Complete Guide on Chihuahua Dog Breeds

The Chihuahua dog breeds are some of the most famous dog breeds globally, thanks to their cute small, and beautiful coats. Indeed the Chihuahua is hard to hate, even if you aren’t a dog lover.

The small size is what endears it to most dog owners, although its playful nature also plays a significant role. Chihuahuas are unmistakable from a group of different dog breeds.

They are usually small, with straight-up ears and large eyes. The smooth coat from the long hair makes them one of the most beautiful dogs. If you are looking for more information on Chihuahuas, then you are at the right place.

Let’s get down to it.

About Chihuahua Breeds

Chihuahuas are recognized by some of the world’s kennel clubs as the most miniature dog breeds. They come in two varieties based on the type of coating they have. These are the smooth-haired Chihuahuas and the long-haired Chihuahuas.

We don’t necessarily mean that their coats would be smooth as some can be slightly rough by smooth-haired. There are some instances where the long-haired breeds have softer coats than the other varieties.

All Chihuahuas have large round and bulging eyes with erect ears. They are relatively low maintenance and won’t require you to trim the hair if you have a long-haired variety.

The life expectancy of around 16 years means you will own them for some time. Chihuahuas are naturally healthy animals if you take care of them well. That means ensuring they are properly vaccinated as well as fed.

Thanks to their sweet, cuddly nature, Chihuahuas are a favorite of many people, especially celebrities. Most people not only have them as pets but also as companions.

Why feel lovely when you can have a sweet, cuddly best friend to keep you company?

History of a Chihuahua

Did you know that the name Chihuahua stems from a Mexican state of the same name? Yes. Chihuahuas are named after a Mexican state. Does that mean that they originated in Mexico?

Yes, it does. As they are today, Chihuahuas were first seen in the Mexican state of Chihuahua early in the 1850s. They were then brought to America by visitors that visited the state.

Before that, however, Chihuahuas are believed to have first entered North America about 4500 years ago. Like with most other dog breeds, it is hard to trace the lineage of the Chihuahuas.

However, genomic patterns contend that they came into the Americas from Siberia, where they underwent isolation for about 9000 years. After that, they mated with Eurasian dogs, which replaced the original Chihuahuas as they spread across Europe.

According to one theory, Chihuahuas have a close link to the Aztecs of Mexico. Historians have seen wall paintings of dogs with large bulging eyes in areas frequented by the Aztecs.

It is believed the Aztecs considered the ancestors of the Chihuahua a sacred anima and used it in their rituals. They, however, used to call it the Techichi. The Techichi was believed to have mysterious powers, which is why they used it for ceremonial purposes.

However, upon the Spanish conquering of the Aztecs’ area, the Techichi got lost with the destruction of the Aztecs.

Another theory that tries to explain the origin of the Chihuahua claims that they first came to Mexico from Spain. Spanish traders came with small shorthaired dogs then bred them with the local dogs.

This theory, like the other one, can also not be proven. That should matter, though, since we now have the cute and cuddly Chihuahuas that everyone loves. The American Kennel Club first recognized them in 1904.

Still, it wasn’t until the 1940s and 50s when their popularity skyrocketed thanks to their association with famous musician Xavier Cugat. It is thought that the long-haired Chihuahuas are a result of crossbreeding t5he shorthaired Chihuahua and Papillion’s.

From the early sixties, the Chihuahua has only grown in popularity. The American Kennel Club now ranks them 11^th among its 155 known breeds.

Chihuahua Personality

Chihuahuas are suckers for affection and are more likely to form bonds with a single person. Although quite friendly, they can be suspicious of unfamiliar people. That coupled with their alert nature makes them the ideal watchdogs.

If you properly introduce them to other people, they are more likely to get used to them. Otherwise, they will be somewhat reserved in the company of strangers. Making them social will require you to start training them early when they are still pups.

Therefore introducing them to different people when they are still growing will help mold them into well-rounded dogs. At the same time, try and introduce them to new sights, places, sounds, or experiences.

Like children, Chihuahua dog breeds will take on the personality you try to give to them when still young.

Chihuahua Size

As you might already know, Chihuahua dog breeds are some of the tiniest dogs in the world. Females can grow to a maximum height of only eight inches. Males, too, don’t vary and can grow to the exact 8 inches in height.

They also have the same range of weight, whether male or female. They can be between 6 and 8 pounds. Although there are a few that would weigh lesser than 5 pounds, those are usually unhealthy.

For lovers of bigger dogs, the Chihuahua’s size might seem quite inadequate. Still, if you are looking for a sweet, cuddly, and loyal dog, the Chihuahua is just it.

Feeding A Chihuahua

Feeding Chihuahuas isn’t that hard. All you need to do is follow the recommended food rationing according to age. Half or a quarter cupful of the best dry food should be enough for your Chihuahua dog.

You, however, will need to understand that this may vary according to the dog’s age and its rate of metabolism. Selecting a suitable feed will go a long way in enabling your dog to grow into the healthy animal you want.

That will need you to choose the food with the best nutrients for your dog. Dog feed quality might vary with price, but if you can afford the best food, then, by all means, get some for your dog.

You will love the results.

Chihuahua Health Issues

The Chihuahua breeds are relatively healthy dogs, although they are predisposed to some genetic diseases. Not all Chihuahuas will suffer from those diseases, but it won’t hurt to know them.

Heart Murmurs

This disease comes about due to disturbances in how blood flows through the heart’s chambers. This disease will require you to constantly monitor the dog’s heart for any underlying heart conditions.

With a confirmed diagnosis, you will need to give the dog special food or medication and ensure it doesn’t exercise that much.

Hypoglycemia

This is a disease where the dog has low blood sugar. If identified early, you can easily treat it. There is a need to ensure your dog’s vet doesn’t diagnose it in the wrong way. It is commonly confused for viral hepatitis or encephalitis.

It can be a fatal disease if it isn’t diagnosed early enough. Symptoms include shivering or the dog becoming withdrawn. Convulsions and collapsing are advanced signs that will probably lead to death.

Shivering

While this might appear normal to humans, it can be a problem in some Chihuahuas. Chihuahuas might shiver when they are stressed or are overexcited. It is, however, a regular occurrence with Chihuahuas and thus shouldn’t worry you that much.

Open Fontanel

Like babies, Chihuahuas also have a soft part on the center of their heads. It should close up after some time, but you will still need to treat the dog gently.

That makes the dogs quite delicate since if you accidentally kick them on the head, they might die instantly.

To avoid some of these issues with Chihuahuas, you will need to ensure you get your dog from certified breeders. Such breeds have the healthiest possible dogs and test them for any underlying issues such as heart diseases.

Don’t get the dogs from a breeder you can’t trust. They might harbor certain genetic conditions that would later cost you lots of money treating.

Training A Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are intelligent dogs, and it shouldn’t take you a lot of time to train them into the ideal dog. You will need to be gentle with the dog but set clear boundaries as well as be firm.

You can do that by encouraging positive behavior by giving out rewards. Positive teaching is the best way to go but always ensure you aren’t too soft on the dog. The dog might behave in a silly manner from time to time, and you shouldn’t let it get away with that.

Whatever you do while training, never punish the dog physically. The Chihuahuas are quite small and wouldn’t withstand physical punishment. Walks are also another fantastic way to teach your dog some tricks.

With the right training, you won’t have to worry about your dog disobeying you or behaving in an unruly manner.

Getting a Chihuahua

So, after getting to know all there is to know about Chihuahuas, where do you get one? The internet is filled with many people offering Chihuahua pups. Still, you will need to ensure you get them from a reliable seller.

As we have mentioned before, getting it from the wrong place could end up leaving you with an unhealthy dog that would give you trouble. The most common way to get a puppy is to contact the American Kennel Club. The club links buyers and sellers.

They have a puppy finder on their website that could help you find rescue centers. They, however, can’t guarantee you the quality of the pups you buy, as that is usually between the buyer and the seller.

You could also visit the below websites to get linked with Chihuahua sellers or to look for rescue centers with Chihuahuas.

At most of these places, you will be adopting Chihuahuas that might have been rescued from unfortunate situations. You, therefore, can’t get a full guarantee regarding their quality

More Tips and Essential Items For Chihuahua

You also can check out our other posts for Chihuahua.

For essential items:

• Choosing the best crate for your chihuahua

For Training Tips:

• How to stop your chihuahua from biting

For other interesting tips:

• Name Ideas for your Chihuahua

Final Thoughts

Did you know that the Chihuahua is the second most euthanized dog in the world? For all their cuteness and cuddly nature that seem a little bit surprising, doesn’t it? If you can adopt a Chihuahua instead of buying one, it would be a fantastic idea.

Doesn’t it make sense to give a home to one of the many abandoned dogs that need a home than to buy one? If you are thinking of getting a Chihuahua, then consider adopting.

Chihuahuas are a lovable breed of dogs you should consider getting if you are looking for a dog. We hope we have helped enlighten you some more regarding their qualities.