Patty has been breeding and showing Xolos for nearly thirty years.
My name is Patricia Leibold Hoover, and I much prefer to be called Patty.
My childhood home was in Forks, Washington. I purchased my first Xolo in 1989. Since then, I have worked with the Xolos constantly, learning from and about these wonderful creatures. All of my breeding stock has been from Mexico and I am thankful to the Xolo breeders there for trusting me with their bloodlines. I have traveled to Mexico more that 30 times to show my Xolos in the conformation ring there and to seek additional breeding stock, and in the past few years to share breeding stock with the breeders in Mexico.
At my kennel, which I designed to accomodate the needs of the Xolos, we work very hard to bring out the best in each pup as it grows and matures. Our puppies are all treated with the same love, affection and care and each is evaluated as they learn and grow.
Over the years I have been most fortunate to have excellent handlers and, I am proud to say, they have championed my Xolos in many countries. Xolos owned by me have earned more than 165 championships in the countries of the World and in the rare breed clubs of the USA.
I am very proud of the people who own Xolos from me. They have achieved championships and honors in many countries. Xolos born at Besito Xolo Kennel have earned more than two dozen World Championships, and many Best In Show wins in FCI countries. Many Xolos that have gone to families as pets have become “Champions of Hearts” and much loved companions.
Looking back, I can honestly say that I expected none of this when I bought that first Xolo nearly twenty six years ago. As the years roll by the work with the breed continues and we must do the best we can to bring the Xoloitzcuintle breed to its greatest potential. In the past few years there have been some very exciting things happening in the Xolo breed. Xolos have excelled in the all-breed conformation ring, and now also in the agility ring. To achieve in these areas, a dog must be strong and sturdy and of excellent temperment.
Xolo breeders must continue to work hard to bring out the very best qualities in the purebred Xoloitzcuintle. The owners and handlers of Xolos must also work very hard to train their Xolos so that they will be the best that they can be, whether it be competition or as a companion. The Xolo is a very smart and primitive breed and requires consistency and training to realize its best potential.
Communication, cooperation and mutual respect among breeders are vital to our work with the Xolo Breed. I invite all who love the breed to come to the Xolo discussion list at Yahoogroups.com and share ideas and information about our breed. We will not always agree on topics but the positive exchange of ideas and information will help us all move ahead in our work, and hopefully gain a better understanding of each other.
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I wish to state that for all of my years of breeding Xolos I have used the FCI Breed Standard no. 234 for the Xoloitzcuintle. Although the American Kennel Club is now moving to recognize the Xolo and has presented a standard, I will continue to follow the FCI breed standard for my work with the Xoloitzcuintle. I am far more comfortable with the standard of our mother country, Mexico, and also with the terms it uses for the three sizes, miniature, intermediate and standard. If you contact me for a xolo please use this terminology. I feel strongly that the term ‘toy’ is inappropriate for the smallest size of the breed because the smallest xolos at this time that can be shown are considerably larger than the other dogs in the ‘toy’ class. It is possible that eventually the Xolo breed will have a size that can appropriately be called ‘toy.’
When I first began breeding the FCI breed standard for our Xolos included only two sizes, and the original first breed standard that was written mentioned only one size. As the breed changes and grows so must the way we classify them change.
BesitoXolo Kennel 