About Chihuahuas
| Chihuahua Fast-Facts | |
|---|---|
| Shedding: | Medium to Low |
| Easy of training: | Medium |
| Exercise requirements: | Low |
| Indoor activity: | Medium to high |
| Children: | Gentle children only |
| Social with strangers: | Low |
| Coat varieties: | Smooth or Long |
| Average lifespan: | 15 - 16 years |
| Group: | Toy |
| Name pronunciation: | Chi-Wa-Wa |
| Recognized by: |
ACR, AKC, ANKC, APRI, CKC, FCI, KCGB, NKC, NZKC, UKC |
| Popularity: |
11th out of 155 breeds (AKC registrations) |
Chihuahua Temperament
The Chihuahua is the smallest breed in the world. Chihuahuas are small dogs with big personalities. Chihuahuas are extremely loyal and loving and will become very attached to one or two of their human family members. He will follow you everywhere you go around the home. You shouldn't buy a Chihuahua if you don't have a big heart with lots of love and attention to give him - as he craves love and attention all the time. Chihuahua's are gentle and sweet dogs, although you may have a hard time convincing your friends of that - as Chihuahuas are not social dogs and take a long time to warm up to people. Chihuahuas are always ecstatic to greet their owners, with plenty of kisses and lots of tail wagging, when you get home. They also make excellent lap dogs, because they love being near or "on" their owners as much as they can be. They can be a little stubborn at times and this breed does have a mind of its own. It should also be noted that many Chihuahuas have a jealous-streak in them.
Chihuahuas enjoy the company of other dogs, especially their own kind, and this is why many Chihuahua owners own two Chihuahuas. You will need to ensure that you properly socialize your Chihuahua with others pets (especially dogs) and people from an early age, to ensure he develops into a temperamentally-sound adult. You must make sure he knows who is boss from the day you bring him home or he will try to manipulate you and get his own way in every situation. Positive reward-based training for at least 15 minutes per day should begin from an early age to ensure he grows up into an obedient dog. Chihuahuas tremble when they are cold, scared, excited, or unhappy.
Chihuahua Appearance
Chihuahuas come in any color or combination of colors. Chihuahuas weigh between 2 and 6 pounds. They stand 5 to 6 inches tall. Chihuahuas have natural tails and ears - not docked or cropped like some breeds.
Chihuahua Health Issues
Luxating Patella (knee cap dislocation) is common in Chihuahuas. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) is also common in Chihuahuas, as it is in the majority of small dog breeds. Chihuahuas are the only dog with a fontanel (soft spot) on the top of their head, which sometimes doesn't close up. So never apply force to top of your Chi's head as it could be fatal. Collapsing trachea is another health concern for Chihuahuas where the throat collapses making it hard for them to breath.
Chihuahuas have fragile bones and should not be handled by children. His bones will break easily if he is dropped, stepped on, or if he is jammed in a door, or it could even kill him. His eyes are also big and because they are so close to the floor care should be taken not to accidentally poke or kick him in the eye which could cause blindness.
Chihuahua Grooming
Chihuahuas can come with short coats or long coats. The long-haired variety requires daily brushing and combing to prevent matting and tangles. They also require more frequent bathing. Short-haired Chihuahuas will only need brushing once per week.
Chihuahua History
The Chihuahua gets his name from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. People connect Chihuahuas with the ancient Aztec civilizations. Most likely Chihuahuas were brought to Mexico by Spanish settlers.