About Chihuahuas
Chihuahuas are a lot of dog in a small body.
They were revered by the Aztecs who believed that their spirits could act as a guide through to the afterlife. The Aztecs believed the chihuahua spirit was very large whilst in comparison that of the human being was actually very small. There is even speculation that some Chihuahuas were felt to be so important that they had their own slaves.
DNA analysis suggest that their ancestors may have arrived in Mexico from Siberia over 9000 years ago.
The Modern Chihuahua
Pop culture has given rise to many misconceptions about Chihuahuas. They can be seen as fierce, yappy and requiring a ride in designer bags.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Even those new to the breed can quickly see that a Chihuahua is a friendly, versatile, healthy little dog. They are not afraid of an agility tunnel or deterred by an aged scent trail. A Chihuahua can feel equally at home in a stable yard or on a family camping trip as sitting in an urban cafe watching the world go by.
Training and exercising
Chihuahuas are clever little dogs. They have the largest brains when compared to their body size of all the dogs. They love to learn and respond well to positive reward based training.
Just because they are small it certainly doesn't mean they are any less of a dog and they need the same sort of consistency with training to prevent unwanted behaviours.
To help keep their little minds occupied you can have fun with sniff walks, short training sessions, puzzle toys and/or free time in a secure field.
Chihuahuas also love getting out and about. The PDSA recommend a minimum of half an hour a day to stay happy and healthy plus additional playtime with you.
Other things you might not know
Chihuahuas are officially the smallest dog breed recognised by the UK Kennel Club.
In the UK the smooth and long coated varieties of Chihuahua are recognised as two distinct breeds.
Chihuahuas have a lot of teeth in a small mouth which can lead to dental problems so it's worth investing time in helping them to accept regular tooth brushing.
Chihuahuas can occur in virtually any colour combination from solid to mottled or splashed.
The oldest living Chihuahua is called Spike. He was 23 years old and still going in 2023.
