Chihuahua, Teacup Chihuahua, Chihuahua Puppies - All The Things You Need To Know!

After first being discovered in the 1850s in Mexico, the Chihuahua was first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904. The breed is named after the Mexican state Chihuahua in which they were found, a region that borders Texas and New Mexico. However, this isn't where the breed originally came from. Rather the breed comes from the ancient Techichi breed of dog that belonged to the Toltec Civilization near Mexico City. When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs the dogs became sacred icons of the upper class and gained religious meaning when they were used in ceremonies to help guide the spirits of the dead. Somewhere between the fall of the Toltec Empire and the discovery of the Chihuahua in the 1850s the breed was crossed with a hairless dog from the Orient, which led to the modern breed we see today. The original Techichi breed was larger than today's breed and they were also mute.
Officially the American Kennel Club describes the Chihuahua breed as graceful, alert and agile with a compact and terrier like quality. Although every dog of this breed has its own unique personality some Chihuahuas can be terrier like to the extreme and be very grumpy, haughty or even nasty if they are provoke. However, more often then not the Chihuahua is a dog with curiosity, intelligence and loyalty that makes them a wonderful companion.

The Chihuahua still may not be a suitable pet for households with small or noisy children due to the chance that they can be clannish at times and occasionally a dog may be suspicious of people other than their owner. But for the individual or elderly couple they can be an excellent pet that loves to be pampered and are good for apartment living or those with limited incomes. It is best to get a feel for the temperament of a Chihuahua before determining if this is the right breed for you.
Often Chihuahuas aren't aware of their small stature and you can typically see them acting much bolder than other dogs that are three times their size or more. The breed will often become extremely loyal to just one or two individuals, which causes them to become highly protective. This results in the Chihuahua becoming wary of any news guests introduced to their personal domain and can cause a rather violent reaction. Although not a very good guard dog, this trait makes the Chihuahua an excellent option for a watchdog.

For Chihuahuas human contact is a must, as they will need a lot of general attention, touching and petting. Without enough attention the breed will resort to various attention getting tricks, such as being mischievous. While some find this makes their dog a bit too needy, you will gain a lot of loyalty from your Chihuahua in exchange for love, affection and care.

The Chihuahua is a diverse breed with no two dogs being the same. As a bold breed, the Chihuahua is highly protective and loyal of their owners. Knowing Chihuahua information can help you determine if it is a breed right for you.

The Chihuahua is a breed with a very compact body. The most important aspect of the breed standard is that the skull is apple shaped and that their tail is both moderately long and carried very high. The tail should be either curved or form the shape of a semicircle with the tip of the tail pointing in the direction of the loin region. When it comes to proportions the Chihuahua should be slightly greater in length than their height at the withers. In males especially it is highly desirable that the breed has an almost square body, but a slightly longer body is permitted in the female dogs for the purpose of reproduction. The temperament of a Chihuahua should be alert, quick, lively and very courageous. Overall the Chihuahua is described as a small, dainty, compact breed with a highly spirited intelligence while being neither snappy nor withdrawn in behavior.
The American Kennel Club states that the standard for the Chihuahua skull should be "apple dome" shaped and well rounded. The muzzle should be moderately short with a slight point and definite stop. The cheeks and jaws should be lean. The eyes shouldn't protrude, but they should be large and round. The lowest point of the ear should be on a plane with the center of the eye. Both eyes should be set well apart. Dark or ruby is the preferred eye color, but some lighter shades are permitted. The ears should be large and flaring with an angle of about forty-five degrees to help add breadth between the ears. The jaw should be strong with a complete and regular scissor bite, meaning the upper teeth should closely overlap the lower teeth and be set square to the jaws. Medium length neck with a slight arch is desired in the Chihuahua standard.
When it comes to gait and movement the Chihuahua should have a stride that is springy, long, energetic and active while providing good reach and drive. The Chihuahua should have hind legs that move almost parallel to each other when viewed from the back, causing the foot prints of the hind feet to fit directly into those left by the front feet. Often when they increase speed the limbs will show a tendency to converge towards the center point of gravity or a single track. The dog should have free and springy movement while keeping their head raised and firm with no visible effort. For shorthaired dogs the coat should be glossy with a soft texture. For the longhaired Chihuahua the coat should be fine, silky and smooth or slightly wavy. All shades and color combinations are allowed by the standard. For a Chihuahua the ideal weight is between 1.5 and 3 kg. While lower weights are accepted, higher weights are disqualified.

The Chihuahua standard is very specific about placement of facial features and overall head shape. Quality Chihuahua information can provide you with the specifics of the standard.

Due to their loyalty and need to be close to their owners the Chihuahua makes an excellent companion and their compact size also makes them convenient for many owners. Chihuahuas have been known to ride inside the pocket of a coat, in purses or a tote bag and also simply just carried around in the arms of the owner. They are easy to travel with and enjoy outdoor activities in favorable weather.

However, the Chihuahua can also be curious and mischievous at times. If they are left along for a long period of time at home they will often find something to get into and leave you with a mess. Often the Chihuahua won't get along with other breeds but they will do fine with another of their own breed. Therefore, you should either stick with just Chihuahua or you should choose carefully before you add a second breed to your household.
The movies and advertisements by companies such as Taco Bell made the Chihuahua dog very popular. As a result it is now easy to find poorly bred Chihuahuas if you do not carefully select the breed to fit in with your household. Many families think the breed is perfect because of their self-confidence and easy trainability. However, buying simply from pet stores, newspapers or on the internet can lead to getting a dog that was bred without a concern for their health or temperament and you will have no way of knowing whether or not it will work with your household. Often times a good breeder won't place a dog in a home with a child under the age of twelve. However, because of their small litter size the number of puppies available from good breeders is often limited. Therefore, you should carefully consider the breed before determining if they are right for you and your household.
For the Chihuahua dog you need to focus on feeding requirements, exercise needs and grooming procedures. At each meal your Chihuahua only needs a small amount of dog food. For most dogs two or three ounces of high quality dog food with a few puppy biscuits is enough although a few of the larger Chihuahua dogs can eat up to a half can of dog food. Rather than having one large daily feeding it is better to have two or three small meals per day. The Chihuahua is capable of walking as long as the owner wants to walk, but they also won't object if you want to carry them around. What makes them an excellent choice for the elderly is that they get most of their exercise simply by playing around the house. When grooming you should rub them down with a wet towel or glove to make their coat shine and use a soft brush. Trim the nails regularly and make sure you keep their ears clean.

The Chihuahua is excellent for some households, but isn't right for everyone. To determine if the breed is right for your household you should carefully consider Chihuahua information.

Millions of individuals around the world are dog lovers. Unfortunately many of these individuals live in residences that prevent them from being a dog owner. For some no pets are allowed by their landlord, while others have too small of a space for a dog. However, many individuals with small spaces are discovering they can own a Chihuahua, which is actually the smallest dog in the world. Before you bring a Chihuahua home to your small or large living space you should learn what to expect.

One of things many individuals underestimate about Chihuahuas is the size of space they actually need. Chihuahua dogs love to run and play as they have lots of energy and are very interactive. This is why it is important for you to take your Chihuahua outside every day to ensure he or she gets enough room to run around without being limited by space.
Individuals who want a very personal dog that is highly interactive with them should consider a Chihuahua. This particular breed of dog likes being around people and hates when they are left alone. This is why many owners of Chihuahua dogs utilize the services of a daycare center for dogs when they are at work during the day.

For individuals that want a Chihuahua but can't afford to put them in doggy daycare, they may want to get two Chihuahua dogs. Just as Chihuahuas enjoy being around people, they also enjoy being around other Chihuahuas. It is best to get both Chihuahuas when they are little so that they learn to get along. In addition, it is recommended that you get your Chihuahuas fixed when they are very young as this eliminates the danger they face from other dogs. Due to the fact they are small dogs, they don't have the ability to defend themselves against other dogs especially when they are in heat.
Individuals should be aware that Chihuahuas dogs are very possessive and have a natural instinct to protect their owner even though most only weigh five to ten pounds. Not only will Chihuahua dogs bark at strangers or anyone posing a threat, but they will often bite or attack the individual. Even individuals living in the same house aren't always safe from the attack if the Chihuahua makes a strong, special bond with one individual. This is why it is important for families to consider whether or not a Chihuahua is really the perfect pet for them if they have small children.

Chihuahua dogs can be a great pet for individuals and families to own due to many of the qualities they offer. However, Chihuahuas do have some drawbacks that can present problems for some individuals and families. This is why it is so important for individuals and families to do their homework before they bring one home to ensure they fully know what to expect from this particular breed of dog.

Bringing a Chihuahua home can be very exciting and rewarding if you know what to expect of the dog in advance. Finding Chihuahua information before you adopt a Chihuahua is important so that you know what the typical traits and behaviors of the breed are in advance.