The Chihuahua: An Ancient Breed

Article Title: The Chihuahua: An Ancient Breed
Author: Sandra A Dean

The two forms of Chihuahua today are very different from the
original breed. Originally the Toltec's and Aztecs kept them as
pets. Vast changes have occurred during the year to bring us the
modern breed of Chihuahua. For some households the Chihuahua is
an excellent breed while other family's should consider other
breeds. This is because of the breed's extremely diverse
personality. You will never find two identical temperaments in
Chihuahua's. The Chihuahua is a bold breed that is highly loyal
and protective of their owners. You can expect a lot of loyalty
from the Chihuahua in return for a lot of human contact.

The Chihuahua breed has a long and distinguished history as a
dog. The breed originally came from the ancient Techichi breed
of dog that belong to the Toltec Civilization near Mexico City.
This ancient breed of dog was larger than today's modern breed
and was also mute. The breed became a sacred icon of the upper
class members of society and as a religious symbol when they
were used in ceremonies to help guide dead spirits after the
Aztec empire conquered the Toltecs.

By the time the Chihuahua breed was discovered in the United
States in the 1850s it had been crossed with a hairless breed
from the Orient, which led to the modern breed we see today. The
Chihuahua was discovered in the Chihuahua state of Mexico, which
is located near Texas and New Mexico, this is also where the
name for the breed comes from. The breed was then added to the
American Kennel Club in 1904.

Graceful, alert and agile with a compact and terrier like
quality is the official description of the Chihuahua breed given
by the American Kennel Club. Generally the Chihuahua is a very
graceful, energetic and swift dog, but each Chihuahua has it's
own unique personality and some can be very grumpy, haughty or
even nasty when provoke if they have an extreme terrier like
quality to them.

This terrier like quality doesn't make the Chihuahua a good
breed for large households or those with small or noisy children
because of their clannish tendencies and suspiciousness of other
people. But the curiosity, intelligence and extreme loyalty of
the breed make them an excellent pet for the elderly,
individuals and disabled people. The Chihuahua will often become
attached to just one or two individuals and want to be pampered.
The Chihuahua is also idea for those living in apartments or on
a limited income. You should always observe the temperament of
your Chihuahua before determining if it is the right breed for
you.

The small Chihuahua breed is a dog that isn't aware of their
small stature. You can often find a Chihuahua being much bolder
than other dogs that are three times the size of themselves. The
breed is also highly protective of their owners and fiercely
loyal to only one or two individuals, which is why they are
often wary of strangers or any new guests that are introduced to
the household that the Chihuahua considers it's personal domain.
This is why the Chihuahua makes an excellent watch dog, not a
very good guard dog though.

A Chihuahua requires a lot of human contact in the form of
touching, petting and general attention. Without this, the breed
often resorts to various attention getting tricks until they
gain attention. For some the Chihuahua comes across as too
needy, but the breed will give you so much back in return for
your love, affection and care.

About The Author: Sandra Dean is an avid studier of the history
of many dog breeds. The http://www.thechihuahuaguide.com/
Chihuahua is a diverse breed suitable for certain types of
households. As a bold breed, the Chihuahua is highly protective
and loyal of their owners. Knowing
http://www.thechihuahuaguide.com/Chihuahua.php Chihuahua
information can help you determine if it is a breed right for
you.

.

__,_._,___