Chihuahua: Nutrition, character, training and much more about the Chihuahua

By Roland Berger

They are wild!
They are intelligent!
They are sweet as sugar!

Chihuahuas! This small and popular breed of dog likes to be affectionately called Chi. What a coincidence that the Qi (Chi pronounced) in Asian means energy. The smallest dog breed on the planet is the Chihuahua, which is no wonder. Because he is not only wild, intelligent and sweet as sugar. He is a ruffian, can be a guard dog or even a family dog.

Learn through this book,
- what distinguishes the Chihuahua from other dog breeds.
- Background knowledge on dog behavior.
- How to raise your Chihuahua puppy.
- what there is to know about adult Chihuahuas.
- what you should consider when getting a Chi.
- Tips on how to keep your Chihuahua busy or teach him tricks.
- what the vet, vaccinations and other health procedures are all about.
- that it's worth it to bring home a real Mexican or a little Mexican.
- what you can do if your Chi misbehaves.

For Chihuahua enthusiastic dog fans and those who want to become one, the book is perfect. Because strict parenting is old news. Education today is about relationship.

The content of the book is:
- The dog breed Chihuahua
- Education and socialization
- Health and nutrition
- The dog care
- Character, training and much more
- Many illustrations

Let's get started on the fascinating journey with your new family member. Have fun reading!

• Language: English
• Publisher: XinXii
• Release date: Mar 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9783987628689

Book preview

Introductory

A dog is a companion of man, who never nags, is always in a good mood and takes you as you are. Dogs sense when you are upset, sad, or yes, even pregnant. Researchers have found that dogs have a soothing effect on us. And it's true. Once you feel the warm and soft head of a dog on your feet, you feel bliss. There is no better feeling! And this feeling is just as impossible to describe as the love for one's partner, parents or siblings. No words in any language can describe the feeling. Because dogs are healing beings, we love them so much.

The small Chihuahua is one of 246 dog breeds defined according to the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). It is also one of the most popular dog breeds in Germany. Each dog breed brings a special character and therefore should be absolutely looked before the acquisition of a four-legged friend, what matters and whether the breed fits you. Learn in this book many important, funny and fascinating things about the droll Chihuahua and why he fascinates so many people with his googly eyes.

This book is especially suitable for Chihuahua lovers and Chihuahua beginners. Because one thing is certain: when you come home after a stressful day at work, your Chihuahua will greet you every time as if he hadn't seen you for months. He will jump on you, throw toys at your feet and look at you with his joyful I missed you eyes and all is right with the world again. Dogs give you so much back.

Chihuahua - the smallest

dog breed in the world

The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world. Along with the Maltese, the Russkiy Toy and a few other small dog breeds, the Chihuahua is among the smallest of them. Some representatives of his breed grow only 15 cm small and weigh around 1000 grams. Having this title makes the Chihuahua a popular breed and, of course, highly interesting. First and foremost, the breed has only really gone viral through Paris Hilton, which led to the fact that somehow everyone wanted to have a Chihuahua. Paris Hilton had partly up to 20 dogs in her villa. A colorful mix of Chihuahua, Pinscher and Pomeranian braved the estate. There was even a separate TV show just for her dogs. Quickly, the simple Chihuahua became a pocket dog, hiltondog or luxury dog. The trend has since died down, but the popularity around the smallest four-legged friend in the world has not stopped. They are said to be real bitches and bucks. Small dogs have to assert themselves differently. Is this a typical trait of the Mexican Chihuahua or is it just one of many stereotypical claims? Do they like to be carried on their arms, dressed in cute overalls, wear raincoats or are they allowed to do everything because they wrap their owners around their finger with their childlike scheme? Possibly this is just a man-made mirage à la Paris Hilton.

Origin and history

The wolf has not always been the ancestor of the dog. The Chihuahua of today has its ancestors in Mexico. The breed was named after the state of Chihuahua. There are records that say that as early as the 8th century Aztecs tamed the small dogs living in the wild there and lived with them. There are to be seen in the paintings and as statues the Chihuahua. From about the 14th century, the ancient Aztecs considered the Chihuahua as a companion for the dead. According to the legend, the animals were raised as companions of man and when this man died, the Chihuahua was added to the funeral. This means that when the owner of the animal died, the Aztecs believed that his dog had to die as well, so that it would show the human soul the way to paradise. The dogs were revered and treated well. They also lived with the priests in temples. For them it was an act of love to sacrifice the dog so that the deceased found peace in the afterlife. But the little four-legged friends were also part of the food chain in some parts of the province.

At the beginning of the 19th century, farmers began to sell the Chihuahuas to tourists. Thus, the breed spread all over the world. First in America, then in Europe. Because eating cute little dogs was not the case in the USA, they were kept there as pets. And it was only here that they were specifically bred. Today, if you travel to the north of Mexico, you can still find wild little dogs similar to the Chihuahua.

External features

The appearance of the Chihuahua is distinctive and yet there are differences. The most likely way to recognize the Chihuahua is by its small size. He is on average between 15 and 25 cm tall. Thus, this breed is smaller than a cat. However, some specimens can reach a size of 30 cm. According to the breeding standard, no direct size is given. With the Chihuahuas one goes more after the weight. A Chihuahua weighs maximum 3 kg, but most of them weigh less. One distinguishes between short-haired and long-haired Chihuahuas. In the meantime there are different breedings. The color of the coat can be different, because every color is allowed. There are color markings with and also without mask, with or without white spotting or stroming. Their coat can be brown, reddish, white, black or sandy.

According to FCI, the color Merle does not belong to the standardized Chihuahua colors. It is classified as a fashion color and breedings with this color pattern are not allowed. In case you have little idea about it: The merle color scheme is present in some other dog breeds, such as the Australian Shepherd. Gray-blue or black spots on white or gray background is typical for this fashion color. It looks marbled. In Chihuahuas, this color pattern is found because it was bred in by crossbreeding with other breeds. But the FCI does not recognize this. All color markings have names and every other type of conformation has one as well. If you want to study this in more detail and imagine a very specific type of Chihuahua, it is advisable to study the respective breedings.

What is the difference between an applehead and deerhead Chihuahua?

The breedings led to the fact that the Chihuahua got a different appearance. There are two types of Chihuahuas: apple-headed Chihuahuas and deer-headed Chihuahuas.

The difference, as the name suggests, is in the shape of the head. While the Apple Head Chihuahua has a round head and a high round forehead (reminiscent of an apple), the Deer Head Chihuahua has a more elongated head shape with a longer muzzle. The latter is in keeping with the more natural look of how the dogs were once tamed in Mexico.

The Teacup Chihuahua

You have certainly looked at pictures of Chihuahuas before. Among them, you may have come across a particularly tiny variation of the Chihuahua, the so-called teacup Chihuahua. It is bred small, in fact, so that it would actually fit in a teacup, even as an adult dog. These dogs usually weigh less than a kilogram. This breeding has been banned since 2018. However, teacup dogs can also be found in other small breeds, such as Maltese or Toy Poodles. However, because the overbreeding of these miniature dogs is booming, they are offered despite the ban. Compared to their larger counterparts, teacup Chihuahuas have a shorter life expectancy, are more prone to injury and disease, have misaligned teeth, and almost always come from torture breeding. This need not always be true, as in a litter of Chihuahuas, underdevelopment of one puppy can result in an unwanted Teacup Chihuahua. A reputable breeder would never use or offer this dog for further breeding. Especially when buying a Teacup Chihuahua, you should definitely and with the utmost care think about giving the animal a home. Unwanted Teacup dogs, however, also deserve a nice home. Especially with this breed, find out how the dog lives, who the parents are, and whether any illnesses have already been detected before buying the animal! Due to the pronounced little kid scheme (big head, big eyes, small body, skinny little legs), some buyers disregard the fact that the Teacup Chihuahua is not only cuddly and cute, but will also cost more money, if necessary, due to high vet bills.

What are tan marks?

Tan marks denote the symmetrical patches on the chest, legs, muzzle, eyebrows or rump.

What does Tricolor mean?

If a dog is written out with the addition tricolor, it means that the coat coloring has three colors.

The Chocolate Chihuahua

This is a coat coloration that is distinctive brown. So the dog is solid colored and has at most a white spotting on the paws or belly. There are also variants like Chocolate-tan and Lilac-tan, which can be found for example in shorthaired Chihuahuas. They often have a mask or tan markings - so they are not completely brown.

Black and blue Chihuahuas

Completely black Chihuahuas are rare, as is a mixture of black and white. A weakened variant is blue-gray or blue-and-white. If the dog has tan markings, it becomes a black-and-tan or blue-and-tan.

All Chihuahuas can be tricolor varieties. For example, the white-chocolate tricolor may have a white belly and chest, with a black back and brown tan markings.

Fawn Chihuahuas

Solid Fawn Chihuahuas have a recessive yellow coloration. Dogs of this coat pattern are born without a dark hair. Only in the nose sponge and in the skin pigment dark colorations show up. Also here there are different nuances. The Fawn-Chihuahua can be dark red up to white-yellow.

Cream and beige Chihuahuas

Cream colored Chihuahuas are almost white. A sandy beige touch can have a darker variant of the Chihuahua. Usually this one has a cream colored chest and mask. They come in the short haired and also the long haired variety.

Auburn Chihuahuas

Similar to the Black variety, there is also a reddish brown, copper, golden color pattern with white markings.

Sable Chihuahua

Sable is a distinct color that changes over time in the dog. The coat has a light base tone, usually gold, cream or yellow, with dark shades (blue, black, isabelle, brown).

Other variants of the Chihuahua are:

Brindle: The coat of the dogs is brindle. This is the case with all sables and also Agoutis.

Agoutis: Here we speak of a wild color, which is particularly prominent in brown-black Chihuahuas. They also have a black bar on the nose.

Domino: A rarity is the Chihuahua with a husky pattern.

Character traits

The lively little four-legged friend has a character all its own. Many people associate the Chihuahua with luxury, see him as a fashion dog or as a restless yapper. The fact is that even though the Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds in the world, it is still a full dog, with all the things that make a dog. However, each breed has its own facets. There is a rumor that longhaired Chihuahuas are calmer than shorthaired Chihuahuas. Is this true? It is certain that every dog breed has its own special requirements and even within one breed the dogs have different characters - some are shy, others are cheeky. It's almost like us humans!

His hunting urge is less developed. According to the FCI, he is classified as a companion dog. Thus, with some training, a Chi can also be used as a valuable therapy dog. The cuddly dogs are as sweet as sugar. If you are addicted to the breed and you are considering getting a Chihuahua in your home, you should be aware that this breed is not a beginner dog.

Why do they say that - not a beginner dog?

Some dog breeds show a certain trait. For example, the beagle is very stubborn and greedy, the golden retriever is cozy and extremely tolerant, and Spitz can quickly be jealous.

The Chihuahua has the trait of having a fiery temperament due to its origin. That is, they fulfill the cliché: You don't see small dogs. You hear them.

They are not for novice dogs in that they are strong willed, prone to barking and have no problem getting their way. Their aggression potential is medium, which does not mean that every Chi is problematic and difficult to train. It just means that he tends to react defiantly and likes to let the tough guy hang out. If his human pack is not consistent enough, he takes the scepter and dominates his human pack.

With Chihuahuas, consistent training is a must, otherwise he quickly appoints himself the boss of the gang. With a sensitive upbringing and enough positive moments, the Chihuahua is suitable as a family dog. He has a strong sense of pack and likes to defend his people and his home. Although it does not produce the fearsome appearance that a German Shepherd or a Rotweiler does, it is an alert watchdog. Chihuahuas are very sociable and - if their owners allow it - find physical contact wonderful.

Of course, there are always exceptions. Thus, a Chihuahua can also be gentle, quiet and submissive. But in most cases he is very self-confident, courageous and as a puppy and young dog reckless and high-spirited. Even large dogs do not intimidate the tiny dog. There is Mexican blood in him. If you think that because of his small size he needs less exercise than larger dogs, you are mistaken. His urge to move is moderate. There is a lot of power in him. That is why he can run as long distances as other dogs.

Acquisition and acclimatization

Well, you have decided: it should be a Chihuahua that comes to your family. The acquisition and also the acclimatization should be well prepared. Because from the first day you enter directly into the adventure. Be sure to find out long before acquiring the dog, what equipment you need and how, in the best case, the acclimatization to the new home can proceed. You should be prepared for everything and ask yourself some questions beforehand:

Should it be a puppy, young dog or older Chihuahua?

Is he from a breeder, shelter, foster home, or do acquaintances have a litter in mind?

How much does a dog cost me to buy? And the follow-up costs?

Where and what things do I need to get for my Chihuahua? Does it all have to be new or can it be used?

Who should be there when the Chihuahua sees the house for the first time?

What about the possibly already existing dog? How do I arrange the socialization?

Am I fully aware that a dog costs work, time, effort, money and sometimes nerves?

How much time am I willing to give the dog for exercise, activity and grooming?

Does the Chihuahua fit into my current living situation?

Do I realize that the Chihuahua will accompany me for up to 20 years in the best case?

Set the right time

Once you have made the decision to get a Chihuahua, consider the timing. If you plan to get the Chihuahua for Christmas, there is nothing against it for now. You should only be aware that very many cherish this romantic dream of putting a dog under the Christmas tree for their children or family. If you like this idea, you could consider bringing the Chihuahua home a few days or weeks before and not directly on Christmas Eve, when the whole family is already excited anyway. Give your dog a chance to arrive at your home in peace and not to be hit by the Christmas hustle and bustle right away. If you want to please your children with the animal, you have so many other options. Also, remember that your new family dog is excited anyway. You might just surprise the kids by taking them on a mystery ride and then have the kids realize they get to be there when the dog is to be picked out or picked up.

Also, you should definitely take intensive time for your four-legged friend in the first few days. Puppies in particular need round-the-clock care. The ideal time would be when you are on vacation or at least free. If you