And then there are those posts that should be subtitled: “You decide.”

The Mexican Wolf Dog sounds like a recently made up breed, and there are some sources that describe it as a hybrid that originated in Mexico.  That would normally disqualify the breed from appearing on our pages, but the dog also known as the Calupoh was officially acknowledged by the Mexican Kennel Club (Federación Canófila Mexicana) as part of Mexico’s indigenous dog breeds in 1999, a prestigious classification shared only with the Xoloitzcuintli and Chihuahua. This fact makes us take a closer look at the Calupoh.

Aztecs held a profound belief that Calupohs were descendants of two species embodying a powerful duality that attracted prosperity and good fortune: The Mexican Grey Wolf, which symbolized war and sacrifice with its association to bloodshed, and local dogs which represented bountiful harvests, fertility, companionship, and spiritual guidance.  The Wolfdog hybrid was the sum of these symbolic values. Aztecs found it significant that the mating season of Calupohs coincided with the rainy season in the Aztec agricultural calendar, an alignment that led these pre-16th century people to attribute significant influence and spiritual powers to the dog.  Not surprisingly, the Calupoh was used in religious ceremonies in which its dual characteristics were fundamental. It was believed that the dog’s sacrifice would cleanse a person’s soul and bring them closer to the gods – acting as a messenger between the human and spiritual worlds.

This mystical regard was further evidenced by Calupoh remains unearthed in the Templo Mayor in Mexico City during an archaeological dig in 2017, a find that was also replicated in the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, and the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan. The dogs, it was determined, were part of offerings of the Teotihuacan elite, further evidence that the Calupoh had very important spiritual and social significance.

Sadly, conquistadors who arrived in Mexico in the 16th century hunted down and exterminated the dog, though a few dogs did survive and endured over time. Efforts have been made in recent years to preserve and strengthen the breed, leading to a renaissance in popularity and appreciation for a canine that serves as a living bridge between Mexico’s rich historical past and the modern world. Indeed in the 1980s, a group of Mexican breeders began working to preserve the breed and developed a breed standard that may be read here.

Today, the Calupoh is still a relatively rare breed and is not very well known, especially outside of Mexico – but its stunning good looks may attract potential owners who will find an athletic, loyal, affectionate but protective dog.

More photographs of this stunning dog may be found here. The breed’s name, btw, is pronounced “ka-looo-poe.”

Top image of a Calupoh by Jenniffer via Wikipedia