Description

The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and was named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahua is a graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with a saucy expression. Two distinct breed types of Chihuahua, one with a long coat of soft texture, the other with a short coat. Identical otherwise, both can be whelped in the same litter. Adored for his small size, the Chihuahua is a bright eyed, dainty dog who is perfect for apartment living. Most breeders recommend adopting a Chihuahua puppy between the ages of 4 – 12 months as he will be more mature and agile and not so prone to injuries.

Size of Male: Height: 6-9 inches Weight: 2 – 6 pounds

Size of Female: Height: 6-9 inches Weight: 2 – 6 pounds

Temperament

The Chihuahua is a good companion dog. Courageous, extremely lively, proud and enterprising, Chihuahua gives and demands affection. Bold and saucy, Chihuahua moves swiftly to avoid being stepped on. Chihuahua’s are strong-willed, intensely loyal and become very attached to their owners, even to the point of jealousy. They like to lick their owner’s faces. It is undeniably suspicious of people except for its owner. When strangers are present, they follows their owner’s every move, keeping as close as possible. For some, they may be slightly difficult to train, but they are intelligent, learn quickly, and respond well to proper, gentle (positive reinforcement) training. This breed may snap at teasing children, after all it is too tiny to get away. The Chihuahua must resort to his sharp teeth in self-defense. It is not recommended for children. He can be noisy and may require patience to housebreak. Many owners simply paper train this breed. Be sure to socialize your Chihuahua as a pup to avoid excessive aggressiveness with other dogs as well as reserve with strangers. They tend to be fairly dog-aggressive. Chihuahuas generally recognize their own breed, but sometimes disapprove of other breeds.

Living Conditions

The Chihuahua hates the cold and may shiver. Chihuahua will tolerate and even appreciate a warm sweater on cooler days. Chihuahuas are good little dogs for apartment life as they can get enough exercise just by being indoors due to their size.

Upkeep

The Chihuahua is a lively dog that nonetheless can get its exercise running from room to room indoors. Chihuahua enjoys exploring the yard or going for short walks on a leash and especially enjoys accompanying its owner on outings. The Chihuahua is not an outdoor dog; it hates the cold and seeks out warmth, so do keep your dog warm during colder days. Coat care for the smooth is minimal. Care of the long coat entails brushing two to three times a week.

Health

Major concerns: Collapsing trachea, Bladder stones

Minor concerns: pulmonic stenosis, hydrocephalus, patellar luxation, Dry eyes, Obesity

Life expectancy: 12 – 20 years