Maria Allen
As the smallest dog in the world, the Chihuahua deserves the loudest “Hurrah!” Huge is its courage, its eternal loyalty, and the “hardest” its cleverness since it has the largest brain of all pedigree dogs. The Chihuahua belongs to the FCI Group 9 of Companion and Companion Dogs, Section 6, and as such is now popular all over the world. He is Mexican and a small dog in which a lot of great things are still slumbering.
Razza di cane Chihuahua
Dimensioni: 15-23cm
Peso: 2.5-3kg
Gruppo FCI: 9: Cani da compagnia e da compagnia
Section: 6: Chihuahueño
Paese di origine: Messico
Colors: Any color or combination of colors except Merle
Aspettativa di vita: 13-18 anni
Suitable as: Companion and companion dog
Sport: agilità, dog dance
Temperament: Attentive, Devoted, Fast, Brave, Lively
Leaving requirements: low
Basso potenziale di sbavatura
The thickness of hair rather small
Impegno di manutenzione: basso
Coat structure: short hair: short, close-fitting, soft and shiny/long hair: fine, silky, plain or slightly wavy and little undercoat
Adatto ai bambini: sì
Cane di famiglia: anzi sì
Sociale: anzi no
Origine e storia della razza
The “Chi”, as the Chihuahua is affectionately called, most likely comes from Mexico. In any case, it has been bred there by the Mexicans since the 19th century in order to sell it to foreigners as a “souvenir”. After all, it was the Americans who established the breed status and made the little companions well-known.
His history is not certain. Some claim that he is descended from the Aztec dogs, others deny this “lordly” ancestral line. Other versions also see him as a native of Malta or as one of the first Chinese “sacred” quadrupeds. There are a number of legends about the little Chihuahua, and cruel rituals in the form of sacrificial rites in early advanced cultures make lovers of the breed shudder. Secret ceremonies where the little dog was the victim.
In the course of history, the intelligent four-legged friends have acted as circus artists, as handbag companions, or as lively figureheads for celebrities who still needed “something” in their arms in front of the camera. Everywhere in the world, they are loved and pampered, cared for, and mourned in everyday life.
Nature and temperament of the Chihuahua
Audace, intelligente e sicuro di sé, il Chihuahua è un mix esplosivo per un cane di piccola taglia e il più piccolo esistente. Le regole devono essere stabilite in modo esplicito e l'obbedienza deve essere scrupolosamente addestrata. Si consiglia di iniziare un allenamento coerente il prima possibile. I proprietari di cani non dovrebbero perdersi nella dolce faccia che questa razza di cani esibisce, soprattutto da cucciolo. La costanza è sempre richiesta, altrimenti il cane la sfrutterà senza pietà.
In cambio, il Chihuahua farà qualsiasi cosa per il suo umano se l'umano è attaccato ad esso. Il Chi vuole essere presente ovunque ed essere al centro dell'attenzione. La sua educazione richiede coerenza ed empatia, il piccolo messicano ritira il suo affetto dalla persona amata con la stessa rapidità con cui glielo aveva dato prima. Non per sempre, ma inizia un gioco con la sua badante. Il Chihuahua deve dare al Chihuahua una direzione chiara, inconfondibile fin dall'inizio.
Il Chihuahua è un cane di famiglia?
Conditionally yes. He needs a single caregiver in the family and he is not really a children’s dog. The children have to know exactly how to handle the little dwarf.
The appearance of the Chihuahua
There are two different types of fur in this dog breed, short and long fur. The physical constitution does not differentiate between long-haired and short-haired variants. The Chi weighs between 1.5 and 3 kilograms with an average height of 20 centimeters. All dogs that are smaller and weigh less than 1.5 kilograms count as torture breeding. This means that external characteristics are bred that cause the dog health damage. The smallest dog doesn’t have to be made any smaller either, he’s a fan favorite anyway.
Anyone who has ever had or has a Chihuahua often finds other dogs boring. Life with the little dwarf is an experience every day. Clever ideas, but also nonsense, mature in Chi’s head, which is shaped like an apple and hangs by two large, erect ears. He confidently carries his tail over his back and “fashion” is what pleases. The coat can be brown and white, black and white, red and white, or tricolor, all colors are allowed by the breed standard. Protruding, dark round eyes complete the overall picture.
Upbringing and keeping the Chihuahua – this is important to note
The Chihuahua is a loyal friend for life, but not exactly a novice dog. The dog breed is clever and tricky to impose its own ideas. He likes to bark and also uses the “instrument” to get his way. The Chi loves walks and convinces with great endurance.
Even there, he never lets his loved one out of his sight, even if he moves effortlessly in a pack among his own kind. As small as the Chihuahua maybe, his personality traits make him a big dog. He courageously defends his family and indicates early on when danger is imminent. As an apartment dog, the owner will have to intervene to regulate. The more the dog owner lets the little one get away with it, the more difficult it becomes to live with the Chihuahua, who then makes the rules.
If there are children in the family, they have to learn to leave the little Mexican alone again and again. The Chihuahua is not automatically a child’s dog, it simply does not have enough patience with the two-legged friends. The Chihuahua behaves reservedly towards cats and animals of a different species, sometimes even showing a little jealousy. If the Chi is confronted with other species from the beginning, there are usually no problems.
Since this breed of dog lives without an undercoat, it is not well enough protected against cold and wet to stay outside. He wouldn’t survive life in a kennel in the backyard, too far away from his loved one and far too lonely.
Puoi lasciare un Chihuahua a casa da solo?
Yes, but that shouldn’t be too long. The Chihuahua is not a dog that doesn’t mind being alone.
Diet of the Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is a carnivore and should be fed a good quality dog food. Even if he gives reason to reward him with unhealthy treats due to his playful appearance, his organism is grateful for a healthy meat meal. For additional dental care, the owner can feed chews made from natural ingredients that help with cleaning teeth.
La quantità di cibo dipende, ovviamente, dalle dimensioni e dalla forma fisica del Chihuahua, e non differisce in alcun modo dal cibo per cani di altre razze. I cani da due a tre chilogrammi sono piccoli nani piuttosto robusti, che non sono noti per essere particolarmente sensibili al cibo.
Salute: aspettativa di vita e malattie comuni
Chis that have been responsibly bred, are at least 20 centimeters tall, and weigh no less than one and a half kilograms are usually robust and healthy. They only occasionally suffer from the usual “small dog diseases” such as kneecap jumping out or cataracts. Some breeds of Chis are also said to be prone to diabetes and heart disease. The owner should check his little friend’s eyes and teeth regularly. In winter he buys the four-legged friend a dog coat so that the “dwarf” does not freeze outside when the temperatures are below zero. In summer he makes sure that the walk is not too strenuous at 30°C. In general, however, the Chihuahua can handle changing conditions quite well if it is a Chi with breed-typical traits.
Tuttavia, anche i mini Chihuahua o i Chihuahua tazza da tè vengono costretti alla vita da “allevatori” senza scrupoli. Un cucciolo del genere può nascere con dai 60 agli 80 grammi. Questi animaletti hanno molti problemi di salute e non hanno una grande aspettativa di vita, che può arrivare fino a 18 anni per un Chi tradizionale. Tuttavia, non tutti i mini provengono dall’allevamento tramite tortura. Se una cagna di peso normale ha partorito una cucciolata numerosa, tra di loro potrebbero esserci uno o due Chi molto piccoli.
I chihuahua sono inclini alle malattie?
No more and no less than other small dog breeds. The mini Chihuahuas (torture breeds) alone are very susceptible to all diseases that are caused by the unnatural proportions and their harmful effects on health.
Care of the Chihuahua
The short-haired variant is extremely easy to care for. It is enough for her if the owner runs a soft brush along the body from time to time and pulls out loose hair. The care of the long-haired variant is somewhat more complex, but only at the time of the change of coat. Here, too, the dog owner can work with a soft brush or with a comb.
Eyes, ears, and teeth should be checked regularly. The eyes tend to tear sometimes. In this context, the dog owner should make sure that no foreign body has got into the eye. The Chi should only be bathed very rarely. Skin and coat can be brushed clean so the skin doesn’t get irritated with shampoos.
The Chihuahua – Activities, and Training
The Chihuahua enjoys forest walks, dog sports such as agility and dog dancing, search, fetch, and intelligence games. In short: In all activities that require physical and mental fitness and skill. Less suitable for the high-spirited companion dog are bicycle tours, which they have to accompany, and mountain hikes. The Chi is happy to be persuaded to do any fun that connects him with his favorite person.
Targeted training with a dog professional is recommended if one or the other bad habit has crept in. The Chihuahua is a dog that never had to work and therefore had a lot of time to develop its idiosyncratic character. Opponents of this breed often accuse dogs of being bitchy and egocentric. Lovers turn up their noses at these arguments.
Good to know: Peculiarities of the Chihuahua
If dog owners shared life with a famous diva, it would be the same. The Chihuahua demands full attention, is jealous, and sometimes a bit arrogant. He has to go to school, otherwise, the apartment or house will soon be his and he is ready to give his loved ones a little lesson.
The Chihuahua is small, but still needs plenty of exercise and variety. It is not necessarily suitable for a beginner, as training is usually difficult for the reasons mentioned. All animals other than his own breed are mediocre welcome. With the right training, however, there will be a good outcome for all parties.
This dog breed is well known in film and television. Hotel heiress Paris Hilton, for example, took her Chihuahua Tinkerbell with her to all the red carpets in the world. She saw the dog accessory and adorned herself with it. Other celebs who own or have owned a dog of this breed include:
- Britney Spears
- Demi Moore
- Sandra Bullock
- Scarlett Johansson
- Ashton Kutcher
- Reese Witherspoon
- madonna
- Marilyn Monroe
Another well-known Chihuahua is the male Brutus from the movie Legally Blonde. The second part in particular is mainly about him since his owner wants to find the dog’s mother.
Of course, real connoisseurs immediately think of the song “Chihuahua” by DJ Bobo, which stormed the charts in 2002 and 2003.
Quanti anni hanno i Chihuahua?
I cani di questa razza possono vivere fino a 20 anni. Nessun'altra razza di cani di piccola taglia può vantarsi di avere rappresentanti che vivono così a lungo.
Disadvantages of the Chihuahua
When a small dog thinks it’s a big one, that doesn’t always endear it to really big dogs. For this reason, some improvements are needed here with regard to the social behavior towards conspecifics through educational measures on the part of the dog owner, which, however, are not always fruitful if they are only implemented half-heartedly. As an owner, it is important to always stay on the ball.
Another characteristic of Little Chi that can be interpreted as a disadvantage is his jealousy when the dog owner interacts with other living beings in the dog’s presence. Consistent training is also required here.
If you own a Chihuahua from a torture breed, you also have to reckon with a lot of time and money. Because then, for example, visits to the vet are usually very regular.
Quanto costa un Chihuahua?
The price for a puppy from a breeder is currently around 1,000 euros.
Il Chihuahua è giusto per me?
If you want to buy a Chihuahua, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I really have enough time for the little Mexican?
- Do I have enough money? The Chi needs insurance and has to be registered, the regular deworming and vaccinations have to be paid for, in an emergency, it should not fail with a life-saving operation. Feed and equipment are part of the daily expenses. Chihuahuas from torture breeding, in particular, can cause high veterinary costs.
- Am I willing to seek help if I have problems?
- Can I take the Chihuahua’s urge to move into account and are there people in my immediate vicinity who may be able to help me?
- Do I settle for a confident little house bully?
- How will the children react and the partner?
Of course, when buying a dog, heart and mind must decide. If it’s just the mind, it probably won’t be the Chihuahua. Not because he’s not a good dog, but there are a number of other dogs that are easier to handle. But the Chi opens your heart and you will see that your arguments against him are “all of a sudden” in line with your heart.