Introduction

Chihuahua is a good companion dog. It is extremely courageous, lively, proud and enterprising. They are the smallest breed of dog in the world and their name is derived from a state Chihuahua in Mexico. They are very much loyal and become intensively attached to their owners. Sometimes it may be difficult to train them, but they are intelligent and learn quickly. You should give socialization to your dog in order to avoid excessive aggressiveness with other dogs as well as with strangers. Although, Chihuahua is the smallest and a cute one, it can have a dominating behavior. When strangers are present, they will follow every move of their owner, keeping himself as close as possible. This breed is not recommended for children. Chihuahua can come in any solid color ranging from black to white and all other colors. They may be marked or splashed or may contain any type of pattern.

Height
6 - 9 inches (15.24 - 22.86 cm)

Weight
2 - 6 pounds (0.91 - 2.72 kg)

Coat

Chihuahua has two varieties of coat. Some of them have smooth coat also referred as short haired while some others may have long coat. For the smooth coat Chihuahuas, the hair is not necessarily smooth. However, the hairs can be velvety or whiskery. In the long haired Chihuahuas, the hairs are actually smoother to touch, soft and with a downy undercoat, which gives them a fluffy appearance. Short haired Chihuahuas do not require trimming and they require minimal grooming whereas the long haired breeds require trimming and grooming.

Life Expectancy

About 15 or more years

Origin

Chihuahuas were originated around 1850 in Mexico.

History

Chihuahuas were discovered in Mexico from a cross between the Techichi and a hairless dog that came to North America from China. It is one of the oldest breed on the American continent. Techichi is a Mexican ancestor of Chihuahua. The state borders with Texas, Arizona and New Mexico are the places where Chihuahuas first rose to prominence and were further developed in the United States. Thereafter , the Chihuahua became much popular as a breed, particularly in America. As well, the Chihuahua has become part of a popular hybrid breed in the United States, the Chihuachshund, which is a pairing of a Chihuahua and a Dachshund. Chihuahuas were registered with the AKC in 1904.

Know more about Chihuahua

General Appearances

Chihuahuas are the world’s smallest dog breeds. Their body is stout and slightly elongated rather than tall. But it still seems flexible, sturdy and muscular. They have a round head with dark and round eyes, pointed ears and a slightly pointed muzzle. They have a sickle shaped tail that slightly curls at the end. Chihuahuas are alert, graceful, compact and swift-moving breeds with some saucy expressions.

Health

Chihuahuas are prone to some genetic anomalies, often neurological ones, such as epilepsy and seizure disorders. They are also prone to some painful diseases like hydrocephalus. Moleras is a soft spot present in the skull of Chihuahuas. It represents the incomplete development of their skull. The molera fills with age but it is necessary to care a lot for them. Chihuahuas can also suffer from health problems like joint ailments, eye infections, tracheal collapse, bronchitis and hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Sometimes, Chihuahuas eat too much, so care must be taken to provide them with appropriate food and should not be overfed. Some sort of exercise can be helpful to avoid this.

Favorite Pastimes

Chihuahuas like to chase butterflies and communicate with other Chihuahuas. However, their first priority is their favorite person. When you are alone at the house, no need to worry, these breeds will sit on your lap or beside you the whole time. When you are not at home, then they will protect it like their personal domain. Pups have a habit of excessive chewing. They often chew up furniture and other objects in the house.

More Information

Chihuahuas are lively, loyal, energetic, nimble and quick. Many of the people today own a Chihuahua due to its cuteness and very small size. These breeds are also owned by many of the famous personalities.