INTRODUCTION

The charms of the Chihuahua dog breed include their small size, big personality and variety of coat types and colours. They are all-round dogs, fully capable of competing in dog sports such as agility and obedience, and are among the top ten watchdogs recommended by experts.although they are purebred dogs, you can still find them in shelters and rescues. Remember to adopt. Chihuahuas love to be with their people – even new parents – and require a minimum of grooming and exercise. While we hope you never have to deal with serious medical problems, taking out pet health insurance is a smart way to make sure you’re covered in case you have to pay for unexpected veterinary care or procedures. Lemonade pet insurance is customisable, starting at just $10 a month and will cover your Chihuahua for up to 90% of your veterinary bills in the event of an unexpected illness. Learn more here.Chihuahuas make excellent flat dogs that get along well with the whole family. Just make sure that children who approach them know how to play gently with a small dog.

HIGHLIGHTS

Choose a Chihuahua breeder who provides health certificates for patellar and heart conditions.The Chihuahua is a long-lived breed; expect to care for it until age 18.Chihuahuas are prone to shivering when they are cold, excited or frightened. Provide your Chihuahua with a jumper or coat when going outside in cold or wet weather. Chihuahuas can be unfriendly to other dogs if they are not socialised when they are young. Chihuahuas do not back down from other dogs and this can cause a problem if they encounter a large, aggressive dog. Do not leave your Chihuahua unattended in the yard. It could be attacked by a hawk, other birds of prey, or larger dogs or coyotes.Chihuahuas can be reserved with strangers. Choose a puppy that has been whelped and raised in a home with lots of human interaction.Chihuahuas are not the best dog to have when you have small children. Chihuahuas are fragile and a small child can hurt the dog while playing. Most breeders do not sell puppies to households with children under the age of eight.Chihuahuas’ ears can be prone to earwax build-up and dry skin.Chihuahuas are happy as companions, but they need 20 to 30 minutes of daily exercise and can endure much more than expected. Keep an eye on your Chihuahua, especially when it is a puppy, so it doesn’t run out of steam.Chihuahuas have larger-than-life personalities and will run your life if you let them. They can be destructive when bored and can become picky eaters if their diet is disturbed. Set some ground rules and stick to them or you will find yourself leaving your comfy chair because your beloved pet has told you to move.To get a healthy pet, never buy a puppy from a backyard breeder, puppy mill or pet shop. Look for a reputable breeder who tests their breeding dogs for genetic health and good temperament.

HISTORY

As with many breeds, the origins of the Chihuahua are unclear, but there are two theories about its origin. The first is that it descends from a Central or South American dog known as the Techichi, and when we look at the evidence that the Chihuahua originated in Central and South America, we find the Toltec civilisation. There are Toltec carvings dating back to the 9th century AD depicting a dog similar to the Chihuahua, with the same large ears and round head. When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs, they absorbed the Techichi into their society. Many of the dogs lived in temples and were used in Aztec rituals. The Aztecs believed that the Techichi had mystical powers, such as the ability to see the future, heal the sick and safely guide the souls of the dead to the underworld. It was customary to kill a red Techichi and cremate it with the remains of the deceased. The Aztecs also used the Techichi as a source of food and skins. The Spanish conquered the Aztecs in the late 16th century and the Techichi faded into oblivion.The second theory is that small hairless dogs from China were brought to Mexico by Spanish traders and then bred with small native dogs.Regardless of which theory is accurate, the short-haired Chihuahua we know today was discovered in the 1850s in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, from which it took its name. American visitors to Mexico took the little dogs home with them. They began to be exhibited in 1890, and a Chihuahua named Midget became the first of his breed to be registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904. The long-haired variety was probably created through crosses with Papillons or Pomeranians. The breed’s popularity took off in the 1930s and 1940s, when it became associated with the Latin dance king and bandleader Xavier Cugat. Since the 1960s, the Chihuahua has been one of the most popular breeds registered by the AKC. It currently ranks 11th out of 155 breeds and varieties recognised by the AKC.