Chihuahua

While the Chihuahua shares his name with the biggest state in Mexico, he is considered the smallest in the world. Intelligent, brave and affectionate, he is the perfect companion for many pet adopters, especially newcomers. His ability to adapt means that he can accommodate many different lifestyles without any difficulty.
Key facts about the Chihuahua
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Origins and history
This dog is believed to be an indigenous breed from northern Mexico, specifically from the area in ​​which Chihuahua is the capital. He was the favourite dog of the Aztec princesses. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Chihuahua was "discovered" by the United States where people went crazy for him, before making his way around the world.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs
Section
Section 6 : Chihuahueno
Physical characteristics of the Chihuahua
Adult size
Female : Between 6 and 8 in
Male : Between 6 and 8 in
Weight
Female : Between 0 and 7 lb
Male : Between 0 and 7 lb
Coat colour
Every colour and shade is accepted and recognised by the breed’s official standards, except for merl.
The most popular and sought after colours are: fawn or brown, chocolate, fawn or brown brindle, cream, silver fawn, silver grey, black and tan or black.
Type of coat
Short or long hair.
- Short-haired Chihuahua: the fur lies close to the body and is soft and shiny with an undercoat.
- Long-haired Chihuahua: the fur is fine, silky, straight or slightly wavy, with a relatively dense undercoat.
Hairless Chihuahuas are not recognised as they do not correspond to the breed’s official standards.
Eye colour
His eyes are generally dark in colour. While light-eyed Chihuahuas are accepted, this characteristic is not very sought after.
Description
The Chi is a miniature dog breed with a stocky body. His apple-shaped head, pointy ears and relatively small muzzle gives him an overall compact look.
Good to know
Similar to cats, this dog is naturally clean and grooms himself regularly. He has the rare trait of having an odourless coat, which makes him a very well-appreciated pet.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Chihuahua
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Chihuahua to adopt

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Compatibility
Price
The price of a Chihuahua will vary depending on his origins, age, sex but also variety (long or short-haired). You should budget between £520 and £720 for a dog registered with the Kennel Club.
For your monthly budget, it will be necessary to set aside between £10 and £20 to meet his (relatively limited) needs, with the possibility of increasing this slightly to account for grooming fees, particularly for long-haired Chihuahuas.
Grooming
His coat will require minimal maintenance if it is short, but he will need regular brushing if he is long-haired to avoid the formation of knots.
You will need to regularly inspect and clean his eyes and ears with the help of a physiological serum or other adapted products that have been approved by your vet.
Shedding
This little dog only loses a modest amount of hair. The intensity will also depend on the variety, being either short or long-haired.
In both cases, he will lose more hair during molting periods, in spring and autumn.
Nutrition of the Chihuahua
A shop-bought diet (biscuits, canned food) will be perfectly fine for this pet, as long as it is of premium quality. You should therefore avoid products sold in large supermarkets.
His daily ration should be adapted to his physical condition, age and also health.
The Chihuahua puppy should have a diet that is optimised for growth. Once he is an adult, he only needs one meal a day, preferably given in the evening in order to encourage a healthy digestion at night.
Health of the Chihuahua
Life expectancy
His lifespan is around 14 years.
Strong / robust
Bearing in mind his impressive lifespan (sometimes living until 20 years-old), we can assume that this miniature dog maybe isn’t as fragile as he would seem. However, he is prone to a significant list of illnesses and other medical problems, which can be recurring.
Also, even if he doesn’t consider himself as such, he remains a very small dog who is easily hurt, even by accident.
Withstand heat
The heat is much less dangerous for this little pup than the cold, but he will still need a cold and regularly-changed bowl of water, as well as a shady spot in order to avoid sunburn (notably for white and short-haired Chihuahuas).
Withstand cold
Long-haired Chihuahuas are less susceptible to the cold than that of their short-haired counterparts, but in both cases it is important never to leave this dog outside, especially during unfavourable temperatures.
This little dog could benefit from a winter coat.
Tendency to put on weight
If he isn’t getting enough exercise and doesn’t have the proper diet, the Chi can suffer from obesity, which can cause him a number of medical problems.
Common illnesses
- Degenerative mitral valve disease (cardiac disease common among small dogs)
- Pulmonary stenosis (cardiac abnormality)
- Congenital dislocation of the kneecaps (more common in females)
- Degeneration of the trachea cartilage with associated respiratory problems
- Alopecia/baldness (disease affecting some or all of the hair)
- Hydrocephalus (neurological disorder)
- Dental problems
- Benign episodes of reverse sneezing
- Corneal dystrophies (corneal opacity)
- Eye problems (glaucoma, goniodysgenesis, dislocation of the eye lens)
- Difficult births