WRITTEN BY XENA
INTERESTING FACTS
Do you know this
DOG? You’re right, it’s the
CHIHUAHUA- the national symbol of Mexico. It has become especially popular in America due to its appearance in advertisements for fast-food restaurant chains. It is one of the oldest
BREEDS coming from North America- Mexico.
THE BREED was named after the largest country in Mexico -
CHIHUAHUA. By the way, the history of the
BREED goes far back in time, and there are various theories about the origin of the
BREED. According to one of them, the
CHIHUAHUA DOG comes from the
TECHICHI BREED. They were the
DOGS of the Toltec people who inhabited the territory of Mexico in the 9th century. With the victory of the Aztecs over the Toltecs in the 12th century, the Aztecs "introduced" these
DOGS into their civilization and culture, and the Aztec nobility worshiped them as deities, especially the blue-colored
DOGS. The last Aztec emperor Montezuma II was such a fan of
CHIHUAHUAS that he had hundreds of them. The Aztecs believed that
CHIHUAHUA DOGS could guide the souls of the dead through the underworld. Therefore, the remains of a
CHIHUAHUA DOG were found in graves along the border between Mexico and the USA, along with human skeletons. There is also evidence of this theory, which is found in a Franciscan monastery in the city of Huejotzing. Namely, this monastery was built of stones in which depictions of
DOGS with round heads and upright ears resembling today's
CHIHAVA are carved. In addition, the entire Toltec civilization abounds in a variety of art objects depicting
DOGS similar to
CHIHUAHUA.
According to another theory, the CHIHUAHUA BREED was created by
crossing small DOGS from China (TERRIER) brought with them by
Spanish settlers and local DOGS there.
Regardless of the theories, as I initially emphasized, the BREED
was named CHIHUAHUA because it was discovered in the Mexican state of the
same name (Chihuahua) in 1850 by Americans who arrived there. They then took
several of these DOGS to the United States, and at the same time, they were
brought to Europe by the wife of the Mexican Emperor Maximilian, Empress
Carlotta. In this way, CHIHUAHUA became famous all over the world.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
- They belong to
the group VERY SMALL DOGS
- Weight: 0.9-3.5 kg
- Height: 15-23 cm
- Lifespan: 14-18 years
They are said to be
one of the smallest BREEDS in the world. There are short-haired and long-haired
variants of this BREED. Short-haired have smooth and shiny hair, while
long-haired Chihuahuas have either slightly curly or straight hair. All colors
and color combinations of fur are allowed, and the most common are brown,
cream, black, white, chocolate, tricolor combination, and gray, but also fur with
spots or stains. CHIHUAHUAS have a round head, rather large and bright eyes, and
large, spaced, and slightly slanted (at a 45-degree angle) ears, which are lower in moments of rest. Their nose is black, usually short and pointed.
This BREED
has a cylindrical body with a moderately long tail, curled at the sides
or above the back. It is interesting to mention that Chihuahua puppies have soft scalp (like newborn babies), which hardens over time. Although fragile and
tiny, CHIHUAHUAS are DOGS with huge personalities. CHARACTER
The character of
these DOGS is different. CHIHUAHUAS are lively, cautious,
confident, brave, but also aggressive DOGS, due to their partly terrier
character. These DOGS are not aggressive by birth but become so over time. They
mostly show attachment to only one person, so they find it hard to accept new
people. However, they can also make friends with strangers, if they are
socialized early and exposed to different: situations, people, or sounds. They
can be very jealous if they are not given enough attention. These are small,
home DOGS,
which do not require much space, so they are ideal for people living in an
apartment. Living outdoors hides a number of possible dangers for them, as they
can become prey to other animals, such as eagles. These are very active DOGS with
an extremely high amount of energy that they will expend regularly by running around
the house or apartment. But if you want your CHIHUAHUA to stay in good
shape, daily light walks are recommended, which will satisfy their daily needs
for activity. In doing so, be sure not to overwork him and provide him with
enough rest. The CHIHUAHUA is an intelligent dog with great learning ability and can be TRAINED very well. These are DOGS who like to please their owner and with proper TRAINING, you will get a loyal and endearing DOG to your liking. TRAINING should be resorted to from an early age, just like SOCIALIZATION to prevent possible, possible unwanted behaviors in the future. TRAINING should use positive methods, such as rewards in the form of food, praise, and play. On the other hand, these DOGS require a "firm hand", because otherwise they will show disobedience and take over domination. Therefore, it is not recommended for people without experience with DOGS. If you have never had a DOG, and you really want a CHIHUAHUA, an older, already socialized CHIHUAHUA is recommended. Also, these DOGS are not recommended for families with children under the age of 9, because children in play could inadvertently injure them. Otherwise, they get along quite well with older children. They may or may not get along well with other DOGS (depending on the character of each other and whether or not they grew up together), as well as with other PETS, except for other CHIHUAHUAS in whose company they enjoy.
CARE
Short-haired CHIHUAHUAS
require regular BATHING and occasional BRUSHING, while long-haired ones
must BE
BRUSHED regularly to prevent the tangling of hair. By the way, fur shedding
in these DOGS is minimal - only during the molting season, ie in spring and
autumn. Despite the relatively unpretentious care, CHIHUAHUAS need to
regularly CLEAN TEETH and GUM, as well as CUT NAILS, and CLEAN
EARS, to avoid infections and accumulation of wax in the ears.
DIET
Chihuahuas have a
very small digestive tract, and they burn calories faster than LARGE
DOGS, so they are prone to hypoglycemia, so they should get FOOD
more often and in small meals. Their NUTRITION is conditioned by: age,
activity, and size of the DOG and should contain high-quality
nutrients, in order for your CHIHUAHUA to be healthy and happy.
Here they proved to be absolutely the best for PUPPIES: food for PUPPIES Royal Canin CHIHUAHUA, Hill's Science Diet PUPPIES formula; adult
food CHIHUAHUA:
Royal Canin CHIHUAHUA formula, Rachel Ray formula for LITTLE DOGS. For older DOGS,
there are Nutro Formula for Seniors SMALL BREEDS and Hill’s Science
Diet Sensitive Stomach.
HEALTH
CHIHUAHUAS belong to the
healthy DOG BREEDS. However, there are certain health problems they are
prone to. I have already mentioned hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), then there
are tracheal collapse, heart murmur, heart stenosis (congenital heart disease,
when blood does not flow properly through the heart), and luxation of the
patella, which occurs when the patella is not properly aligned. As they are a
brachiocephalic BREED, characterized by: a wide skull, short nose, and straight
face, they can have problems with eyes, skin, and breathing. It is interesting
to note that CHIHUAHUAS do not tolerate cold, and tremble from time to time.
The cause of shivering, in addition to cold, can be fear, excitement,
restlessness, or dissatisfaction.
If you have
experience with DOGS, and you want a smaller DOG GUARD, then be sure
to get this small and graceful, and so big DOG-CHIHUAHUA and you will certainly
not regret it.
“If you’re willing
to take on the responsibility of caring for a Chihuahua, you’ll get a dog that
is more adaptable and cuddly than most other dogs” - A New Owner’s Guide to Chihuahuas.
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"We
take care of our pets as for ourselves"
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