The Chihuahua is native to Mexico and belongs to one of the smallest breeds in the world. established in 1923, the Chihuahua Dog Club is one of the 12 most popular breeds of dogs in the United States.
Some believe this dog originated in South America and was initially considered a sacred breed by the Incas, and later spread to the Asticans. Others believe this dog was a breed that arrived in the New World with the Spanish invaders or was introduced from China in the early 1800s. Others believe it was developed from dogs bred by the Mexicans around the 19th century.
Kingdom: Animalia
Order: Carnivora
Genus: Canis lupus
Height：15-23cm
Origin: Mexico
Prevalence of diseases: dislocated knees, collapsed trachea, eye diseases
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata subphylum
Family: Canidae
Species: Domestic, companion and pleasure dogs
Lifespan: 13-14 years
- Chihuahua morphological characteristics
The ideal adult Chihuahua height should be between 15-23cm, and the ideal adult weight should be between 1-3kg, the smaller the size, the more popular the kind, so the price of the market is not low.
Morphological Characteristics
Chihuahuas come in cream, red, brown, and black with fawn. The short-haired breed has soft fur. The long-haired breed has decorative hair on the ears, limbs, and tail, and the length of the body hair does not drag the ground. Long-haired Chihuahuas are more afraid of the cold. Common colors are: light brown, chestnut or white.
The head should preferably be a round “apple” shaped head. Beautiful expression. Eyes are large but not prominent, well-proportioned and preferably bright black or red (yellowish or white dogs are allowed to have white eyes). The ears are large, erect and remain more upright when alert, but at rest, they are separated and at a 45 degree angle between them. The muzzle is short and slightly pointed. The black, blue and chocolate colored breeds all have nose colors that match their body color. Pale yellow breeds are allowed to have pink noses. Shear bite or pincer bite. Protruding upper jaw or protruding lower jaw is a serious defect.
The neck is slightly curved and perfectly integrated with the shoulder. The back line is horizontal. Rounded ribs support the chest and make the body strong and powerful (but not forming a barrel chest). The tail is of moderate length, in the shape of a sickle held high or outward, or curled on the back with the tip just touching the back (never caught between the legs). Short or broken tails are not good. The forelimbs are narrow at the shoulders, tapering downward, with straight front legs so that the elbows move without restraint. Shoulders should be up, balanced and firm, sloping toward the back (shoulders should not be down or too low). Wide chest and strong forequarters, but never like a “bulldog’s” chest. Slender feet, with toes well separated on the small, beautiful feet, but not too far apart, with thick pads (not like rabbit or cat feet). The ankle is slender.
The hind limbs are strong and muscular, at the right distance, not too far in or too far out, looking down, strong and sturdy. The foot is the same as the forelimb. Ideally, the feet and legs are trimmed with hair, the hind legs have shorts, and the neck has a collar. The long-haired type is poor if the coat is sparse and nearly naked.
The short-haired type has a very soft, dense and smooth coat (undercoat is allowed when the coat is large enough). The coat covers the dog’s body and has a collar tail, and the coat is sparse on the head and ears. The hair on the tail is similar to fur. Long hair type coat is soft, flat or slightly curved, preferably with undercoat. The ears have trimmed edges (if the ears are thin and there is more trim, the ears may be slightly down and forward, but never down). The tail is full and long (feathered). Ideally: trimmed hair on the feet and legs, shorts in the rear, and collar on the neck. Long-haired type out of shape: sparse coat, nearly naked
- Chihuahua personality traits
The Chihuahua is the first dog that comes to mind when talking about small reward dogs. Although small in size, this dog is not timid and is very brave, and has the hunting and precautionary instincts of a large dog. The Chihuahua is tough, elegant, alert, and quick, with a well-proportioned physique and petite size that is loved by its owner who has a strong sense of exclusivity.
Chihuahuas are quite cold, should not be kept in outdoor kennels, and need to add outerwear to protect them from the cold in winter. Chihuahuas are small in stature and do not require a lot of living space, basically like a normal home space is enough for them to play.
They do not get a lot of exercise each day and do not need to spend a lot of time taking them out to play. Chihuahuas can stay at home every day and are very suitable for people who live in apartments now.
The personality is sensitive, suspicious, loyal and dependent on the owner, brave, intelligent and curious. Owners need to understand the personality of the Chihuahua in order to live in harmony with it. When you are with the owner, others come to touch it and will bite you. After the Chihuahua gets to know the owner, it wants to stick to the owner every moment. So, whether you are watching TV or doing sports, there will definitely be a four-legged shadow following you. At the same time, Chihuahuas are very curious about all new things and love to explore.
Because Chihuahuas like to be clingy and get frustrated by being left out, they are not suitable for independence, and it is said that this dog does not like to be around children.
- Chihuahua dog care knowledge
Chihuahuas are divided into two breeds, long-haired and short-haired, the difference between the two is the lustrous coat, the long-haired breed of Chihuahua has a tendency to shiver in the cold season like the short-haired breed, in addition to the thick back hair. So what should we pay attention to when breeding Chihuahuas?
Feeding Tips
Special Note: Chihuahuas are extremely prone to difficult deliveries! Try to consult your veterinarian before giving birth, if you can’t, have a C-section, otherwise you will be too late to regret. This is a matter of life and death, do not be careless.
Chihuahuas are small, not timid towards other dogs, extremely exclusive towards their owners, and are divided into two types: short-haired and long-haired. The difference between the short-haired and long-haired breeds is the lustrous, close-fitting, silky short hair. The long-haired species of Chihuahua has a tendency to shiver like the short-haired species, in addition to the rich back hair.
1. Generally speaking, Chihuahuas are more possessive and love to stay with people, love to be held, and are a clingy puppy.
2. Chihuahua dogs have a strong biological clock, so at night to a certain time it will be sleepy. Owners stay up late must not even involve the little guy, some usually have the habit of taking a nap.
3. Chihuahuas are small and easy to be stepped on.
4. too much, too oily, too cold food easy to cause diarrhea stomach cold.
5. Chihuahuas drink less water, but never break water.
6. just bought the Chihuahua, weak resistance, poor environment, improper care, the body foundation is very poor. Try not to let him come into contact with a dog in sickness.
7. In the autumn and winter season, the temperature changes rapidly, should always pay attention to the Chihuahua warmth. Temperature is the point of invasion of Chihuahua disease.
8. Chihuahuas are afraid of firecrackers.
9. vaccines should be used the same brand, otherwise it may cause immunization failure.
Almost 80% of Chihuahuas die prematurely due to dehydration caused by diarrhea!
General knowledge of care
1. should follow the original way of feeding, gradually change the method of feed: sudden changes in food, the dog can not adapt, often causing digestive tract diseases
2. Feeding should be regular and quantitative: fear that dogs do not eat well, not enough to eat, what eggs, milk, fire plucked sausage randomly fed; master fed, friends and relatives fed; not regular, variable amount, within three days, not sick is strange;
3. excessive play: adults tease, children play, you hold a hug, I tease, dogs do not get rest, fatigue, resistance, prone to disease, especially puppies, the daily sleep time to ensure at least 10 hours.
4. Do not adapt to the new environment: the dog left the original living environment, to a strange place, it will feel lonely and helpless, miss the original owner, if not careful care, the dog will be sick. Especially puppies, just weaned, leaving their siblings, very unaccustomed, if the food, room temperature does not meet the requirements, more likely to get sick
5. Inappropriate bathing: Some owners think the dog is dirty, and once they buy the dog home, they give the dog a bath and do not blow dry it, so the dog will easily get sick. It is best not to bathe the dog you just bought back, observe for two days, no symptoms such as colds and diarrhea and then go for vaccination (vaccine is actually a small amount of virus, weak or already sick can only add to the problem)
6. Contact with other dogs and infected diseases: Even for vaccinated dogs, the protection rate is not 100%, not to mention dogs that are not immunized. Do not take the newly purchased dog out to play or come into contact with other dogs during the quarantine observation period, and do not even let other dog breeders touch the dog to prevent cross-infection;
7. If there is a dog at home, the new dog must be isolated for a few days to prevent the risk of the original healthy dog being infected.
8. Always have medicines and items: thermometer, eye drops, cold medicine, anti-diarrhea medicine, ear mite drops, lactobacillus tablets (can cure diarrhea and help digestion), medicine must be used for small children or pets, in addition to prepare a few ice cream sticks (for accidental fractures when the temporary bandage, to fix prevent secondary fractures).
9. Chicken liver can not exceed two pairs a week, otherwise it will affect bone development, forbidden food must be controlled (see “diet taboos” for details)
10. If it is a puppy, must pay attention to keep warm, the nest to lay clothes, preferably with old sleeves into small clothes to wear. Or buy the right clothes for Chihuahuas at the pet store.
- Chihuahua Feeding Essentials
Just bought back the Chihuahua dog is not urgent to play with him, give him snacks to eat, in order to avoid the dog has a stress reaction, back to the new home first let the dog familiar with the environment, the second then consider playing with him, to the point of eating, can not feed too full, and so familiar with the time to consider the Chihuahua feed well.
The food given requires cleanliness and freshness, food bowls and other food utensils should be washed and cleaned frequently, and a certain amount of clean water should be supplied after eating.
Chihuahuas are naturally small eaters, but have a fast metabolism and are easily starved, so it is best to feed them several times a day. It is best to feed him a few times a day. The best feed is mainly dry feed, but also moderately with some wet feed. Chihuahuas are very voracious eaters, but you must be careful not to let your dog eat too much, lest you get fat.
Giving it 60-90 grams of meat per day is enough, and larger Chihuahuas only need to be supplied with about 150 grams of meat per day, plus about the same amount of vegetables and cookies.
Since this dog is not cold tolerant, the food should also be warm. Meat should be cooked, chopped, and mixed with dry feed and warm boiled water before feeding.
