The Mexican region may be the perfect fun place for powerful tequilas, nice beaches, and beautiful people.
However, unlike places like Germany, Spain, and Italy, there aren’t many dog breeds native to Mexico.
Findings show that of all the five known dog breeds from Mexico, there are only two registered under the American Kennel Club and other main kennel organizations.
In this article, we have compiled all 5 Mexican dog breeds, including some of the facts and information about them.
If you’re one of those that have been curious to know about North American dogs, then you may find this very helpful.
The Mexican Dog Breeds You Should Know
01. Chihuahua
Lifespan: 14–16 years
Weight: Not more than 6 pounds
Height: Up to 9 inches (male), 7 inches (female)
Coat Colors: Black, red, white and beige, beige, off white, white and black, chocolate, tan and chocolate brown, tan and pale, solid black and tan
Temperament: Sassy, bold, active, loyal, alert
This is one of the small Mexican dog breeds that comes in two coat variants — smooth or short hair Chihuahua and the long hair Chihuahua.
Their coat may require at least, once a week coat brushing.
They are cheerful and graceful breeds that can act quite proud and want to be noticed wherever they go.
Their size makes them adaptable to apartment living, in which they are well suited to live.
Your Chihuahua breed is not one to be open to strangers on the first meeting. Their wariness makes them suitable as watchdogs.
They are highly intelligent dogs that may require early training, else they wouldn’t mind dominating the home with their sassy attitude.
02. Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog)
Lifespan: 13–18 years
Weight: 30–55 pounds (standard), 15–30 pounds (miniature), 10–15 pounds (toy)
Height: 18–23 inches (standard), 14–18 inches (miniature), 10–14 inches (toy)
Coat Colors: Dark brown, beige, brindle, silver and white, grey, liver, red, slate
Temperament: Gentle, defensive, lively, playful, vigilant, smart, hostile
The Xoloitzcuintli dog breed (also Xolo or Mexican Hairless Dog) is an overly affectionate pup with a friendly, yet watchful personality.
They come in three varieties (standard, miniature, and toy) with similar traits.
The breed also exists as either hairless or coated. The hairless variant has strong tight skin and the coated possess a short coat which may aid in easy grooming.
These dogs are intelligent with a high need for mental stimulation.
The breed is also a high-energy dog that may require enough exercise to match its energy level.
Xolos are vocal and always act enthusiastic about training, making it less of a difficult task for their owners.
They are a bit social with kids and other dogs and would need to be socialized early to make them better.
03. Chinese Crested Dog
Lifespan: 13–18 years
Weight: 8–12 pounds
Height: 9–13 inches (male), 9–11 inches (female)
Coat Colors: Black, white off white, chocolate, chocolate and pink, gray and pink, gray, white with jet and tan
Temperament: Intelligent, lively, cheerful
Although the breed’s name indicates that it is from the Chinese region, its origin has been linked to Mexico and the southern American region.
Traces of this breed was found in Mexico and Southern America in the 1500s.
They exist in three distinct variants, one of which can be hairy, the other hairless, and the third combines both features in selected areas.
The hairless gene variation in this dog is similar to that of the Xoloitzcuintli. This has led to speculations that both breeds share the same Mexican origin.
The Chinese Crested Dog is cheerful, affectionate, enjoys the company of their human family including kids, and can also blend well with strangers that get close.
With their usual hairless feature, you may not have to worry about frequent brushing of their coats during grooming.
Their relatively eager-to-please attitude makes them easy to train and can adapt to various living conditions.
04. Mexican Pitbull
Lifespan: 13–15 years
Weight: 25–40 pounds
Height: Up to 14 inches
Coat Colors: Jet black, brown, white
Temperament: Loving, cheerful, aggressive, intelligent
Mexican Pitbull, also known as Chamuco, was bred traditionally for underground dogfighting, which even makes them unpopular as household dogs.
However, these dogs are affectionate to their family, and they enjoy the company of kids a lot.
This is solely a result of their matching energy when it comes to being playful.
You may need to always monitor such interaction as they display aggressive tendencies toward other dogs. They require early socialization to get along well with others.
The breed’s development commenced in the late 19s. Their breeding is presumed to either be intentional or not.
The Chamuco is one of those dogs that look like Pitbulls. They are a result of the crossing of the American Bulldogs, Pitbull, and Staffordshire Terriers.
Mexican Pits are very rare and are currently facing extinction.
The Mexican name “Chamuco” was given to them as a representation of their strength and vigor.
05. Calupoh (Mexican Wolfdog)
Lifespan: 12–18 years
Weight: 50–90 pounds
Height: 24–30 inches (male), 23–28 inches (female)
Coat Colors: Black, silver, white and black
Temperament: Active, stable, trainable, devoted, enthusiastic
The Calupoh, also known as the Mexican Wolfdog is one of the rarest Mexican dog breeds on this list.
Just like wolves, they can get along well with other dogs of their kind. This breed enjoys working and most people use them as guard dogs, sheepdogs, and cattle dogs.
The physical wolfish appearance justifies the breeding process of the Calupoh as they are known to be the result of crossing a wolf and a variety of dogs. This was done around the 1900s.
The Mexican Wolfdog is loyal with a stable personality and an even temper.
Nonetheless, the Calupoh dog breed may require early socialization and training to be less aggressive towards strangers.
The good news is that their willingness to do the bidding of their owners makes them easy to train.
A Note on Mexican Dogs
Mexican dogs make some of the best pets and they contribute to the happiness in thousands of homes today.
Aside from the more popular breeds like the Chihuahua, Xolo, and the Chinese Crested Dog, most of these breeds that are stuck in Mexico are currently facing threats.
According to a research report, the population of dogs in Mexico is estimated at around 23 million, with about 70% roaming the streets.
Some of these dogs are inhumanely captured and killed on a daily basis. The harsh living conditions of these dogs have made them develop aggression towards humans.
These are undesirable traits, which were not originally part of the genetic makeup of these breeds.
Final Thoughts
These five dog breeds from Mexico are capable of bringing happiness to any family. Hopefully, with this list, you can find the one that best suits your lifestyle.
It is necessary to note that some of these breeds may not be as popular as the others, hence you may need to be careful about obtaining them.
To get a genuine purebred dog, it is advised that you source from a reputable breeder, else, you might end up with a poorly bred mixed breed version.
Also, early training and socialization are necessary to either enhance or curb a dog’s tendency to exhibit certain undesirable traits.
Treat your pooch right in terms of grooming and feeding and you’ll be happy you did.
