| By :
Brent McCoy
The Chihuahua (named after the Mexican state and sometimes called the "New Yorker" in Mexico) is the smallest of all dog breeds and can either feature a long or short coat that comes in a wide variety of colors. The breed has origins dating back to as far as the 9th century, and they were first bred for the primary reason of acting as companion dogs. A small number of their more typical attributes are usually seen as their small size, high sense of importance and intense attachment to their owners - which all help in making the Chihuahua one of the most popular companionship dogs that is highly suitable for smaller households and apartments. The Chihuahua's history is largely based on speculation but is believed to have descended from the Techichi which was a breed kept by the Aztecs with the intention of companionship. The modern breed is assumed to be a result of crossing this native dog with dogs introduced by the New World explorers. The Chihuahua is well-known for their lively, alert, self-confident and often devoted disposition. They are usually suspicious of people they don't know, which can mean they are suitable as a watch dog but their size lessens their suitability as a guard dog. The Chihuahua is not demonstrated to be highly intelligent - scoring 67th compared to other dogs when considering their ability to be trained obedience commands. They are also well-known to be easily injured by young children - making them not the best choice for families with young children. The Chihuahua is generally not very friendly with other animals due to the devotion to their owner who they may be unwilling to share and they may be particularly aggressive with other dogs. Grooming the Chihuahua is a reasonably simple operation - though this may vary somewhat depending on whether they are short-coated or long-coated. They require an occasional amount of brushing two or three times a week and proper grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. The Chihuahua is happiest with a small yard to give them space to roam around in, but doesn't require much space and they can be a very good choice for life in an apartment just as long as they are walked on a regular basis. They enjoy warmer environments, and can be made uncomfortable if gets too cold - they will need a jacket when venturing outside in cooler weather. The Chihuahua could make the ideal dog breed for a gentle owner who will give them plenty of companionship. They are well-matched for anyone that is prepared to execute a small amount of grooming and take time to give them firm and consistent training with early socialization as well as take them for short walks every day and provide a very high amount of love and devotion. Though they can be a little unsuitable for families with young children, if you are capable of meeting their need for human contact and careful attention to ensure they don't injure themselves then the Chihuahua can be the ideal breed of dog for you and act as a devoted companion for many years.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articleforbacklinks.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
