Chihuahua

Chihuahua: Dog Breed Information Guide 2022

The Chihuahua is one of the most popular and well-known dog breeds in America. These little bundles of personality are famous not only for their round heads, large ears, and small size but also for their ability to express themselves through barking.

These dogs might bark a lot, but if you are a part of their family, they will love to be around you. If a Chihuahua decides to bond with you, they’d love to sit on your lap or follow you around while you go about your day.

Chihuahuas don’t seem to understand that they’re small. They are feisty and full of bravery, but they can be delicate. Their small size means that roughhousing with small children who might not think to be gentle is out of the question.

Are you thinking about adopting a Chihuahua? Before bringing home one of these wonderful dogs, you should consider whether you and a Chihuahua would fit in well together.

Hopefully, we can help you answer that question today by providing you with information on the Chihuahua breed.

As pet parents ourselves, we at Spot Pet Insurance understand how difficult taking that first step can be. To help prepare yourself for your new furry friend, you need to research the Chihuahua’s personality, wants, and needs. That’s why we’ve provided educational resources like this and other articles to help start you on the path to being a great pet parent.

The history of the Chihuahua

Chihuahuas have a distinct appearance. They often have soft spots called moleras at the tops of their skulls, and they’re one of the smallest breeds out there. Their size is comparable to the Pomeranian, another toy dog that often has lapdog duties.

Chihuahuas are one of the breeds considered to be from the Americas. They are widely considered Mexican dogs. However, although they receive their name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, it is debated whether their origin is actually in Central or South America.

Some think that the predecessors of the Chihuahua were from Central or South America and lived with the Toltecs or Aztecs. Some Central and South American cultures would use a dog breed known as the Techichi as food or in sacrificial rituals. The Techichi is one of the possible ancestors of the Chihuahua.

The other primary theory is that Chihuahuas are the descendants of Chinese dogs that came to the Americas with the Spanish. While we don’t know which case is true, we know that the first historical record of the Chihuahua was in the mid-1800s.

During this time, the Chihuahua was first introduced into the United States. They were called a variety of names ranging from Texas dog to Chihuahua terriers, but the name Chihuahua, without any suffix, stuck.

During the late 1800s, Rosalina Casselli took a troupe of trick Chihuahuas on tour. In 1904, Midget, a short-haired dog, became the first Chihuahua registered with the American Kennel Club.

The Chihuahua’s popularity quickly grew after the rumba king, Xavier Cugat, began to bring his Chihuahuas with him everywhere, including in his films and TV show. The Chihuahua became the third most popular breed in 1964, and they’ve been in the top twenty ever since.

What are things you need to watch out for with a Chihuahua?

Chihuahuas are a feisty breed, although some can be shy. Depending on the personality of your particular Chihuahua, you may need to keep an eye on how they interact with other dogs. A brave Chihuahua can try to challenge much larger dogs without regard for their smaller size.

Chihuahuas also tend to have trouble learning the rules for housetraining, so you might want to be prepared by having extra towels on hand. They can also be stubborn when they’re being trained. Fortunately, praise and food usually work as a bribe.

What kind of exercise and training do Chihuahuas need?

Since Chihuahuas are pretty small, a lot of their energy levels can be used up by just following you around the house or maybe playing an indoor game.

Short walks can be useful to keep their minds active and sharp, though. The outside has many wonderful things they can track, which provides necessary mental stimulation.

You’ve probably seen lots of movies where people carry around their fashionable Chihuahuas inside a purse. Although this may seem like a funny and odd activity to some, it’s actually a great way for your Chihuahua to experience the world without getting too tired out.

Although they are small in body, Chihuahuas have the ego of a much bigger dog. They must be trained properly from a young age. Otherwise, they will end up running the house, and that is not good for either you or your pet. However, they are fairly intelligent, and they want to make you happy, so they can learn pretty well.

They respond well to positive reinforcements, but you need to be firm and consistent. If you don’t want them on the couch, for example, and you find them on the couch, don’t let them get away with it.

It’s important to make sure your Chihuahua gets socialization from an early age. Meeting new people and dogs and going to new places would help prevent your Chihuahua from being too antisocial and aggressive.

Do Chihuahuas get cold?

If you live in a colder climate, it’s best to keep your Chihuahua inside as much as possible. Their small size and short coats prevent them from retaining a lot of heat.

What health concerns are Chihuahuas prone to? 

Chihuahuas can become hypoglycemic (have a low blood sugar) if they aren’t fed often enough, especially when they are younger. Ask your vet about potential signs of health issues like hypoglycemia in your pet and how to handle these issues.

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is also common in this breed. With this condition, your pup might lose their brain’s ability to function properly.

It can cause brain damage, and because of the growth in the head, the bones in the skull can thin out. Hydrocephalus can affect the eyes, causing blindness. The progression of the disease is usually unpredictable, and it can eventually cause death if not treated.

However, it is possible that the disease will stabilize itself. The goal of treatment is to get the fluid to stop building up and potentially drain it, but if the body stops the buildup itself, the condition might not progress.

Pulmonic stenosis

Pulmonic stenosis is also common in Chihuahuas. These issues can obstruct blood flow to the heart and lungs. If the blood flow is obstructed, it makes it difficult for the lungs or heart to perform their functions properly, which affects the body, since the heart and lungs help to circulate oxygen to the rest of the body.

Patellar luxation

Patellar luxation is a condition affecting the kneecap of your dog’s leg. It can occur in one or both legs, although two legs is rarer.

There can be many reasons for a luxating patella, like a groove the patella is supposed to fit into being too shallow, abnormal hip joint affecting the knee, malformation of the tibia or femur, or the attachment point for the muscle is off.

The different reasons for patellar luxation can affect the severity of the problem and also the potential treatment.

Spot Pet Insurance members have the benefit of either visiting any licensed vet in the United States and Canada or using the 24/7 telehealth line powered by VetAccess. Spot plans cover chronic and hereditary conditions, as long as they aren’t pre-existing, and our plans can be tailored to your needs.

Thinking about your pet getting ill can cause anxiety, but hopefully, knowing what to look for and how to best help your pet makes you feel more at ease and prepared if anything happens.

Chihuahua: An introduction to the breed

Chihuahuas are one of the smallest dog breeds. They are famous for their apple-like heads, big ears and eyes, and small, curled tails.

The most popular variant of the Chihuahua is one with a smooth, short coat, although some Chihuahuas have medium-length fur. Their coats can come in many different colors and with many different markings, although only some of them are part of the AKC standard.

Markings that a Chihuahua can have include: spotted on white, white markings, merle markings, black sabling, black brindling, and black mask. Some unofficial markings are also possible, like a black mask and white markings, red markings, and blue masks.

How much grooming do Chihuahuas require? 

Your choice of Chihuahua will affect how much grooming you will need to do. Short hairs require very little brushing, although they should be brushed monthly or bi-monthly to keep their coat oily enough.

A long-haired chihuahua will require weekly brushing. Either way, keeping their silky coats clean is a pretty easy task.

Are Chihuahuas friendly?

They can be very affectionate, but that is usually only with their family, and even then, a Chihuahua usually picks one person to develop a closer bond with. They don’t respond well to strangers, whether humans or dogs and their size makes being around young kids more of a problem than a blessing.

Are Chihuahuas loud? 

Chihuahua will bark at everything and anything. They have their opinions, and they want to express them. They are pretty good watchdogs since they will warn you of anyone who is trying to approach the door.

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