Chihuahua Dog Breed Facts and Information

With a HUGE personality packed into a tiny body, the Chihuahua dog breed is one of the most popular toy dog breeds. The Chihuahua's charm, intelligence, spunk, playfulness and utter joie de vivre make it an excellent choice as a canine companion for singles, elderly dog lovers and families with older, well-behaved children. Chihuahuas come in two coat variations; there are both long haired Chihuahuas and smooth coat ones, in every imaginable coat color and pattern. A healthy and long-lived breed, a Chihuahua puppy from a responsible breeder will provide you with many, many years of love and companionship!>

Chihuahua Dog Breed In Brief

• Origin: Mexico
• Height: Average of 6-10 inches at the shoulder, though there is no height restriction for the breed
• Weight: Less than 6 pounds
• Exercise Needs: Medium
• Grooming Needs: Low for the shorthaired variety, medium for longhaired
• Life Expectancy: 8-18 years
• Good With Kids: No
• Trainability: Low

Chihuahua Dog Breed History

Like many breeds of dog, the true origins of the Chihuahua are buried beneath the sands of time. One common theory is that he is a descendant of an ancient breed of dog, known as the Techichi, that was raised by the Toltec people as far back as the 9^th century, A.D. Some even suggest that the foundation breed dates even further back, perhaps into the times when the ancient Mayans first settled into Central America, where the Techichi was indigenous. While the Techichi was larger and more heavily-boned than the Chihuahua, the similarity between the two dogs is unmistakable. Perhaps, when people traveled across the land bridge that is now the Bering Strait, smaller breeds of Asian dogs, quite possibly the Chinese Crested, were brought into Alaska, where they were then able to cross with the Techichi. This is a common theory on how the Chihuahua came to be. Others speculate that he is the result of extensive inbreeding. Regardless how he came about, however, this tiny hero of a dog is determined to remain a popular favorite, even with the passing of time.

The Chihuahua is named for the Mexican city where the earliest record of this unique little breed has been found, and he has enjoyed his status as a favored house pet for centuries. Believed to have been brought to Europe by Christopher Columbus and other explorers of that day and age, this tiny dog quickly gained popularity, and interest in the Chihuahua spread worldwide. The American Kennel Club (A.K.C.) acknowledges the Chihuahua as one of the oldest breeds to be registered, the first dogs being recognized and entered into the stud book back in 1904.

Chihuahua Dog Breed Appearance

The Chihuahua comes in two different varieties; the long haired Chihuahua (sometimes known as the long coat Chihuahua) and the smooth coated Chihuahua. The smooth coat Chihuahua has a coat that is slick, glossy, and of a soft texture. A slight ruff over the neck area is ideal and dogs with a slightly heavier coat are permissible, according to the breed standard. The long hair Chihuahua possesses a longer coat, which may either lay flat against the dog or may be somewhat curly; in both styles of long haired Chihuahua, the ears should be fringed and the tail should be plume-like, with feathering at the chest, along the belly and flanks, and down the dog’s legs. A large ruff is also desired around the neck area. Also interesting to note is that the Chihuahua can be found in any color and can be either solid patterned, marked or splashed, regardless of coat.

The Chihuahua breed standard does not specify a height limit, for registration but, instead, specifies that they can weigh no more than 6 pounds. Because of this, the breed’s height varies more than many other known breeds. Most show dogs will be an average of 6-10 inches tall at the top of the shoulder, though it is not uncommon for dogs to grow larger than this, particularly those who are kept as pets. Quite often, smaller specimens of the breed are sold as expensive pets, known as teacup Chihuahuas. While these dwarfs are highly sought after, one should be very wary of any breeder that advertises teacup Chihuahuas; quite often, these miniature toy Chihuahuas exhibit a large number of health problems and often live a much shorter lifespan than the standard Chihuahua‘s life span of anywhere between 8 and 18 years of age. 

Chihuahua Dog Breed Temperament

Recognized as the smallest breed of dog in the world, the Chihuahua is a favorite pet for many who enjoy tiny dogs, as well as those who live in apartments or areas where they cannot have a larger breed of dog. A well-balanced little canine, the Chihuahua weighs less than 6 pounds when fully grown and is easily recognized by his unique apple-shaped head and upright ears. Even if you’re not a fan of small dogs, the tiny teacup Chihuahua is sure to surprise you with his active, courageous personality. Very few who have had the honor of meeting one of these pint-sized spitfires, can honestly say that the Chihuahua did not instantly worm his way right into their hearts.

Chihuahua Health Information

As with all other breeds of dog, the Chihuahua is susceptible to a variety of different health problems.  Due to the extensive line-crossing and inbreeding that commonly occurs in pedigreed dogs, as well as the unethical practices of some breeders, one must take care when selecting a Chihuahua puppy.  Here are some of the conditions that the breed is more susceptible to:

• pulmonic stenosis
• hydrocephalus
• patellar luxation
• KCS
• hypoglycemia

Caring For Your Chihuahua

Caring for your pet Chihuahua also encompasses other things, such as his nutrition and level of exercise. While the Chihuahua is quite often a picky eater and prefers to lounge on a lap, rather than run outside, care should be taken that your Chihuahua not be allowed to gain excess weight - doing so can lead to health problems such as heart failure or tracheal collapse. The Chihuahua is also prone to having sugar problems and many tend to suffer from problems, such as hypo-glycemia. When in doubt, speak with your veterinarian or a reputable breeder, regarding feeding concerns for your particular dog.

Chihuahua Grooming Needs

General Chihuahua care is relatively easy for a healthy dog. Regular veterinary checkups and keeping your Chihuahua up to date on his vaccinations will do wonders for keeping your pet happy and healthy, but there are other little things that you can do, to help keep him feeling good in-between vet visits. One of these is grooming your Chihuahua on a regular basis. While some believe that this is only important for long coated Chihuahuas, grooming your smooth Chihuahua will also help him by removing dead hair and dander, same as in a long haired Chihuahua. Keeping his toenails properly clipped will also prevent your toy Chihuahua from getting injured, catching a nail on carpeting or furniture and, should your Chihuahua’s eyes ear and run excessively, you can also gently wipe these with a cloth dipped in saline solution, in order to help cut down the risk of infection. Should you notice, while cleaning your Chihuahua’s eyes, that they are abnormally bloodshot or that there is a white discharge, an appointment should be made with your veterinarian, to have him checked for an eye infection.

Chihuahua Dog Training Tips

How to train your Chihuahua depends on what you intend to teach him to do, your degree of patience, and your own individual dog. Important to remember in Chihuahua training, is that these little dogs do best with a gentle hand, a lot of patience, and regular routine. Taking the time to repeat commands with a patient tone, and having the same person train the basics, will help your Chihuahua to learn more quickly. The Chihuahua is a quick and enthusiastic learner, who loves to please and a wonderful addition to any home. If he is treated with love and kindness, like other dogs, he will give it back to you tenfold.

Is a Chihuahua Puppy Right For You?

Chihuahuas may be the idea dogs for apartment living, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they are the ideal dog for you. For instance, the toy Chihuahua is ill-suited for a household with small children. They are small and delicate dogs, that are easily hurt if pulled or fall on. Additionally, the Chihuahua tends to bond with a single person and can be rather snappish if annoyed. For these reasons, it’s generally a good idea to introduce them into families with older children. Likewise in homes with other dogs; the Chihuahua can tend to be rather elitist and prefers the company of his own breed over others. Amusingly though, the Chihuahua tends to have the attitude of a terrier and will take on any other dog, if provoked While it may seem amusing, thinking of a toy Chihuahua trying to take on a Great Dane, but it’s common for these pint-sized spitfires to bite off more than they can chew.

Choosing a Responsible Chihuahua Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Chihuahua is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Chihuahua breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Chihuahua puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Chihuahua breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Chihuahua breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Chihuahua breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Chihuahua puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.

• Chihuahua Breeders
• Chihuahua Puppies For Sale
• Chihuahua Puppy Dog Central
• Chihuahua Dogs and Puppies For Sale
• Chihuahua Puppy Stork
• Chihuahua Breeders Showcase
• Chihuahua Puppy Finder on Pet Net

Our Featured Chihuahua Breeder:

Chihuahua Puppy Dogs

Chihuahua Merchandise