DOG BREED: CHIHUAHUA.
ORIGIN:
The Chihuahua or Chihuahueño is a breed of dog native to Mexico, although its origin is unknown, it was discovered in Mexico in 1850.
It is one of the oldest dog breeds in the American continent, as well as being the smallest dog in the world.
The Chihuahua dog is originally from the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
There was once a small dog, called a techichi, which formed an important part of the Toltec and Aztec cultures.
The techichis were the pets of wealthy people and were cremated with their deceased owners so that they would carry their sins and the person could enter the other world without angering the gods.
It is also said that they guided the deceased through hell and fought against evil spirits.
Some believe that the Chihuahua is the product of crossing the techichi with an even smaller, hairless dog from Asia.
Chihuahua is a state in Mexico from where the modern Chihuahua was first exported to the United States.
According to theory, this breed evolved from the old varieties of the Techichi, mixed with small dogs from Mexico, Arizona and Texas.
INDEX:
1.- BEHAVIOR.
2.- CHARACTERISTICS.
3.- CLASSIFICATION.
4.- NUTRITION.
5.- PRICE.
6.- CARE.
7.- HEALTH.
1.- BEHAVIOR:
Chihuahuas are faithful, friendly and very familiar if they are treated respectfully. They can get all the exercise they need at home or in a flat.
The character of the Chihuahua varies greatly depending on the family environment that surrounds him.
It can be affectionate and tender as well as playful and capricious.
The Chihuahua is known for being an intelligent, tenacious, malicious, cunning, very observant dog that always knows how to get away with it.
He likes the company of dogs of the same breed. It should also be borne in mind that if he is pampered too much, he can become fragile, whiny, capricious and hyper-nervous.
They are small in size but big at heart, and despite their small stature, they are very brave and fearless.
They are excellent as life companions, they adapt perfectly to all kinds of environments, from small apartments to large houses, from small families, to families with children, they are a charm.
The character of the Chuhuahua is highly affectionate and cheerful, very attached to his family and an excellent playmate for children.
Although due to its size we must warn our children about the care they should have.
This breed is very attentive, especially in the presence of strangers. He is also very brave and willful, no one will enter our home without the barking of our Chihuahua giving him away.
The Chihuahua dog is somewhat nervous and can sometimes bark excessively, so we must educate it from puppyhood.
2.- CHARACTERISTICS:
The Chihuahua is a very small dog with fast movements.
BODY:
Its body is compact, its extremities thin and muscular and its head round, well defined, longer than it is tall.
Its front legs are thin and the rear legs are muscular, not very long. The little paws should have the toes well apart.
EARS:
It has very large ears, separated and should be straight.
LINE:
It is long and it is turned on the back. Of medium size and fine constitution, with or without hair depending on the type of Chihuahua. Slightly curved or sloped.
HEIGHT:
Between 13 and 22 cm. in males and females.
WEIGHT:
Between 1.5 and 3 kg. in males and females.
HAIR:
Short, fine and smooth, they vary between: Black, white, brown, cinnamon or spotted.
EYES:
Rounded but slightly ragged, generally dark in color and very shiny. With a tender and observant look at the same time.
SNOUT:
It is rather short and fine, with a small light or dark nose as a nose. Dogs with the black truffle are more in demand.
Chihuahuas dogs have these physical characteristics in a very marked way, so if you wonder how to know if a Chihuahua is purebred, you simply have to check that it meets these specifications.
It is one of the breeds of dogs that do not grow much, being the adult specimens quite small compared to other types of dogs.
The Chihuahua can reach a height at the withers of about 20 cm. with about 2 kilos of weight in its adult age.
The main characteristic of this breed is its small size and weight, which give it unusual qualities in dogs, such as a low maintenance price or the little need to walk or exercise it.
3.- CLASSIFICATION:
There are two varieties of Chihuahua:
- Long wavy hair.
- Short, tight and shiny hairs.
The breed standard allows all colors and color mixes.
Overall Classification: Small Dog Breeds.
Classification according to the AKC: Group 5: toy dogs (Toy).
Classification according to the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internacionale): Group 9: Companion and toy dogs, Chihuahua.
Toy Chihuahuas or pocket Chihuahuas are not purebred dogs, they are not even accepted as Chihuahua dogs.
They are dogs manipulated and selected to obtain a smaller size than the average Chihuahua, so they are not really considered purebred dogs.
There are only two types of official Chihuahua dogs:
- Apple-headed Chihuahua: It receives this name because of the shape of its skull, very similar to that of an apple. Applehead Chihuahuas have a wide forehead in relation to the rest of their head. His skull is wider than his jaw, creating this peculiar shape.
- Deer Head Chihuahua: All Chihuahua dogs that are not classified as apple heads automatically become deer heads. The deer-headed Chihuahua has a sloping forehead and a smaller, longer head.
Both classes can have long hair or short hair, since that does not influence the purity of the breed. The long-haired Chihuahua is recommended for cold climates, while the short-haired one is for tropical climates.
4.- NUTRITION:
We must be careful with the feeding of our Chihuahua, we must not give it more than it can digest or we will cause a digestive problem.
Your daily ration may seem small but compared to its size it is more than enough.
Companion dogs have fast metabolisms, which means they burn energy at a very high rate. This means that, with such a small stomach, they must eat little but often.
Small breed foods are specifically designed with the right ratios of key nutrients and smaller grain sizes to suit smaller mouths.
This stimulates chewing and improves digestion.
Consult our store, Glu glu pet, a feeding guide for breeds where we advise you on the quality of food for Chihuahua dogs and that will make a difference: the better the food, the better its nutrition, we give you information on the feeding of your Chihuahua in the different stages of its life.
PUPPY STAGE:
The care and nutritional needs of a Chihuahua puppy are very specific, since they need a series of supplements such as calcium or fats.
Most of our puppy feeds are adapted to the needs of your Chihuahua puppy.
Reinforcement of the immune system, improves natural defences, increased energy density (allowing maximum energy and protein intake with less intestinal load), protector of skin, hair and mucosa, prevents food allergies.
Mannoprotein complete food for puppies. With 20% fresh meat in the chicken and rice flavor composition, premium range.
A very high quality food, with an unbeatable quality/price ratio.
Based on the Mediterranean diet, it incorporates olive oil, fruit and vegetables, as well as 20% fresh meat in the composition, which makes it a highly digestible and metalizable product, our pet will make better use of the food it eats.
BENEFITS OF ANC FRESH PUPPY.
- Reinforcement of the immune system.
- Improves natural defenses.
- Increased energy density allowing the maximum supply of energy and protein with the least intestinal load.
- Protector of skin, hair and mucous membranes.
- Prevents food allergies.
- No artificial colors or flavors.
INGREDIENTS:
Dehydrated chicken meat, fresh chicken meat 20%, rice 15%, wheat, corn, poultry fat, barley, hydrolyzed poultry liver, peas 2.5%, beet pulp 3%, yeast 1% (source of MOS), dehydrated carrot 0.5%, dehydrated apple 0.5%, flaxseed, olive oil 0.3%, chicory 0.2% (source of FOS), minerals and vitamins.
Imagine puppy & Junior Mini, is a feed with 100% natural ingredients without preservatives, without dyes, which will help your puppy's complete development.
BENEFITS:
- Increased energy density.
- The high energy content of lipids and carbohydrates combined with highly digestible proteins allow the maximum supply of energy and protein with the least intestinal load, facilitating optimal bone and muscle development.
- Improves natural defenses; the extra contribution of zinc, vitamin A and Biotin contributes to the improvement of the optimal state of the skin, hair and mucous membranes.
- Improves the digestive system FOS + MOS.
- Improves the microbiological flora of the digestive system thanks to the prebiotic effect of fructo-oligo-saccharides (FOS), increasing the proportion of beneficial microorganisms in the digestive system and mannan-oligo-saccharides (MOS), facilitating the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms from the digestive system. intestine and stimulating immunity at the intestinal level.
- Reinforcement of the immune system: the presence of mannan-oligo-saccharides (MOS), sources of EPA and DHA fatty acids, citrus extracts with bioflavonoids and the system of natural antioxidants, induce the maximum development of your puppy's immune system.
COMPOSITION:
Fresh chicken meat (40%), poultry meal (25%), rice (15%), chicken oil, corn, yeasts, beet pulp, fish meal, hydrolyzed chicken liver (5%), protein potato, corn gluten, egg, linseed, fish oil, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, inulin (source of FOS 0.2%), mannan-oligo-saccharides (MOS 120 mg./ kgr.), citrus extracts, yucca extract.
ADULT STAGE:
From nine months of age, your Chihuahua can switch to a specific mini-sized adult feed. It is important that in addition to eating a healthy and balanced diet, you exercise to prevent obesity.
It is a complete feed for small breed dogs. Monoprotein feed (only protein from chicken meat, not from other meats), with 20% fresh chicken meat, rice, wheat, corn, dehydrated apple, carrot, radicchio, olive oil and beet pulp.
BENEFITS:
- High digestibility.
- Helps improve dental care and the immune system.
- Protects the skin, hair and mucous membranes.
- It favors the digestive tract.
- Prevents food allergies.
COMPOSITION:
Dehydrated chicken meat, fresh chicken meat 20%, rice 15%, wheat, corn, poultry fat, barley, hydrolyzed poultry liver, peas 2.5%, beet pulp 3%, yeast 1% source of MOS ), dehydrated carrot 0.5%, dehydrated apple 0.5%, flaxseed, olive oil 0.3%, chicory 0.2% (source of FOS), minerals and vitamins.
Imagine Adult Mini, is a feed with 100% natural ingredients without preservatives or dyes, which will help maintain your dog's well-being.
BENEFITS:
- Skin and hair: The greatest contribution of sulfur amino acids (constituent of the hair) combined with polyunsaturated fatty acids and very absorbable sources of copper and zinc, contribute to maintaining silky and shiny hair. In addition, the extra supply of organic iron as a heme group present in fresh liver, and the presence of lutein and vitamin A, strengthen and reinforce the health and integrity of the skin and mucous membranes.
- Improvement of the digestive system FOS + MOS.
- Improves the microbiological flora of the diphthisis apparatus, thanks to the prebiotic effect of the fruit-oligo-saccharides (FOS), increasing the proportion of beneficial microorganisms in the digestive system and of the mannan-oligo-saccharides (MOS), facilitating the elimination of pathogenic microorganisms from the digestive system. intestine and stimulating immunity at the intestinal level.
- Improvement of ocular function: due to the presence of lutein and taurine that stimulate, protect and maintain the eyes and visual function in perfect condition.
- EPA & DHA immune control program: Extra supply of EPA & DHA contributing to the strengthening of the immune system, boosting effect on the functionality of the heart and brain with anti-cancer protection.
COMPOSITION:
Fresh chicken meat (40%), poultry meal (25%), rice (15%), chicken oil, corn, yeasts, corn gluten, beet pulp, hydrolyzed chicken liver (5%), flour from fish, egg, linseed, fish oil, sodium chloride, inulin (source of FOS, 0.2%) mannan-oligo-saccharides (MOS 250 mag./kgr.), citrus extracts, cassava extract, potassium chloride.
5.- PRICE:
It is difficult to put a price before birth or later just after birth, since it is impossible to distinguish their characteristics yet.
There are many factors that prevent saying a final or closed price to the client who wants to acquire a Chihuahua dog.
In order to indicate a more or less reliable price on the value of the breed, we must know the offspring of our current puppy.
With three generations, more vaccines and chip, with an approximate age of about 6 months, it can have a value of 800 euros if they are males, if they are females their price can be increased.
Chihuahua with three recognized generations plus breed purity, vaccinations and black, white or tan chip can cost around 1,200-1,500 euros.
The apple head Chihuahua, whether female or male, can cost much more than a blue deer head Chihuahua, it can cost up to 3,000 euros, they are difficult to see dogs.
6.- CARE:
In the case of the Chihuahua, its aesthetic maintenance is not as demanding compared to other breeds, however it should not be neglected:
- Frequent brushing.
- You should bathe every six or eight weeks, and you have to take care of your nails.
- No cutting required.
- You have to take care of their eyes, ears and teeth.
- You should go to the veterinarian as often as required, and always have your vaccinations up to date.
The Chihuahua breed does not require much exercise. Do not neglect their daily walks and play with them. You must always keep in mind that these dogs have a hard time maintaining body heat, so in winter they should always be warm.
Despite its small size, the ideal would be to have a garden so that the Chihuahua could move freely. Although it is perfectly suited to indoor life.
It adapts to any type of floor to live in and it will be enough to give it the recommended vaccinations and brush it daily to keep it healthy and clean.
As a curiosity, it is a dog that sometimes suffers from toothache, so it is advisable to buy a teether adapted to the size of its jaw.
Daily brushing is advised as, as with small breeds, they tend to have tartar, it is important to follow a good home dental care program to reduce the frequency of professional dental cleanings. Brush your dog's teeth and gums at least three times a week (with a good dog toothbrush). Small breed and brachycephalic dogs need more frequent brushing as they tend to accumulate tartar and are prone to periodontal disease. It is convenient to start cleaning the dog's teeth as soon as possible. If you start when he is a puppy, even though his mouth is still healthy, the dog will quickly get used to the process and when he is an adult, it will be easier for you to proceed with daily cleaning.
At Glu glu pet we have toys that your Chihuahua dog will love. Toys to use at home, adapted to their size and character, small and fun to keep them entertained all day.
Avoid buying him big or hard toys, since he will not be able to pick them up or move them from one side to another.
ROPE TOYS FOR SMALL DOGS:
This is the first toy option that we propose for your Chihuahua. It is a kit of all rope toys so that your dog can chew on them and have fun.
There are all kinds, some larger and some smaller. Some are a bit tougher than others. They are all made of nylon and cotton. It is an economical and practical idea to keep your dog distracted, so that he does not get bored and overcomes anxiety when he is left alone. Surely one of these toys will become your inseparable friend.
PLUSH TOYS:
They are ideal for puppies due to their softness, a perfect characteristic to allow the correct development of canine teeth. Stuffed animals help your dog to be calm and not cry at night or when left alone at home.
These dogs love to play, a stuffed animal is an excellent companion. It's soft, easy to chew on, an antidote to boredom, and a good cushion to sleep on.
Puppy Kong : Natural Rubber Teething Toy (Colors May Vary)
Rubber rings : they are shaped like a donut and can be chewed by your dog. If by chance they break and swallow a piece, they are made of materials that your dog will eliminate without problems, hence the need to bet on quality brands, at GLU GLU Pet we have the best brands.
LATEX TOYS:
Latex toys are soft, durable and non-toxic, perfect for all types of dogs. Ideal for playing at home and in the park.
7.- HEALTH:
Do not forget the possible pathologies of the breed:
- cornea problems.
- secondary glaucoma.
- Bone injuries and fractures.
- Split palate.
- hemophilia a.
- Various heart valve problems.
The Chihuahua is a fairly long-lived dog, it can reach from 13 years to 20 years, but this does not mean that it is immune.
With strong health, although sensitive to changes in temperature.
As with many small breeds, the Smooth Coated Chihuahua can suffer from temporary displacement of the patella (patella dislocations) and windpipe problems.
The shape of the head makes them tend to suffer from hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and certain eye disorders.
It is recommended to take the Chihuahua with a harness instead of a leash due to the fragility of its trachea.
