Types of color, maintenance and training of a smooth-haired chihuahua

Dogs - constant companions of man for many centuries. Devoted animals not only protect their owner’s house, but also help in agriculture and simply serve as a source of joy. Modern conditions of city apartments often do not give the opportunity to start large breeds that require increased attention, a lot of time and a special diet.

Experienced dog handlers recommend paying attention to small animals, which require much less space and financial costs for feeding, but bring no less positive emotions and can save you from loneliness. One of these breeds is a smooth-haired chihuahua, which has a funny look and wayward character.

Smooth-haired chihuahua is a short-haired breed that the Spaniards brought from Mexico to Europe. The ancient Mexican tribes used the small animal as a talisman and worshiped it as a deity. The genetic roots of this breed go back centuries and have similarities with sand foxes.

At the beginning of the 19th century, a funny animal interested American residents and became widespread in America, and already in the 20th century the Chihuahua breed received official recognition and was registered in dog registries.

Chihuahua is a small sacred animal that has a wayward character.The standard weight of an adult dog is in the range from 1 kg to 3 kg, and the height at the withers should not exceed 20 cm. The dog's lifespan is 16 years.

The shape of the skull resembles an apple with a pronounced transition from the frontal zone to the muzzle and large eyes. The animal has a shiny and smooth coat, which can be brown, black, white and colorful. On the wide chest, rounded ribs can be considered. A semicircular protruding tail is located on the back of the body.

Puberty in males occurs by 12 months, in females - closer to two years. If the owners do not plan to breed animals, it is necessary to sterilize the dogs until puberty. This procedure will make pets less aggressive and more obedient. One female is able to give birth to no more than 3 puppies. Childbirth should take place under the strict supervision of a physician or host.

A funny animal with a toy appearance has a capricious and aggressive character. Novice dog breeders should pay particular attention to this feature and not let the animal out of its field of vision while walking. When developing a training technique, the following character traits must be taken into account:

• fast reaction;
• watchdog instincts;
• strong nervous system;
• lack of vindictiveness;
• zeal for the owner.

After completing any task the animal must necessarily get an assessment of its actions. If everything is done well, the pet must be pleased with a delicious treat, for disobedience the owner must make a remark in a stern voice. Training time may drag on for a long period and require patience, endurance and sequence of actions from the owner.

Despite the difficult nature, Chihuahua does not come into conflict with other inhabitants of the house, if they do not climb to it. Particular attention should be paid to the communication of children with the pet, which with hugs, cuddles and excessive attention can provoke aggression of the animal.

Advantages:

• unpretentiousness;
• small size;
• devotion to the owner;
• unusual and original appearance;
• long period of life.

Disadvantages:

• intolerance to cold weather;
• the need to purchase a winter wardrobe;
• feeding with high-quality feed;
• the presence of trembling from the cold, fear or strong emotions;
• the difficulty of training;
• loud barking;
• restriction of contact with large dogs and small children;
• territory label;
• the difficulty of accustoming to the tray;
• constant desire to gain a leading position in the family.

Wide color diversity provoked the appearance of several species of individuals of this breed.

• Redhead. This color range provides for the presence of both light and dark shades. In nature, there are practically no dogs of a purely red color, most of them have white shapeless spots.
• The black. A common color that always has blotches of white and gray on the chest and extremities.
• Chocolate. A popular color that has a red tint. Animals can be pure brown or have a color tricolor.

Pets can also be brindle, purple and blue.

Dogs of white color, cream, chocolate, black, silver and red edema are in greatest demand.

Inadmissible color deviation is marble color. Puppies with this shade are born with physical injuries and often die in the first hours of life.

Little puppies are funny creatures that are very small in size. Features of newborn dogs:

• blindness;
• inability to walk;
• the presence of hanging ears and a short tail, which is tightly pressed to the body;
• soft and small nail plates;
• pink nose;
• lack of mustache.

Professional dog handlers do not recommend acquiring pets in natural markets from unknown sellers. In order to buy a purebred dog, you need to contact licensed breeders who are professionally engaged in breeding and have all the permits.

Before buying a pet, you need to carefully inspect the room where he was kept, and the feed that he was fed. In the presence of sanitary and hygienic deviations, it is better to refuse this purchase. Breeders must show the passport of the animal and talk about its parents and the number of individuals in the litter, which should not exceed 5 pieces.

Signs of a healthy puppy:

• activity;
• good appetite;
• curiosity;
• smooth and shiny coat;
• well-built physique;
• the presence of a cold and wet nose;
• clean skin;
• lack of signs of skin diseases;
• compliance with all breed standards;
• the presence of strong and healthy limbs;
• lack of purulent and mucous discharge from the nose and eyes;
• constant tension of the auricles;
• overlapping of the lower jaw of the upper.

In the case of the most insignificant deviations, you must refuse to purchase and not listen to the entreaties of the sellers.

Before purchasing a pet, owners need to carefully study the features of their diet, on the balance of which depends on the physical condition of the pet. A compiled menu should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Dog handlers distinguish two ways of feeding:

• finished feed;
• natural products.

Experienced dog breeders recommend using ready-made premium feeds, the composition of which is as balanced as possible and contains all the necessary nutrients for this breed, The main disadvantage of this diet is the high cost of products, which not every owner can afford.

When making a diet yourself, special attention should be paid meat, fish products, cottage cheese, eggs, cereals, vegetables and fruits. The menu used should contain a sufficient amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates. Feeding a pet is allowed only with boiled and steamed products.

The initial diet of newborn puppies should consist of breast milk. As puppies grow, you need to start introducing cottage cheese, boiled and chopped meat. Toddlers need six-times feeding.

Fatty, salty, smoked, sweet and fried foods can lead to food poisoning, and sometimes to the death of a pet.

For harmonious growth and development, the animal must have constant access to clean and fresh filtered or spring water. Experts do not recommend using boiled water or tap water.

Creating comfortable living conditions for a pet is the main task of each owner.

The main problems that each owner of this breed will immediately encounter are the difficulty of accustoming the pet to the tray and the constant marking of the territory. These difficulties are caused by a number of reasons:

• features of the structure of the bladder;
• desire for a toilet to choose a secluded place;
• genetic need to determine the boundaries of its territory.

In the summer, the pet needs daily walks, and with the onset of cold weather, the time spent in the air should be significantly limited. Before visiting the street, the dog must be dressed in accordance with the temperature regime. Warm clothes will help a tender pet not only warm up, but also prevent the development of colds.

Every morning, you need to start by rubbing your eyes and examining your auricles. A mandatory hygienic procedure is to cut the nails as needed. To maintain the coat in good condition without shedding comb out a pet every day with a special massage comb (furminator). This procedure is mandatory especially for dwarf breed, which does not fade.

After each visit to the street, you need to wash your paws, and every 7 days you need to completely bathe the beast. To carry out water procedures, you need to purchase special shampoos and conditioners that will not only make the coat smooth and shiny, but also prevent the appearance of various parasites.

A pet is not only a sea of ​​happiness and joy, but also a huge responsibility for a living creature. Before buying your favorite breed, you need to carefully study its diet, the features of care and breeding, and also allocate a sufficient amount of time to communicate with the pet.

About the features of the Chihuahua breed, see below.