The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog recognized by the AKC, weighing 2 to 6 pounds and standing 6 to 9 inches tall. It is also regarded as the longest lived. Many of them live 16 to 18 years and beyond. The smooth coat and the long coat are considered as the same breed, and can even be littermates.
Some speculate that the pocket-sized pups have European or Asian roots but since they were discovered in Mexico in the mid 19th century, most people consider them a Mexican breed. It is said that Montezuma, the last of the Aztec rulers, and General Santa Ana, the Mexican dictator, both kept large numbers of Chihuahuas. The first Chihuahua officially registered with the AKC was Midget, in 1904. By 1915, thirty were registered. WWII took a toll on Chihuahua breeding and by 1949, only eight were on record. After the war, the breed rose quickly in popularity and in 2004, more than 24,000 were registered.
Chihuahua litters consist, on average, of three puppies and most are born with a 'molera', or 'soft spot' like a human baby, which closes as they mature but occasionally, the fontanel remains. In this case, they are quite vulnerable to even a light bump to the head, and owners must take special care that the dog is handled carefully.
All breeds have tendencies to certain disorders and Chihuahuas are no different. Weak knee or patellar luxation (dislocation of the knee cap) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) seem to pick on the Chihuahua breed.
When choosing a Chihuahua, it may be wise to choose two, since they seem to recognize their own breed and enjoy the companionship of other Chis. The tiny dogs require a minimum of space, care and expense and make loving lap dogs. Where shedding is a problem, the long coat would be preferred. These little teacup dogs can easily be paper or litter trained in the case of an owner who is unable to take the dog outside. Chihuahuas do not tolerate cold and love to burrow under covers or sunbathe. They usually, but not always, bond with one person and are quite protective, despite their small size. They tend to have a 'big dog' personality in their tiny packaging and some have earned the reputation of being yappy and snappy with strangers, but that's not always the case. Chihuahuas are quite intelligent and loyal and early socialization and proper training can mold them into wonderful family dogs.
If you would like to add a Chuhuahua or two to your household, please consider adopting from your local shelter or breed rescue.
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Joy Butler - Writer, retired lab tech, mom, and animal lover with over 20 years' experience rescuing, kenneling, training and showing dogs.
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