Made famous in recent years by the precocious “Taco Bell Dog” and his compelling “Drop the Chalupa” remark, this adorable, itty, bitty breed was discovered in the late 1800’s by American tourists in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, after which the breed was named.
The Chihuahua’s origin are not exactly known; theories range from it being of Chinese ancestry-brought to Mexico by Chinese only 100 years ago, to it being the descendant of an ancient Egyptian breed. Archaeologists have also found Mayan Indian clay sculptures of tiny dogs that closely resemble the Chihuahua dating back as far as the 5th century.
As the world’s smallest dog, weighing in at just 2-6 lbs, the Chihuahua doesn’t require a lot of living space and does very well in an apartment setting. Despite it’s tiny size, the Chihuahua has the heart of a lion; he will bravely take on the largest canine interloper, and has to be reminded constantly that he is less than a foot tall!!
Chihuahuas, being so unaware of their small stature, have been known to even challenge the larger dogs. You must take extra care when walking your Chihuahua or playing outdoors. Chihuahua’s do seem to prefer the company of other Chihuahuas to any other breed, although they do quite nicely with most other family pets; especially when brought in as a puppy.
Chihuahuas develop strong bonds with “their” humans, and do tend to bond more with one person but as a general rule, this breed loves the entire family. Chihuahuas will follow their “number one” wherever he/she may go, and would prefer that he/she never stray far.
This breed is alert, highly intelligent, playful, affectionate and intensely loyal. Chihuahua make great companions for the elderly or disabled person. It is not advisable to pair Chihuahuas with small children, although I have always had my children and now my grandchild around them.
If children are taught from an early age the delicacy & diminutive size of the Chihuahua and taught to be gentle, it works out. Of course, you should never leave a child unattended with a Chihuahua; not even for a second.
Playtime should be for small periods of time only as a Chihuahua puppy can experience fatigue and if their energy isn’t replaced quite quickly, it often results in low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. To prevent this, a Chihuahua puppy should have small frequent meals and plenty of rest.
The Chihuahua dog breed is very intelligent and can easily be house trained, paper trained, and even litter box trained. In colder climates, it may be necessary to provide a wardrobe for your Chihuahua for outdoor activities; a little jacket and booties are a must in winter weather.
The Chihuahua’s coat comes in both long and short variations, and comes in a wide range of colors and combinations.
If you are considering adding one of these charming creatures to your family, be forewarned; CHIHUAHUA’S ARE ADDICTIVE!!
“THERE IS NO LOVE LIKE A CHIHUAHUA’S LOVE!”
Copyright 2003 Dog Breeds A to Z
Used with permission