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.
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.
Black
White
Brown
Sand
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.
Short
Long
Eye colour
His eyes are generally dark in colour. While light-eyed Chihuahuas are accepted, this characteristic is not very sought after.
Brown
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
100%
Affectionate
Very cuddly, this little dog is particularly close to his owner. This character trait is ideal for many, but can quickly become the source of many behavioural problems, notably an intense - even unhealthy - attachment to his loved ones.
For his well-being, it is important not to treat him as simply a small and fragile animal. In his head, he is a big dog, so don’t be scared to treat him as such and to leave him on his own when necessary.
100%
Playful
High-spirited, dynamic and active, the Chihuahua loves to play. However, it is important to watch him closely when he’s playing with little children or big dogs, as they can be rough with him without realising - but the consequences can be real.
66%
Calm
Full of energy, the Chihuahua can still adapt to a number of environments, easily taking on the rhythm of his social group. He knows how to be calm when it’s necessary.
However, be aware that he will only be able to stay calm if his (minimal) exercise needs are met.
66%
Intelligent
The intellectual capacities of this little dog translate notably into his ability to adapt to a number of lifestyles.
However, if measuring his intelligence in terms of his ability to listen and obey orders, it’s true that he can often prove to be stubborn.
33%
Hunter
This breed of miniature dog is purely intended to being a pet. He doesn’t have an ounce of predatory instinct within him.
66%
Fearful / wary of strangers
His energy and courage make him relatively reserved and suspicious of strangers. He will not let unfamiliar people easily approach him and will even bark loudly to try to scare of what he considers a threat.
However, as soon as you gain his trust, he will be quick to reclaim his share of strokes!
33%
Independent
Very close to his owner, the Chihuahua relies solely on him and rarely takes his own initiative. Despite his sometimes strong temperament, he really only wants to please his master.
Behaviour of the Chihuahua
66%
Tolerates solitude
If the Chihuahua has had a good experience with being on his own since a young age, he might be fine with being alone. However, he should only be left for a maximum of a few hours, and never for long days.
66%
Easy to train / obedience
This dog’s training should not be neglected based on the fact that he is small. Regardless of their size, every dog must learn the basics to properly integrate into his home, and more generally into society.
You must therefore begin training your Chihuahua as early as possible to avoid reinforcing bad habits, even unconsciously.
His training must always respect the principles of positive education, employing a soft but firm and coherent approach.
100%
Barking
It doesn’t take much for the Chihuahua to bark, especially when strangers enter his territory. This miniature dog will do this to scare off and intimidate intruders.
33%
Tendency to run away
This little dog would never consider running away as he is far too close to his social group. As long as he is as comfortable as he should be, he won’t have any reason to flee.
