Videos Chihuahua Breed Information
Country of origin -
Mexico
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
9 Section 6 #218|Stds
AKC:|Toy|Stds
ANKC:|Group 1
(Toys)|Smooth Stds
Long Stds
CKC:|Group
5 - Toys|Smooth Stds
Long Stds
KC
(UK):|Toy|Smooth Stds
Long Stds
NZKC:|Toy|Smooth Stds
Long Stds
UKC:|Companion
Breeds|Stds
The verenice Chihuahua
is the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the state of
Chihuahua in Mexico, where it was discovered in 1850. The
American Kennel Club
registered its first Chihuahua in 1905.
1. Appearance
Chihuahuas are best known for their large eyes, their large,
tall ears, and for being the smallest of all dog breeds. The AKC
(American Kennel Club)
recognizes two varieties of Chihuahua: the long-coat and the
smooth-coat.
1. 1. Hair
In the chihuahua there are two types of hair, long-haired and
short-haired, also referred to as smooth coat. They are genetically
the same breed, and are often present in the same litter, though in
many kennel clubs, including the AKC, they are judged in separate
categories. The term smooth coat does not mean that the hair is
necessarily smooth as the hair can range from having a velvet touch
to a whiskery feeling. Long-haired chihuahuas are actually smoother
to the touch having a very soft, fine guard hairs and a downy
undercoat, which gives them their fluffy appearance. Unlike many
'long haired' breeds, long-haired chihuahuas require no
trimming and minimal grooming. Contrary to popular belief, they
also typically shed less than their short-haired counterparts. In
long-haired chihuahuas it may take up to two or more years before a
full long hair coat develops.
1. 2. Standards
Breed standards for this dog do not generally specify a height,
only a weight and a description of their overall proportions. As a
result, height varies more than within many other breeds.
Generally, the height ranges between 6 and 10 inches (15 to 25 cm)
at the withers. However, some dogs grow
as tall as 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm). AKC show dogs (American standard) must weigh no more
than 6.0 lb (2.7 kg). The Fédération
Cynologique Internationale (FCI) standard calls for dogs
ideally between 1.5 and 3.0 kg (3.3 to 6.6 lb), although smaller
ones are acceptable in the show ring. However, pet-quality Chihuahuas (that is, those bred or
purchased as companions rather than show dogs) can, and do, range
above these weights, to 10 pounds (4.5 kg), or even more if they
have large bone structures or are allowed to become overweight.
This does not mean, however, that they are not purebred Chihuahuas,
it only means that they do not meet the requirements to enter a
conformation show. Oversize
Chihuahuas are seen in some of the best, and worst, bloodlines.
1. 3. Colors
The AKC Chihuahua standard] lists under color: "Any
color-Solid, marked or splashed". This allows for all
colors from solid blacks to solid whites, spotted, or a variety of
other colors and patterns. A few examples are Fawn, Red, Cream,
Chocolate, Blue, and Black.
Patterns, all with or without white markings, include:
* Sable
* Irish spotting
* Piebald spotting
* Extreme white spotting
* Brindle
* Masks
* Merle
* Tan points
Classifying Chihuahua colors can be complicated due to the large
number of possibilities. Examples would be a Blue Brindle or a
Chocolate and Tan. Colors and patterns can combine and affect each
other, resulting in a very high degree of variation. That said, the
classic Chihuahua color remains Fawn. No color or pattern is
considered more valuable than the others. Although blue is
considered rare, it is all just a matter of personal
preference.
1. 4. Sizes
Although such terms as "teacup," "pocket
size," "tiny toy," "miniature," and
"standard" have been used to describe different-sized
Chihuahuas, the Chihuahua Club of America issued a statement
stressing that these descriptions are misleading. Their statement
reads:
"Unfortunately, the additional adjectives used to
describe the size differences and physical appearances are many and
have been misused for so long they now seem legitimate. Teacup,
Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature or Standard - are just a few of
the many tags and labels that have been attached to this breed over
the years. The Chihuahua Club of America is concerned that these
terms may be used to entice prospective buyers into thinking that
puppies described in this way are of greater monetary value.
They are not and the use of these terms is
incorrect and misleading."
The Chihuahua Club of America and the American Kennel Club only
recognizes two types of Chihuahuas - the Long-haired and the
Short-haired Chihuahua.
2. Temperament
Chihuahuas are prized for their devotion, ferocity and personality.
Their curious nature and small size make them easily adaptable to a
variety of environments, including the city and small apartments.
Chihuahuas are often stereotyped as high-strung, though it has been
shown that correct training and socialization can result in an
outstanding companion animal.
Chihuahuas are not well-suited as small children's pets
because of their size, temperament and tendency to bite when
frightened. It is recommended that children be school aged or older
before adding a Chihuahua to one's home. Also, many Chihuahuas
focus their devotion on one person, becoming overly jealous of that
person's human relationships. This can be mitigated through
socialization.
Chihuahuas also tend to have a "clannish" nature, often
preferring the companionship of other Chihuahuas over other
dogs.
Chihuahuas seem to have no concept of their own size and may
fearlessly confront larger animals, which can result in injury.
3. Health
Overfeeding a Chihuahua can be a grave danger to the small dog's health, shortening their life and leading to diabetes.
Overfeeding a Chihuahua can be a grave danger to the
small dog's health, shortening their life and leading to
diabetes.
This breed requires expert veterinary attention in areas such as
birthing and dental care. Chihuahuas are also prone to some genetic
anomalies, often neurological ones, such as epilepsy and seizure disorders.
Chihuahuas, and other toy breeds, are also prone to the
sometimes painful disease Hydrocephalus. It is often diagnosed by the
puppy having an abnormally large head during the first several
months of life, but other symptoms are more noticeable (since
"a large head" is such a broad description). Chihuahua
puppies exhibiting Hydrocephalus usually have patchy skull
platelets rather than a solid bone, and typically are lethargic and
do not grow at the same pace as their siblings. A true case of
Hydrocephalus can be diagnosed by a veterinarian, though the
prognosis is grim.
Chihuahuas are also known for their moleras, a soft spot in their skulls. Chihuahuas
are the only breed of dog to be born with an incomplete skull. The
molera does fill in with age, but great care needs to be taken
during the first six months until the skull is fully formed. Many
veterinarians are not familiar with Chihuahuas as a breed, and
mistakenly confuse a molera with hydrocephalus. The Chihuahua Club
of America has issued a statement regarding this often deadly
misdiagnosis.
Chihuahuas can also be at risk for hypoglycemia, or low blood
sugar. Left unattended, hypoglycemia can lead to coma. Chihuahuas
are also prone to eye infections due to their large, round,
protruding eyes and their relatively low ground clearance.
Chihuahuas also have a tendency to tremble but this is not a health
issue, rather it takes place when the dog is stressed or excited.
One reason for this may be because small dogs have a higher
metabolism than larger dogs and therefore dissipate heat faster.
Although figures often vary, as with any breed, the average
lifespan for a Chihuahua is approximately 8 to 18 years of age.
Chihuahuas are sometimes picky eaters, and care must be taken to
provide them with adequate nutrition. At the same time, care must
be exercised not to overfeed this tiny breed. Overweight Chihuahuas
are prone to joint injuries, tracheal collapse, chronic bronchitis,
and shortened life span.
4. Clubs
Because Chihuahuas are such a popular breed, there have been
clubs created for them. These clubs talk about the breed, host
competitions, etc. Sometimes they have information on adoption for
members. A couple of clubs are ones such as the Chihuahua Club of
America, (CCA) or the British Chihuahua Club, the latter formed in
1947. Also, online forums have been made about these dogs.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
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