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THE CHIHUAHUA

Also Know as:

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Origin: Mexico

Type: Pure Breed

Height: 6 to 9 inches

Weight: 2 to 6 pounds

Life Expectancy: 14 to 18 years

CHIHUAHUA TEMPERAMENT

The chihuahua dog is known for their intelligence, they are always alert and easily adapt to new environments making them the go-to dogs for city dwellers and people living in small apartments. They are also known to be very devoted to their owners.

On the flip side, the chihuahua is not a good fit for kids, their size is a major disadvantage especially with kids that have not learned how to properly stay with dogs. They are also jealous dogs by nature and tend to attach themselves in an extreme way to their owners. They are also known to demand attention and are very vocal dogs.

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CHIHUAHUA PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Chihuahua’s are small dogs with standing ears, they come in two varieties, the long coat and the smooth coat form. According to the American Kennel Club, chihuahua dogs are not supposed to weigh more than six pounds, of course, we have chihuahua dogs weighing more than this, but that is the preferred standard. They have scrunched faces and also come in all color types.

CHIHUAHUA CHARACTERISTICS

CHIHUAHUA CARE

Chihuahua dogs are not heavy feeders, normally half a cup of dry dog food or less would be sufficient for them per day. Of course, you would need to monitor your dog to make sure the ratio is a good fit for them and also avoid obesity-related problems. Also, when feeding chihuahuas, make sure to give them more food that will exercise their teeth safely. This is because their teeth and jaws are weak and need to be maintained properly. A good daily dental routine is very important to help the chihuahua enjoy eating its food in their long life.
The chihuahua is known to shed a very negligible amount of hair, which means their coats require minimal grooming. The same thing goes for the longhaired ones. They require regular nail trimming, ear grooming to deal with wax buildup, and dental routine care.
Naturally intelligent dogs, the chihuahua dog is easy to train, but don't take them for granted that they would follow your every instruction. In addition to their intelligence, they also understand that they are cute and would try to take advantage of this from time to time. Even as you are going to be gentle with them, it is always a good idea to be firm with your instructions to them. Never let them get away with unacceptable behavior.
Even though they are small, the chihuahua does needs their daily walks. The ones that don't get their daily walks are prone to erratic behaviors and even in extreme cases neurotic issues. This can be traced to their obsessive need to bond and integrate themselves into their owner's life. Their exercise is not only physical but mental, involving them in play and daily walks usually goes well for them.
HEALTH The chihuahua is a dog that requires special medical attention as they are prone to different health problems. From the time of birth, if not handled properly they would be prone to genetic anomalies, seizures, eye infections, and more. The most common health problems associated with chihuahuas are: Collapsing Trachea- common in small dogs, this condition is characterized by the restriction of their windpipes, this applies pressure to the trachea making it difficult for them to breathe. Hypoglycemia - just another name for the condition known as low blood sugar. Most of the time, this can be handled by giving them sugar supplements. Hydrocephalus - caused by the accumulation of fluids in the dog's head, this causes the head to look disproportionately larger than other parts of their body. Patellar Luxation - caused by dislocation of their kneecap due to agitated muscles. The physical symptom is usually the dog holding the leg of the ground and writhing in pain. This usually resolves itself when the muscles relax back, but in situations where this does not happen, a professional's input would be required.

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CHIHUAHUA HISTORY

All over lost civilizations, you would see artifacts of arts with dogs resembling the chihuahua in all of them. Humans have interacted with far-flung regions of the earth but unfortunately, so much history has been lost.

With the chihuahua, their first recorded history was with the people of Mexico. Thousands of years ago, the Toltecs were in control of that region. They were known to breed their favorite dog type, the Techichi. This was a bigger and heavier ancestor of today’s chihuahua dog.

After the Aztecs defeated the Toltecs in the 12th century. They took over the breeding of the Techichi and refined it into a much smaller dog. By the time the Spanish started their conquest of the Aztec civilization and their final defeat. The smaller Techichi was already an integral part of the Aztec culture. All this occurred in the 1500s.

This small dog thrived in small villages around the area till three centuries later, in the mid-1800s, Americans that sojourned the area started taking interest in the breed. Many of them were imported into America and became sweethearts to many due to their smallish nature and intelligence.

In 1908, the first Chihuahua by the name Beppie was registered by the American Kennel Club. In the 1940s and 1950s, the famous bandleader Xavier Cugat did a lot to make this breed popular. Getting to the end of the 20th century, famous films like “Legally Blonde” and “Sex and the City” all contributed to the increase in the popularity of the Chihuahua.