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The Xoloitzcuintli Price: Very Affordable

Photo of Three Xoloitzcuintli Standing Outdoors | Attentive Xoloitzcuintli Temperament

Imagine telling your mom you bought a Xoloitzcuintli. She’ll probably try to figure out what the heck you’re talking about for the next few hours.

Is that a car? A fancy bed? What the heck is a Xoloitzcuintli (pronounced “show-low-eetz-kweent-lee”) anyway?

If you love messing with people, and you love dogs, then you and the Xoloitzcuintli (a.k.a. “Xolo” or “Mexican Hairless”) are a match made in heaven.

So, how much will the price of a Xoloitzcuintli set you back for the sake of driving people crazy?

The good news is, not much.

The average Xoloitzcuintli price is only $600 to $800 – $150 to $450 if you decide to adopt or rescue.

But before you make a decision quite yet, let’s get to know the breed a little better first.

The Xoloitzcuintli, Up Close

While you may not have heard of the Xoloitzcuintli until recently, this breed goes back a-ways – 3,000 years, to be exact.

People prized the Xolos for what they believed were the breed’s healing abilities.

They trust that the warm skin of these little pups helps them with everything from insomnia to asthma, from toothaches to warding off evil spirits!

So, if this breed’s name wasn’t enough to draw you in, you may also feel attracted to the mystifying aspects of their history.

Xoloitzcuintli Temperament and Personality

Here are a few things you need to know about the Xolo personality before you dive in and buy one.

He Adores Structure

While the Xolo often feels guided by his primal instincts, he also craves structure.

Photo of Xoloitzcuintli on a Leash

He would much rather you tell him what to do than to try to instinctively figure it out for himself.

He Loves the Limelight

The Xolo aims to get as much attention as he can from every member of the family.

In fact, some Xolo owners believe their dogs are overly needy because if they don’t include them in every activity, the Xolo may sulk like a moody teenager.

However, he is definitely a one-person dog.

What’s great about the Xolo is he tends to give you just as much attention as he wants and expects you to return the favor.

Once he’s done giving you love, then he expects you to finish up, too.

He is Suspicious of Those He Doesn’t Know

When introducing the Xolo to a new friend, you have to give him time to allow that person to “grow” on him.

They take their time getting to know people and will come around in their own time.

However, they do not like when strangers touch them. They’ll let you know when they’re ready for touching, thank you very much!

Socialize your Xolo early to get ahead of this issue before it has the chance to get out of control.

He is Alert

Some Xolos are so alert that they can become high-strung.

The high-strung ones feel like if they don’t jump up at every little thing, they may miss it when the little thing is actually a big thing.

However, the ones who can keep it together make for excellent watchdogs who will let you know if they see or hear something out of the ordinary.

He Has Aggressive Tendencies

Note the use of the word “tendencies” and not “prone to.”

In other words, the Xolo can become aggressive toward other dogs or humans he doesn’t know if you don’t socialize him enough.

He is not aggressive by nature, but if he becomes overly timid or is not around other dogs much, he may act aggressive as a defense mechanism.

He Does Well with Other Pets and Older Children

Xolos do well with other pets – even cats! – if you raise them together.

They do, however, have a strong prey drive, so no hamsters or other small animals if you have a Xolo at home.

And if you have children, it’s better to get a Xolo if your children are older.

This is less about him and more about them. He can suffer an injury if younger children are not careful with him.

He Has a Sensitive Soul

The Xolo is a sensitive dog, so you can’t yell at him or use harsh training methods with him.

If you scare him, you teach him to distrust you – not the best idea when you’re the one training him.

Fun Fact: Some Xolos tremble, though this doesn’t necessarily mean he feels nervous – he may just feel cold!

Try a doggie sweater and see if that does the trick.

He’s Active Outside, and Calm Inside

The Xolo is an active breed who loves long walks and playing fetch in the backyard.

But once playtime is over, they have no problem calming down inside.

Like many other breeds, the Xolo has a ton of energy while still a puppy but calms down once he reaches adulthood.

Just make sure you have a tall, secure fence, or the Xolo will find any weakness in that thing and exploit it!

Xoloitzcuintli Size

The good thing about the Xolo is that the breed comes in three different sizes.

The largest this breed grows to is mid-size, but if you’re looking for a smaller dog – you can still get a Xolo!

The three sizes of Xolo include:

  1. Toy – Full-grown toy Xolos weigh between 10 and 15 lbs. and reach between 10 and 14 inches tall.
  2. Miniature – Full-grown miniature Xolos grow to between 15 and 30 lbs. and are 14 to 18 inches tall.
  3. Standard – Adult standard Xolos grow to between 30 and 55 lbs. and are between 18 and 23 inches tall.

This is great news because not all breeds have different sizes.

So, with the Xolo you can pick the dog that best fits your living situation!

Xoloitzcuintli Price – How Much Do Xoloitzcuintlis Cost?

As noted above, the Xoloitzcuintli price range falls between $600 and $800.

When you consider that a rescue usually costs around $450, then this is rather impressive as a purebred Xoloitzcuintli price.

Photo of an Alert Xoloitzcuintli Temperament

While rescuing a dog is a noble thing indeed, you can also choose to adopt from your local shelter.

The cost of adoption usually hovers around $150, so you save a lot more money there.

Demand

Interestingly, the Xoloitzcuintli is a rather rare breed here in the U.S., which makes his affordable price tag more impressive.

However, this may explain why you may not have heard of this breed until recently.

And it also means you may have some serious difficulty trying to find one of these dogs “in the wild” (at your local shelter).

For this reason, it may just be worth it for you to pay a little extra through a rescue to find one of these dogs in particular.

You can also go the breeder route if you so choose. It may be one of the only ways to secure one of these beauties.

Xoloitzcuintli Rescue and Adoption

You may not have the best luck finding a Xolo up for adoption, but you can always try.

Let your local shelter know you’re looking for a Xolo and tell them to call you when one comes in.

Though, considering the rarity of this breed, you may just want to opt for a rescue dog instead.

The Xoloitzcuintli Primitive Breed Rescue group can provide you with all the information you need to rescue one of their Xolos.

Checkout our Complete Guide to Breeders:

We wrote the definitive guide on finding, selecting, and dealing with dog breeders. This will give you the smarts and confidence to save you money, time and heartache. Read On…

Xoloitzcuintli Cost of Ownership

The Xoloitzcuintli dog price amounts to more than just what you pay to bring him home.

Don’t forget about his monthly food budget, as well as his medical care and possible grooming and training needs.

Photo of an Alert Xoloitzcuintli Temperament

Cost of Food

The cost of food for a Xoloitzcuintli depends largely on the kind of Xolo you buy.

For instance, a toy Xoloitzcuintli will eat much less food than a mid-size Xolo.

Either way, you should do well enough with a $30 bag each month.

Be sure to check with your vet on the best possible food to feed him.

Health Care Expenses

Good news for the Xolo is that he is a generally healthy dog.

The only real conditions this breed tends to suffer from include:

These conditions are generally pretty mild, though you may still need to acquire medications and/or supplements, and you’ll need to account for extra vet visits.

You also have to remember that if you have a hairless Xolo, you need to do your due diligence to protect him from both hot and cold weather.

Use sunscreen on him when you bring him out into the sunlight (check with your vet on which one).

In the winter, put a doggie sweater or coat on him to keep him warm.

Helpful Dog Health Resource:

Note: Our Health is #1 Priority. It should be no different for your dog. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely dog from vigor and life. Help your friend make it to 14 yrs+ without pain and suffering.

Training Programs

The Xolo is a quick learner, so you shouldn’t have too many problems training him on your own.

Just remember to never rely on harsher training methods, or you risk losing his trust for life.

Something you definitely should consider, though, is enrolling him in obedience classes – if nothing else, for the social aspect.

The more you bring him around other dogs and people, the better off he’ll be.

Helpful Dog Training Resource:

For help with training your dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.

Grooming Costs

The grooming needs of a Xoloitzcuintli vary, depending on whether you get a hairless dog or not.

Generally, the coated Xolo just needs occasional brushings and a bath when you start to smell him.

Coated Xolo puppies may suffer from adolescent acne and may need special care.

With the hairless Xolo, don’t use any product on his skin – not even shampoo – without checking with your vet first.

Some products may irritate your dog’s skin and dry it out. And, in some cases, all you may need is a damp cloth to wipe him down.

If you’re worried about grooming him, or if you have a hairless Xolo and this seems too high maintenance, research your local groomers to find a price within your budget.

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