Chihuahua has big personalities in a tiny package. This is one of the smallest breeds of dog. It is a balanced, graceful dog from terrier group. They are excellent companion dogs. Chihuahua makes the perfect lap dog and takes up a small amount of space in your home.
There are six type of chihuahua.
- Apple Head Chihuahua
- Deer Head Chihuahua
- Long-Hair Chihuahua
- Short-Hair Chihuahua
- Teacup Chihuahua
- Fawn Chihuahua
If you want to adopt small, loving and intelligent breed in your house, than you are right with Chihuahua. In this article we include all the related topic about this breed.
Let’s see…
Content Overview
- History
- Characteristics
- Temperament
- Is Chihuahua Good With you & your family?
- Appearance
- Common Health Problems & It’s Symptoms
- How to take care
- Grooming Needs
- How to train Chihuahua Puppy
- Puppy price
- How to care Chihuahua in Winter?
- Chihuahua Mix breeds
- Things to consider adopting a Chihuahua puppies
- Advantages & Disadvantages
History
Like many breeds, the Chihuahua’s origins are unclear, but there are two theories as to how he came to be.
The first is that he is descended from the Techichi, a Central or South American dog. Toltec carvings from the 9th century C.E. show a dog that looks a lot like the Chihuahua. Their purpose in Toltec culture is unknown.
Small hairless dogs from China were introduced to Mexico by Spanish traders and bred with small native dogs, according to the second theory.
Whatever theory is correct, the modern Chihuahua was discovered in the 1850s in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where he gets his name.The small dogs were carried back to the United States by American travellers to Mexico.
They were first exhibited in 1890. The popularity of this breed increased in the 1930s and 1940s. The AKC has been registering Chihuahuas since the 1960s.
Chihuahuas are ranked 11th out of 155 breeds and varieties recognised by the AKC.
Characteristics
Breed basic Characteristics
Weight | 1.5 to 3 kg |
Height | 15 to 23 cm |
Grooming requirements | Medium grooming |
Litter Size | 1-3 puppies |
Coat color | White, Black, Fawn, Chocolate, Cream, Gold |
Lifespan | 12 – 20 years |
Suitable For | Families (Without small kids) |
Purpose | Companion, Watch |
Barking Level | When Necessary |
Breed Type | Terrier |
Hypoallergenic | No |
Energy Level | High |
Temperament
Chihuahuas are a breed of dog that is aggressive, alert, quick, devoted, energetic, and courageous. Little dogs who are expressive, humorous, amusing, and devoted.
His wariness of strangers and vigilant nature make him an ideal watchdog. Chihuahuas require early socialising as well as occasional exercise. He’s a sensitive personality and thrives on affection and companionship.
Chihuahuas are intelligent dogs who are highly loyal to the people they love. They will joyfully accompany their owners wherever they go. It is not suitable for families with tiny children.
They have a reputation for snapping at small children or strangers who may be threatening because of their small size. They are wonderful companion dogs if they’ve been properly exercised and socialised.
Chihuahua will thrive in houses where someone is always present. When treated respectfully, Chihuahuas are excellent family companions.
Is Chihuahua Good With you & your family?
Chihuahuas make excellent companion pets. They are generally good with families, but only after much training and socialisation. It is affectionate and faithful, and makes a terrific first-time pet.
They are not appropriate for a family with little children. Chihuahuas can be aggressive for the same reasons that any dog can be aggressive: fear, territorial behaviour, or the desire to display dominance.
Appearance
Body: Chihuahua bodies are slightly longer than their height.
Head: There are two types of heads. Apple head and deer head.
Ear’s: Their ears are long and stand erect.
Tail: Its tail is long and carries a sickle.
Eye’s: Their eyes are big and round. The colour of their eyes is light brown. Which chihuahua has a dark coat they have dark-coloured eyes.
Coat: Chihuahua have two types of coats. Long coat and short coat. The short coat is tight and shiny, and the long coat is straight or slightly wavy.
Coat color: It’s coat colour comes in white, black, fawn, chocolate, cream, gold.
Nose: It has a short nose.
Teeth: They have a scissors bite.
Common Health Problems & It’s Symptoms
The Chihuahua may be suffer from the this health issues:
Health Problems | Symptoms |
Patellar Luxation |
|
Hypoglycemia |
|
Shivering |
|
Heart Murmur |
|
Hip Dysplasia |
|
Pulmonic |
|
Stenosis |
|
How to take care
Feeding plan:
Smaller chihuahuas need more food than larger ones. Puppies require free feeding, which means food should be put out at all times until they are three months old so they can eat whenever they want.
- From 3 to 6 month feed them 3 or 4 times a day.
- At 6 month feed them 2 or 3 times per day.
- Adult chihuahua need feed 1 time per day.
Small quantities of high-quality food are better than bigger quantities of low-quality food. A healthy adult chihuahua requires approximately 35 calories per pound of body weight.
Choose a high-quality dry dog food for your pet. Make sure you don’t overfeed them.
Activities need:
Chihuahua is small breed, they does not need too much activity. 20 – 30 minute exercise is ideal for them. 30 minute per day walk keep them in shape and mentally fresh.
Many calories can also be burned through this walk. You can also play puzzle, indoor games with them.
Give right home atmosphere:
Chihuahuas require a quiet home environment due to their small size and temperament. They prefers home which is particularly without small children. Although a Chihuahua may appear to be a lap dog, they require frequent exercise.
This means daily walks and playtime. Despite their unique requirements, Chihuahuas are quite adaptable and make excellent pets in even the smallest of city flats. If you wrap them up for the winter, they’ll be content practically anyplace.
Best owner for a Chihuahua:
Chihuahuas dislike being left alone as well. The best Chihuahua owner will have lots of time for their pet. Pet owners will need to devote additional effort to training and socialising.
Any underlying aggressive or anxious behaviour will be exacerbated by being left alone, paired with a lack of exercise and play. Consider crating your dog, if you need to leave the house for a short period of time.
The ideal Chihuahua parent will most likely work part-time or from home in order to devote as much time as possible to care for and bonding with their pet.
Enlisting the assistance of a dependable pet sitter or daycare provider, on the other hand, can be a lifesaver.
Grooming Needs
Brushing:
The Chihuahua coat is available in two types. Short coated and long coated. Long-coated chihuahuas need more concentrative care than small-coated.
Brush their hair before bathing to get rid of any tangles. Once a week, brush your chihuahua’s short coat. Brush their hair in the direction that it grows.
Use a spinning pin brush or a pin brush. Brushing your dog might help him feel free and clean.
Teeth Brushing
Between the ages of eight and sixteen weeks, begin brushing your puppy’s teeth. Always brush your dog using a toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs.
Brush your dog’s teeth at least once a day to maintain his gums in good shape and his breath fresh. Make sure you carefully clean each tooth.
Consult your usual veterinarian for the best strategy to keep your teeth in good shape. Brushing your chihuahua’s teeth and maintaining a healthy diet will be taught to you by your veterinarian.
Bathing process:
- Bathe your chihuahua once every three or four months.
- This breed need a small place for bathing.
- Place your pup in a clean sink. Smalller’s place allows better handling of the owner.
- Be sure the water temperature is neither too cold nor too hot.
- Do not use human shampoo or conditioner on your pet’s body. Always use standard dog shampoo.
- Gently rub shampoo into all parts of the chihuahua.
- Keep a soft and absorbent towel with you.
- Use a dryer for drying your chihuahua coat. Don’t hold the drier too near to the skin. It causes injuries to the
dog’s coat and skin.
Ear’s & Nails
They have long and floppy ears. Clean their ears once per month. Use a standard dog cleaner. Add a few drops of cleaner into the dogs’ canel and gently rub with a cotton ball.
After bathing or swimming, make sure to properly dry your chihuahua ears.
Cut your chihuahua nails once a month.
How to train Chihuahua Puppy
Feed your Chihuahua at set intervals. Never let your dog decide when it’s time to eat. This may appear insignificant, but it shows the dog who makes the decisions in the household.
Exercise should be a top priority, and it should be done on a daily basis if possible. Puppy training requires a lot of exercise.
Never reply to a barking dog. If your dog barks when you enter or exit the house, ignore it. Only pay attention to the Chihuahua when it is calm and relaxed.
Basic commands such as sit, down, stay, come, heel, roll over, and so on should be learned to them. You can teach these commands to your dog when he is sitting on a table, as bending all the time can be exhausting. Give them rewards for their positive attitude.
To get your Chihuahua comfortable with humans and other dogs, socialise him as much as possible. The sooner and more frequently you can do this, the better suited he’ll be once he’s among people and pets without your guidance.
It’s also a good idea to start crate training. This should educate them where to poop in the house properly. Make sure the puppy goes to the box after eating, waking up, or whenever you notice him circling.
If your chihuahua puppy bites you, you’ll have a big problem. Give them soft chew toys to chew on.
Puppy price
Chihuahua puppy price is between $500 to $1,500.
How to care Chihuahua in Winter?
They originated in warm, dry areas where a single coating of thin fur provided sufficient insulation. The Chihuahua is unable to tolerate the cold. In the winter, their small size paired with their thin coat makes them particularly vulnerable to ice, cold, and snow.
When you take your dog outside in the cold, make sure he is dressed warmly. If you live in the mountains, where the ground is covered in snow for more than half of the year, a Chihuahua might not be the best dog for you.
During the winter, provide them sweaters, jackets, and coats to protect themselves from the cold. Keep your Chihuahua inside, even if the weather isn’t too cold.
Don’t allow your dog to run outside when the temperature falls below this level. If you find any ichness on their body, take them to the vet right away. Your veterinarian has prescribed dog winter cream for you.
Chihuahua Mix breeds
- Chimeranian = Chihuahua + Pomeranian
- Chipaniel = Chihuahua + Cocker Spaniel
- Chizer = Chihuahua + Miniature Schnauzer
- Chion = Chihuahua + Papillon
- French Bullhuahua = Chihuahua + French Bulldog
- Chibeagle = Chihuahua + Beagle
- Chibo Terrier = Chihuahua + Boston Terrier
- Chat Terrier = Chihuahua + Rat Terrier
- Corhuahua = Chihuahua + Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Jack Chi = Chihuahua + Jack Russel Terrier
- Chug = Chihuahua + Pug
- Min Chin = Chihuahua + Miniature Pinscher
- Chiweenie = Chihuahua + Dachshund
- Chi Chon = Chihuahua + Bichon Frise
- Chi Chi = Chihuahua + Chinese Crested
Things to consider adopting a Chihuahua puppies
- Adopting a dog is also a huge responsibility. It’s a decision you’ll want to create carefully.
- Because this is a small breed, finding breeders who specialise in small hybrids might be challenging. However, it is not impossible.
- You should not adopt this dog if you do not have the time to consistently teach, socialise, and exercise it.
Inquire about the breed’s history, and explain why one puppy is considered pet quality. Talk about how health issues affect the breed and what efforts she takes to avoid them. - Never purchase a puppy from an irresponsible or inept breeder.
- Keep an eye on the puppies’ health and condition. Examine the breeder’s knowledge by asking them a few questions about the breed.
- Maintain calm behaviour with them. Tell your friend or family member to be kind to them.
- Chihuahuas need high maintenance, so make sure it is financially affordable or not.
- A Chihuahua may not be the greatest choice for your home if you live in the mountains where the ground is covered in snow for more than half of the year.
- Your chihuahua may be suffering from joint and bone problems. Just remember this and do whatever you can to keep your pup safe.
- This dog breed is not hypoallergenic. They have a tendency to shed.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Advantages:
- They are excellent for those who live in an apartment.
- It is good watch dog.
- They have long life span.
- It is easy to groom.
- This is very friendly dog.
Disadvantages:
- It can bark a lot.
- They may have some health issues.
- They are not suitable for small kids.
- Some time they are aggressive.
- They need proper exercise and training.
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