Solstice Xolos is a very small-scale breeding kennel. The dogs that we keep and breed are our family pets first and foremost, so the only dogs here are those that live here full-time. Puppies are kept here until at least three months of age, so we only produce one litter every 1-3 years.
We do maintain a wait-list, but it is not first come first serve. Puppy placement is done at my discretion, based strictly on which home is most suitable for each individual puppy.
Please review the process for obtaining a puppy from Solstice Xolos on our Client Questionnaire page.
Puppies are raised employing Puppy Culture and AviDog protocols. Early exposure and socialization is extremely important to all dogs, but especially with primitive breeds such as Xolos. Desensitization to loud noises, many people, seeing other dogs from afar, types of weather, different surfaces, and so on forms the basis for how I rear puppies, with the end goal always being to produce a confident, stable dog that can adapt to any environment and accept unfamiliar stimulus without being overwhelmed.
All puppies are started on basic obedience and go home started on leash manners and a foundation of sit, down, and place with implied stay, leave it, and recall. All are also started very early on training to free stack for show, and ease of handling of legs, feet, ears, mouth, and whole body. They go home with written information on what they have been trained, and puppy owners are granted access to a private Facebook group where I share video demonstrations on continuing with their training.
Note the questionnaire is just the start of the process. I encourage anyone at all interested in a puppy from us to fill it out. It does not guarantee a spot on the wait-list, but it does get the conversation started. I also welcome any and all questions, and respond promptly.
I try to give puppy owners a lot of freedom and flexibility. However I do have certain parameters in place very strictly for the welfare of the puppies.
-Unless medically necessary, no puppy is to be neutered or spayed before one year of age. Preferably two years when possible. The latest long term studies indicate that leaving dogs intact long enough to mature is ultimately best for the physical and mental welfare of the dogs. Growth plates close between 12 and 18 months of age, and having hormones present allows for the proper closure and development of their joints and bones. I do not allow puppies to go home without first fully educating all puppy buyers on the reproductive cycle and nature of dogs, so that way no one is unprepared for heat cycles, changes in behavior, etc that come with maturity.
-At any time that an owner is unable to care for their dog, for any reason, that dog MUST return to me. I do not care what the reason is, or how old the dog is. I will never shame or humiliate puppy buyers if they need to return a dog. My only concern is that the dog comes back to me. If returned they will be assessed, I will continue their training, and when the right home is available, place them.
-Puppies MUST be kept up to date on vaccines and vet care. Core vaccines are mandatory. I highly recommend lepto, lyme, and bordetella vaccines also be done. If your puppy is ill or injured, you must seek vet care for them. This is part of owning a dog, they depend on you to meet their needs, so it is extremely important that you take their routine vet care seriously.
-I do not require any special supplements or a particular diet. Personally I find my Xolos do best on a grain-inclusive dry food. I use PlaqueOff (a dried sea kelp powder) as an additive to maintain dental health. I am of the mind that a dog should be healthy enough to thrive on a wide variety of food, so as long as your puppy is well fed and thriving, then whatever you prefer to feed is good.
-I ask that puppy buyers do their best to maintain their dogs at a healthy weight. Xolos are very food driven and can be prone to obesity when free fed or not exercised appropriately. My suggestion is to feed in meals an amount recommended based on the weight of your dog, and to make sure they have ample time to exercise and burn off energy.
-While I don't have strict requirements for keeping me updated, I absolutely love puppy updates- send thirty a day if you want! I like to know how they're doing, and that way if you have any questions or concerns about training, new behavior, etc, you can feel comfortable reaching out to me. I am not a vet, so if it is a medical concern that I cannot readily answer, I'll refer you to schedule a vet visit. I am, however, a professional trainer and experienced in the Xolo breed, so am always a resource for training questions and concerns for the life of your dog. We can schedule video lessons, talk on the phone, or just text/email to address anything. Or just reach out to tell me something cute or silly your dog did that day! At the same time, I'm not going to pester you for updates. We're all busy people, and I am not going to demand extra time of you. I may reach out periodically just to make sure everything is going well, but that's it.
If you have questions about any of my policies or anything else, check out my FAQ page, or reach out to me directly.
Planned
Prismo x Taika
My thought process behind a Prismo x Taika pairing comes from wanting to breed down, because I want to specifically work with the mini size. Unfortunately the mini size is ultimately quite neglected and a lot of faults exist in them. I think that breeding standards in will help correct those faults and produce good quality minis. The safest way to do that is a miniature male over a standard female. Taika's temperament is also something I want to bring into the smaller sizes. She is level headed, stable, excellent at settling, while still being decently biddable for the breed. She has good substance, a great front end, a beautiful wedge-shaped head, good topline, marvelous feet, great skin, a correct tail, and good length of body. Overall she is an extremely correct example of the breed, which makes her a solid choice for my program.
Vermy x Taika Spring of 2025
Due Date: July 1st, 2025
This is a repeat breeding and second attempt of Vermy and Taika. It will be done via TCI with the hopes of producing a larger and more successful litter.
Unfortunately our first try only produced a singleton, and complications with pneumonia due to retained amniotic fluid in her lungs from being delivered via c-section ultimately took her from us far too early. In the short time I got to know her, though, she was absolutely lovely and I was planning to keep her back as I fell in love so quickly. I knew her just long enough to convince me to try again, as I truly think this is a very special pairing.
I am expecting very stable, level-headed dogs with social, affectionate temperperaments and solid confidence. I anticipate lower to medium drive, and higher biddability than is super typical of the breed. Both Taika and Vermy are very outgoing, environmentally stable and confident dogs.
See parent pages for health testing information!
Confirmed
Current
Past
Vermy x Taika
Date of Birth: August 1st, 2024
Updated 9/1/24:
On August 1st Taika gave birth via c-section to a single female puppy, who I promptly named Tuca. Tuca developed pneumonia from retained amniotic fluid in her lung tissue, tragically not uncommon in puppies born via c-section as they don't get the pressure from the birth canal to squeeze all the fluid from their lungs. After an emergency vet visit she seemed to be on the mend, but two weeks later she suddenly crashed, and though we rushed her to the only open emergency vet two hours away at Cornell, there was ultimately nothing that could be done. She passed away in my arms while I held her and told her how much I loved her already.
Though this first breeding was absolutely heartbreaking for us, Taika is recovering well and was an amazing mother for those short few weeks. We are going to try a repeat breeding of Vermy x Taika on her next heat cycle, with fingers and toes crossed for better luck
This will be Solstice Xolo's very first litter, with the light of my life, my heart and soul dog Taika being the dam.
We have been debating a stud selection for the past two years, but when David got to see a mature Vermy at the 2023 Xolo National Specialty, the choice was pretty much made, and I am beyond thrilled that Kayla and Breanna agreed to the pairing!
Taika will be 5 this year, and has for the last few years been my full time working Service Dog. She has a phenomenal temperament, as anyone who has met her can attest to. Confident, adaptable, goofy, and affectionate- she is what I often consider quintessential Xoloitzcuintli in temperament and personality.
Vermy's temperament, likewise, is extremely correct with a heavy dose of goofiness. I anticipate medium to low drive puppies with stable, confident natures and very play driven, goofy personalities.
Beyond the marvelous temperaments, the conformation of these two is very complimentary. I am beyond excited!
I will be placing coated and hairless puppies in both show and pet homes.
While I'm happy to have people fill out my application, no deposits will be accepted until the litter is actually on the ground. I will make another announcement once an ultrasound has confirmed pregnancy (we can only hope!) after breeding has occurred, and then of course a birth announcement.