Chihuahua
Miniature house dogs are famous for their exquisite appearance and brave temperament – an unexpected characteristic for the smallest dog in the world!
Appearance
Chihuahua is the tiniest dog in the world. At the withers it reaches a maximum of 20 cm, and its weight varies from 1 to 3 kg.
Chihuahuas have a graceful, compact body, a body of a rectangular, slightly stretched format, short and slender limbs with miniature legs. The head is neat, rounded, apple-shaped, the transition from the forehead to the muzzle is sharp. The muzzle is small, with barely distinguished cheekbones. Eyes not protruding, widely spaced, may be hazel, ruby, anthracite or blue. Nose dark, slightly tapering to the tip. The ears are large, standing, triangular. The tail is long, twisted in a ring or thrown to the side.
The coat is thick and shiny, can be long (straight or wavy) or short. It is desirable to have a collar. Any color is allowed, most often deer or brown.
Character
Chihuahua is famous for its strong, brave, proud and independent character. And do not be confused by the fragility of this crumb: in a small body – a big spirit!
Chihuahua is very agile, she loves to play and be in the spotlight. And about the devotion of the child to the owner, you can add legends: it is difficult to find a more loyal and sensitive pet.
Preferring one person, this dog does not always get along with children, who, moreover, by carelessness can injure a fragile baby.
Loyal and loyal to the owner, he is suspicious of strangers. And therefore, despite its diminutiveness, it can act as a watchman, who will always notify family members of the approach of strangers by ringing barking.
Chihuahuas are the ideal choice for housing maintenance if you are a connoisseur of miniature dog breeds and there are no small children in your family.
Health
Despite their diminutiveness, chihuahuas are enduring dogs with good health. A fragile bone system can be noted as a weak spot: in dogs, there are dislocations of the patella, hip dysplasia, etc. Diseases can be either hereditary or acquired. Therefore, when choosing a puppy, it is necessary to pay enough attention to his pedigree, and in further care take into account pedigree features.
Graceful crumbs are real long-livers in the world of dogs. With the right content, the life span of a chihuahua is often 19 years.
Care
As an ideal indoor dog, a chihuahua bears heavy cold, and in cold months needs warming clothes. For a good state of health and the proper development of the Chihuahua daily walks are necessary, but they should not be very long and active.
It is advisable to comb the long hair of the dog every day, the short one once a week. Teeth require special attention, from which it is necessary to clean off the plaque. The rest of the care for Chihuahua standard.
Story
Chihuahua is the birthplace of Mexico. The name of the breed corresponds to the name of the state of northern Mexico, where, most likely, the breed was formed.
It is believed that the ancestors of miniature pets are Aztec dogs, in particular leechs. However, according to one version, Chihuahuas did not originate in Mexico, but were brought into its territory from China. Unfortunately, it is impossible to trace the history of such an ancient breed, and we can only be content with the assumptions and facts about the recent time.
Chihuahua breeding in the United States began in the 19th century. In 1995, FCI published the breed standard. The peak of popularity of the breed in Europe fell on the first years after the end of the Second World War. Today, chihuahuas are popular all over the world, and attention to them continues to grow.