Chihuahua - description of the breed and character of the dog

In this article, you will learn a lot about Chihuahua dogs: what their temper is, how to train and maintain them, how to look after them, even the history of their appearance as a breed.

Story

It is believed that Chihuahuas were bred in the Middle Ages by the Mexican Toltec people. All fairly well-off representatives of that nation, including the priests, were quite popular with small, silent, long-haired dogs, the leechs. This breed was sacred in the Toltec religion, so while the owner was alive, his dog was always an obligatory participant in every religious rite or holiday. However, none of these dogs survived the owner for a long time, since they were sacrificed on an equally obligatory basis, after which they were mummified.This was done to protect them was a kind of posthumous talisman for the owner: she took away his sins, protected from punishment, and generally protected the person on the way to the last shelter. At the very different times, many burials of these dogs were found in Mexico, and even more - their images in various places: on the temple walls, in the tombs, and also on the vessels.

The most famous of all the finds are probably stone paintings in the palace of Montezuma, found by one archaeologist in Chihuahua - a fairly large state in Mexico. It is for this reason that the breed of small dogs turned out to be known all over the globe under a similar name, and in Russia - slightly under another, but also consonant.

Little saviors
Tiny size does not always mean lack of opportunity. Chihuahuas have a great ear for hearing, and they are very observant, thanks to which these dogs remarkably help deaf and hard of hearing people. For example, the dog Willum is one of the oldest such helpers. He is not the first decade regularly informs Christine Vick about various events, such as telephone calls.

Huge troubles
Once the Toltecs were mercilessly expelled from their Mexican possessions by other Indians - the Aztecs and Maya, who immediately became the new masters for these. Of course, the crumbs were still honors, but the price for them increased, and quite strongly. In addition to the fact that they were still sacrificed, the dogs also became a kind of dish. Moreover, in the Middle Ages another nightmare was waiting for them.

At the beginning of the sixteenth century, conquistadors from Spain marched across the Mexican territory in a bloody war. As a result, the Europeans completely crushed the Indians, while putting small dogs on the brink of extinction. Hungry Europeans found them suitable for food. However, the dog population was lucky: some of them found their salvation in the jungle. After that, they avoided people for a long time.

The causes of universal love for Chihuahuas
Not one hundred years passed before man discovered these small dogs. This happened by the end of the nineteenth century. And only by pure chance: the people of Mexico suddenly found them in the nearby forests. Entrepreneurial people began to earn big money on the trade in these small dogs: the crumbs were simply snapped up by the Americans.It is not surprising that very soon, in 1884, an exhibition of dogs took place, where such a small pet from the dog breed was officially displayed.

It took a little more time, and this lovely breed was in the gossip. The Mexican president, who was admired by Adeline Patti’s vocal abilities, wanted to present her with an expensive gift. The singer received from him a luxurious flower bouquet, where he was hidden stunning little dog. The woman came just indescribable delight, and a little later they learned about her new dog in Europe.

Rare suit
A Chihuahua dog can have any kind of coloring. However, the most rare, and therefore expensive - silver-gray, slightly cast in blue. This color is really quite rare. But also not useful for a dog: it is impossible to implant such. If you try to do this, the gene responsible for such a color can cause severe pathologies. On the other hand, this coloring is the most profitable for a breeder: blue Chihuahua puppies for less than $ 10,000 simply do not exist by definition.

From America to Russia!
For the first time among all chihuahuas, the smooth-haired Midget was registered.At the very beginning of the twentieth century, in 1904, he found himself in an American stud book. Eleven years after, the breed received official recognition from the Americans. And in 1907, Chihuahuas appeared in Britain. However, official requirements appeared a little later.

These cute little dogs were extremely popular in any European dog shows. But in Russia they were only in the middle of the twentieth century. Nikita Khrushchev received from the Cuban politician Fidel Castro two small dogs of different sexes, which he, without thinking twice, called Masha and Mishka. It is this pair of Chihuahuas that became the ancestors of the Russian population of the breed.

Heredity

Such expensive hearts of chihuahua dog lovers have very little in common with the lechekas, who were worshiped by Mexican Indians. The differences lie in the shape of the skull, in the length of the coat, and in the presence of the voice. According to scientists, all this was unwittingly provided by the European invaders who defended their ships from rodents with the help of Chinese hairless dogs. It was the mixing of this breed with the leak and gave birth to the light of the Chihuahua.The head of the latter acquired some resemblance to an apple, and the sharp muzzle of the Chihuahua’s leech was shorter. Moreover, smooth-haired representatives of this breed began to meet.

Breed requirements

Breeders played a rather large role in the formation of the breed. In an effort to make chihuahuas more charming, they crossed them with other tiny dogs.

So, crossing chihuahuas with various other breeds, breeders made them versatile pocket pets. Different puppies from the same litter may well be different in color, length of hair, like. Moreover, a smooth haired chihuahua bitch may well be whelped by babies with lush, silky eyes. Due to this diversity, anyone can choose for themselves the best pet. Which is also good, it does not interfere with the exhibition career of a doggie. Here, if only the mass was within a pound to three kilograms. Best of all - from one and a half to two and a half kilograms. And the best height in a Chihuahua - from 15 to 23 centimeters.

Doggy in a cup
Although Chihuahua and miniature breed, but too tiny can not buy in any case.There are, of course, so small dogs that you can easily shove them into a cup, and the breeders sell them at exorbitant prices, posing as unique copies, but this is a hoax. In fact, these are just either malnourished or just sick dogs, and, from exhaustion, they are prone to large bouquets of various unpleasant diseases.

Chihuahua character

According to the majority of dog owners, long-haired representatives of this breed are distinguished by the greatest kindness and calmness. However, there are people who consider shorter-haired Chihuahuas to be more affectionate, and long-haired ones - more willful. Naturally, all this is nothing more than myths, but even they contain some rational grain.

It is quite difficult to imagine the evil of such a funny and vulnerable animal, but a chihuahua is indeed not the easiest temper. The reason for this is their heredity: the ancestors of this breed for a long time were forced to hide in the jungle. And extreme care and attention were necessary for them to survive. Therefore, modern chihuahua owners should always be prepared for a variety of surprises.

A chihuahua may well bark loudly and at the same time it is rather difficult to calm her down. Still representatives of this breed are afraid of strangers, do not like restless children. If such a dog is too scary - she involuntarily makes a puddle. In other words, Chihuahuas are not too loving with strangers, treating them extremely nervously, wary and wary.

But even among those whom the dog knows well enough, it becomes extremely affectionate and sociable, and the energy just boils up, so you can watch it for hours. Loving to chat with a chihuahua with energy that rushes over the edge, he tumbles around with a grunt throughout the apartment.

However, a chihuahua, regardless of the nature, has a remarkable instinct on the mood of the host. If you are busy with knitting, cooking dinner or something else, the dog will just lie somewhere from where you can watch you. Well, as soon as you pay attention to the dog again - and a huge storm of emotions is guaranteed.

I want Taco Bell!
A significant contribution to the piggy bank of the popularity of Chihuahua was introduced by the dog Gidget. In the second half of the 90s, he participated in the filming of the commercial for the Taco Bell restaurant.As soon as the dog appeared on the screen in a suit of a gangster, and said in Spanish “I want Taco Bell,” he immediately conquered all Americans.

How to train

In order to minimize the manifestation of a hot-tempered character in a Chihuahua, it is necessary to start raising it as soon as possible. It is strictly impossible to take puppies under three months from birth. Too soon, a little child torn off from their kinsmen will easily become a selfish dog who will never find a common language with either a man or a dog. There is another danger here: such a dog doesn’t so rarely risk life when it bawns large dogs that can cripple and even kill it.

Another Chihuahua needs to be socialized on time. To do this, you should gradually acquaint the dog with people, as well as with those of the relatives who will not show aggression to it. If the dog starts barking for no reason - this should be stopped immediately. It is necessary to punish for offenses immediately after a chihuahua commits them, otherwise he may not understand what he is being punished for. And, finally, a chihuahua puppy can never be banged with anything: he will no longer trust you because of this, having begun to fear.

A little bit of everything
As for the rest - keeping a dog of this breed is not so troublesome. For a while, the energy of a chihuahua hits over the edge, but it ends pretty quickly. After this, the dog climbs under the cover and falls asleep, snoring sweetly. The chihuahua snores because of the special structure of the skull: the dog of this breed has a sharp muzzle to his forehead.

Chihuahua is a neat breed and unpretentious. Also, its representatives are not greedy: the daily ration of such a little dog by weight is only 5-8% of its body weight. This breed is not too fond of long walks, and it is quite possible to teach her to defend the need of a cat tray. Chihuahua wool does not smell like other dog breeds. In a word, such a little dog should like a lover of measured life.

How to care and keep chihuahuas

Chihuahua should be handled carefully - their bones are not very durable. Communication with small children is absolutely contraindicated for a representative of this breed: they accidentally inflict a small animal a trauma, for which it is enough just to push the animal off the sofa.

In Chihuahuas, the neck is the most vulnerable.So it is recommended to use a special leash for miniature dogs: it is attached under the legs, behind the body.

Chihuahuas are contraindicated cold and drafts. Due to its rapid metabolism, the dog easily freezes, begins to tremble, and then it freezes. So long walks with such a dog are not recommended. And on the weather with a temperature of one degree of heat and below the dog they need a warm suit.

Also heat is dangerous to them. Chihuahuas love sunbathing, but never bother to control the duration of their stay in the sun. So they can easily overheat, up to heat stroke.

Teeth care
Chihuahua owners often face the dental problems of their pets. Milk teeth of these dogs often do not fall out, because it is simply necessary the help of a doctor. Otherwise, a puppy bite can seriously deteriorate. Therefore, when the time comes, you should look to the vet with a puppy.

Power Features
Even for the survival of a Chihuahua requires a serious approach to its nutrition. Any dog ​​of this breed has a very thin neck, because of which it is quite capable of choking on even the smallest fish bone.And the bone fragments will certainly injure her stomach. So such a small dog can not be fed with such dishes. The only exception is a bone with a hryashchik and meat debris, in particular - when a dog has teeth. But here one must be careful not to give the chihuahua a tubular bone.

All salty damages chihuahua’s kidneys, overloading them from sweetness, it starts tearing, fried and fatty damages the liver and can cause obesity, which this breed is prone to.

Therefore, any chihuahua is strictly contraindicated for everything that is human. Feed it only with special feeds. For example, ready-made dry food, including vitamins and macronutrients. Chihuahuas have a rather large passion for gnawing dry granules, and thanks to solid nutrition, they can scrape the tartar from the enamel of sharp teeth.

Decorative dogs: conclusion

It is Chihuahua that is the most popular of all decorative breeds. They play the role of not only sofa dogs, but also fashionable women's jewelry. They are, among others, some Hollywood movie stars.

In the Chihuahua breed, the glory is really stellar, which since 2004 has only raised the price for them in Britain three times, and, nevertheless, sales have also increased to incredible values.After all, the number of people who want such a dog, despite the large increase in prices, did not fall at all. For some people, chihuahua seems just a little toy. However, anyone who wants to acquire such a “toy” is simply obliged to know: it has a passionate character, a fragile body that needs careful care, and a kind heart that only the owner who truly loves will take possession of.

Video: Chihuahua dog breed