Tyrolean Hound vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison

Who can believe that the origin of these dogs which hail from Mexico, goes back more than 3,500 years?

Known as the Xoloitzcuintli dog or Xolo for short, they comes in different sizes – toy-, miniature and standard which means there are different sizes. Both coated- and hairless dogs can be found in the same litter.

There was a time when the dog nearly became extinct buts its numbers have recovered. This is no doubt because there was a time when the natives ate the dog’s flesh.

The Tyrolean Hound, also known as Tyroker Bracke or Tiroler Bracke originates from Tyrol, Austria. It seems the dog was developed in the late 1800s for hunting.

The first standard for the breed was published in 1896.

This is a scenthound that is thought to have descended from Celtic Hounds, Foxhounds and Bloodhounds in the late 1800s.

The dog is a member of the FCI’s scent hound group. The dog was recognized as its own breed in 1908, and in 2006 it was recognized by the United Kennel Club.

The Mexican Hairless is truly an ancient dog breed of the Americans. He stands at 35 – 58cm if he is the standard variety whereas the miniature will stand at up to 35cm. Weight can vary too, but with the standard variety, you're talking about 16 to 22kg.

It has faced times of nearly being extinct but it’s numbers have recovered, and the dog is often sought after for those who suffer with dog-hair allergies. You could say that this dog’s most notable characteristic is its lack of hair and the soft skin.

Some of them have small tufts of hair on the hair, mostly around the top of the head. The skin can be various shades of gray to bronze and a yellowish color too. His body is slightly longer than its height and he is slim and well muscled. The tail is long and thin and is sometimes carried high. You can expect 2 – 5 puppies from these dogs.

Temperament:

Anyone acquiring a Xolo will discover that this is an intelligent dog breed and that just like with other dogs, you’ll be able to have him trained and socialized easily. Then he is obedient and a pleasure to have around.

He is active too and will require games with balls and ropes as well as a daily walk. The Xoloitzcuintli is noted for its calm demeanor. The puppies are a lot noisier than the adults and very energetic and this continues till they are about 2 years of age when they are considered to be adult.

Well raised Xolos form strong bonds with their human family, becoming loyal and devoted.

The Tyrolean Hound is a medium-sized to large dog. He stands at roughly between 43 to 50cm in height and can weigh between 20 and 27kg.

He is muscular, lean and compact. The double coat is short and smooth and can be red, tan, black or tri-colored. The ears are high set, are broad, floppy and long. The tail is long and is carried high.

Temperament:

Independent and intelligent the Tyrolean Hound is a hardworking dog, loving to be active. He has all the characteristics of a great pet and companion – loving, lively, intelligent, independent, easily trained and protective.

He’s the kind of dog that would suit a home with a large garden as opposed to living in the city. He is wary of strangers and has a loud bark to warn you of intruders. He has a friendly nature with his human family and makes a good playmate for children.

The Xolo is one of those dogs who don’t get ill easily. He is also intelligent and fairly easy to train. Add to that the fact that he is also a low maintenance dog as he doesn’t have a coat that needs brushing and grooming.

Give your Xolo lots of attention because in exchange for the good care you give him, you’re going to get a loyal, devoted pet who loves to be with you constantly.

The Tyrolean Hound is a keen hunting dog loving to be outdoors and active, requiring large grounds to be happy.

Once he comes indoors he is able to settle down with his human family and have some quiet time with them.

He is loyal and loving, but you are going to have to be prepared for an active lifestyle with this skilled hunting dog of yours.

The Xoloitzcuintli is a hardy dog in terms of health and can live to a ripe old age in dog years – some have been known to reach 18, 19 and 20 years of age. Without a coat, this dog is susceptible to sunburn so care must be taken when outdoors.

Hairless dogs tend to battle with skin problems such as pimples. Skin allergies can cause itching and scratching and these can lead to bacterial infections. It is interesting to note that the genes that bring about hairlessness also produce troublesome teeth, so that dental disease is quite rife with these dogs.

Because these dogs put everything into their hunting, injuries related to hunting can sometimes plague this energetic dog.

Apart from that, he is robust and can live to be 12 – 14 years of age. There are one or two common dog illnesses to look out for with this dog such as hip dysplasia or ear infections.

Ear infections:

The large, floppy ears of the Tyrolean Hound are prone to ear infections. Unlike with dogs that have erect ears, these dogs don’t have their inner ears aired and the dampness, wax and dirt cause bacteria to build up which ultimately leads to an ear infection.

Hip Dysplasia:

The hip joint forms abnormally, leading to chronic wear and tear together with inflammation. Sometimes the dog will squeal when he gets touched around his hips. The condition can worsen and sometimes the dog even becomes lame. He will need to get to the vet for something to control pain.

You’ve got to remember with this dog breed that he doesn’t have a coat so he can burn easily when out in the sun. If you know you’ll be in the sun for long, you’ll have to apply special sunscreen.

You can wipe down your Xolo or bath him from time to time, though not to often so as to strip the natural oils from the dog’s body. The nails will need to be trimmed regularly, as long nails can be a danger as they can hook on things and cause pain and bleeding.

Provide your hairless pet with a nice, soft bed to lie on.

Take him to the vet when he appears to be ill and see that you get his vaccinations done to prevent deadly illnesses such as rabies and parvo.

Check his eyes and ears for infections.

Brush his teeth to remove plaque. Never use human toothpaste. Take a look at the different canine toothpastes available.

Never leave your pet in a hot car with no windows open.

Provide your Xoloitzcuintli dog with high quality dog food so as to enhance health and longevity. Keep food simple for your pet to avoid digestive problems. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked potato, carrots and spinach can be chopped up and added to his dry kibble from time to time. Also a little bit of raw meat added in occasionally can also be excellent. Avoid feeding your pet foods such as onions, avocados, nuts, chocolate, coffee and raisins.

Make sure this dog has access to cool, fresh water night and day.

Grooming:

He has a short coat and will simply require a brush twice a week. Because of the fairly large, floppy ears, he will need to have the inside of his ears checked for redness and the possibility of an ear infection.

Exercise:

This dog has always been used to plenty of exercise. He won’t adapt to life in the city on a tiny property. The ideal place for this dog is on a large property, preferably a farm.

Walks, hikes, swimming, ball games, hide and seek – he is a dog that can’t seem to get enough action – he wants to be in on all the action. He is intelligent and will also need mental stimulation.

Diet:

If you were to buy your lean Tyrolean Hound some commercially manufactured food, you’d buy him food that was made for high energy dogs. You’d certainly want to make sure the food is of a high quality, packed with vitamins and minerals and natural ingredients.

He would also love some home-made food too. Raw meat occasionally would do him the world of good. This sort of food needs to be plain and simple such as boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables.

Dogs should never be without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Provide your pet with a nice, warm, dry, quiet sleeping place.

Have the vet check him over if he is ill. Make sure his vaccines are up to date.