The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog and is named for the Chihuahua region in Mexico.

 

[ A Fawn Smooth coat Chihuahua ]

 

Appearance

Chihuahuas are known best for their large erect ears and small size.

The AKC (American Kennel Club) recognizes two varieties of Chihuahua, the long-coat and the smooth-coat. Many smooth-coat Chihuahuas have very thin hair, but other smooth coats have a very dense, thick coat.

Breed standards for this dog do not generally specify a height, only a weight and a description of their overall proportions. As a result, height varies more than within many other breeds. Generally, the height ranges between 6 to 10 inches at the withers. However, some dogs grow as tall as 12 to 15 inches. AKC show dogs must weigh no more than 6 lb (2.7 kg); the FCI standard calls for dogs ideally between 1.5 and 3 kg (3.3 to 6.6 lb), although smaller ones are acceptable in the show ring.

 

However, pet-quality Chihuahuas can, and do, range above these weights, to 10 pounds or even more if they have large bone structures or are allowed to become overweight. This does not mean they are not purebred Chihuahuas, it only means that they do not meet the requirements to enter a conformation show. Oversize Chihuahuas are seen in some of the best and worst bloodlines.

Chihuahuas come in many colors, from solid blacks to solid whites, spotted, or a variety of other colors like fawn (tan), chocolate, blue (gray), silver, tricolored (chocolate, blue, or black with tan and white markings), brindle, and merle. And each of these colors vary in shades and tones, as fawn can be a term to describe a tan dog from a very pale cream to a deep (almost red) tan, or any shade in between, and the chocolate coloration can range from a milky light shade of brown, to a deep mahogony brown, to a dark brown that is almost black.

 

[ Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. This is a black with tan markings smooth-coat Chihuahua. ]

 

 

Temperament

Although they are prized for their devotion and personality, Chihuahuas are not well-suited as small children's pets because of their size and physical fragility. However, their alertness, intelligence and size make them easily adaptable to a variety of environments, including the city and small apartments, and make for usually long lifetimes of 15 years or more. They are often stereotyped as yappy or barky and fragile, but if the dog is trained correctly, they make good companions and pets.
 

[ A chocolate with tan markings smooth-coat Chihuahua ]
 

 

A huge influence on personality and traits of a Chihuahua is a puppy's parents or other adult dogs in the puppy's home; if either parent is shy, timid, yappy, barky, or aggressive or has other behavioral issues, the puppy has a large chance of developing similar characteristics. Chihuahuas raised in a home with well-mannered Chihuahuas have a good start on good manners.
 

[ A fawn smooth-coat Chihuahua ]
 

 

Many Chihuahuas focus their devotion on one person, becoming overly jealous of that person's human relationships. However, well-socialized Chihuahuas can get over this attachment to a single owner, and it is suggested to introduce the young dog to many people and situations, and to have all members of a household share equally in the dog's care and training. Most Chihuahuas are very bold and love attention, to the point where some can be overbearing. Chihuahuas also have a "clannish" nature (basically a breed loyalty) and may prefer the companionship of another Chihuahua over other dog breeds.

Chihuahuas seem to have no concept of their own size, and may fearlessly confront larger animals, so owners may want to keep their Chihuahua on a leash whenever they go outside.
 

[ A smooth coat Chihuahua, chocolate colored, 3 years-old. resident of Los Angeles, CA ]
 

Despite their reputation for being a house pet, Chihuahuas are highly curious, and enjoy exploring the sights and smells of the outdoors, such as parks and hiking trails. Many Chihuahuas do not like the cold or breezes due to their small body size and thin coat. Chihuahua owners often dress their dogs in sweaters or coats in cold weather. A good rule of thumb is that if the owner needs a sweater, the dog needs a sweater.

 

 

Housebreaking, care, and training

Male chihuahuas can be extremely difficult to house break especially if left unaltered (not neutered). Paper training works well for a Chihuahua, as with most small breeds.

Big dogs might confused Chihuahuas with a prey animal (such as squirrels and rabbits), and so might other animals like predatory birds and coyotes, so leaving a Chihuahua outdoors unsupervised is dangerous.

As for any breed, Chihuahua owners usually get the most from their pet with basic pet training and obedience classes.

Health, History and Interesting issue of Chihuahua Dogs

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chihuahua".