Chihuahua: temperament, size, care and health

About the Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is the smallest of the recognized dog breeds, with most adults weighing only a few pounds. It has a rounded apple-shaped head, large flaring ears, big dark eyes and a sickle-shaped tail carried up and over the back. Two coat types exist: the smooth coat, short and glossy, and the long coat, with soft feathering on the ears, tail and legs. Almost every color and pattern occurs.

People keep the breed for its extremely small size, its affection for its owner and its tough, spirited temperament that seems much larger than the body.

Temperament and family life

A Chihuahua often bonds with one person above all others, and may be suspicious or defensive about anyone else. It is brave, curious, quick and prone to bark at anything unusual. The breed is also known for a mix of sweetness at home and sharpness with strangers or unfamiliar dogs, especially when it is not socialized.

Chihuahuas are fragile, and the combination of tiny bones and a feisty attitude makes them poor companions for small children, who can drop or squeeze them, and who may be snapped at. They fit better with adults or older children who can be gentle. Some live happily with other small dogs or cats, while others try to rule the house. Dogs that are carried everywhere can become demanding and may guard their owner.

Exercise and training

A Chihuahua needs a short daily walk and some play, and a lot of its exercise is gained simply by following its owner around the house. It enjoys games and short outings but tires quickly and feels the cold severely, so a coat or sweater in winter and a warm bed all year are helpful. Hot weather is easier for this breed than for flat-faced toys.

Training is possible but requires patience and consistency. Chihuahuas are clever and learn quickly when motivated by food, but they can be willful and slow to house train, partly because of a small bladder and a dislike of wet or cold ground. Socialization from a young age to people, noises and other dogs reduces excessive barking and fear.

Grooming and shedding

Both varieties are simple to maintain. The smooth coat needs a weekly rub with a soft brush or mitt, and the long coat should be brushed a few times a week to prevent tangles behind the ears and on the legs. Shedding is moderate and mostly in spring and fall, although with a body this small the amount of hair is minor.

Dental care is the main grooming task: brush the teeth often and expect professional cleanings, since small mouths crowd teeth. Trim the nails, wipe the eyes and watch for ear debris.

Health

Chihuahuas often live fifteen years or more, but they have typical toy-breed problems. Patellar luxation and dental disease are very common. Tracheal collapse, mitral valve disease and low blood sugar in young puppies are also seen. Some dogs have an open soft spot in the skull called a molera, and a few develop hydrocephalus. Their small bones are easily broken in falls.

Responsible breeders examine hearts and knees, and they avoid extreme small size. This is general information about the Chihuahua, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The breed takes its name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where small dogs of this type were noticed by travelers in the nineteenth century and brought north to the United States. Stories link the Chihuahua to ancient dogs of Mexico such as the Techichi, and artifacts showing small dogs are often cited, but the exact line of descent is uncertain. The breed was recognized in the early twentieth century and gained great popularity in the United States, where it remains among the most common toy breeds.

Is the Chihuahua right for you?

A Chihuahua suits an adult or a pair of adults in a small home who want a close, portable companion, are happy to watch the dog around bigger dogs and visitors, and will accept constant barking.

It is a poor match for houses with toddlers, for people who want a sociable dog that loves everyone, or for owners who will not manage its manners. The Russian Toy and the Toy Fox Terrier share a similar size with more terrier bounce, and the Papillon is friendlier with strangers.