Chihuahuas are among the smallest dog breeds in the world. These dogs are named after a place in Mexico, where they were officially discovered. The appearance of the Chihuahua is what probably makes it a very popular companion dog for celebrities and average people alike. The American Kennel Club has set standards for the breed which are the basis for dogs that entered in shows. The Chihuahua must stand at around six to ten inches at their shoulders or withers and weight approximately 2.7 kilograms at the most. House pets and non-show dogs usually exceed these standards since they are allowed to eat too much or the owners do not mind their deviation from the standards.
Chihuahua Appearance
The Chihuahua is a very small dog with an apple sized head accompanied by large eyes and disproportionately large, erect ears. Chihuahuas come in several colors, either solid or a combination of colors. The colors are fawn, black, red, cream, blue and chocolate. Chihuahua coat patterns include the following, piebald spotting, Irish spotting, sable, masks, brindle, extreme white spotting, tan points and merle. Blue is difficult to find in Chihuahuas and therefore some may prize it more. It is difficult to be very specific with their classification of their coats since there are many combinations of colors and patterns that can be achieved, so the American Kennel Club has accepted any combination of colors and patterns for the Chihuahua breed.
There are two kinds of Chihuahuas based of their long hair or short hair. These are known as the smooth coated and the long haired Chihuahua. Most long haired Chihuahuas have thin hair except for some whose coat is dense and thick.
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Health and Temperament of the Chihuahua Dog
Chihuahuas are noted for their difficulty in giving birth and their bad teeth. Vets have also noticed that they are prone to hydrocephalus and have a soft spot in their skulls when they are still young but this eventually closes as they grow older. Many owners may have noticed that their Chihuahua has a tendency to tremble but this happens only when they are stress or excited.
Chihuahuas are loving dogs who are devoted to their owners. They are prone to barking and jumping at times but these just need training and discipline to curb. They have a tendency to bite when frightened or surprised so care must be performed when approaching a strange Chihuahua. They also like to associate with other Chihuahuas more than other breeds maybe because of their size and appearance.
