The Chihuahua breed is gaining more and more popularity as a decorative, but it has a rich and very interesting history of origin. With all this, the longhaired representatives of the species are not very different in character and habits from their shorthair counterparts.
Origin history
Like many modern dog breeds, most of the history of Chihuahuas is shrouded in mystery. Historians continue to speculate on the true origin of the breed, but most agree that it leads to Mexico. It was here that the first representatives of the Chihuahua, widely known to the world, were discovered, and this happened in the mid-1800s.
According to some reports, in 1884, traders in Mexico began to trade a small-sized long-haired chihuahua. Tourists became the main buyers of the animal, many of them returned to the United States with the dogs and began to keep them in the house as a decorative pet. Then the breed did not yet have an official name, for this reason it became known under various names. As a rule, the owners called them in honor of the American state where they were imported.
One could often hear how fluffy Chihuahuas are called Mexican, Arizona, or Texan (tehichi) dogs. Only the last of the proposed items has stood the test of time and has been recognized as official.
There is a theory that is more popular. According to her Chihuahuas are the ancestors of another wild breed of dogs that Mesoamerican civilizations could tame, but if you compare animals, there are twice as many tehichi as modern Chihuahuas.
Following this theory, it is safe to assume that either the Mayans or the Toltecs were the first to tame the tehichi. They regarded dogs as guardians of the afterlife, using them in funeral ceremonies and as a food source. They often sacrificed them, made them of animal mummies and buried with the owner in the same tomb, believing that it would join him in the afterlife. Maya even had 9 different words in the dog language, some of which dealt with specific varieties. It is not known which breeds were domesticated, but historians believe that the techs were on this list for sure.
When archaeologists excavated ancient funerary mines in Colima, Mexico, they discovered stuffed animals and sculptures dating back to 300 BC. e. depicting a dog that bore a striking resemblance to a chihuahua. Toys for dogs were also found there.
A recent study of Chihuahua DNA may shed light on the origin of the breed. Researchers at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, have attempted to understand where the roots of the most famous dog breeds come from. For this, it was necessary to compare the mitochondrial DNA of the described breed with animals from Asia and Europe, as well as archaeological finds, in order to trace whether there is a connection between them.
As a result, scientists have not found any connection between the described rocks. However, they discovered a unique type of Chihuahua DNA, which is also present in samples dating from the pre-Columbian era. All this led to the conclusion that these animals appeared on the territory of Mexico before European researchers landed there.
The first tale of a chihuahua was written by James Watson. During a trip to San Francisco with the intention of attending a dog show held in the distant 1888, Watson stopped at El Paso and deliberately moved to Mexico to learn more about the Chihuahua. Here he bought one dog and gave her the nickname Manzanita. The purchase price was $ 5. After some time, Watson returned and bought several more animals, among which was Juarez Bell - the first famous champion of the breed described.
In the 1890s, the President of Mexico presented Adeline Patti, the then famous opera singer, with a bouquet of flowers, where he hid the little Chihuahua. After the dog everywhere and always was with its mistress.
Karl Lumholtz, a Norwegian researcher of indigenous Mexican cultures, wrote about Chihuahuas in his two-volume collection. He described the breed as timid with erect ears, bulging eyes and a small hole on the top of the skull.
Description of appearance
Shaggy chihuahua has a special charm. If we turn to the classic description of appearance, then adult dogs reach a maximum of 230 mm at the withers, and the minimum height is 150 mm. As the standard recognized by dog breeders shows, the weight of an individual can range from 1 to 3 kilograms.
As for appearance, the dog’s head is very similar in shape to an apple. At the base, the muzzle is wide, but tapers towards the nose, which is not very long and slightly upturned. Veterinarians call a chihuahua bite a scissor bite.
The described breed is characterized by large and slightly convex eyes, which are most often brown. The ears are open well, erect, slightly tapering at the end.
The neck is not long, hair grows abundantly around it, from the side such a collar resembles a frill. The chest, despite the size of the dog, is well developed. It has an oval shape and cannot be round.
The legs are neat, oval with spread apart fingers and long claws. At the base, the tail is rather thick, but tapers towards the end.This part of the body is always facing the back. The dog holds the tail either in a half-ring or bends it strongly.
Longhair breed is popular due to its attractive appearance. Even without special care, the dog’s coat is soft and combes well. If we compare it with a short-haired breed, such Chihuahuas have longer hairs in the abdomen, chest and tail, as well as on the legs and ears.
Character and habits
All representatives of the described breed are very fond of sleeping, especially at the age of puppies. They often do this for a long time. If we talk about the nature of the animal, then small dogs have great pride, therefore easily offended by the owner, if he carelessly treats them.
When the animal does not sleep, it loves to play, very active. Despite his small growth, the Chihuahua very zealously defends his possessions and toys and will not allow a stranger to touch them. Precisely because it is a born leader, it is difficult for him to have other animals in the house. In addition to the owner, the dog rarely makes friends.
Chihuahua does not like strangers and always treats them with caution. They, without hesitation, will rush into battle, if necessary. But relations with the owner are always very smooth and calm, they do not show aggression, but they do not like children and can even bite, because they will not allow themselves to be pulled and will not endure pain.
It is best to have a dog in old age instead of a child so that you can give it all your care. She will surely adapt to her master and will always take into account his mood.
This is the pet who will try to always be there, so sometimes he becomes too intrusive. If left alone, the dog will begin to yearn and may even become depressed.
How many years live?
It is worth saying that different breeds show different maximum life thresholds. Of course, among the Chihuahuas there are centenarians with proper care. The general state of their health in many respects affects how much the dog will live.
Representatives of the breed suffer from diseases that affect the joints and musculoskeletal system. Their small paws with thin bones are prone to fractures and dislocations, therefore, the animal should not be allowed to jump from a great height.
The dog reacts very poorly to hypothermia, so you should take care of their additional protection in the winter and purchase clothes for your pet.
The quality of the feed also affects the general condition of the dog. Food should be enriched with minerals and vitamins. If the Chihuahua is provided with quality care, then the dog can live up to 15 years.
Often a dog develops urolithiasis, which becomes a consequence of the use of water and food with high salt content by animals. Low physical activity due to poorly balanced food.
Be sure to occasionally check the animal for fleas, ticks and internal parasites. The vaccination schedule must be observed, since the Chihuahua has poor immunity.
Types of color
There is no specific color that is attached to the breed, but most often individuals of the following colors are found:
- redheads;
- white
- fawn;
- black and red.
Puppies can be born darker in color, but after the first molt they become a little lighter.
Red dogs may differ in color intensity. Sometimes this is a very light coat, and sometimes a saturated shade. Completely black individuals are extremely rare, however, like marble.
Cream and brown colors have their own unique appeal, especially in long-haired breeds.
You can buy a dog with a chocolate shade or even a tiger.
Especially popular are blue or purple chihuahuas, which are not so common.
How to choose a puppy?
If you want to get a puppy of the described breed, then it is better to contact a specialized nursery. The offspring, which is purchased from an experienced breeder, has good genetics, moreover, these are purebred individuals.
In appearance, it is also possible to determine whether a puppy is healthy or not. It should have an apple-shaped head, clean auricles without any extraneous odor or discharge. Pay special attention to the nose, which in a healthy dog is not only wet but also cold.
Sometimes a long-haired chihuahua has a slightly wavy coat, but in any case it is soft and thick. You can slightly push it away to study the skin in more detail. It should not have irritation, scales or red spots.
Healthy puppies are happy to get to know each other, if the dog is hiding, it is either afraid or unhealthy, in any of these cases it is not worth it.
The puppies have a dense body, they are small but plump, but if they are thin, then most likely they have worms.
Conditions of detention
Most Chihuahua breeders try to bathe the dog as often as possible, but this is wrong. It is enough to carry out the procedure twice a month so that the animal is healthy and clean. A specialized hypoallergenic shampoo is used for this. After the wool is washed with a shower and dried with a hairdryer. Do not leave the animal wet because it can catch a cold.
It is not enough to wash the wool, you need to cut it in time. A haircut for this breed is important, so it is advisable to seek help from specialists.
Haircut can be of two types:
- model;
- hygienic.
Hygiene is part of the dog care process. Removing unnecessary and excess hair allows the skin to breathe better. This is very important if the chihuahua is kept in a hot climate where it can suffer from overheating. Shorten long hair in several areas on the body:
- back;
- stomach;
- sides;
- armpits;
- tail;
- paws;
- chest;
- groin.
The procedure is carried out twice a month. You can also trim the dog yourself, but then it’s worth starting to at least watch a video on how to do it right. It is important to carefully cut the legs, tail and other areas so as not to damage the skin.
If the animal molts, it is better to comb it more often.otherwise, the wool will remain not only on the floor, but also on the upholstered furniture, which is why additional cleaning will be necessary in the apartment.
Model haircuts are necessary for those dogs that perform at exhibitions. They are held a few days before the release and demonstration of the advantages of the animal.
Comb the pet every day, sometimes several times, if the dog often walks on the street. To do this, acquire a special comb. If the warlocks are formed, then it will be more difficult to remove them, and with their large accumulation, the animal dies, because pathogens begin to multiply inside them.
From time to time, it is worth checking the skin in order to timely detect the appearance of fleas or ticks. You can accustom the animal to the toilet on the tray, then in bad weather there will be no problems with how to walk the dog.
Special attention is paid to chihuahua nutrition, as it should include stern premium only. It is best to give natural products, including meat, you can feed them with dry food. Sour-milk products, cereals, fish and even vegetables must be present in the diet. Additionally give vitamin complexes. Carbohydrates and proteins in the diet must be present in a proportion of 1/3.
Puppies are fed up to 5 times a day, adults give food 3 times a day. It must be remembered that Chihuahuas can suffer from food allergies, so new products are introduced into the diet gradually and in small portions. Fried, spicy and sweet foods are strictly prohibited.
The teeth of the animal require special hygiene. Sometimes it happens that the dairy falls out later than the due date, in this case the bite is formed incorrectly. Caries is the second problem that the owner should pay a lot of attention to.As a prophylaxis of both problems, one must produce brushing a dog’s teeth several times a week. There are special brushes and tools for this.
Due to the fact that the dog’s eyes are slightly bulging, they are occasionally treated with moisturizing drops. This treatment solves the problem of the formation of lacrimal paths around the eyes.
Attention will also require nails that do not grind on their own, even if you provide the dog with the necessary toys. It is best to remove all unnecessary with claw cutter.
Training
If the dog is not taken up in time, it will behave badly, begin to disorderly, bite and then fix it will be impossible. Therefore, they are engaged in training from a very young age. Small stature and incredibly large ambitions will quickly turn the animal into an uncontrollable whirlwind in the house. Everything will suffer - from shoes to furniture. Chihuahua, if you do not put him in his place, quickly imagines himself a master.
It is not necessary to use physical influence as a punishment; the dog understands intonation in his voice and welcomes goodies as an encouragement.
It’s not worth waiting for a lot from the dog, but it can execute the simplest commands if you make a little effort. It’s not even necessary to hire a specialist for training.
The dog should know that you can’t eat food from the ground. Be sure to train the paddock on a special habits, so that if necessary, you can reduce the distance between the owner and the animal. This is very important when walking is carried out not in the park area, but, for example, not far from the road. Chihuahuas can chase a cat or another dog, they are not used to hiding or standing on the sidelines. Such behavior and carelessness of the owner often lead to sad consequences.
Representatives of the breed are very fond of learning something new, inspecting bushes and grass, they are always happy to go for a walk. It is important to teach the animal not to take food from the wrong hands.
In the house you need to train a dog so that she, even with a tray, tries to endure before a walk. Walk the animal at least 2 times a day, usually in the morning and evening. In addition, you will need to accustom the Chihuahua to clothing, so wear it from early childhood, then it will help to keep it from being cold.
See Chihuahua fur care below.
