What breed of dog is Dante?

Dante is a Xoloitzcuintli, a traditional Mexican dog breed featured in Pixar’s Coco.

In the film, Dante first appears as Miguel Rivera’s scruffy, impulsive companion in Santa Cecilia. He follows Miguel into the Land of the Dead and eventually reveals a magical alebrije form, becoming an important guide and protector. His name also nods to the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, although the character’s breed and cultural setting are distinctly Mexican.

The Xoloitzcuintli, often shortened to Xolo, is one of the world’s oldest dog breeds. Its name comes from Xolotl, an Aztec deity, and the Nahuatl word for dog. Xolos can be hairless or coated and were associated with companionship, healing, and guiding souls in pre-Hispanic Mexican tradition.

A common mix-up is calling Dante a generic Mexican hairless dog or an alebrije. He is a real-world Xoloitzcuintli before his supernatural transformation. Dalmatian, Akita, and Chihuahua are separate breeds, not descriptions of Dante.