Telomian vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

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 Telomian, out of Malaysia is rare and the only dog bred in Malaysia that lives outside the country. The breed was originally called Village dog or Anjing Kampung in Malay. The Telo is still considered one of the rarest dogs in the world. They are considered as a possible missing link between the Australian Dingo and the African Basenji.

They were bred to kill vermin by indigenous people, the Orang Asli of Malasia. They have an amazing ability to climb bred into them because these indigenous people lived in stilt houses. Even as they kept the Theomian to hunt vermian, the Orang Asli believed dogs were evil spirits who would eventually turn on them.

In 1963, Dr. Orville Elliot, an anthropologist from the West, discovered the breed and named them the Telomian for the Telom River they lived near. He took a pair to the United States and by 1970 there was a Telomian Dog Club in the U.S. By 1973 another pair had been imported and it is thought that all the Telomians who live in the United States today are descendants of these two pairs.

Like the New Guinea Singing Dog and the Basenji, the Telo do not bark but rather have a unique howl. Being bred from wild dogs, the Telo is not fully domesticate and puppies need a lot of socialization. The Telomian is on the Dog Registry of America Inc and America’s Pet Registry but is not recognized by any pedigree registry.

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.

This is a somewhat unique looking breed. They are small dogs, sturdy, athletic dogs with short coat, a square body and a long back. Their coat is smooth and sable and the ticking is white. They often have black masks and purple tongues. They are about 15-18 inches in height and weigh about 18-28 pounds. Their head is well proportioned and they have erect ears, almond shaped eyes and deep chests.

The Telo is still so undomesticated that the female only comes into estrus once a year in September to October. They have great command of their paws and can use them more like cats or racoons. They climb with them and hold toys, objects or food in them. This is related to their need to climb since homes were built on stilts in the jungles of Malaysia.

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.

1Childrn friendliness - yes but high energy

2.Special talents – climbing ability, use of their paws, able to hunt their own food.

3.Adaptability – they are not big so you would think apartment living would be ok but because of their energy and prey drive they really need a place to run.

4.Learning ability - Very intelligent, needs stimulation, and mental games

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.

This is a somewhat unique looking breed. They are small dogs, sturdy, athletic dogs with short coat, a square body and a long back. Their coat is smooth and sable and the ticking is white. They often have black masks and purple tongues. They are about 15-18 inches in height and weigh about 18-28 pounds. Their head is well proportioned and they have erect ears, almond shaped eyes and deep chests.

The Telo is still so undomesticated that the female only comes into estrus once a year in September to October. They have great command of their paws and can use them more like cats or racoons. They climb with them and hold toys, objects or food in them. This is related to their need to climb since homes were built on stilts in the jungles of Malaysia.

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.

This is an isolated, rare breed with very few known genetic health issues. They tend to be very healthy and athletic if well cared for and fed properly. The only issues they are known to have throughout the breed are hip and elbow dysplasia. Both of these issues we know can lead to arthritis and or lameness. Individual dogs may face other challenges such as allergies and obesity, but as a breed they are extremely healthy, much as the dingo and other wild dogs remain healthy.

Don’t overfeed them and watch what they might eat or try to eat when outside. They are used to feeding themselves in the wild and the domesticated dogs retain that prey drive and desire to eat what they catch.