The Chihuahua : Smallest Of The Small

Which breed of dog is the smallest in the world and is named after a state? You guessed it the Chihuahua. The Chihuahua is the tiniest of the toy breeds and is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua where the first chi’s were discovered. This is the oldest breed known to the American content. They are believed to have been brought over from Europe and became sacred to the pre-Columbian Indian tribes. The ancient Aztecs had a similar breed of dog called the Techihi. The exact origins are unclear, and there are many theories about how this dog came to be. Some believe the dog was first developed by the Chinese.

Chihuahuas have a body that is longer than their tail. They have a round apple shaped head and a small pointed snout. They have large heart melting eyes which are dark or even ruby in color. They have large erect ears that tend to stick straight up when the dog is alert and stand out at the sides when the dog is at rest. They have a long sickle shaped tail which curves over the back or off to the side. Though they are small they are sturdy for their size having straight legs and a level back. They can have either a short or long coat, which can either be wavy or flat, and can be found in almost any color. They can be solid in color or have markings and splashes. Common coat colors are tan, chocolate, black and tan, white, black, grey, chestnut, silver, steal blue, sable and parti-color. They stand 6-9 inches tall and weigh in at 2-6 pounds, sometimes less. The term teacup is used a lot with this breed, however there is no such thing as a teacup dog. It is simply a term used by breeders to fetch a larger profit and is just used to describe the smaller dogs of a breed. Chihuahua puppies are the only puppies born with a soft spot in their skull known as a molera, this usually closes by adulthood.

Chihuahuas make wonderful companion dogs and many choose them due to their small size, this makes them versatile in many different living situations. They make great apartment dogs but just because they are small doesn’t mean they don’t need to be walked. All dogs no matter how big or small need exercise. Chihuahuas are bright, agile, cheerful, brave, loyal little dogs. They love attention and become very attached to their owners and can be quite weary of strangers. Early socialization is key to keeping your chi from becoming overly protective and aggressive with strangers. They are lively little dogs with a proud and adventurous nature.  Chis can become strong willed without proper human leadership, training can be a bit tough with this breed.  However they are intelligent and learn quickly, they do best with firm but gentle positive reinforcement. Just because they are small doesn’t mean you should let these dogs get away with things that would not be permitted by a larger breed, this can lead to small dog syndrome. You may think it’s cute for such a tiny dog to jump up on your leg but this is still a dominate behavior even in small dogs and can lead to the dog believing it is pack leader; which can lead to many behavior problems such as aggression, and jealously. Aggression can be towards other dogs, adults and children. They tend to dislike dogs of other breeds but have a clan like tendency with other Chihuahuas. Typically Chihuahuas are not recommended for families with children due to the fact that people tend to treat these little dogs more like a baby and less like a dog which can lead to snapping and other untrustworthy behavior. If the dog is given the proper leadership and training and is treated like a dog and not a baby a very appealing temperament is formed and can even become a good companion for children. Chihuahuas have a bad rep for being snippy and mean but this is only true in situations where they are allowed to be the leader and are not trained and given the guidance all dogs need from their humans. Chihuahuas make wonderful pets when treated properly and they can become wonderful, loyal companions.

Chihuahuas are prone to such health problems as rheumatism, colds, gum problems, and low blood sugar. Because of their small snout they tend to wheeze and snore. Since they are so small they are prone to bone injuries, especially during puppyhood. They also tend to gain weigh easily and should not be allowed to over eat. Because they are so small be wary of toxicants, it wouldn’t take much to poison them. Often they give birth via. Cesarean sections since the puppies have large heads. They are more of a warm weather breed and they dislike the cold. Even though they are small they shouldn’t be kept in overly small spaces, all dogs despite their size need room to run and play. These dogs are expected to live 15 years or more.

Grooming is relatively easy. The short haired verity does well with the occasional brushing or even being whipped with a damp cloth. The longer haired Chis should be brushed daily with a soft bristled brush. Both types should be bathed about once a month, being careful not to get water in the ears. Check the ears on a regular basis keeping them clean and trim the nails. Chihuahuas are an average shedder.