The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog breed. Except no-one seems to have told these little dynamos! Chi’s are active, feisty, bossy, little guys who have an opinion on everything and don’t mind sharing it with the world.

They’re also intelligent, loving dogs who form close bods and absolutely revel in the role of companion dog.

The breed has a somewhat mysterious past, wrapped in Aztec and Toltec folklore. The most prevalent theory is that they descend from the Techichi, a dog native to Mexico. According to the theory, the Aztecs and Toltecs refined the chihuahua to the dog we know today. Another hypothesis is that the Chihuahua originated in Malta, and was brought to Mexico by the Spanish. It was crossed with the Techichi to produce the breed we know today.

Any way you look at it, the Chihuahua is a tiny dog. These little guys are slim and fine boned, with large ears and eyes and a short muzzle. Adults can weigh as little as 2 pounds to 6 pounds and stand just 6 to 9 inches at the shoulder.

The coat comes in a number of colors including, sand, fawn, red, black, or black and tan. There are two coat types, smooth or long.

As distinctive as the Chihuahuas looks and size, is its temperament. They are generally cheerful, hyperactive dogs, but it has been noted that, more than most breeds, the Chihuahua’s temperament is inherited. Some lines are very affectionate, whereas others are naturally argumentative and aggressive.

Although Chihuahuas are fine with older children they are not recommended for young kids as they can be snappy, and don’t put up with rough handling.

This is a healthy breed that is known to be long-lived. However, like all purebred dogs, the Chihuahua is prone to a number of inherited health problems, including epilepsy, seizures, hydrocephalus, glaucoma, and low blood sugar. Chihuahua puppies are born with a soft spot on the skull, called the molera. Although it closes as the dog matures, you need to be especially careful when handling a pup. Median lifespan for the breed is 15 years or longer.

Grooming a Chihuahua is quite straight-forward. The long-haired variety needs to be brushed every day, while for the short hair, a weekly brush down will suffice. You can also bathe the dog if required, but try not to do this more than once a month, using a mild dog shampoo. Warm and dry your dog straight after the bath.

Because of its tiny size a Chihuahua is the perfect dog for apartment living. Do remember though that they are very active dogs and need daily exercise. This breed does not do well in cold weather, so they need to wear a coat or sweater when going out in winter.

If you’re looking for a name for your Chihuahua, the best advice is to visit a puppy names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of female dog names.

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