Chihuahuas

Chihuahuas

Breed: Chihuahua
Temperament: lively and loyal but timid
Cost: $300+
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

We filmed this segment with Chihuahua breeder Betty Stepkovitch (02) 9725 4875.

NSW
Chihuahua Club of NSW Inc.
Kris Finch
Phone: (02) 9628 3886

WA
Breeder, Dianne Chard
Phone: (08) 8948 0939

QLD
Chihuahua Club of Qld.
Elaine Macartney
Phone: (07) 3376 6960

SA
Chihuahua Club of SA Inc.
Phyllis Harris
Phone: (08) 8344 2431

TAS
Breeder, Mrs Bronwyn J. Hill
Phone: (03) 6268 6434

VIC
Chihuahua Club of Vic Inc.
Pat Skinner
Phone: (03) 9338 2694 

NSW
Breeder, Viv Cotton
Phone: (02) 6231 4499

WA
Chihuahua Club
Grace Vine
Phone: (08) 9367 1263

Copyright 2003 CTC Productions