Hello everybody My name is Irene and I am new at the forum. I need some advise! This is my story. I love dogs, always have (and luckily my husbands feels the same way!). Until recently we had the best teckel you can imagine. But I had to give him away six months ago because I have developed a serious allergy. He's fine in his new home but of course it broke my heart
Someone told us about hairless breeds, specially the mexican xoloitzcuintle, which, it seems, is completely hairless. That would be good for my allergy, although doctors say that even if the dog is hairless I must not allow him to enter the house. Winters in central Spain are quite cold, often below zero, and I wonder how can I keep a xolo. Will a nice dog house filled with blankets be enough? What about dog coats? Oh dear, I wouldn' like to wake up one morning and find a frozen xolo! Have any of you had one of these dogs? Thanks for any advise!
Irene

Originally Posted by IreneSeco

Hello everybody My name is Irene and I am new at the forum. I need some advise! This is my story. I love dogs, always have (and luckily my husbands feels the same way!). Until recently we had the best teckel you can imagine. But I had to give him away six months ago because I have developed a serious allergy. He's fine in his new home but of course it broke my heart
Someone told us about hairless breeds, specially the mexican xoloitzcuintle, which, it seems, is completely hairless. That would be good for my allergy, although doctors say that even if the dog is hairless I must not allow him to enter the house. Winters in central Spain are quite cold, often below zero, and I wonder how can I keep a xolo. Will a nice dog house filled with blankets be enough? What about dog coats? Oh dear, I wouldn' like to wake up one morning and find a frozen xolo! Have any of you had one of these dogs? Thanks for any advise!
Irene

I have Chinese Cresteds and Xolos, I am deeply involved in rescue of both breeds. Absolutely and unequivocally NO WAY can a Xolo or any hairless breed be left out in extreme climates (and as far as I'm concerned, no dog should be - coated or not). Just because certain breeds are hairless DOES NOT mean you would not be allergic. Yes, Xolos, Chinese Cresteds, etc. do not produce the dander that other breeds do, but if you have saliva allergies you can still be allergic. The only way to know positively is to find someone with a Xolo and visit the dog (if it lives with other coated dogs or cats, the dog must be bathed immediately prior to your visit) or ask someone who has the breed to mail to you a blanket, jammies, etc. that a dog has worn.

In addition to the climate and allergy issues, Xolos are extremely intelligent, very head strong and bullish, and absolutely require that they be a part of your family. No Xolo, Chinese Crested, Peruvian Inca Orchid, Khala, etc. would be a happy, well adjusted dog if forced to live away from it's humans. In fact, it is almost certain the dog would become destructive, have a high prey drive, and aggressive out of frustration.

Unless you can have a hairless dog and keep it in the home with you, none of these dogs (whether they are the coated version or hairless version) would do well in the situation you are describing.

Just a comment on this thread. I am in southern California and a couple of nights, it was really chilly out here. I live in the high dessert area. Anyway, my downstairs neighbor had her Shih Tzu, which should be an indoor dog anyway, locked out on her patio and it was freezy. The dark was whimpering and barking for at least three hours. I finally had to call our condo security patrol on her. They instructed her to bring it in.

But, really, why would someone just leave an indoor dog out on the patio to suffer? She would have been cold out there sleeping even with a jacket, so why did she leave that poor dog out there? I know she could hear his barking and whimpering, everyone in the building could.

Originally Posted by wouldbedogowner

Just a comment on this thread. I am in southern California and a couple of nights, it was really chilly out here. I live in the high dessert area. Anyway, my downstairs neighbor had her Shih Tzu, which should be an indoor dog anyway, locked out on her patio and it was freezy. The dark was whimpering and barking for at least three hours. I finally had to call our condo security patrol on her. They instructed her to bring it in.

But, really, why would someone just leave an indoor dog out on the patio to suffer? She would have been cold out there sleeping even with a jacket, so why did she leave that poor dog out there? I know she could hear his barking and whimpering, everyone in the building could.

Wish I had an answer for you....I personally don't believe there is any such thing as an outside dog regardless of how dense the coat. Are there dogs that can do well in extreme cold, absolutely...but I still don't believe they should have to live outdoors 24/7. Dogs are pack animals and we are their pack.

Hi everyone. Thanks for your answers. Yes, it is to dandruff I am allergic, not to saliva -they tested four times, my arms were sort of a mountain range after the fourth try..! The problem with our teckel was he had SO much hair that the whole house was filled in, no matter how often I hoovered. Actually I don't usually get a reaction if I touch my friend's dogs, but when we go to visit our teckel (we pay a visit every now and then to the new owners) it is just awful. That is why I thought a xolo would be fine for me. And yes, I absolutely agree, I do not think sleeping outdoors suits any dog, and least of all a hairless one! But that was what doctors said, so I had to check. I personally think that if he sleeps as far as possible from our bedroom and I wash his bedding very often I will have no problems (I hope!!).
Another thing that worries me is that in a near future we are going to spend less time at home during the week. Should I get two xolos so that they can keep company in the mornings? Our teckel was happy on his own, but then I could spent a lot of time with him. Do xolos feel lonely easily?
Thanks a lot
Irene

Originally Posted by CrestieRsq

Wish I had an answer for you....I personally don't believe there is any such thing as an outside dog regardless of how dense the coat. Are there dogs that can do well in extreme cold, absolutely...but I still don't believe they should have to live outdoors 24/7. Dogs are pack animals and we are their pack.

Gotta disagree, somewhat. My brother has a Great Pyrenese. She's miserable in the house, and paces at the door until she's let out. Outside, she patrols the perimeter of their property (he has 5 acres, totally fenced), and sleeps on the porch, guarding the door. But she doesn't want inside, even though he has other dogs in the house, and will only come in under duress.

Many livestock guardian breeds are the same way. They were bred to do a job, and they aren't happy unless they can do it. If they feel their job is to patrol the property and guard the door, that's what they want to do. They don't want to come in and lay by your feet.

We also had a Malamute that preferred to be outside. She enjoyed our company when we went out to play with her, she'd come in for a visit now and then, but she really didn't want to stay in the house.

thats interesting.. i have an allergy too.. but i still manage to have a furry dog... maybe i just get used to it...

[lil mutt]

you can try using some heating bed for to warm his dog house during winter or you can let him stay inside the garage or somewhere in your home...