Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is considered as the smallest of all breeds. It is naturally entertaining, loving, affectionate, and lively dog. It gives lots of attention and it also loves to receive one. This funny pet likes to follow you whenever you are around and a naturally cuddly especially when you are watching T.V.

This playful dog is naturally responsive to the love of its family. In return, it likes to please everyone and easily trained. Chihuahuas may have different personality temperaments, but most times they are confident and friendly, some however can be stand offish and reserved once in awhile.

This pet gets attached to its family and can be very jealous when another household pet or another person is given more attention compared to its dog’s existence. This dog loves to be with considerate and older children. It can tolerate household pets when they grew with him as a puppy.

Chihuahua needs early socialization to maintain an even and stable personality. If you know the parents of your Chihuahua, somehow it gets the same temperament as the parents. Generally, this dog is outgoing, curious, and bold despite of its smallness. They are however naturally cautious, reserved with strangers and new faces.

This dog is a dependable watchdog because it barks whenever necessary. When trained it is easy to manage this pet, however it can really stubborn, so it needs somebody who already has some experience in dog ownership. It is difficult to housebreak this dog, so it’s good to get one when it is still a puppy.

This unique dog looks fragile and dainty. It also wears a pretty mischievous face. Its face is dark and rounded. It is also has protruding wallowing eyes. Its ears are large as compared to the proportion of its head.

The Chihuahua has two breed varieties; the first one wears its coat long and the other smooth. The Chihuahua wearing long coat has double or single. The other Chihuahua which wears a smooth coat can be dense, short, or soft.

Chihuahua has different colors as well; it can be black, fawn, white, blue/gray, chocolate, red, and cream. Chihuahua can weight as much as two (2) to six (6) pounds, and it can grow as much as five (5) to eight (8) inches.

Sprucing Up A Chihuahua

Sprucing up a Chihuahua needs brushing up regularly to keep the coat in spic and span condition. Depending on the coat variety, so needs daily brushing especially when shedding is in season. Short smooth coat of a Chihuahua needs wiping of the coat with a damp cloth and twice/thrice a week brushing to look really great.

This breed is known to be a “medium shedder,” a long haired variety sheds seasonally, and the short haired sheds the whole year. The eyes of this dog have to be checked on schedule, because of its unique protruding eyes, otherwise, it can get problematic eye diseases. Its ears have to cleaned and dry for hygienic purposes.

Health, Lifespan And Lineage

The life of a Chihuahua ranges from fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) years. It has one those dogs which has long life. It has some health issues as well typical of its breed like open fontanel, sensitivity to chemicals and medications, dental problems, low blood sugar, trachea problems, heart problems, entropion, luxating patella.

These dogs are naturally owners of fragile bones, and it is good not to drop or roughly handle this pet, otherwise, it can result to serious injury. It is good to have considerate and older children to be with this dog. The unique protruding eyes have to be managed, as it can get easily hurt. Never kick or give rough treatment to this dog, otherwise, it can blind it forever. The parents of this pet must carry a CERF and OFA certificates.

The Chihuahua breed comes from Mexico. It is considered as the sacred dog of the ancient Aztecs from Egypt. This dog has been around for quite sometime, but it was only registered in 1904 with the AKC.

Quick Facts

Alias:	NA	Size:	Small
Training:	Low	Grooming:	Low
Shedding:	Medium	Exercise:	Occasional walk
Energy:	Medium	Protection:	High, alert and will bark at strangers