Author: Dan Stevens
Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed,
and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance,
personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to
know about the Chihuahuas:
To breeders of the Chihuahua, this dog is known as the best of
the best and the worst of the worst. Although the Chihuahua is
small, adorable, and an excellent pet it deals with a myriad of
potential health risks. Unfortunately, with commercials
featuring this breed and a number of celebrity sightings, the
Chihuahua has been labeled as a "carry where you go," "easy to
manage" type dog when the truth is that it does require some
special care.
Yes, the smooth haired Chihuahua is fascinating and precious
but an accidental fall or drop could cause serious injury. For
this reason, it takes a knowledgeable and responsible pet owner
for this particular breed. When provided the appropriate diet,
environment, and attention, this dog is truly one of the best
companion dogs there is but without this, problems can and
likely will arise.
Physical Appearance
The smooth haired Chihuahua is alert with protruding eyes and a
smooth coat. Just as with the long-haired version of the
Chihuahua, the smooth haired breed is recognized by the
American Kennel Club. Show dogs will generally weigh between
four and six pounds but a purebred can be as heavy as 10
pounds. For show, weight is the most important factor since
height can vary dramatically, anywhere from 12 to 15 inches
from the withers.
Additionally, the smooth haired Chihuahua is found in many
different colors and color combinations to include:
* Solid White
* Solid Black
* Fawn (cream to light brown)
* Chocolate (light brown to rich mahogany)
* Blue Gray
* Tri-color (chocolate and blue or black, with tan and white
markings)
* Silver
* Merle
* Brindle
One important note - the Chihuahua of Merle color typically has
more health risks than that of other colors. In this case,
problems such as deafness, blindness, sterility, hemophilia,
among other things are possible.
Temperament and Personality
Words to describe the smooth haired Chihuahua would include
tiny, sweet, curious, smart, funny, and very, very devoted.
Because the Chihuahua is so small, it is best handled by older
children or adults. This particular breed does well around
children and other animals but they are somewhat suspicious of
new people, at least at first. Once the Chihuahua decides to
be your friend, it is your friend for life.
The Chihuahua is also a fearless dog, often not realizing its
small size. Seeing a four-pound dog defending its food from a
110-pound dog would be typical behavior. Not an aggressive
breed, the Chihuahua simply holds its ground. However, the
other side of this breed is the gentleness that owners love.
Health
The Chihuahua is so small that it is sensitive to cold weather.
Therefore, coats and sweaters are often used to keep the dog
warm, especially during the winter months. Some of the
concerns over the Chihuahua breed include problems with teeth,
pregnancy, birthing, seizures, and epilepsy. In addition, a
Patella Luxation is a potential health risk associated with the
kneecap.
You will also find that the Chihuahua often deals with a
collapsed trachea, which causes coughing and in severe cases,
trouble breathing. Usually, surgery or medication can help the
problem. The Chihuahua is also the only known breed to be born
with an incomplete skull. This means it has a soft spot in the
skull called the Moleras and while the area will grow together
as the dog matures, special care needs to be given during the
initial six months. Finally, this breed is prone to eye
infections because of the round, protruding shape.
About The Author: Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer
and author of SitStayFetch. See
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/chihuahua.php
for more on dog breeds.
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