FCI-Standard N° 234 / 16.02.2011
/ EN
XOLOITZCUINTLE
(Hairless
Variety & Coated Variety)
TRANSLATION: Federación Canófila Mexicana, A.C. Revised by: J.
Mulholland and R. Triquet / Original version : (ES).
ORIGIN: Mexico.
DATE
OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 13.10.2010.
UTILIZATION: Standard
Size: Watchdog.
Intermediate
Size: Watchdog.
Miniature
Size: Companion
Dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group
5 Spitz
and Primitive Types.
Section
6 Primitive
Type.
Without
working trial.
PREAMBLE:
The
gene that produces the absence of hair is dominant. Nevertheless, some puppies
are born with a coat. The hairless to hairless breeding will produce the least
number of coated puppies therefore this has been preferred. It has been proven
that this breeding maintains and improves the quality of the breed.
Crossing hairless to hairless dogs fosters the
appearance of a fatal gene affecting 25% of homozygous puppies and should be
given careful attention. Considering the rarity of the breed, and the
difficulty that some breeders in distant locations have in finding breeding
stock, and for the purpose of providing genetic diversity, well constructed
coated Xoloitzcuintles may be used for breeding but never for exhibition in
beauty contests. Breeding between coated Xoloitzcuintles is not permitted.
Xoloitzcuintle coated breeding stock must be the offspring of registered
parents with at least one generation of hairless to hairless breeding.
The meat of the
Xoloitzcuintle or Xoloitzcuintli in Nahuatl language was considered a delicacy in pre-hispanic Mexico,
eaten by the indigenous Mexicans in special ceremonies as a ritual to their
beliefs, and therefore became scarce, reaching a point of near extinction. The
Federación Canofila Mexicana (Mexican Kennel Club) rescued this native breed
and has used the Xoloitzcuintle on its logo since 1940.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: Their origin dates far back in history. The
indigenous people fed on its highly desired meat in special ceremonies. The Xoloitzcuintli
in Nahuatl language or Xoloitzcuintle in Spanish, was regarded as a
representative of the god "Xolotl”, from which its name obviously originates.
Its task was to guide the souls of the dead to their eternal destination. The
hairless variety of the breed is also known by the name "perro pelón mexicano”
(Mexican Hairless Dog). The coated variety was known by the natives as
"izcuintle”.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Hairless variety: It is a very attractive dog; the most important characteristic is the
complete or almost complete lack of any hair, with a smooth and soft skin. It
has a well-proportioned body, chest is ample, ribs well sprung, limbs and tail
are long.
Coated variety: A
very attractive, completely coated dog with the same harmonious proportions as
the hairless variety. The coat can be of any colour, length and texture. Its
body is well-proportioned, chest is ample, ribs well sprung, limbs and tail are
long.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The
body, measured from the point of shoulder to the point of buttock and from the
highest point of the withers to the ground, is slightly longer than tall: approximately 10:9. Females may be slightly longer than males due
to their reproductive function. The skull and the muzzle are approximately of
equal length.
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: The
Xoloitzcuintle is a silent and calm
dog, cheerful, alert and intelligent, suspicious toward strangers, a good
watchdog and an excellent companion. It is never aggressive.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Lupoid type,
broad and strong, wedge-shaped. Seen from above it is wide and elegant;
tapering toward the muzzle with an occipital protuberance that is not
well-defined. The skull and muzzle planes are almost parallel.
Stop: Slight, but
well defined.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: The nose should
be dark in dark-coloured dogs. It can be brown or pink in bronze-coloured dogs,
pink or brown in blond specimens and spotted in spotted dogs.
Muzzle: Seen from the
side, the muzzle is straight and the upper and lower jaws are very strong.
Lips: Tight and close
fitting.
Jaws / Teeth: Hairless Xoloitzcuintle: Strong jaws. The incisors
should close perfectly in a scissor bite with the superior incisors
overlapping; the interior surface of the superior incisors touching the
external surface of the lower incisors, squaring the jaw. A level bite, edge to
edge, is also permitted. The absence of a few incisors, canines, molars,
pre-molars or rotated teeth should not be penalized, as many dogs do not have
deep roots. Genetically, the absence of hair is closely linked to the absence
of teeth.
Coated Xoloitzcuintle: Full dentition with scissor or pincer
bite is required.
The Xolo’s tongue is
generally pink but may have black markings, spots or stripes, which is a common
characteristic of the breed. The tongue is always inside the mouth.
Cheeks: Slightly
developed.
Eyes: Medium size,
almond-shaped, with an alert and very intelligent expression. The colour varies
according to the skin colour in black, brown, hazel, amber or yellow tones.
Darker colours are preferred and both eyes should match. The eyelids should be
well-pigmented black, brown or grey in dark-coloured dogs.
Light-coloured or pink
eyelids are permitted in light-coloured dogs although this is not the most
desirable colour.
Ears:
Hairless variety: The ears are long, large, expressive, very
elegant and of fine texture; they are reminiscent of "bat” ears. They should be
held erect when alert. In the alert position their axis should be 50 – 80
degrees from horizontal.
Coated variety: The ears are
long, large and elegant. They may be held erect or they may be down. Any position is acceptable. Both ears should be in the same position,
when alert.
NECK: Carried
high. Upper line slightly arched. Proportionately long. Slim, flexible,
well-muscled and very elegant. The skin on the neck is firm, elastic and
close-fitting, without dewlap. Puppies show folds which disappear with age.
BODY: Strongly
built.
Topline: Perfectly
straight and level.
Loin: Strong and
muscular.
Croup: Profile should
be slightly convex with an inclination of approximately 40 degrees to the
horizontal.
Chest: Seen in profile
it is long and deep, descending to the elbows.
The ribs are slightly sprung but never flat. Seen from the front the upper chest is of
good breadth. The point of the sternum
should not protrude.
Underline and belly: Graceful line.
Abdomen muscled and moderately tucked up.
TAIL: Long,
thin and may have some tufts of hair, tapering from the base to the tip in the
hairless Xoloitzcuintle, and completely covered with hair in the coated
Xoloitzcuintle. In movement, it is carried up in a curve, never touching the
back. When resting, it should hang with a slight hook at the end. Sometimes it
is placed between the legs due to cold temperatures, or, this can be considered
a sign of shyness. The tail should nearly reach the hock.
The tail set should be an
extension of the croup when the dog is at rest.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulder: Flat and
muscled with good scapula-humeral angulation which allows a long, free and
elegant stride.
Elbow: Strong. They
fit close to the chest, never turned outwards.
Forearm: Forelegs seen
from the front are straight and perpendicular to the ground.
Forefeet: Of
medium length (hare’s foot) with toes arched and close together, may have short
coarse hairs in the Hairless Xoloitzcuintle, and be covered with hair in the
Coated Xoloitzcuintle. Nails are black
in dark-coloured dogs, and lighter in bronze or blond dogs. The nails should be
trimmed. The foot pads are strong and very resistant to any terrain. The inter-digital
membranes are well-developed. Dewclaws should be removed on all four limbs
except in countries where it is illegal to remove them.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: The
hindquarters should be strong and well-muscled. Seen from behind they are perfectly
straight and parallel and never close. The angle of the pelvis to the upper
thigh joint, stifle and hock, are adequately open to permit both free and
strong movement of the legs.
Stifle (Knee): With a moderate bend.
Hock joint: Cow hocks are to be strongly penalized.
Hind feet: As forefeet.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: In accordance with its angulations, the dog
should move freely with a long, elegant, springy step; trot is quick and
flowing, head and tail carried high.
SKIN:
Hairless Variety: Due to the total absence of hair, the skin of
this breed is of great importance. It is smooth, sensitive to touch and feels
warmer because of direct heat emission due to the lack of hair; however its body temperature is the same as in other
dogs with hair.
The difference with haired
breeds, which disperse body heat through natural ventilation, is that the skin
requires more care from exposure to the sun and elements due to its lack of
natural protection. Accidental scars are not penalized. The dog tends to sweat
through its feet (foot pads and inter-digital membranes), which is why other
than in extreme heat it seldom pants. It
should be free of obvious skin problems.
Coated Variety: The skin of the coated Xoloitzcuintle is
smooth and should be completely covered with hair.
COAT
Hair:
Hairless variety: The characteristic of this breed is the total
lack of hair on the body (hairless or nude dog) although there are some short,
coarse thick hairs of any colour on the forehead and back of the neck that
should never be longer than 2.5 centimeters and should never form a long, soft
topknot. It is common to find rough hair
on the feet and on the end of the tail, however its absence should not be
penalized.
Coated Variety: This variety of the Xoloitzcuintle has hair
all over its body. It can be expected to have very little hair on its belly and
inside the rear legs. The hair may be of any length or texture, covering the
entire body.
Colour:
Hairless variety: Solid, uniform, dark colours are preferred.
The range includes black, blackish grey, slate grey, dark grey, reddish, liver,
bronze, and blond. There may also be spots of any colour, including white or
tri-coloured markings.
Coated Variety: It can have any colour or combination of
colours in different tones.
SIZE:
There are three sizes for males
as well as females.
Standard Variety: From 46 to 60 centimeters, tolerance of +2 cm in top quality dogs.
Intermediate Variety: From 36 to 45 centimeters.
Miniature Variety: From 25 to 35 centimeters.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points
should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
·
Very broad head.
·
Slack, loose or wrinkled skin in adult dogs.
·
Loose, slack or wrinkled skin on the neck in adult
dogs.
·
Excessive dewlap.
·
Light coloured, round or protruding eyes.
·
Sunken (lordosis) or arched (xifosis) back.
·
Steep croup.
·
Excessively cow hocked.
·
Tail tightly curled over the back.
·
Short tail.
·
Flat feet.
SEVERE FAULTS:
·
Long narrow body with short legs
DISQUALIFYING
FAULTS
·
Aggressive or overly shy.
·
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
·
Atypical
dogs.
·
Any Hairless or Coated Xoloitzcuintle with
prognathism or enognathism.
·
Dogs with a poor bite, denoted by poor positioning
of the jaws.
·
Protruding
tongue.
·
Blue eyes or flecks of blue in the eyes.
·
Cropped or droopy ears, in the Hairless
Xoloitzcuintle.
·
Docked tail.
·
Hair on any part of the hairless Xoloitzcuintle body
other than the head, ears, neck, feet and tail.
·
Any
Xoloitzcuintle coated dog.
·
Albinism, blindness or deafness.
·
Dogs taller than 62 centimeters or lower
than 25
centimeters.
N.B.: Males should have two testicles of normal
appearance fully descended into the scrotum.
The
latest amendments are in bold characters.
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