Mexico celebrates first National Xoloitzcuintle Day

The Mexican Senate hosted the presentation of the book ‘Guías del Alma al Mictlán’ to commemorate the first National Xoloitzcuintle Day on October 27, 2026. The event highlighted the hairless dog breed as a ‘living archaeological jewel’ and a vital part of Mexico’s biocultural heritage.

Author and breeder Mario Uribe Barrón detailed the breed's history, noting that early records in Mexican territory date back seven to nine thousand years. He explained that the breed's hairlessness likely resulted from an ectodermal dysplasia mutation in domesticated wolves that crossed the Bering Strait.

Senator Luisa Cortés García emphasized the importance of preserving the species, noting its historical role in Mesoamerican funerary practices and its continued presence in Mexican households despite declining numbers.