necks provide weak support for ligaments and muscles that control the head and the front legs. Overly long necks are often thin, lacking sufficient muscle development. Throatiness and loose skin at the jawline indicates sloppy muscling in this area.

A correctly shaped head, properly set onto the neck must be combined with true Xolo expression, described as intelligent and vivacious. Almond shaped eyes contribute to this look, but the Xolo’s distinctive ears are by far the most defining feature of its head. To a great extent, ear placement and carriage are responsible for the Xolo’s expression.  The extensive description in the standard attests to their importance.

Another essential feature of type, silhouette, is a combination of defining proportions and outline. Outline includes the head, head and tail carriage, topline, underline and ratio of body to leg length. All these parts must fit together perfectly to create the ideal Xolo outline. In a sense, Xolo type is inseparable from structure, because flaws of conformation will detract from the ideal outline. The Xolo is an all-purpose canine athlete and its profile clearly conveys its strength and stamina.

Most of our modern breeds gradually evolved to their present day outlines. The ancient Xolo’s ideal silhouette was forged through the trials of survival. This was later eroded through accidental and intentional crossbreeding through the ages. Eventually, Xolos existed in every shape and size. In the past 50 years, breeders have worked to eradicate these extremes of body shape and leg length but they still remain in the breed’s gene pool. The ability to recognize correct Xolo proportion is the only way to safeguard your breeding program.

The Xolo’s outline is rectangular; it is slightly longer than tall, in a ratio of 10:9. This length of body is ideal for smooth, efficient trotting with maximum reach and drive. It will not result in a rangy appearance as long as the dog is properly constructed with well laid-back shoulders and well-angulated hindquarters, a short, strong loin area and sufficient depth of chest.

The Xolo’s well-muscled and flexible topline is designed for stamina and speed. The shape and size of the vertebrae directly affect the outline of the dog. They must be well developed to provide good anchoring points for the ligaments and muscles, and articulations for the ribs. The seven vertebrae of the withers are topped with long spires that angle backwards to give support to the ligaments and muscles running from the neck to the shoulder blades. To produce a smooth transition from the neck to the withers, the shoulder blades must be smoothly angled backwards. Upright blades will give a flat appearance to the withers, and create an abrupt angle between the neck and shoulder.

The back should be level for maximum strength and support. Any deviation weakens the connection between the front and rear assemblies, and causes an improper tilt of the pelvis. Weak muscles and ligaments supporting this area, allow the backline to drop down into the chest cavity, crowding the heart and lungs. A swayback will bounce and sway when the dog moves, wasting a lot of energy.

A roached back, caused by improper shoulder placement or weak back muscles, lacks flexibility, and leads to restricted movement. A slight loin arch imparts additional strength of the back, but too much will defeat the purpose. This arch runs smoothly into the rounded croup, to a low set, long fine tail. The croup extends from the last vertebrae of the loin to the beginning of the tail. It should be rounded to provide maximum muscle power and agility. Too much slope indicates excessive tilt to the angle of the pelvis, which will interfere with rearward extension.

Muscles that originate in the back control the tail and create the muscular loins. This is why an overly curled tail is often found in combination with an extreme loin arch. An asymmetrically curled or twisted tail results when these muscles are not functioning equally, indicative of weakness in the loin or back. The tail also improves kinetic balance to aid climbing, jumping, and sharp turns.

The Xolo is built for energy and endurance. For this it needs plenty of heart and lung room, which should be created by depth of the ribcage, rather than width. An excessively wide ribcage interferes with smooth effortless movement, and a narrow ribcage offers inadequate heart and lung space. A deeper, comparatively narrow body provides heart and lung room and helps to combat lateral displacement.

The actual length of the ribcage is predicated on good length of the ribs, their curve, and the angle at which they are attached. They must be angled backwards to provide maximum space without changing the shape of the dog. The first four or five ribs are flatter to allow the shoulder blade to glide smoothly against the chest as the dog moves.  The remainder of the ribs should spring out from the spinal column and angle backwards

Like the topline, the underline is a critical feature of silhouette, and functionality. The brisket must not only reach to the elbow but it must be long, gradually curving up, confining the tuck up to the abdominal section. An extreme upsweep that commences near the elbow will rob the dog of vital heart and lung room. Lack of tuck up will also compromise the dog’s locomotion. It can be due to a round shallow ribcage, improperly placed shoulders or lack of good muscle tone.  Powerful muscles running from the ribs and sternum, to the pelvis produce the tuck up, and link the front and rear assemblies. If this section is not taut and muscular, the dog will have a potbelly, which will interfere with the action of the diaphragm, which controls breathing. Because these muscles connect the front and rear couplings, any weakness will affect smooth transitions of gait and compromise flexibility of the back when jumping or sprinting.

Correct angulation is necessary for elegant outline, good substance and efficient gait. A well-angulated dog possesses strength without excessive bulk. Coated or hairless, angulation is easily assessed on a Xolo. A well angulated shoulder and pelvis provides optimal anchoring points and large areas for muscle attachment, and creates width of the front and rear quarters- this is what gives the dog a look of strength and substance. Angulation produces good head carriage, reach of neck, a smooth topline, a strong loin and good width of hindquarters.

For overall balance, Xolo’s length of leg should complement its rectangular body proportions. The legs must be long enough to allow a long, effortless stride, and produce an overall elegant appearance. Bone and muscle development are also important considerations. The Xolo must be well muscled, with sturdy bone, but too much of either will undermine agility and endurance. Oval bone provides strength without bulk and enhances elegance.

The foreleg consists of the humerus (the upper arm), the radius, and ulna (the forearm), the pastern, and the foot.  The combined lengths of the forearm, pastern, and foot should be equal to the depth of body. The humerus must be long enough to set the elbow back, under the highest point of the shoulder blade. It should be at least equal to the length of the shoulder blade, certainly never shorter than the shoulder blade. This provides several advantages. It places the weight-bearing column of the leg directly under the dog’s center of gravity, providing greatest support.  It increases the length of muscles that move the leg, and creates a longer arc of travel- maximum reach and follow-through. The pastern should exhibit a slight degree of slope, to aid flexibility and shock absorption but excessive bend at the pastern indicates weak tendons, which will compromise efficient gait.

The back leg consists of the femur (thigh bone) attached to the pelvis, and extending to the stifle joint. The lower thigh is made up of the tibia and fibula, running from stifle to hock. Unlike the front assembly, the rear is not designed to support weight; it is designed to generate power. And maximum power will be derived from a long stride, which begins at the pelvis.  A slight slope to the croup allows the dog to get its back feet well under itself for quick turns and sprints, but too much slope will interfere with extension and follow through.

Rear angulation is produced by the combination of the length and tilt of the pelvis, the relative length of the upper and lower thigh, and the hock joint. Ideally, the upper and lower thighbones should be equal in length, and their combined length should place the tip of the paw directly under the rearmost point of the pelvis when the hock is perpendicular. If the paw must be moved further out behind the dog in order to fully straighten the hock, the dog possesses too much angulation. This produces acutely bent stifles, and weakens support of the rear assembly. This also puts excessive stress on the joints and compromises endurance through energy-wasting movement.

If the hock must be tilted backwards in order to position the foot this way, the dog lacks angulation.  Insufficient angulation, straight stifles, produce a short, choppy stride, with no driving power. The hocks should be short, straight and parallel for maximum leverage and endurance. Hocks that turn in or out will seriously weaken the driving force of the rear assembly and lead to excessive wear and tear on joints and ligaments.

The Xolo’s hare foot is designed to enhance speed and leverage. The third digital bone of a hare foot, which is parallel to the ground, is notably longer in this type of foot structure. This is what gives extra length to the toes and creates the oval shape. Even though the feet are long, they must be well arched and compact, with thick pads. Hare feet should never be confused with flat, splayed feet.

Only one Xolo trait cannot be described as moderate; the breed’s defining trait, hairlessness. Totally functional by design, Xolo skin is tough, thick, and protective. It has a smooth, healthy appearance, and ideally should be totally hairless.

Xolo puppies are covered with an abundance of loose, wrinkly skin, they gradually grow into it, and by adulthood, the skin is close fitting.  Most Xolos sport a small amount of short, coarse hair on the head, feet and tail tip. Hair pattern must be confined to these areas, and should never appear long or soft. Coated Xolos are identical in every way except that they will be completely covered with a short, flat dense coat. The Xolo standard permits a range of colors and markings. From a functional standpoint, darker solid colors contain the most melanin and provide maximum protection from the sun.

Coated or hairless, the Xolo evolved as a naturally low maintenance breed. They should never require complicated trimming, shaving, or skin care to appear typical or well-groomed.