Chihuahua

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Breed Attribute

Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Chihuahua originated in Mexico and was bred to be a companion to people. They were named after the Mexican state 'Chihuahua' and are classified as the smallest dog of the entire canine species! The size of these dogs are what makes them popular as they weigh a maximum of 6 lbs where the smaller this dog is, will be considered more sought after.

This breed is small, fine boned and delicate yet has a tough attitude and personality. They have a round head, large triangular ears that are pointed upwards and a long, thin muzzle. The Chihuahua's body is compact and their tail is slender and long. During the colder months, they will need a doggie coat when going outside because they have such thin fur that this will offer them no protection!

The Chihuahua is an extremely faithful dog, they trust 1 person and that is their owner. They will not make the best family dog as they tend to be snappy towards children especially if bothered or provoked. They have been known to be dog aggressive but this is due to their incredibly small size in comparison to the average sized dog!

Color

The Chihuahua comes in black & tan, fawn, blue, black, brindle, sable and Merle. They can come in solid, tri-coloured, or parti colouring which is a mixture of the solid coat with patches of white, tan, fawn or blue.

Coat

This breed has 2 variations of coat texture, the short haired and the long haired. The short haired variety is short and glossy but hard to the touch while the long haired is smooth and silky. The Chihuahua will not require very much grooming as both coat variations are minimal maintenance.

Personality

This breed is notorious for having the attitude of a much larger dog. They will not back down from confrontation but have a tendency to ignore strangers if they have not been introduced. The Chihuahua is an affectionate lovable dog towards their owners of whom they adore and are completely loyal to. They are responsive, energetic, playful and animated dogs who want nothing more then to please their master. Although the love this dog has for its owners is unconditional, Chihuahua's tend to bond with one person rather than a family. Children that interact with this dog will need to be older and have a responsible, calm attitude as these dogs can be intolerant of young children badgering them.

Care

This breed will require weekly grooming and monthly bathing. The short coat will need to be brushed about once every week or two just to remove dead fur and the long haired coat will need to be brushed about twice per week. Bathing is up to the owner as to how often they would like this done but should not be done more then once per month. The Chihuahua is prone to molera, hypoglycemia and eye problems such as glaucoma and corneal dryness because their eyes protrude from their head slightly. Rheumatism, slipping stifles, and epilepsy may also be genetic diseases they might inherit.

Training

This breed will need a firm hand and consistency during training. They desperately want to please their owners so teaching them obedience or rules for the house will not be too hard if the owner is gentle yet repetitive. They will need extensive socialization as puppies around people, dogs, and children so they will become accepting of these as adults.

Activity

The Chihuahua will need roughly a half an hour of exercise per day. They use up most of their energy throughout the day so extensive exercise at night is not needed. This breed will do well living in an apartment as they take up such little space that a household environment is not needed. A fenced in backyard would be excellent so they have an outdoor area to roam around in but is not a necessity.