Hairless dog makes new home
A Taupo¯ family has brushed off society’s norms and opted for what might be the country’s first hairless dog.
Mojito, who is only 12 weeks old, is a Xoloitzcuintle and he landed in Taupo¯ on Tuesday night from Brisbane. Since then he has become comfortable in his new surroundings - even diving head first into a pond in his new backyard.
Gay Silby said the Mojito was given to her daughter, Terri Hunt, from the Xoloitzcuintle breeder in Australia who had travelled to Mexico to buy Moijito’s parents.
‘‘[The breeder] had said she would give one to Terri for years and 12 weeks ago we were told some were born and one was for my daughter,’’ Silby said. ‘‘Terri worked on me ever since to say yes.’’ And Silby is glad she did. Pronounced ‘show-low-its-queen-tlee’, the breed is 4500 years old. They are good hunters and trackers with a very loyal heart for their families.
By the 1950s the Xolo was practically extinct but determination saw the breed prosper once again.
The Xolo comes in three sizes and two varieties. There are standard, intermediate and miniature sizes and coated and hairless varieties.
Mojito is a miniature and Silby said he is already showing his loyal side.
‘‘He’s just delightful. He’s so loyal already. He follows us around everywhere we go. He likes to be near us,’’ she said.
While he will be a family pet, Mojito will also be a helping hand for Silby.
‘‘My hearing is going so I need him to tell me someone is at the door,’’ she said. ‘‘He will become a service dog.’’
While Silby loves her new little friend she said she does dream of having a standard Xolo, which is the biggest size of the breed.
‘‘My sister has an intermediate one and I just loved her one but I fell in love with the standard ones,’’ she said.
‘‘If I was 20 years younger I would have got one.’’
Silby is also a breeder of Sphynx cats so Mojito is fitting right in at home with his hairless friends.