Category: Research and Inspiration

Articles, Artwork, and new discoveries in the field of Dog Breeding

XOLO FAQ…

…Questions from a new xolo owner:
“My son takes her out potty every time he his over and talks to her and spends time with her but yesterday she started growling when she heard the door then barking and growling at him even though she knows who he is. She did the same with my daughter and she also tries to spend time with her when she is here.”

Some of this is testing to see what she can get away with, and its part of finding her place in the pack order of the family. When she does inappropriate behaviors like this, give her a stern correction. A sharp NO and shake your finger at her. She is trying to see where she settles in the pack order and this is alpha behavior. DO NOT TOLERATE IT. If need be, put her little booty in her crate and give her time out.

“She had no problem sniffing other dogs just not the other way around. She could visit with them through a fence just fine.”

Try to arrange a few one on one meetings for her to be with other dogs that seem non-threatening. Maybe sit next to the other owner and have your dogs on your laps. If she can relax with the other dog, try wiping a little butter on her shoulder and let the other dog lick it off. This is a great ice breaker for hairless dogs. How can you not like someone who wants to lick you off?

“I have made contact with two obedience class trainers. One class meets with a group of ten dogs and class doesn’t start again until January. The other will meet with us at home for training. The trainer say’s she is loud and uses prong collars?”

Please either skip the second trainer who is loud and uses prong collars or try to observe her in her work and decide if she is treating the dogs fairly. I believe in strong corrections when it is needed but not routine shouting and abuse. A choke collar and a stern voice should be adequate to correct a small dog like Izcuica. It is a very rare Xolo that requires the use of a prong collar. Keep checking around, there must be some classes that you have not discovered yet.

XOLO FAQ…

…This is a very unusual question and very worth sharing. A lady has a 5 month old standard female hairless xolo. She has worked hard establishing a relationship with her Xolo that keeps her in the alpha position in the pack. Now that she has an excellent rapport with the Xolo, she is observing the Xolo’s behavior with others and trying to understand the reasons for certain things. She wrote: “Quick question-when she is playing and cuddling with my 24 year old son (who is one of her favorite people in the universe) she groan-growls and wrinkles her nose with teeth born- sometimes chews his ear- it seems affectionate- but a little confusing- thoughts? I think her tail is down and ears are back, but I will check-”
My response:
…the behavior that you described is that of a pack sibling (which she considers your son to be) telling another sibling that they are alpha to them. She must be absolutely discouraged from doing that. Teach her to jump up on the couch with a treat reward and to jump down from the couch with a treat reward. As soon as she has learned that well, he should immediately use the down command when she does that to him, and he should stand and walk away from her.
Patty.

A poem by Carol Morales…

…to her Xolo, Tamazula………….

My Tamazula
By God’s provision and my dear friend’s kindness,
you have come to my house,
the place where my parents raised me,
the place where I have spent
nearly three decades of my life.
Can you imagine what that means to me?
You are from the country where,
though my roots are not planted,
my branches reach out
–my Mexico!
–though neither of us have spent many days there.
There you have never ventured, that I know of,
and I, only three times.
Is it because your line is ancient?
How I love your breed’s long history,
–full of wisdom that experience bestows.
…or your knowing:
when my Flor, your cousin, went home…
and how I grieved!
…you grieved with me,
and told me so, with your long, low moan,
as you sank your head into my chest!
Do you know what that meant to me?
God, I love you!
And you came to me at nine and a half years, most of your life spent
–and well spent it was!
You are Mama three times! How I love you for that, my Tamazula!
Your splendid line will go on!
Such a future will come!
You are with me.