Chihuahuas

Breed: Chihuahua
Temperament: lively and loyal but timid
Lifespan: 10-14 years
Maintenance: low
Recommended for: elderly, apartments

History

Love it or not, there's no denying the Chihuahua (pronounced che-wa-wa, not che-wow-wa) is a breed apart from the rest. With a voice that far outweighs its size and a loyalty towards its owners that is second to none, the diminutive Chihuahua demands attention wherever it goes. These little pocket dynamos are no pushovers, although small and fragile, the Chihuahua is spirited and animated.

Named ironically after the largest state in Mexico, the Chihuahua is often credited as hailing from that country. Although now adopted as Mexico's national dog, there's no evidence that the breed originated there. There are many theories, ranging from ancient Chinese travellers bringing with them tiny pariah dogs, to Spanish traders arriving to the America's after travelling through Chinese ports. However it got to the America's, it appears likely that this type of dog did originate in China, as the Chinese are well versed in the art of miniaturisation.

Appearance

Hailed as the ultimate toy lapdog, there is no doubt the Chihuahua is a miniature breed. With a weight range of only one to three kilograms, height less than 20cm, large erect ears and a moderately long tail, cruel comparisons with rats are often made. The head is distinctive; very round with wide-set ears and prominent, relatively large eyes. The mouth is small, the body compact but long. And the legs? Very, very thin-boned with dainty feet.

The coat may be either smooth or long. Smooth coats are most common. The long-coated version, distinguished by its full, fluffy ruff and bushy 'pants', was produced later by crossing smooth Chihuahuas with other toys like the Papillon and Pomeranian. All colours are available, though because of the wide range of colouring and varied patterning genes, it is unusually difficult to breed specifically for colour.

Health

Miniaturisation of a breed is not without its problems. It is not uncommon in miniaturised breeds for some parts of their anatomy to remain proportionally larger than the rest of the body. Most commonly, teeth and nails remain larger and grow quicker. The nails can grow very quick, and the teeth may crowd the small mouth. A chihuahua's tongue may also grow to be longer than its mouth permits; evidenced by its tip protruding out from the mouth. An open soft spot, called the morella on the top of the skull is evident in most examples of the breed. This is an accepted characteristic. Undershot or overshot jaws and tooth loss are common orthodontic faults. Slipping patellas, or kneecaps, which can affect the dog's movement, are also not uncommon. Those animals suffering from the most severe of these problems should not be bred from.

While not as fragile as their appearance may suggest, it is wise to deal with reputable breeders. Health problems are accentuated in the smallest specimens. Despite these reported problems, a healthy Chihuahua will live a long life, around 10-14 years.

Temperament

Talk to an owner or breeder and you'll soon hear words like, 'feisty', 'cunning', 'clever' and 'protective'. Chihuahuas will usually become very attached to their owners and you can expect them to be reserved around strangers, especially around children if not used to them. A feisty attitude may be normal, but aggression in any breed of dog, regardless of its size, is not to be tolerated. Don't buy pups bred from adult dogs which show aggressive tendencies.

While owners say Chihuahuas are trainable it does take some time compared with other breeds. Owners report difficulties in house-training entire males. Many examples of the breed are yappy around strangers. Breeders say that with proper training from an early age, a Chihuahua is just as likely to be as obedient as any other breed.

Maintenance

Grooming and maintenance is rarely a problem. Nails should be checked regularly and clipped when necessary, whilst it is really only the long-coated variety which could do with a regular, once weekly brush.

Ideal owner

Chihuahuas are a favourite with the elderly and those living in apartments. Large, boisterous families are perhaps not well matched to a Chihuahua's size and temperament, but rather singles or couples who prefer constant companionship and an impressive early warning system when strangers approach. A real lap dog, the Chihuahua will remain by its owner and demands affection, even to the point of shivering for attention!

Further information

The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
www.ankc.org.au

Dogs NSW
http://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeders-directory
Email: info@dogsnsw.org.au
Phone: 1300 728 022 (NSW only) or (02) 9834 3022
Fax: (02) 9834 3872

Dogs Victoria
http://www.vca.org.au
Email: office@dogsvictoria.org.au
Phone: (03) 9788 2500
Fax: (03) 9788 2599

Dogs ACT
http://www.actca.asn.au
Email: info@dogsact.org.au
Phone: (02) 6241 4404 - Fax: (02) 6241 1129.

Dogs West
http://www.cawa.asn.au
Email: k9@dogswest.com
Phone: (08) 9455 1188
Fax: (08) 9455 1190

Dogs SA
http://dogssa.com.au
Phone: (08) 8349 4797

Canine Control Council of Queensland
http://www.cccq.org.au
Email: dogsqld@powerup.com.au
Phone: (07) 3252 2661
Fax: (07) 3252 3864

Tasmanian Canine Association
http://www.tasdogs.com
Email: tca@iprimus.com.au
Phone: (03) 6272 9443
Fax: (03) 6273 0844

Dogs NT
http://www.territorydogworld.com
Email: naca3@bigpond.com
Phone: (08) 8984 3570
Fax: (08) 8984 3409
The Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC)
www.ankc.org.au

Dogs NSW
http://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeders-directory
Email: info@dogsnsw.org.au
Phone: 1300 728 022 (NSW only) or (02) 9834 3022
Fax: (02) 9834 3872

Dogs Victoria
http://www.vca.org.au
Email: office@dogsvictoria.org.au
Phone: (03) 9788 2500
Fax: (03) 9788 2599

Dogs ACT
http://www.actca.asn.au
Email: info@dogsact.org.au
Phone: (02) 6241 4404 - Fax: (02) 6241 1129.

Dogs West
http://www.cawa.asn.au
Email: k9@dogswest.com
Phone: (08) 9455 1188
Fax: (08) 9455 1190

Dogs SA
http://dogssa.com.au
Phone: (08) 8349 4797

Canine Control Council of Queensland
http://www.cccq.org.au
Email: dogsqld@powerup.com.au
Phone: (07) 3252 2661
Fax: (07) 3252 3864

Tasmanian Canine Association
http://www.tasdogs.com
Email: tca@iprimus.com.au
Phone: (03) 6272 9443
Fax: (03) 6273 0844

Dogs NT
http://www.territorydogworld.com
Email: naca3@bigpond.com
Phone: (08) 8984 3570
Fax: (08) 8984 3409

Copyright CTC Productions 2003