All About Chihuahua Puppies

Chihuahua puppy, originally uploaded by Toronja Azul.

Out of all the dog breeds, the Chihuahua is one of the smallest. They are tiny dogs with apple shaped heads and a short muzzle. Their eyes are often a dark ruby color and large in size. Their ears are supposed to be held erect and their body should be longer than it is tall. The Chihuahua comes in a variety of colors, including fawn, chestnut, sand, silver, steel blue or multi-colored. Chihuahua’s weigh around 2-6 lbs and often only get to be 6-9 inches tall. Their expectancy is around 15 years or more.

The Chihuahua is considered a good companion dog because of its courageous, lively and affectionate behavior. Chihuahua’s often becomes so attached to their owners they get jealous when others try to take attention away from them. They are always suspicious of people other than their owners, and are often difficult to train. Although they are intelligent dogs that learn very quickly, they do not respond well to most types of training.

If you are thinking of getting a Chihuahua and you have children, you might want to reconsider. They are not recommended for children because of their sharp teeth that they often use in self defense and their loud temperament.

Chihuahua’s tend to wheeze and snore because of their short nose. Their eyes are susceptible to dryness and secondary glaucoma. They are also prone to gum problems, colds, stress, rheumatism and slipped stifle. You need to be careful how much you feed them as well because they can often gain weight.

Chihuahua, originally uploaded by patisotagami.

If you do get a Chihuahua be sure to socialize it as a puppy in order to avoid excessive aggressiveness. One of the best places you can go to is an off leash dog park, or even on a leash at a regular park where dogs often hang out. Be careful you keep them in warmer climates because they do not tolerate the cold very well. In fact they actually appreciate those little sweaters people buy for them.

Make sure to give your Chihuahua a daily walk because they are very active dogs. If you do not take them on daily walks they often will acquire a variety of behavioral problems. They also need to be brushed on occasion, or at the least wiped with a damp cloth.

If you are looking to buy a Chihuahua make sure to check your local animal shelter, or pet classifieds online. If you cannot find the Chihuahua you want there then go to your local breeder to be led in the right direction.