Familiar Friday - Xolo Dog

 

The first of these familiars to actually be a pet, and therefore probably someone’s real life, here is a Xolocuitzcuintli or ‘Xolo’ or ‘Mexican Hairless’ dog. As Frida Karlo explained in “Coco”, they are a significant breed in Mexico and act as guides for the dead in the underworld, hence why they would show up in Diego Rivera’s art from time to time. Between Xolos and Chihuahuas I think Mexico has the best dog breeds in the world--peak beauty and loyalty and compatibility.