Chihuahua
Overview and History
Chihuahua’s are a unique dog because their size gives you the impression your dealing with a delicate shy love that needs to be coddled and taken care of. What you quickly discover is that while a Chihuahua will always need love, this dog is far from delicate and more like fierce! Their intense and large personality more than make up for that mini status in size.
Chihuahua’s are very loyal dogs, and it is said they tend to pick one owner and make that their “person”. They are also said to favour other chihuahua’s over other breeds.
Place of Origin
Origins are a bit convoluted, but findings show they definitely have origins in Mexico.
Chihuahua Dog Breed Information
Description
Registered Breed
(Links below are to the Breed Standard Page for each organization)
FCI (The World Canine Organization)
Appearance
Chihuahua’s have two different head shape descriptions, so you may hear of an “apple head” or a “deer head” for both long and short coat.
Apple heads have a more rounded shape head and close-set eyes. They also tend to have shorter ears and legs. The deer heads tend to have more of a flat head, wider-set eyes, and have bigger ears and longer legs.
A lot of the current breed standards specify the apple head conformation as their standard.
Size, Height, and Weight
xSmall Breed
Height at the shoulders:
Female: 6 - 10 inches
Male: 6 - 10 inches
Weight:
Female: 3 to 6 pounds
Male: 3 to 8 pounds
Coat
Length: Short and Long
Some Kennel clubs like the UK Kennel club consider the long and short hair breeds as separate. They will not allow offspring between a short haired and long haired chihuahua to be registered.
Light Shedder
Grooming Requirements:
Daily Brushing for long coats
Short coats require minimal Care
Coat Colors:
Chihuahua’s can have almost any color combination. This includes solid, marked, or splashed colors.
Personality
Temperament
Alert
Affectionate
Devoted
Dignified
Lively
Weary of Strangers
Loyal to the Owner
Bold
Intelligent
Sassy
Love a den and to burrow in blankets, etc.
Love the sun
Friendliness Towards other Dogs
Cautious – This breed tends to be more intolerant of other dogs. This has a lot to do with their size and lack of socialization. Regular socialization with other dogs from an early age is important to prevent unwanted behavior.
Friendliness towards other Pets
Indifferent – This breed tends to be indifferent about cats and other animals. Like with any dog, however, socialization from a young age is important to prevent unwanted behaviours.
Friendliness Towards Strangers
Cautious – This breed tends to be aloof with strangers. Socialization with many new humans from a young age is important to preventing unwanted behavior.
Due to their size owners might not feel a necessity to socialize a Chihuahua. This results in dogs who are not comfortable with other people. They can have difficulties with small children who are not gentle with them.
Energy & Trainability
Energy Level
Low Energy/Low Exercise Needs – This breed tends to have lower energy needs and therefore lower exercise requirements. Every dog needs to experience the outside world but these pooch’s won’t destroy furniture if you stay in for the day.Perfect for apartment living.
Training Ability
Easy - This breed tends to learn commands and expectations easily. Recommended for inexperienced owners.
The reason Chihuahuas have a bad reputation for training is because many owners think due to their size, they don’t need training. Like all dogs they can become aggressive or fearful when not trained and properly socialized. This causes unwanted responses when untrained and not socialized.
Additional Information About this Breed
Tips for Raising Your Chihuahua
As with all dogs, it is important to not over exercise a puppy. They grow quickly and too much pressure on their joints can cause issues later on in life. Wait until your puppy is at least a year old before you take them on any lengthy hikes or runs.
Chihuahua Rescue and Adoption Organizations
Canadian Chihuahua Rescue and Transport
If you are a rescue and adoption organization and would like to see your information on this page and/or on our CAN Rescue and Adoption Organizations List, please use the contact us form and provide:
- The organization name, Web Site URL, breed/page you would like your site listed, and city and province of shelter location if applicable.
Sources:
Chihuahua Wikipedia Page 2019, The Canadian Kennel Club Website 2019, The American Kennel Club Website 2019, The Kennel Club (UK) Website 2019, and the FCI World Canine Organisation website 2019.
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