A Pet's View / September 2005
Yo Quiero Taco Dog
By Pat Lawrence
Chihuahuas are the oldest breed on the American continent and the smallest breed in the world. If there were an ‘average’ Chihuahua, it would weigh between two and six pounds and stand between six and nine inches tall. But, no chihuahua is ‘average’. The tiny pets have giant egos, imperious natures and a fierce self image. Whether they are flirting, pouting, or negotiating for an extra treat, Chihuahuas take themselves very seriously and they expect everyone around them to do the same.
The official AKC standard for the breed describes them as a graceful, alert, swift-moving, compact little dog with a “saucy expression and terrier-like qualities of temperament”. Chihuahuas can indeed be quite saucy. They have quite a Latin temperament, (although it is generally accepted their origin is China, not Mexico), and a perceived slight will take them from glad to grumpy in a millisecond.
Chihuahua’s have a reputation for not liking other breeds and for being suspicious of everyone but their owner. Their disapproval of other breeds can take the form of a full tilt, ferocious assault, and it hardly matters to the chihuahua if the other dog is fifty times bigger. For a chihuahua, size is not an issue.
Still, temperamental tendencies and clannish behavior are a very small price to pay for the intelligence, engaging personality and abiding affection that make chihuahuas the apple of their owner’s eyes.
Intensely loyal and unusually attached to their owners, even to the point of jealousy, the little dogs with large, dark eyes are irresistibly loving. They like to lick their owner’s faces. When strangers are present, they follows their owner’s every move, keeping as close as possible. They disdain strangers, even those bearing treats. A chihuahua’s affections cannot be bought or bartered.
Those trademark ears on an apple-shaped head can droop with dejection if a chihuahua is ignored or left behind. Few owners are proof against those luminous, sometimes dark- ruby, beseeching eyes.
Pet owners prone to pampering have a perfect subject with a chihuahua. Chihuahuas welcome doting. Because of their size, they make great apartment pets. Chihuahuas are also good pets for an elderly couple or individual. Since they eat so little and require no professional grooming or special care, they are good pets for someone with a limited income. However, even chihuahua owners in the most straitened circumstances seem unable to resist outfitting their darlings in the latest fashions.
The diminutive divas of the dog world seem to enjoy getting dressed, too. It may be because chihuahuas hate the cold and often shiver. Even the toughest of the mighty mites appreciate a warm sweater on cool days.
Although owners naturally want to just carry them, the petite pets benefit from regular walks. A body harness is safer and more effective for them than a collar. Collars, if used, should match the leash, of course.
Besides the common short-haired variety there is also a long- haired chihuahua. Colors include fawn, sand, chestnut, silver and steel blue, but any color is acceptable, including black and tan or parti-color. They are sturdier than they look, but since they are so small, chihuahuas must resort to their sharp little teeth in self defense. The breed may snap at teasing children so it is not normally recommended for households with small or boisterous children.
Fearless, confident, indignant when denied proper deference and downright demanding when other dogs are around, Chihuahuas require personal attention but not too much more in the way of maintenance.
Because of their short nose, they may wheeze or snore. Their prominent eyes can be susceptible to corneal dryness. Chihuahuas should not be allowed to jump off high furniture or out of loving arms since the impact on landing could fracture a dainty leg.
Big dogs, Beware! But otherwise, chihuahuas make lively, economical, incredibly loved and incredibly loving, companions.
Copyright © 2005-2006 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
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