Chihuahua - Facts You Must Know Before Adopting Chihuahua

By Author: Ricardo Lumbardo
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The only known breed to be naturally small, Chihuahuas are the smallest type of dog named after a state in Mexico where they got their name - Chihuahua. They weigh between 2-6 pounds and stands 6-9 inches average.

Coat

The coat of Chihuahuas have two varieties - the long coat, and short coat. The long coat is long, slightly wavy, and soft to touch, with fringes, and often have an inner coat. The short coated variety has short, shiny, thick and soft texture.

Any color or combination is acceptable to breed standards. Their coats can be marked, splashed, or solid in any color mixture. Their colors are commonly red, fawn, black and tan, sable, tricolor, and brindle.

Activity

Due to their small size, the Chihuahuas make it rather tempting to cary arround. But, these little creatures are very active, and are in need of daily exercise including long walks. They love playing, but this will not fulfill their instinct to walk, so they still need to go on daily walks to avoid behavioral problems and neurotic issues.

Temperament

Chihuahuas are brave little creatures with big personality. ...
... They are bold, playful, alert, with the inclination to bark, alerting their owners to whatever circumstances they come near with. Some tend to be devoted to one person, with grace, humor, and fun. Although bouncy, this breed is not to be messed with for they can be hostile toward strangers and other dogs. They are great with gentle children, and other pets if properly socialized early.

Overview

Chihuahuas are smallest of the breeds with the distinct characteristic of being the oldest breed in Amerika. Named after a state in Mexico, it is believed that they are descendants of a larger breed highly valued by the Aztec royalty. Today, the Chihuahua has a fine bone structure, but are really muscular.

Care

Each variety of Chihuahuas need certain amounts of grooming. The short-haired type should be brushed occasionally and wiped over with a wet cloth. The long coat should be gently brushed daily with a soft-bristled brush. Both varieties should be bathed once a month, being extra careful not to get water in their ears.

Training

Chihuahuas are relatively easy to train. One known difficulty for this breed is housetraining. Due to their small size, some owners may try training them to get accustomed to peeing on a litter box. Paper training may work for some, but rarely. They would actually prefer on grass or other surfaces, making travelling a hassle as owners need to have a travel pad. But, if Chihuahuas are paper-trained, they will tend to pee on any paper surface, making it troublesome if they mistook a paper pad left on a floor for a litter box.

Proper socialization and acclimatization with new environment are important for Chihuahuas. They should be constantly exposed to new places, animals, people, and other dogs starting at the earliest.

Character

An individualistic breed, the Chihuahuas have their unique personality, so few generalizations are made. Energetic, graceful with human-like appearance, they are deeply devoted and thrive on human attention.

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