Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is one of the smallest naturally occurring breeds. This breed has large stand up ears, a very small frame long thin legs (in relation to its body size) a long tail ( again in relation to its body size) and very large eyes. Its nose is pointed. It can come in a full range of color and patterns.

They typically range in size from the “tea cup” variety to the (little) larger toy variety. Almost all are under 10 pounds.

History

The history of this breed is shrouded in mystery. They are named after the city in Mexico where they were first recognized but they have been around for a long time. There are pictoglyphs on Mayan temples that include this happy little dog.

There is some indication that they evolved from the Fennec Fox but this theory has yet to be proven. In the mean time anyone that has had any experience with these dogs is happy they are here!

Personality and Temperament

Chihuahua’s are good family dogs when the family consists of older children. They typically choose one person as their person and are very protective of that person. Their small size should not fool anyone. They can be very aggressive when they are nervous or feel threatened.

They are highly intelligent and very easily trained. They are not really the best choice for households with small children because they are fragile dogs that may not be able to stand handling by small children that are unable to understand the fragile nature of these dogs. It is not for the child’s protection that a Chihuahua should be avoided when children are very young it is for the Chihuahua protection.

Overall they are lively dogs that will usually get along well with other animals. They love to cuddle and burrow under a blanket for the warmth. They are perfectly content to be babied by their family and love to just sit on the couch and watch TV.

Care

They scamper around quite happily in an apartment. They are excellent city dwellers because they do not need a lot of space thanks to their size. They are built to do well in the Mexican climate so they do not do well in the cold. Even the longer hair varieties will shiver in the cold. Regular grooming which includes attention to toe nails is necessary since they do not spend a lot of time on the pavement.

Health Issues

Chihuahua are a pretty hardy breed when it comes to physical health but are often victims of circumstance and can get really hurt simply by someone tripping over them, stepping on them even sitting on them. They also can hurt themselves by jumping from one piece of furniture to the next. Other dogs often prove to be a great threat to them and can easily cause serious injury or even death.

They are not very physical sturdy animals so they do need to constantly be protected from people, other pets and themselves.

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