Chihuahua Information

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The Chihuahua is a very small-sized dog with a proportionately robust build and distinctive facial features. Their body is stout and just longer than it is tall, and they have straight limbs. They have a sickle-shaped tail that curls over the dog’s back or off to one side. They have an apple-shaped head with a short, tapered, pointy muzzle. Their large eyes are round, dark, and can sometimes be ruby or luminously-colored. They have large, triangular-shaped, erect ears that are a distinguishing characteristic of this breed. Chihuahua puppies have a soft spot on the top of their skull that closes as they become adults. There is a long-haired variety of Chihuahua, but the most common variety is the short-haired Chihuahua. Their coat comes in a variety of colors including fawn, sand, chestnut, silver, and steel blue. They may also be black & tan or tri-color.

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Chihuahua's are often referred to as a 'chico' (ch-e-co), The Chihuahua comes in almost an endless amount of colors. They come in white, brindle, chocolate, black and merle. Merle is trying to be bred out because of a gene that causes blindness and deafness. Some Chihuahua's tails don't curl. A tail that curves over to one side, or that is curly or kinky or twisted is a sign of an improperly developed spine and can be linked to other health issues. The Molera is a correct breed trait that only sometimes closes. Most Chihuahuas have an open Molera (though smaller is better) for their entire lives. Deer, Micro and Tea Cup Chihuahuas are marketing terms that some breeders use to sell small, improperly or underdeveloped dogs. There is no such thing as a T-cup Chihuahua. Chihuahuas belong to the TOY group. Shaking or trembling is not a normal Chihuahua trait. Shaking is a sign of low blood sugar or anemia and urgent care may be required. They may also shake when nervous or stressed out.

They are small gentle dogs they only like there breeds for example they do not like rottweiler breeds the chiwawa likes their breeds cause they are gentle and rotties are to rough.

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Character

The Chihuahua is lively, alert, proud, and makes a good companion. They seek and demand affection, and they are very spunky by nature. They are determined, courageous, and they become very attached to their owner(s). They have a jealous streak, and they will follow their owner’s every move if strangers are present. Some Chihuahuas are difficult to train, but they are intelligent and generally learn quickly. They are most receptive to gentle training and positive reinforcement. The Chihuahua doesn’t like to be poked, pestered, or teased, and he may snap if a child provokes him. Because of their small size, they will resort to using their teeth if they feel threatened. This breed can be noisy and difficult to housebreak. All Chihuahuas should be properly socialized to avoid the onset of aggressive behavior. This breed is usually aggressive towards other dogs.


The Chihuahua is also very courageous, lively, proud, affectionate, loyal, intelligent, and enterprising.

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Size

6 – 9 inches
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Weight

2 – 6 pounds

The official breed standard is 3-6 pounds.
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General Health

The Chihuahua may wheeze or snore because of his very short nose. The breed has prominent eyes that are prone to corneal dryness and secondary glaucoma. Other health concerns include slipped stifle, colds, stress, and rheumatism. This breed shouldn’t be overfed. Frequently, Chihuahuas are born by cesarean section because of their proportionately large-sized heads. This breed typically lives for more than 15 years.


The chihuahua can live up to 13 to 15 years on average. They are prone to get stye in their eyes. This breed is also known for epilepsy and seizures. Seizure medication can cost as much as $60 a month. It is very common after they turn 2 years of age in poorly bred Chihuahuas. The smaller a Chihuahua is bred to be, the more health issues the dog might experience. Small Chihuahuas may develop low blood sugar. And need to eat several small meals to sustain their energetic little bodies. They are known to go into sugar shock very quickly and if not quickly treated, can result in death. In extreme cases you can restore the sugar with Nutra Cal (puppy vitamin gel), maple syrup or even Karo Syrup (just a tiny bit can do the trick)

The Chihuahua is prone to Tracheal Collapse and should be harnessed instead of collared if it pulls on the leash an excessive amount.

Chihuahuas don't metabolize adrenaline well and excitement or stress may cause them to tremble. Though it can also be a sign of low blood sugar (especially in puppies), usually calm petting will help most. Careful 'parenting' of a chihuahua will help to form a calm disposition - a quiet environment with confident handling and controlled exposure to stressful environments (especially during month 4) will help minimize excitability and yapping. Chihuahuas should weigh 3-6 lbs. Breeders that aim for smaller size may not be reputable.

The Chihuahua does best with free feeding, especially during puppyhood. A small amount of food should be available at all times. Because of its small size, it can't eat enough food to sustain it all day, especially during puppyhood.. A newborn should stay with its mother until 10 weeks of age.

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History

The Chihuahua is the oldest dog breed on the continent of North America, and it is the smallest dog breed in the world. The breed is native to Mexico, and many believe it was introduced to the region by the Chinese. They were named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua, the place where they first arrived. The breed is thought to have been sacred to the Pre-Colombian Indian nations. The Chihuahua wasn’t brought to Europe until the end of the 19th century.


The early Toltecs of Mexico had similar dogs to the Chihuahua called the Techichi. They were used for reaching the gods and helping the dead pass on to the after life.

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Maintenance

The smooth, short-haired coat of the Chihuahua is easy to groom and take care of. An occasional brushing and wipe-down with a soft cloth are sufficient methods of upkeep. The long-haired variety of Chihuahua should be brushed on a daily basis with a soft bristle brush. All varieties of the Chihuahua should receive a bath on a monthly basis. Owners of this breed should make sure to avoid getting water into the dog’s ear canal. Chihuahuas are average shedders.

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Ideal Environment

The Chihuahua is happy in a small household or apartment. They are very sensitive to the cold, and they should wear a sweater on cold days. While it’s tempting to carry the Chihuahua instead of let him walk, it’s important that these dogs get plenty of exercise. They love to go for walks, and they shouldn’t be confined to a small space.

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Dog Training!

If you're having problems training your dog or getting control, you should read our review of DogProblems.com. Adam will do whatever it takes to help you whip your dog into shape. I've used them to help with my Great Dane as well as help friends train their dogs. It's the first place I go to help answer users Questions. Many training issues are too extensive to answer in this forum, which is why I refer a lot of the load to his site. Update: I've been using and recommending DogProblems for three years now. I, as well as my users, value the techniques we've learned. I get weekly emails from users who have become better owners from the information they received.

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Chihuahua Q&A

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I am the owner of a 9-week old chihuahua that I have had for a week now. I put him in a crate at bedtime. How do I get him to stop whining all night?Any help would be appreciated.

Get him a nice furry blanket and a soft stuff animal. You can put a towel over the front of the kennel so he thinks it time to go to bed, don't go to him when he cries, when he stops then go to him, if you go when he cries, he is training you. Remember that he is lost and doesn't know where he is, just give him time and let him know you love him. They are known as blanket dogs, so make sure that he stays warm in the blanket, this is all year long. Make sure he has his blanket. You'll have to look for him under it, so please be careful you don't sit on him.

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i own a chihuahua of 4 months ,i took to the vet he has diarea and vomiting. he gave him meds. but hes just getting worst. now his direa is more watery and blood like. please respond i am very worried and scared.

Please take him to the vet asap. They can go down very fast. Make sure that he has Nutra-stat to keep his sugar up. Has he had all his shots? He could have parvo.You can give him pepto bismol and see if this helps him. don't let this go on for long, you could lose him

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Is there such a thing as an Apple Head Chihuahua?

Yes. That is the way all their heads are shaped.

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I have a chiuhahua female who have three pupies and i want to know if i could take them a bath they are 1month and 3 weeks.

if they are really smal i suggest that you have the water warm and not too high.yes you can

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I have a 10 month chihuahua that has begun to whine all the time if someone is not the same room with her. this has just started in the last month. What can I do to break her of this behavior?

Make her feel comfortable and if it keeps on happening maybe she just doesnt like the plase she sleeps at

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I have a 2 month chihuahua how long does it take for his ears to stand up straight

They will come up around the time your puppy stops teething.

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I have a four week old chihuahua. At what age do they drink water and eat food. The mother is still feeding them at the time.

puppies don't usually start eating puppy food until around 8 weeks. that's when most people wean them off of their mother

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I am the new mommy of a 9 week old Chihuahua and I am wondering what is the BEST and MOST SUCCESSFUL way of house training for such a small dog. My last dog was a sheltie/lab, so the conventional method of a spank won't work on a baby like my Dittimus

go for praising and giving treats when they go to the bathroom outside, and scold them [not hit] and then put them directly outside after they use the bathroom inside. they will eventually associate going outside as potty time

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i have a chihuahua she a female and i would like to know when will she be able to have baby pup

She should not be bred until her second or third heat cycle - between 1 - 1.5 years old.

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at what age does a chiuahua start changing its teeth?

I found this in WikiAnswers. ''Around 4 to 5 months of age, puppies will start to lose thier ''baby teeth'' and thier permanent teeth begin to grow in. Puppies lose thier teeth in a specific order: first the smaller front teeth come out, then the premolars, molars and finally the canine teeth come out. Most of the time teeth fall out while eating/playing/etc so they are often swallowed.''

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