Mexican Hairless vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison

Mexican Hairless vs Bergamasco - Breed ComparisonMexican Hairless is originated from Mexico but Bergamasco is originated from Italy. Both Mexican Hairless and Bergamasco are having almost same height. Mexican Hairless may weigh 16 kg / 35 pounds lesser than Bergamasco. Mexican Hairless may live 5 years more than Bergamasco. Mexican Hairless may have less litter size than Bergamasco. Mexican Hairless requires Low maintenance. But Bergamasco requires Moderate maintenance

History

mexican hairless - historyWho can believe that the origin of these dogs which hail from Mexico, goes back more than 3,500 years?

Known as the Xoloitzcuintli dog or Xolo for short, they comes in different sizes – toy-, miniature and standard which means there are different sizes. Both coated- and hairless dogs can be found in the same litter.

There was a time when the dog nearly became extinct buts its numbers have recovered. This is no doubt because there was a time when the natives ate the dog’s flesh.

bergamasco - historyThe Bergamasco comes from northern Italy. This medium sized sheepdog is of ancient origin. Known as an Italian sheep herding breed, his name actually comes from the town where he comes from - Bergamo.

It was after World War II that there was danger that this breed would disappear as the need for herding and shepherding was diminishing. An Italian breeder, however, Dr. Maria Andreoli, stepped in to save the breed.

It was in 2015 that the American Kennel Club also changed the breed’s status from Miscellaneous to the Herding Group.

Basic Information

Group:
Non sporting dog
Herding dogs
Origin:
Mexico
Italy
Height Male:
35 - 58 cm
13 - 23 inches
58 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Height Female:
35 - 58 cm
13 - 23 inches
54 - 58 cm
21 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 22 kg
35 - 49 pounds
32 - 38 kg
70 - 84 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 22 kg
35 - 49 pounds
26 - 38 kg
57 - 84 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 20 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 5
6 - 10
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Xolo, Mexico Xolo
Bergamasco Shepherd Dog, Cane da pastore Bergamasco
Colors Available:
bronze or tan, Shades of Grey
Grey, sometimes black
Coat:
Hairless
Coarse, long shaggy dreadlocks
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

mexican hairless puppy - descriptionThe Mexican Hairless is truly an ancient dog breed of the Americans. He stands at 35 – 58cm if he is the standard variety whereas the miniature will stand at up to 35cm. Weight can vary too, but with the standard variety, you're talking about 16 to 22kg.

It has faced times of nearly being extinct but it’s numbers have recovered, and the dog is often sought after for those who suffer with dog-hair allergies. You could say that this dog’s most notable characteristic is its lack of hair and the soft skin.

Some of them have small tufts of hair on the hair, mostly around the top of the head. The skin can be various shades of gray to bronze and a yellowish color too. His body is slightly longer than its height and he is slim and well muscled. The tail is long and thin and is sometimes carried high. You can expect 2 – 5 puppies from these dogs.

Temperament:

Anyone acquiring a Xolo will discover that this is an intelligent dog breed and that just like with other dogs, you’ll be able to have him trained and socialized easily. Then he is obedient and a pleasure to have around.

He is active too and will require games with balls and ropes as well as a daily walk. The Xoloitzcuintli is noted for its calm demeanor. The puppies are a lot noisier than the adults and very energetic and this continues till they are about 2 years of age when they are considered to be adult.

Well raised Xolos form strong bonds with their human family, becoming loyal and devoted.

A Rastafarian Look

bergamasco puppy - descriptionThis medium sized sheepdog stands 54 – 62cm in height and weighs up to 38 kg as an adult. It is his coat which draws the most attention. It is of a coarse texture and actually greasy to the touch. It actually forms into strands or almost like dreadlocks from the top of the body, so that people agree he is one of shaggiest dog breeds there are.

From age 1 on the coat starts to become woolly, and then the flocks start to form. As these clumps of hair appear, it will become necessary to separate them into smaller cords by hand to ensure attractive formation Brushing isn’t necessary but a big toothed comb can keep their hair ‘groomed’.

The colour of the coat is solid grey with patches of shades of grey and sometimes black. His dense, heavy coat makes it that he is suited to cooler climates. Because he is a herding dog, he wouldn’t do well in an apartment but would suit a home with a large garden.

Intelligent and Playful

He is intelligent and social but will need firm handling as he is a boisterous dog. He has a muscular yet compact body with a large head, long tail, high-set semi-drooping ears and large, gentle looking brown eyes. Although not instinctively aggressive, he makes an excellent watch dog with strong protective instincts to protect his human family.

He views new people into his circle with suspicion and wariness. He is good with kids and pets in the home and is playful and energetic.

Characteristics

mexican hairless dog - characteristicsThe Xolo is one of those dogs who don’t get ill easily. He is also intelligent and fairly easy to train. Add to that the fact that he is also a low maintenance dog as he doesn’t have a coat that needs brushing and grooming.

Give your Xolo lots of attention because in exchange for the good care you give him, you’re going to get a loyal, devoted pet who loves to be with you constantly.

bergamasco dog - characteristicsThis is a working dog so they are naturally alert. He is also intelligent and independent and this independence is seen with training as he doesn’t take easily to following instructions, becoming stubborn. You’ll certainly want to have your Bergamasco socialized and trained as he can be a boisterous dog, bounding with energy.

This is a dog that will need to be kept busy and provided with plenty of activities so that he remains happy, playful and relaxed.

Lively and intelligent, these dogs also form strong bonds with their owners and get on well with the children in the home. He will take well to country life as opposed to living in the city.

Health Problems

mexican hairless puppies - health problemsThe Xoloitzcuintli is a hardy dog in terms of health and can live to a ripe old age in dog years – some have been known to reach 18, 19 and 20 years of age. Without a coat, this dog is susceptible to sunburn so care must be taken when outdoors.

Hairless dogs tend to battle with skin problems such as pimples. Skin allergies can cause itching and scratching and these can lead to bacterial infections. It is interesting to note that the genes that bring about hairlessness also produce troublesome teeth, so that dental disease is quite rife with these dogs.

bergamasco puppies - health problemsYour Bergamasco can live to be 13 to 15 years of age and he is considered to be a healthy breed. Nonetheless you want to be aware of health issues that are common to this breed

he is vulnerable to heat. He can die of heat exhaustion quicker than other breeds

keep an eye on him for hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and skin allergies

Caring The Pet

mexican hairless dogs - caringYou’ve got to remember with this dog breed that he doesn’t have a coat so he can burn easily when out in the sun. If you know you’ll be in the sun for long, you’ll have to apply special sunscreen.

You can wipe down your Xolo or bath him from time to time, though not to often so as to strip the natural oils from the dog’s body. The nails will need to be trimmed regularly, as long nails can be a danger as they can hook on things and cause pain and bleeding.

Provide your hairless pet with a nice, soft bed to lie on.

Take him to the vet when he appears to be ill and see that you get his vaccinations done to prevent deadly illnesses such as rabies and parvo.

Check his eyes and ears for infections.

Brush his teeth to remove plaque. Never use human toothpaste. Take a look at the different canine toothpastes available.

Never leave your pet in a hot car with no windows open.

Provide your Xoloitzcuintli dog with high quality dog food so as to enhance health and longevity. Keep food simple for your pet to avoid digestive problems. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked potato, carrots and spinach can be chopped up and added to his dry kibble from time to time. Also a little bit of raw meat added in occasionally can also be excellent. Avoid feeding your pet foods such as onions, avocados, nuts, chocolate, coffee and raisins.

Make sure this dog has access to cool, fresh water night and day.

Grooming

bergamasco dogs - caringThe Bergamasco isn’t a shedder but his coat will need to be combed once a week just to keep it in order. You don’t want to bath him too often, especially during the Winter as his coat takes a long time to dry. It isn’t recommended to shave a Bergamasco as the coat regulates the dogs temperature – keeping him warm and cold as the weather demands.

Foods

They thrive on a blend of kibble (dry) mixed with raw and-or moist food once or twice a day. Remember to include quality chicken, turkey, etc. mixed with some vegetables and rice into your dog’s diet. Ensure a constant supply of fresh water in an easily-cleanable bowl.

Exercise

Balls and ropes are important for building muscle strength and burning energy. Remember your Bergamasco is a working breed and will need plenty of games and exercise.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Mexican Hairless vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Mexican Hairless vs Chow Chow - Breed Comparison
  3. Mexican Hairless vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  4. Mexican Hairless vs Dalmatian - Breed Comparison
  5. Mexican Hairless vs Chinese Shar Pei - Breed Comparison
  6. Mexican Hairless vs Keeshond - Breed Comparison
  7. Mexican Hairless vs Australian Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  8. Tibetan Terrier vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  9. Standard Poodle vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  10. Norwegian Lundehund vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  12. Pomsky vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  13. Sakhalin Husky vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  14. Other vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  15. Olde English Bulldogge vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  16. Old English Bulldog vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  17. Schnauzer vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  18. Puggle vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  19. Schnoodle vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  20. Pharaoh Hound vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  21. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  22. Redbone Coonhound vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  23. Norwegian Elkhound vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  24. Portuguese Water Dog vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  25. Puli vs Mexican Hairless - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  27. Collie vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  28. Dutch Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  29. Blue Healer vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  30. English Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  31. Catahoula Cur vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  32. Catalan Sheepdog vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  33. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  34. Bergamasco vs Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  35. Bergamasco vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) - Breed Comparison
  36. Bergamasco vs Australian Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  37. Bergamasco vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison
  38. Bergamasco vs Austrailian Blue Heeler - Breed Comparison
  39. Bergamasco vs Australian Collie - Breed Comparison
  40. Bergamasco vs Australian Red Heeler - Breed Comparison
  41. Bergamasco vs Berger Picard - Breed Comparison
  42. Bergamasco vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervuren) - Breed Comparison
  43. Bergamasco vs Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Bergamasco vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois) - Breed Comparison
  45. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  46. Queensland Heeler vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  47. German Coolie vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  48. Bohemian Shepherd vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  49. Croatian Sheepdog vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison
  50. Red Heeler vs Bergamasco - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds