Chihuahua breed is gaining increasing popularity as a decorative, but it has a rich and very interesting history of occurrence. With all this, the long-haired representatives of the species are not very different in character and habits from their short-haired counterparts.
History of origin
Like many modern dog breeds, most of Chihuahua’s history 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 widely known representatives of the Chihuahua were discovered, and this happened in the mid-1800s.
According to some data, in 1884, merchants in Mexico began selling a short-haired, short-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 an ornamental pet. Then the breed did not have an official name; for this reason, it became known under various names. As a rule, the owners called them in honor of the US state where they were imported.
It was often possible to hear how a fluffy Chihuahua is called a Mexican, Arizona or Tehichi dog. Only the last of the proposed titles has stood the test of time and was 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 we compare animals, then tehichi are twice as large as modern Chihuahuas.
Following this theory, it is safe to assume that either the Mayans or the Toltecs were the first to tame the techs. They viewed dogs as guardians of the afterlife, using them in funeral ceremonies and as a source of food. They often sacrificed them, made them from an animal mummy and buried with the owner in one tomb, believing that it would join him in the afterlife. Maya even had 9 different words for dogs, some of which related to specific species. It is not known which breeds were domesticated, but historians believe that techichi 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 had a striking resemblance to a chihuahua. There were also found toys for dogs.
A recent Chihuahua DNA study may shed light on the origin of the breed. Researchers at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, 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 findings, in order to trace whether there is a connection between them.
As a result, scientists have not found any connection between the described breeds. 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 explorers landed there.
The first story in which the chihuahua was described was written by James Watson.During a trip to San Francisco with the intention of visiting a dog exhibition that was held back in 1888, Watson stopped at El Paso and specifically went to Mexico to learn more about Chihuahua. Here he bought one dog and gave her the nickname Manzanita. The purchase price was 5 dollars. After some time, Watson returned and bought several more animals, among which was Juárez Bell, the first known champion of the described breed.
In the 1890s, the President of Mexico presented Adeline Patti, the then famous opera singer, with a bouquet of flowers, where he hid a small Chihuahua. After the dog everywhere and always was with his mistress.
Karl Lumholz, a Norwegian researcher of indigenous Mexican cultures, wrote about Chihuahuas in his two-volume collection. He described the breed as shy with erect ears, bulging eyes and a small hole on the top of the skull.
Appearance Description
Shaggy Chihuahua has a special charm. If we refer to the classical description of the appearance, then adult dogs at the withers reach a maximum of 230 mm, the minimum height is 150 mm. As the standard recognized by dog breeders shows, the weight of an individual can vary from 1 to 3 kilograms.
As for the 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 turned upwards. Veterinarians bite a Chihuahua called scissors.
The described breed is characterized by large and slightly bulging eyes, which are most often brown. The ears are well opened, erect, slightly tapering at the end.
The neck is not long, wool is growing abundantly around it, from the side of such a collar resembles a frill. The chest, despite the size of the dog, is well developed. It is oval in shape and cannot be round.
Paws are neat, oval, with spread fingers and long claws. At the base of the tail is quite thick, but tapers towards the end. This part of the body is always facing the back. The dog holds the tail with either a half ring or strongly bends it.
Long-haired breed is popular for its attractive appearance. Even without much care, the dog's coat is soft, combed well. If you compare it with a short-haired breed, such chihuahuas have longer hairs in the area of the abdomen, chest and tail, as well as on the legs and ears.
Character and habits
All representatives of the described breed love to sleep, especially in puppies. They do it often and for a long time. If we talk about the nature of the animal, then small dogs have great pride, so easily offended by the owner if he carelessly treats them.
When the animal is awake, it loves to play, very active. Despite the small stature, the Chihuahua is very zealously defending his possessions and toys and will not allow a stranger to touch them. It is precisely because it is a born leader that he has difficulty in the presence of other animals in the house. In addition to the owner, the dog rarely makes friends.
Chihuahuas do not like strangers and always treat them with wariness. They, without thinking, will rush into battle, if this is necessary. But relations with the owner are always very even and calm, they do not show aggression, but they do not like children and may even bite, because they will not allow themselves to be twitched and will not tolerate pain.
It is best to start such 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 that will always try to be there, so sometimes it becomes too intrusive. If left alone, the dog will begin to yearn and may even become depressed.
How many years live?
It is said that different breeds demonstrate a different maximum threshold of life.Of course, among the Chihuahuas there are long-livers with proper care. The general state of their health largely influences how long a dog will live.
Representatives of the breed suffer from diseases affecting the joints and the musculoskeletal system. Their small paws with thin bones are prone to fractures and dislocations, so 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 you provide chihuahua quality care, the dog can live up to 15 years.
Often, a dog develops urolithiasis, which is a result of the animal's use of water and food with a high salt content. Low physical activity due to poorly balanced feed.
Be sure to check the animal from time to time for fleas, ticks and internal parasites. Schedule vaccination must comply, as in Chihuahua poor immunity.
Types of color
There is no definite coloration attached to the breed, but most often there are individuals of the following colors:
- red;
- whites;
- fawn;
- black and red.
Puppies may be born darker in color, but after the first molt they become slightly lighter.
Red dogs may differ in intensity of color. Sometimes it is a very light coat, and sometimes a rich shade. Completely black individuals are extremely rare, however, as the marble color.
Cream and brown color has its own unique appeal, especially in the long-haired breed.
You can buy a dog chocolate shade or even tiger.
Especially popular are chihuahuas blue or purple, which are not as common.
How to choose a puppy?
If you want to buy a puppy of the described breed, it is better to contact a specialized nursery. The offspring, which is acquired from an experienced breeder, has good genetics, moreover, it is purebred.
By appearance, determine whether the puppy is healthy or not is also possible. It should have a head in the shape of an apple, clean ears, without any unpleasant odor and discharge. Pay special attention to the nose, which in a healthy dog is not only wet, but also cold.
Sometimes long-haired Chihuahuas have slightly wavy hair, but in any case they are soft and thick. You can slightly push it to study in more detail the skin. It should not be irritation, scales or red spots.
Healthy puppies gladly climb to get acquainted, but if the dog is hiding, it is either afraid or unwell, in any of these cases you should not get it.
The body of puppies is dense, 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. In a month it is enough to carry out the procedure twice so that the animal is healthy and clean. Use for this specialized hypoallergenic shampoo. After the wool is washed with a shower and dried with a hairdryer. Do not leave the animal wet because it may catch a cold.
It is not enough to wash wool, it is necessary to cut it in time. Grooming 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 wool allows the skin to breathe better. This is very important if the Chihuahua is found in a hot climate where it can suffer from overheating. Shorten the 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 cut the dog yourself, but then you should at least start by watching a video on how to do it correctly. It is important to carefully cut the paws, tail and other areas so as not to damage the skin.
If the animal sheds, it is better to comb it more often.otherwise the wool will remain not only on the floor, but also on upholstered furniture, which will require additional cleaning 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 merits of the animal.
Pet combed out every day, sometimes several times, if the dog often walks on the street. To do this, get a special comb. If mats will be formed, then it will be more difficult to remove them, and with their large aggregation the animal dies, as pathogens begin to multiply inside them.
From time to time, it is worth checking the skin to detect flea or tick in time. 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 the nutrition of the Chihuahua, since it must include stern only premium. It is best to give natural products, including meat, you can feed them and dry food. In the diet must be present dairy products, cereals, fish and even vegetables. Additionally provide vitamin complexes. Carbohydrates and proteins in the diet must be present in a proportion of 1/3.
Feeding puppies is carried out up to 5 times a day, adults are fed 3 times a day. It must be remembered that chihuahuas may suffer from food allergies, so new products are introduced into the diet gradually and in small portions. Fried, spicy and sweet food is strictly prohibited.
Special hygiene require teeth of the animal. Sometimes it happens that dairy fall out later than the deadline, in this case the bite is formed incorrectly. Caries - the second problem, which the owner should pay a lot of attention. As a prevention of both problems, you need to produce brushing a dog's teeth several times a week. For this there are special brushes and tools.
Due to the fact that the eyes of the dog slightly prod up, from time to time they are treated with moisturizing drops. This treatment solves the problem of the formation of tear ducts around the eyes.
The nails will not require attention, even if the dog is provided with the necessary toys. It is best to remove all excess with the help of kogtereza.
Training
If time does not take up the education of the dog, it will behave badly, will start to bully, bite and fix it later it will be impossible. Therefore, training is done from a very early age. Small stature and incredibly big ambitions will quickly turn an animal into an uncontrollable whirlwind in the house. Everything will suffer - from shoes to furniture. A chihuahua, if not put him in his place, quickly imagines himself to be the master.
It is not necessary to use physical pressure as a punishment, the dog is well aware of the intonation in his voice and welcomes delicacies as a reward.
It’s not worth waiting for much from the dog, but it can fulfill the simplest commands if you put a little effort into it. It is not necessary even to hire a specialist for training.
The dog should know that you can not eat food from the ground.. Be sure to train walking on a special habit, so that if necessary it was possible to reduce the distance between the owner and the animal. This is very important when walking is carried out not in a park zone, but, for example, not far from the road. Chihuahuas can chase a cat or another dog, they are not accustomed to hiding or standing by. Such behavior and inattention of the owner often lead to sad consequences.
Representatives of the breed love to learn something new, examine the 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 hands of others.
In the house you need to teach the dog, so that even with a tray, she tried to endure before the walk. They walk the animal at least 2 times a day, usually in the morning and in the evening. In addition, you will need to accustom chihuahua to clothes, so they wear it from early childhood, then it will help keep it from hypothermia.
For the care of chihuahua hair, see below.
