All About Chihuahuas

Chihuahua Facts, Chihuahua Information, All About Chihuahuas

Group Southern, AKC Toy

Also Called Chiwawa, Chihuahau, Chiuaua

A more recent theory regarding the origin of this breed is that Spanish traders and merchants brought Chihuahuas through their well-connected trade route with China, and eventually brought them to Mexico. This speculation is supported by the well -documented tradition of dwarfing both animals and plants, in China.

Some however believe that Chihuahuas are from Egypt and were later traded to Spain and Mexico.

A General Appearance of the Chihuahua

Chihuahuas have off-square bodies and therefore appear to be longer when measured from the shoulders to the buttocks, than at the withers. Shorter bodies are preferred in male Chihuahuas. A Chihuahua's head is slightly oval; almost apple shaped and there may or may not be a Molera on its head. Chihuahuas are mostly known for their small body and large, sharp ears. A Chihuahua's snout is usually short and slightly pointed. They have lean jaws and cheeks and blue, mole or chocolate colored noses. However a pink nose is permissible in blonde Chihuahuas. Their neck is slightly arched, emerging from elegantly sloping shoulders. Chihuahuas have well-rounded ribs, though not overly barrel like with a tail that is either up or curled in a loop with the tip of it slightly touching the back.

Coat Colour Chihuahuas come in various colors, from plain whites, to solid blacks and spotted, or other colors like silver, blue or gray, chocolate, fawn or tan, tricolor-chocolate, blue or black with tan or white markings, merle and brindled, and each of the colors vary in tone and shade.	Long-Coat Chihuahua
Coat Type - for instance - thick, or has undercoat, etc. There are two types of Chihuahua. One of which has smooth, soft glossy coat, which covered the whole body except head and ears. The other version has a long coat with an undercoat. This type of coat could be curly or flat.	Short-Coat Chihuahua

Height: 6 to 9 inches

Weight: 2 to 6 Pounds

Personality

Temperament of the Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are lauded for their personality and devotion. Owing to their size, alertness and a high level of intelligence, they can adapt very well to a variety of living conditions, including small apartments and busy city lives.

Although Chihuahuas are often categorized as highly excitable, edgy dogs, good training and early socialization can bring out the very best in your Chihuahua.

Due to their fragile structures, Chihuahuas may not be best suited as children's pets. Most Chihuahuas are known to bond with usually a single, grown-up member of the family and eventually become possessive of him/her. But such characteristics can be easily prevented through perpetual socialization.

Chihuahuas have very little knowledge of their size, and may attack other animals, resulting in injuries. Chihuahuas are also said to prefer company of other Chihuahuas. Owing to their small size, this breed is very sensitive to cold weather conditions, although this is typical of only the short-coated Chihuahuas.

They are extremely devoted towards their owners and equally snappy towards strangers. However training Chihuahuas through positive reinforcement and constant interaction can teach this breed some important socializing skills.

Is the Chihuahua better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

They are suitable for apartment life style. They do not enjoy much outdoor activity and they should never be taken out in extreme cold. They might develop knee problems if over exercised.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

Chihuahua would not be suitable for households having small children since they are aggressive towards those kids if they somehow get teased or antagonized by them. Because of their loyalty they can do well in households housing elderly individuals. They have sharp teeth and might even unintentionally bite kids while playing.

How to take care of the Chihuahua puppies? A Chihuahua puppy needs proper vaccination when it attains the right age. Chihuahua puppies enjoy sunbathing. They cannot tolerate cold. They should be kept indoors till the time they are old enough to go out. They are playful and should be given chewable toys to prevent chewing up of valuable furniture.

Their ears and eyes should be cleaned preventing infection from setting in. They should always be given ample time to rest. They are so small that their movement should be restricted to a particular area of the house because pups are often prone to injuries.

The dog should be taken to a vet for regular check ups. Small children may also unintentionally harm the pup. Apart from all the above dangers the house should be thoroughly checked for poisonous chemicals, electrical wires that might harm the dog. Nutritional dog food should be fed.

Training

Chihuahua Dogs might feel intimidated by bigger dogs and strangers and should be taught early socializing skills. Socialization should be done by taking him to walks and allowing him to interact with other dogs and individuals in the locality.

They are not easy to train. Persistence and care should be able to give you better results while training your dog. For a small dog like Chihuahua you should properly crate train him because of a small size they might get hurt. Obedience training could be imparted but with difficultly. They could be taught certain commands like sit, stay, go, and wait. He should always undergo potty training, which should be able to prevent him from messing around in your house.

They love attention and hence they should be trained through positive reinforcement and never be treated harshly. They should be amply praised for completing a task assigned to him. Each puppy has a different attitude and owners should take extra caution to recognize the attitude of the dog. While taking the dog to a walk you should always put a harness around him and not a leash.

Activity Level

These dogs do not need a lot of exercise at any stage of life. Short daily walks will suffice. However within the house Chihuahuas should be provided with ample toys to play around. Taking him to walks occasionally should keep your dog in good spirits, as the breed likes travelling. They have short legs and hence they find it hard to stride along with their owners and this is the reason why they get exhausted easily even if you take them a short walk.

Health & Care

Genetic problems the breed suffers from.

The breed suffers from certain genetic disorders like pulmonic stenosis, patellar luxation, hypoglycaemia and hydrocephalus. Appropriate tests should be conducted by the vet to determine whether the dog suffers from any of the above genetic disorders.

Cautions about Breeding the Chihuahua

The dog should be bred with a good bloodline. Those dogs below 4 pounds of weight should never be bred. Each Chihuahua is different as it contains different sets of temperaments and can develop severe behavioral problems if it has not met its right match. Most of the Chihuahuas have severe complications while whelping and they often have caesarian puppies, which are often abandoned after childbirth.

Litter size Average: 2

Life span 15 years

Grooming

The smooth coated variety of the Chihuahua needs occasional brushing. However the long coated version should be brushed several times with soft bristles Both types need bathing once a month with mild shampoo. Chihuahuas are prone to ear infection and special care should be taken not to get water in its ears. Strict dental hygiene should also be maintained.

National Breed Club: e.g. Chihuahua Club of America.

Recognition:ACR, NKC, FCI, APRI, ANKC, UKC, KCGB, NZKC, AKC, NKC, CKC

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