Representatives of the Chihuahua breed are the smallest dogs. They got their name in honor of Chihuahua - a state located in Mexico. For the first time, dogs attracted attention in 1850. If you put together the feedback of Chihuahua owners from different countries, you can confidently say that in modern dog breeding, representatives of this breed played a significant role in the formation of many dwarf species.
Breed history
According to dog handlers, the ancestors of Chihuahuas are leaky dogs. This breed has been known since ancient times. The formation of leaky occurred during the life of ancient Indian tribes, such as Mayans, Toltecs and Aztecs. Their miniature dogs were considered sacred animals and very revered.
Initially, in the ancient breed there were representatives with thick long hair. A little later, individuals appeared who had a short wool coat. In the blood of short-haired species, as a result of crossbreeding, genes were formed by the Mexican crested, or naked dog. Crested individuals were kept on their ships by sailors, as they were small in size and simply perfectly caught rodents.
Europeans first noticed such unusual dogs in about 1800. At that time, trips to the south of North America were very popular, and enterprising Mexicans began to sell rare individuals in the border areas of Mexico. The first animals that came to Europe caused a sea of delight and interest, combined with an unusual name - "chihuahua". Reviews about the breed of the first owners of miniature dogs were so enthusiastic that rumors about it began to spread at the speed of light.
Chihuahua in Russia
In our country, cute little dogs appeared only in the late 50s. This was facilitated by non-European owners who left laudatory comments about animals. Chihuahua dogs were presented by N.S. Khrushchev F. Castro as a sign of international friendship.
Some time later, Khrushchev's daughter gave them to E. Zharova, known as the author of a toy terrier of Russian origin. It was she who tried to make sure that a thoroughbred female was brought to Russia, from which the first Chihuahuas with a pedigree in Russia appeared.
Appearance
If you take into account the feedback from the owners of the Chihuahua, then we can say that the representatives of the breed have a lively character. They are adroit, energetic, have a good reaction and, despite their small size, are completely fearless.
The features of the appearance include too large erect ears. Also, these animals have the following manner: Chihuahua mini (owner’s reviews only confirm this) somehow keep their tail very high.
Two types of dogs are distinguished : a long-haired chihuahua and a short-haired breed.
Character
The indisputable advantage of this type is a stable psyche. For animals belonging to small dwarf breeds, this is a very important factor. It is almost impossible to meet a hysterical or cowardly pet among a chihuahua. It is not in vain that many call tiny dogs brave warriors.
Advantages
Observation and high intelligence are two more advantages of the breed. Pets immediately understand that in the near future you are going to take them for a walk or take them with you on a visit. At one glance of their master, the dogs instantly guess that they did something wrong.
In addition to observation, Chihuahuas long-haired (owner reviews confirm this) are extremely curious. They are interested in everything. Animals can observe your actions for a long time - for example, how you knit or work at a computer.
disadvantages
The disadvantages of this breed include only the super-sensitivity of miniature dogs. They simply do not tolerate injustice, so if you shout at your pet simply because you are in a bad mood, he can lie all day in his place, completely ignoring you.
If we compare the reviews of the owners of the Chihuahua, we can conclude that the long-haired representatives of the breed are much softer and less temperamental than their shorthair relatives. But all of them are extremely loyal to their owners, sometimes they can be jealous, but they do not show aggression.
Pet care
Caring for a dog is, first of all, daily hygiene procedures and compulsory grooming of the animal's hair. Unlike a short-haired chihuahua, representatives of the species with long hair need to be combed out at least 2 times a week. In this case, it is advisable to use a special brush.
Regularly examine the dog’s eyes, ears and claws. It is advisable to wipe your eyes every morning with a damp cloth moistened with warm boiled water. Ears should be cleaned every week. Be sure to watch the claws of the animal, trim them on time. Otherwise, the dog may even be injured.
All hygiene procedures must be performed from the moment the puppy first enters your home. Gradually teach your pet to wash his paws after a walk, to stand still during water procedures, as well as to regular nail cutting and brushing. If you gradually accustom your baby to all hygienic procedures, an adult dog will take them for granted.
How to feed a chihuahua
Nutrition in the life of a puppy and an adult is the main thing. After all, how your pet will feel, how mobile and cheerful it will be, depends primarily on how you will feed it. More specifically, the diet of a Chihuahua can be based on dry feed or natural food.
Important! Veterinarians do not recommend feeding dogs with dry mixes and products of natural origin. Be sure to choose one thing. The mixed version will not benefit your dog.
Dry chihuahua food (reviews and comments of the owners only confirm this) is the best option for feeding. If you choose the right food, then there will be no harm to the dog. You need to choose feeds that belong to the “Premium” class group. Their composition is balanced as precisely as possible, they contain all the necessary supplements, vitamins and minerals. During feeding this product should not be given any additional complexes to the pet, as this will lead to an overabundance of vitamins in the body of the animal.
If you are an ardent opponent of dry food and prefer to feed your pet exclusively with natural products, you should follow certain rules and not give the dog what is prohibited.
It is highly discouraged to feed the following Chihuahuas:
- Pork. Fatty meat is poorly digested, it is quite heavy food, which also can cause allergies.
- Milk. An adult of dairy products is best given kefir, cottage cheese, fermented baked milk. Milk in adult dogs can often cause stool problems.
- Sweets. You can not treat your pet with sweets, gingerbread cookies, sweet biscuits, chocolate.
- Bones of birds. They should be excluded from the diet, as their sharp and small fragments can damage the esophagus, and this will lead to great complications.
Raising a Chihuahua
Many novice breeders mistakenly believe that indoor decorative dogs do not need any training and education. This opinion is erroneous. Each dog, regardless of its size, must be taught by its owner certain commands. She must perceive her owner as an unconditional leader and fulfill all his requirements.
Parenting should begin at a very young age. Gradually and unobtrusively, the owner should accustom the pet so that he knows that he has his own place where he needs to rest and sleep. Natural needs should be celebrated on the street or only in a special tray.
Many chihuahua owners claim that males after reaching adulthood begin to mark the corners in the apartment. To prevent this from happening, the owners initially provide for an operation such as castration of a chihuahua. Cynologists' feedback on such procedures is mixed. The fact that the dog begins to mark the corners in the apartment is, first of all, a lack of education. An adult who is walked several times a day, trained in the most basic commands and skills, will not do this. For her, this is not permissible, since in dogs constantly undergoing training, all teams eventually become reflexes. And the reviews of Chihuahua owners who are constantly engaged in their pets, this fact only confirms. So try to devote more time to the dog, walk it, play with it, and your pet will never cause you trouble.