Chihuahua: Dog Breed Profile

The Chihuahua, the smallest dog breed in the world, has its origins in Mexico and is one of the most widespread and very popular toy dog ​​breeds today. He is an easy-care and adaptable companion in all circumstances, but is equipped with a large portion of self-confidence and therefore also requires consistent training.

Origin and history

The Chihuahua originated in Mexico and is considered the smallest breed of dog in the world. The name comes from the largest state in the Mexican Republic (Chihuahua), where he is said to have lived in the wild. In the middle of the 19th century, it arrived in the United States – “discovered” by American tourists – and spread further in Europe. In recent years, the Chihuahua has become a popular dwarf dog breed that is attracting more and more followers due to its robustness, small size, and special character.

Appearance of the Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a tiny dog ​​with a compact body that is slightly longer than it is tall. Characteristic of its appearance is the apple-shaped head with the pointed snout and its relatively large erected ears, which form an angle of about 45° to the sides when at rest. The tail is of medium length and is carried over the back.

The Chihuahua is bred into two varieties:

• The short-haired Chihuahua has a short, dense but soft and shiny coat with a light undercoat
• The long-haired Chihuahua has long, silky, and slightly wavy hair with a light undercoat.

The Chihuahua comes in all colors and color combinations: from pure white, to whitish with cream-colored markings, tricolor (three-colored) to pure black.

Temperament of the Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a lively, intelligent, and docile dog. However, the tiny among the dogs is equipped with a large portion of personality. Especially the more dominant short-haired Chihuahua likes to overestimate itself when dealing with larger dogs. He must be taken seriously in any case and needs consistent, loving training, otherwise, the dog dwarf can easily become a tyrant. The long-haired Chihuahua is considered to be a little more gentle and forgiving. Both are considered alert and barking.

Like most companion and companion dogs, the Chihuahua, which is never boring, completely absorbs its caregiver and is an adaptable, easy-care companion in all life situations. Due to its small body size, it can be taken anywhere and is also well-suited for living in a city apartment.

In general, the Chihuahua – when it has grown a little larger – is also very robust, not very susceptible to disease, and has a long life expectancy. Chihuahuas that live to be 17 and older are not uncommon.