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Breeds
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After first being discovered in the 1850s in Mexico, the Chihuahua was
first registered with the American Kennel Club in 1904. The breed is
named after the Mexican state Chihuahua in which they were found, a
region that borders Texas and New Mexico.
However, this isn't where the breed originally came
from. Rather the breed comes from the ancient Techichi breed of dog
that belonged to the Toltec Civilization near Mexico City.
When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs the dogs became sacred icons of
the upper class and gained religious meaning when they were used in
ceremonies to help guide the spirits of the dead. Somewhere between the
fall of the Toltec Empire and the discovery of the Chihuahua in the
1850s the breed was crossed with a hairless dog from the Orient, which
led to the modern breed we see today. The original Techichi breed was
larger than today's breed and they were also mute.
Officially the American Kennel Club describes the Chihuahua breed as
graceful, alert and agile with a compact and terrier like quality.
Although every dog of this breed has its own unique personality some
Chihuahuas can be terrier like to the extreme and be very grumpy,
haughty or even nasty if they are provoke. However, more often then not
the Chihuahua is a dog with curiosity, intelligence and loyalty that
makes them a wonderful companion.
The Chihuahua still may not be a suitable pet for households with small
or noisy children due to the chance that they can be clannish at times
and occasionally a dog may be suspicious of people other than their
owner.
The Chihuahua will often become attached to just one or two individuals
and want to be pampered.
The Chihuahua is also idea for those living in
apartments or on a limited income. You should always observe the
temperament of your Chihuahua before determining if it is the right
breed for you.
Often Chihuahuas aren't aware of their small stature and you can
typically see them acting much bolder than other dogs that are three
times their size or more. The breed will often become extremely loyal
to just one or two individuals, which causes them to become highly
protective. This results in the Chihuahua becoming wary of any news
guests introduced to their personal domain and can cause a rather
violent reaction. Although not a very good guard dog, this trait makes
the Chihuahua an excellent option for a watchdog.
For Chihuahuas human contact is a must, as they will need a lot of
general attention, touching and petting. Without enough attention the
breed will resort to various attention getting tricks, such as being
mischievous.
While some find this makes their dog a bit too needy, you will gain a
lot of loyalty from your Chihuahua in exchange for love, affection and
care.
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Sandra Dean |
| About the author: |
| Sandra Dean is a dog lover who has cared for dogs for many, many years. Not all households will do well with a Chihuahua. Carefully consider Chihuahua information to make sure they are right for you.
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Dr. Rosenberg is the owner, CEO & Chief of Staff at Veterinary Cancer Group.
Kymythy Schultze has been a trailblazer in animal nutrition for over two decades.
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