Chihuahua Dog Breed

Chihuahua Dog Breed Explained

"Chihuahuas - the smallest breed of dog in the world. Named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico."

If you watch television, you've probably seen celebrities like Paris Hilton toting around tiny dogs with big poppy brown eyes.

These dogs, called Chihuahuas, are one of the smallest dog breeds in the world.

The Chihuahua first appeared in Mexico.

It was discovered in 1850 and does well in warmer climates.

Of course, a doggy sweater can make one of these small dogs feel warm and cozy during winter months.

The Chihuahua weighs in as a lightweight at one to six pounds and stands only about five inches high.

These little dogs come in a wide range of colors, although tan or black and tan dogs are most common.

They have prick ears, an alert expression, and big, slightly poppy eyes. This breed has both short haired and long haired varieties.

They were bred to be companion dogs and they excel at this task. They hate to be alone and thrives when it is in the thick of things.

Chihuahuas are prized for their devotion, ferocity and personality.

Their curious nature and small size make them easily adaptable to a variety of environments, including the city and small apartments.

They are ideal apartment dogs, since they do not take up much room and do not need a ton of exercise. Some people even train these little guys to use a litter box.

This doesn't mean that a Chihuahua won't enjoy living in a house with a yard, though! This breed enjoys exercising and playing outdoors on warm days.

The Chihuahua can sometimes be nippy with small children, especially if it is accidentally injured and has reason to fear being handled by them.

They also tends to be bossy and easily spoiled, especially if the dog's owners allow it to get away with aggressive or angry behaviors.

"If you have other dogs, you will need to be sure that your Chihuahua does not bully them!"

These dogs will pick a fight with much larger dogs, since they sincerely believe that they have the size and strength of a Rottweiler. In fact, the Chihuahua is a wonderful guard dog and will also take on human intruders.

Chihuahua Dog Training

Because they have a tendency to be self centered and badly behaved, Chihuahuas should receive puppy obedience training. After all, even a tiny tyrant can be unpleasant to be around.

Puppy classes will help your dog to learn basic obedience, but they also have another important purpose, socializing your puppy.

He will learn at an early age to get along with people and other dogs. Despite their size, these dogs are quite intelligent and do well with obedience training. Some of them even go on to take agility classes.

Chihuahua Health

Chihuahuas eat very little, but feeding costs can still be a bit high, since these dogs are often picky eaters.

Also, this breed is so delicate that some dogs have trouble eating hard, dry food.

Care must be taken to provide them with adequate nutrition. At the same time, care must be exercised not to overfeed this tiny breed.

Over feeding a Chihuahua can be very dangerous to this small dog's health. It can shortening their life, leading to diabetes.

Chihuahuas are also known for their moleras, a soft spot in their skulls. They are the only breed of dog to be born with an incomplete skull.

The molera does fill in with age, but great care needs to be taken during the first six months until the skull is fully formed.

Many veterinarians are not familiar with Chihuahuas as a breed, and mistakenly confuse a molera with hydrocephalus.

The Chihuahua Club of America has issued a statement regarding this often deadly misdiagnosis.

Chihuahuas have a Tendency to Tremble.

This is not a health issue, rather it takes place when the dog is stressed or excited.

One reason for this may be because small dogs have a higher metabolism than larger dogs and therefore dissipate heat faster.

Chihuahuas are prone to dislocated jaws, fractures, epilepsy and rheumatism.

Overweight Chihuahuas are prone to joint injuries, tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis, and shortened life span.

With their tiny jaws, it is no surprise that some of these dogs have dental problems, so you may also want to brush your dog's teeth daily.

Chihuahua Dog Grooming

Short haired Chihuahuas require very little care. Long haired Chihuahuas need a bit more grooming, but still do not need to be brushed more than once a week.

Is the Chihuahua for you?

Chihuahuas are often stereotyped as high-strung, though it has been shown that correct training and socialization can result in an outstanding companion animal.

If you want a dog who is small enough to tuck into your pocket, but has the heart of a much bigger dog, then a Chihuahua may be the right dog for you.

Chihuahua Dog Breed Explained

Some academics believe the Chihuahua to be descended from Chinese hairless dogs—who may have crossed over from Asia to Alaska on a land bridge before continental separation created the Bering Strait—and bred with the ancient Toltec and Aztec Techichi dog, creating the modern-day Chihuahua.

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Chihuahuas Trivia

Senator Rogers Kelley, of Edinburgh, Texas, was so enamoured of the Chihuahua that he proposed in 1948 to introduce a resolution at a session of the State Legislature to make the Chihuahua the official dog of Texas. Said the senator: "Sure it came from Mexico, but so did Texas".

The Chihuahua is considered to be the only breed of domesticated dog truly indigenous to the American continent.

Chihuahua Dog Breed Links

CCA - Official site of the Chihuahua Club of America, the national parent club for the Chihuahua with the American Kennel Club.

BCC - British Chihuahua Club. Chihuahuas sometimes used to be, and sometimes even today are looked down upon by the unenlightened as being silly little lap dogs of no consequence in canine terms, not real dogs at all. Nothing could be further from the truth, make no mistake a Chihuahua is ALL dog, live with one and you'll discover that fact for yourself.

AKC - American kennel club breed standard. A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament.

Chihuahua Dog Explained - Carvings found in the Monastery of Huejotzingo, on the highway from Mexico City to Puebla, give strong evidence as to the Chihuahua's origins. The Toltecs had a breed of dog they called the "Techichi". And the carvings on the stones at Huejotzingo give a full head view and a picture of an entire dog that closely resembles the modern-day Chihuahua. From this evidence, we can safely assume that the Chihuahua is a descendant of the Techichi.

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