Have you ever seen a chihuahua dog? A chihuahua falls into the small dogs’ category. It is one of the smallest dog breeds and makes excellent companion animals. A companion is another word for a friend! Dogs are seen as great companion animals!
The word chihuahua means a small dog with smooth hair, large eyes and is originally from Mexico. These tiny dogs may seem like nothing to bark about, but the chihuahua is one special type of dog!
Characteristics of Chihuahuas
Many characteristics make chihuahuas unique little dogs! First, they are close to the smallest breed of dog, which means they have a small body and short front and hind legs.
The small size means these pups do not weigh much. The average weight of a chihuahua is 3.3 to 3.6 pounds, which is about the weight of a laptop computer. Since they are so small, they are classified as a toy breed.
They also have short hair and a smooth coat. Their short coat can come in many different colors, and the most common colors are black, brown, cream, fawn, and red. The rarest color of chihuahua is all white.
Types of Chihuahuas
There are many different types of chihuahuas. Each one has its specific characteristics or things that make them special. Which type of chihuahua is your favorite?
Teacup Chihuahua
Teacup chihuahuas make the perfect lap dogs because they are so tiny, and they can fit right inside a teacup! They look like the standard chihuahua cousins but will only be about 6-10 inches tall when fully grown!
Deer Head Chihuahua
The deer head chihuahua is not often found in the United States because the American Kennel Club do not recognize them under the chihuahua breed. They are very playful and have a lot of energy. Their head is shaped like a deer head, and that is how they got their name!
Apple Head Chihuahua
Apple head chihuahuas are another type of chihuahua. They are very intelligent dogs, and just like the name suggests, their heads are apple-shaped! The apple head chihuahua often has a longer coat or hair and shorter necks than the deer head chihuahua.
Long Coat Chihuahua
The long coat chihuahua is the smallest dog breed. They often have many health problems and require yearly veterinarian visits and a healthy lifestyle. The long coat chihuahuas are almost identical to the short haired chihuahua except for their coat length.
Short Haired Chihauhua
Short haired chihuahuas are the type of chihuahuas you will see most often. They are good with small children and are indoor dogs. Since they are so tiny, they can’t be outside long and prefer to be in a warm environment. They also enjoy a warm place to sleep, like under blankets.
All the chihuahuas have a couple of things in common. They are very high-energy dogs and love to run and play. Chihuahuas often bark, move away from a hand or avoid being petted if they do not know the person.
Chihuahua Puppies
Chihuahuas start with about two other siblings in a litter, and the litter can range from just one puppy to three puppies. In rare cases, a chihuahua may have as many as six puppies. When born, a chihuahua puppy is about 2½ to 5½ ounces, and this is about the same weight as holding 22 pennies in your hand!
You may recognize chihuahuas because of their pointed ears, but their ears are floppy when they are born. The tiny chihuahua won’t stay that tiny for long. However, they will grow quickly and will double their weight each week.
When chihuahuas are young, it is best to take them to a training class to help get them familiar or used to other dogs. If not trained, a chihuahua can become very territorial. Territorial means they will try to protect their land or owner against a person or dog.
Fun Facts
There are so many fun dog facts about chihuahuas! The chihuahua dog is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua and was first documented or written about around the 19th century. That was over 200 years ago! The Aztecs thought the domestic dog had special powers to take diseases from their owner and help cure them. This idea means the chihuahua was around before it was written about. The Aztecs lived over 2,000 years ago, and it seems that so did the Chihuahua!
Their nickname is “chi-chis” or “chis,” and the Taco Bell mascot was a chihuahua for many years! His name was Gidget, and his catchphrase for Taco Bell was “¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!” or “I want Taco Bell!”
Chihuahua’s sense of smell is a hundred thousand times better than humans! This means the chihuahua can smell something almost 40 feet away. Chihuahuas may not be as large as a labrador, but they can easily be trained like one. Chihuahuas can quickly learn how to sit, heel, and give their paw!
They are truly man’s best friends and are great with everyone, even young children. However, if the child invades or gets into their personal space, they may nip at them! They can live as long as 15 years! Chihuahuas are much like larger dogs and are very loyal and love to travel with their owner. Besides their fur coming in different colors, a chihuahua’s nose can also come in many shades like black, brown, gray, and pink. Their nose may even be multiple colors!
Interesting Facts
Here are some interesting chihuahua facts you may not know!
- Chihuahuas are affordable to feed. Since they are so small, they do not eat much.
- Chihuahuas come in many breeds and also mixed breeds.
- Chihuahuas make excellent guard dogs because they are so loyal.
- Milly, the chihuahua, was named the smallest dog in 2014 and is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- Chihuahuas often shake and shiver to try and get warm.
These are just a few interesting facts about chihuahuas, and there is probably so much more we can learn about these tiny dogs.
The chihuahua dog breed is a very special type of dog, and these dogs are very commonly found in the United States. If you see a tiny dog in a purse/bag or a very time flash of brown run by you, it is most likely a chihuahua!