Chihuahua Guide
Contents
The Chihuahua’s popularity has risen in the last decade. Television commercials featuring the breed as a spokescanine, films starring this toy breed, and public appearances of the Chi in the arms (or fashionable handbags) of well-known television stars, singers, musicians, and movie stars have all contributed to the Chihuahua becoming the dog of the moment, the dog that everyone wants to be seen with and own.
Even without notoriety, the Chihuahua has been a popular breed in the United States since its inception. There are numerous explanations for this. The Chihuahua is an extremely handsome dog with both short and long fur. Chis provide their owners with a sense of uniqueness (no two are ever alike) because to the breed’s enormous diversity in color, patterning, and markings. The temperament of the Chi, of course, is what truly distinguishes this breed. These dogs are faithful, affectionate, playful, a little feisty (think terrier), and courageous. (Chis have died while attempting to defend their owners.)
This breed’s antics will make you laugh out loud; gasp as they ricochet off your furniture and walls in wild, exuberant play; sigh with contentment as they curl up to sleep in your lap or softly kiss your cheeks; and groan as you discover the latest mischief your little mischief-maker has gotten into. During her lifespan, the Chihuahua will take you through a wide spectrum of emotions and experiences. And it’s almost a certainty that when the time comes for her to depart this world, you’ll shed a tear and agree that even a long-lived breed never lives long enough. Without a doubt, the Chihuahua will be the pet you remember for the rest of your life.
Of course, the enjoyment and richness of your experience with a Chihuahua is mainly dependent on two elements. The first consideration is the Chihuahua’s breeding, which influences not only how she looks but, more crucially, how healthy she will be throughout her life and what kind of temperament she is hard-wired to have. The second factor is you, the owner. Even the best-bred Chihuahua with enormous potential as a lovely pet might fail if you do not provide the dog with the care, attention, and upbringing she need.
Thousands of Chihuahuas are euthanized or end up in shelters, pounds, and rescues around the country as a result of bad breeding techniques or poor ownership. Sickly Chihuahua puppies and adult Chis with terrible temperaments and/or expensive, chronic health conditions are not uncommon. It’s distressing when a family does everything correctly (excellent nutrition, preventive veterinarian care, exercise, socializing, and training) but the Chihuahua remains unhealthy or has an extremely aggressive or scared temperament.
On the other hand, just as many Chihuahuas become undesired because their owners are unable or unable to provide the Chi’s most basic demands. These are frequently owners who bought the Chihuahua on a whim and had no idea that they were getting a dog and not a lovely, cuddly toy that was pre-programmed to behave correctly. When this owner realizes that raising and caring for a Chihuahua entails much more than simply providing the dog with a designer purse to ride around in — that the Chihuahua eats, chews things up, relieves itself, and requires housetraining, and is one of the more expensive breeds to maintain — the dog becomes bothersome and irritating. Those who didn’t think twice about getting a Chi frequently find it easy to dump the dog off and get rid of her.
The moral of this story is that the Chihuahua makes an excellent pet. After all, it is a fantastic dog. However, most people are drawn to most breeds mostly based on what they’ve seen or what the dog looks like. Nothing is wrong with this! But, in order to make this very adaptable breed a success in your house, you must go deeper. Discover what this dog is all about. Discover what makes this dog tick.
As you read, you should acquire a solid sense of this breed’s unique demands, the issues you might face raising a Chi if you choose to buy a puppy or adopt a rescued adult, and how you might have to adjust your lifestyle to make this breed fit in your house and life.
There is always a method to succeed with the Chihuahua where there is a will. As long as you understand what you’re getting into and understand the degree of commitment required for this wonderful dog, the Chihuahua will repay your kindness and care with a life as full of excitement and love as she is capable of giving. And that’s a lot of affection for a Chihuahua.
Selecting a Pup
The Chihuahua is remarkable in that it is the world’s smallest purebred dog. Chi puppies, which are born weighing only an ounce or two, frequently weigh less than eleven ounces by the time they are weaned and ready to go to a new home. The Chihuahua puppy is the pup with the most “Awww” factor, fitting comfortably in the palms of your cupped hands yet being every bit a dog with brains and moxie.
Adopting a Dog as an Adult
You have various options when it comes to adopting an adult Chihuahua. You can look in the newspaper for a surrendering Chihuahua and adopt directly from the owner, check with local animal control, engage with a local shelter, or contact a Chihuahua purebred rescue. While a good Chi can be discovered in any of these locations, some demand more dog intelligence and expertise than others.
Housetraining Advice
A well-trained Chihuahua is a valuable asset. A dog that lacks housetraining abilities or has frequent accidents is a typical complaint among toy breed owners, including Chihuahua owners. But it doesn’t have to be that way. When it comes to knowing when and where to urinate herself, your Chihuahua can be as good as gold if you adopt the right approach to housetraining your puppy or adult Chi and have a little patience.
One of the most crucial components of owning a dog of any breed and size is socializing him with humans of all shapes, sizes, and types, as well as other dogs. Without adequate socialization skills, the Chihuahua can grow wary of people and dogs, as well as too protective of its owner, refusing to allow family members to be near that person. However, with a little practice and persistence, you can prevent or assist your Chihuahua overcome becoming scared or aggressive around people and dogs.
A Novel Approach to Training
No more choke chains for you. There will be no more severe verbal or physical reprimands. No more stifled exuberance or “stubborn” Chihuahuas. Hooray! The training dark ages are over, and a new era of positive, reward-based training has begun. Today’s entertaining training methods are just what the doctor (the veterinary animal behaviorist) recommended, putting the dream of having a well-trained Chihuahua within everyone’s reach.
