What are Xolos really like? What kind of temperament do they have? Here are
some observations from Xolo owners.
Necu and Chincle el Dink
Here's one person's experience.
I have two Xolo's, small standards, one male who joined us a month ago and
one female who adopted us a year and a half ago. They are both three years
old. My Xolo's are very loving, affectionate and protective of the whole
family (me, wife, two teens), but each has a special attachment to one family
member. They play favorites just a tiny bit. They are very smart and are eager to
please us larger, bipedal dawgs. My wife and daughter taught Necu to sit,
shake hands, lay down, dance on her hind legs and speak, all on command.
In the space of two hours. My new guy, Chincle el Dink, learned to sit and
shake hands in the space of about two weeks, on his own, while he was acclimating
himself to his new household (ours) - he watched Necu do it on command and
be rewarded with a treat, and so he does it now as well.
They are also playful - they love to romp around with each other and/or any
human that is willing. When it comes to relaxation time, they love to snuggle
with their favorite person. Generally speaking, they are not velcro dogs
- if someone is available for snuggling, that's great. If everyone is busy
doing something, they are content to watch us go about our business. They
don't care to be alone if they don't have to, and are very happy to just
be in the same room with any one of us. Sometimes Dink will laze on the sofa
right next to my computer with his chin on the keyboard tray for hours while
I email and surf the net.
They are wary of strangers. Neither timid nor aggressive, they just keep
an eye on a new person for awhile with a kind of 'reserving judgment for
later' attitude. They may warm up to a new person quickly, during the course
of the person's first visit for example, or it may take a second or third
encounter before my guys decide that a particular person is worth trusting.
Again, there's no overt aggression - just a quiet watchfulness.
Although they have that wariness of strangers, they also behave as if they
are happy to meet up with anyone on their travels, especially when out of
the house on walks. There is always a tail wag, with ears back for anyone
that comes within their view; if ignored, my girl Necu will stand on her
hind legs and track the person with her eyes and her body, swiveling as the
person walks up to us, past us, and away. It seems that she feels that standing
up might make her more noticeable.
I can't say how they are around kids in general, because my two babies are
both nearly adults. We do live, however, about a half mile from a primary
grade school and our walks often take us by the school when classes are letting
out. Both of my Xolos really eat up the attention that they get from the
groups of kids who are fascinated by the naked dogs (one little one thought
that they were miniature horses from a distance).
These are the most perfectly behaved dogs that I have ever owned - we all
click together.
I hope that my experiences with them help you with your overall mental picture
of them.
my xolos are a lot alike. they love being
in the same room with me - they used to want to be either on the couch or
chair with me or in my lap - until i got them a pet nest from jeffers pet
supply. now they love their "nest". but if i move from one room to the other
(yes, even the bathroom) they usually come with me. in fact, i'm in the bedroom
at the computer and they're asleep in their bed (you know, the king size
one that they let me lie on at night....) i even hear snoring. i teach piano
lessons and have different children in several days a week for 1/2 hour at
the time. when j and i lived together, kojak wouldn't even come into the
den where the piano was if there was a piano student. now, the piano is in
my living room, and he stays and listens. he barks a few times when the newer
students come in, but then gets in the chair with me (or his nest) and enjoys
(if the kid has practiced) the music. i wouldn't say either of them is especially
agile, but they both seem quite smart. they aren't wild about dogs who run
around our neighborhood, especially the males who come to our house and pee
in our yard. and if they think someone or something is going to hurt me,
watch out! they'll growl and bark and have little hissies! and of course,
they're beautiful. good luck - i think they're the best babies ever!
Just had to give you one more comment on Xolo's. I do think each dog is an
individual. I grew up with an Xolo (then referred to as a Mexican Hairless)
as our family pet...."Poncho" .... and 20 years after his decease, now have
"Pelo". The comparison of the two is a lot day vs. night....but it is just
the way they expressed themselves. Common characteristic are being devoted
to their "people family".....Poncho was around small children, so he had
more opportunities to show his protectiveness.... Pelo only shows his protective
side when he thinks his adult human family needs his help (which is a lot
due to his intuitiveness to when I'm stressed). Poncho liked to be in same
room with you, and sleep"under the covers" at the foot of the bed, where
as Pelo is much more a "touchy" dog, he likes to have body contact , gives
me "hugs" when I come home from work, sits right next to me at every opportunity,
and sleeps under the covers, but with his head on his pillow between my husband
and me touching us both. In general Poncho's temperament was more abrasive
toward strangers, he was a very confident dog. Pelo is much mellower to
strangers, he gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, he is definitely a
lover not a fighter. (However if Pelo doesn't care for someone I pay particular
attention... like Poncho, he is a great judge of character.).
Poncho was treated more like a dog, where as I am accused of treating Pelo
like a little boy. (Both my girls are away at college, so he is my empty
nest syndrome child). I have 3 siblings, and my mom is the source of all
of us being big pet lovers. Growing up we had a variety of pets...donkeys,
rabbits,cats,etc, but I can guarantee if you asked any of them who was our
special pet of our childhood, it would be Poncho. I am a founding board member
of our local Humane Assoc. since 1975. I have "known" a lot of dog breeds.
We have had numerous "special pets" share our home, and be precious companions
to me, my husband, and my girls. However I could type all night and still
probably not be able to express how or why I feel about after a 20 year absence
of a Xolo in my life, now being blessed with Pelo. Though "not Poncho" (commonly
heard from my brother and sisters)he is loved by all of them.
If I could only have one breed or type of pet for the rest of my life, it
would have to be the one and only, indescribable Xolo. There is nothing quite
like being "owned" by an Xolo!!
Each person is going to tell you something a little different based on their
own experiences with their dogs. When I first got Nubie he was the psycho
dog or devil dog from hell. He was rescued from a Miami pound and I have
no idea what his history was or what he experienced. I don't think his
temperament is the norm for xolos. I suspect some neuro involvement but he
has calmed down significantly over the past few years. Maybe just due to
getting older. He is a very dominant alpha and we have had our battles of
wills as to who is in charge. Finally he has seen the light and let me be
in charge.
As a whole I think, xolos are extremely intelligent. They keep us on our
toes constantly. They love nothing better than to sit in your lap or next
to you (under covers of course!!) When I settle down at night to watch tv,
they sit next to me under covers and rarely stir unless they hear outside
noises or the snap crackle pop of food!!
I keep my trash cans on counters because they are in them non-stop - paper
puppies I call them. Mine are friendly to kids, strangers, family. Nubie
for some reason reacts negatively to large black dogs. Usually he is nice
to other dogs, but when he sees a large black dog, he will growl and snarl,
sometimes show teeth - so I'm not sure what's going on there.
These guys can be funny to watch with their antics like most dogs. Nubie
is a zoomer. He goes flying through the house at breakneck speed and often
sails through the air over sofas, whatever. He even clocked me once right
in the head while he was in mid-flight. (That one really hurt!)
Both of my guys are very healthy. I haven't had any problems with their health.
They're a hardy breed.
This has been my experience with my guys... never a dull moment with them.
This is only my opinion but I would answer yes to all - each of these dogs
seem to be there own individual, but the one thing I will say is that once
you have been owned by a Xolo, nothing will compare to it. It has been the
highlight of my entire life - each day I look into those eyes, and feel the
warmth of their skin and I know I am the luckiest person in the whole wide
world. A Xolo is definitely the best mate in the world. I have a female &
male and the two are worlds apart, but still I love them both the same and
if I could I would have lots more!! We have a 9 year old son who has never
been as happy as he is since I brought the Xolo's into our lives!!!!!
Ok, Ok, I know - but this is so much how I feel!!!!!!!! And remember I am
a farm girl, so I have had about every type of pet you can imagine - but
a Xolo well it is more that a pet, it is yes a mate. (Even my husband admits
these dogs are special - and he says he doesn't like animals, but yet when
I come home after shopping, working, etc - there they all are, snuggled up
on the couch, watching TV!!)
Necu and Chincle el Dink
oth three years
old. My Xolo's are very loving, affectionate and protective of the whole
family (me, wife, two teens), but each has a special attachment to one family
member. They play favorites just a tiny bit. They are very smart and are eager to
please us larger, bipedal dawgs. My wife and daughter taught Necu to sit,
shake hands, lay down, dance on her hind legs and speak, all on command.
In the space of two hours. My new guy, Chincle el Dink, learned to sit and
shake hands in the space of about two weeks, on his own, while he was acclimating
himself to his new household (ours) - he watched Necu do it on command and
be rewarded with a treat, and so he does it now as well.
(yes, even the bathroom) they usually come with me. in fact, i'm in the bedroom
at the computer and they're asleep in their bed (you know, the king size
one that they let me lie on at night....) i even hear snoring. i teach piano
lessons and have different children in several days a week for 1/2 hour at
the time. when j and i lived together, kojak wouldn't even come into the
den where the piano was if there was a piano student. now, the piano is in
my living room, and he stays and listens. he barks a few times when the newer
students come in, but then gets in the chair with me (or his nest) and enjoys
(if the kid has practiced) the music. i wouldn't say either of them is especially
agile, but they both seem quite smart. they aren't wild about dogs who run
around our neighborhood, especially the males who come to our house and pee
in our yard. and if they think someone or something is going to hurt me,
watch out! they'll growl and bark and have little hissies! and of course,
they're beautiful. good luck - i think they're the best babies ever!