Mini-Chihuahua: how do dogs look and how to keep them?

Miniature Chihuahua dogs, or as they are called chi-chi, are referred to as companion breeds with pronounced guarding abilities. Despite the tiny size, these dogs are very brave and very loyal. In this article we will dwell on the history of the breed, the features of appearance, character, and also the intricacies of caring for dogs.

The exact origin of the mini chihuahua breed dogs is not known for certain, however, according to archaeological excavations, the breed was known in ancient times in Mexico. For the first time these miniature dogs were described by Hernan Cortes, who arrived in 1520. In his message addressed to the king of Spain, he said that the Aztecs use these miniature animals as food - presumably Chihuahuas were raised on special farms and sold on the market.

Another mystical custom is associated with this breed - when the Aztec died, then his dog was buried with him - it was believed that Chihuahua helps the soul of the deceased go to another world. However, animals were introduced to the civilized world only three centuries later - in 1884. Immediately after this, the popularity of miniature animals took off literally to the skies, and all the secular ladies wanted to have such a charming companion for themselves.

The breed got its name in honor of one of the Mexican states - Chihuahua, These animals are considered one of the smallest dogs in the world. Growth of an adult pet varies from 15 to 22 cm, weight - from 1.5 to 3 kg. There is a separate type of "super mini" - the mass of these dogs does not exceed 1 kg. In the middle of the last century, some breed standards were developed, these parameters are considered to be very strict.

General characteristics: the body is compact, in males the height from the paws to the back of the neck is approximately equal to the length of the body, respectively, the proportions of the body are close to the square.

In bitches, the hull is more elongated, since nature provides for the need to raise and give birth to puppies. The head is apple-shaped, the muzzle has the shape of a sharp shortened wedge, tapering in the direction from the sockets to the nose, the nose itself is miniature, slightly upturned, any color is allowed. Lips are light or dark, salivation is absent. There are 42 teeth in the jaws - 20 at the top and 22 below, a scissor bite, in some cases a straight line is allowed.

Chihuahua eyes are very large and expressive, mostly brown, less often, but there are dogs with bright eyes. The relative size of the head is rather long and erect. When a pet is in a friendly mood - it spreads them in different directions so that the tips hang down a bit. The neck is of medium length, thickened near the base of the skull. In males it is more massive than in females, withers are practically not expressed.

The back is quite strong, slightly extended. Males are generally shorter than bitches. Muscular tissue is distinguished in the lower back, in females it is slightly elongated due to predisposition to childbirth. The croup is even, the slope is almost absent. The sternum is volumetric, formed by round ribs, in accordance with the standards, too massive barrel-shaped form is considered a defect.

The tail of a mini-chihuahua is set high, tapering from base to tip.A healthy and active dog always keeps it upright and slightly curved. When the animal is calm and relaxed, the tail goes down, but still retains the shape of a crescent.

Chihuahuas are always covered with hair, they can be short and long-haired, but bald dogs do not exist. Any color is allowed: black, white, fawn, but among show breeds, pets with chocolate and bluish-pearl tones of wool are especially appreciated.

Before you buy a mini-chihuahua, you should clearly understand that this dog is quite easy to provoke aggression, therefore, they are not suitable for families with small children. At the same time, they are very intelligent and intelligent creatures and very brave - at any moment they are ready to defend their owner from cars, people and other dogs.

Chihuahua - Monogamous, who loves only a single person, its owner. He will try to treat all other family members with patience and even with a touch of condescension, but he will not tolerate excessive attention and obsession, so he can even bite a child if he wants to play with him.

Many breeders who previously owned other breeds of dogs often consider Chihuahua to be too intrusive, but in fact the pet shows only mutual interest. If you have no desire to play or too many chores, then be sure that your little miracle will not bother you, but will take care of your toys or simply go to sleep. These dogs are very intelligent and delicate.

Pets always notify their owner about the visiting guests and phone calls, so they are especially appreciated by people who have little hearing. These funny animals are able to lie for several hours beside their owner when he is sick, but they are ready to go for a walk at any time of the day or night. Small dogs are rather impudent, one can say that they have a truly Mexican temperament.

If they believe that something threatens their master, they will enter into the most dangerous conflicts. These are real "knights", brave, but with a kind and soft heart. The chihuahua does not tolerate loneliness; in any stressful situation, the animals begin to shake with a shiver.

Until the age of three months, chihuahuas are considered to be “children” from 3 to 5 months they begin to grow rapidly, then it slows down, and pets slowly begin to gain all the remaining grams and centimetersif the pet is destined to become a very small dog whose weight does not exceed 1.5 kg, then in 5 months, its growth stops altogether.

At this time, a teenager is more like awkward, clumsy animals, in which literally all parts of the body need to be improved: the head is too small, it is disproportionate, the sternum is small, the legs are long. From the outside it seems that the whole dog consists of one corner. If your pet belongs to the long-haired breeds, then at the age of five months he doesn’t much resemble the beautiful dog that he will turn into over time.

In the same period, the animals begin to change teeth, first the sharp incisors change, and immediately after them the canines. At the same time, the very first molt is going on, some individuals begin to lose their wool in literally shreds to bald patches and bald spots - at this moment it is extremely important to ensure that the animal enters the body with vitamins, minerals, and biotin.

Very often, after replacing the teeth, the ears of a young chihuahua fall, therefore it is imperative that special calcium components be introduced into the feed.

By 8 months the change of teeth is fully completed.Keep in mind that chee-chi often grow molar teeth at a time when dairy have not yet dropped out, they grow as if an additional row. In this case, you should contact the veterinarian in order to pull out the milk fangs that have become unnecessary.

Do not try to do it yourself, otherwise, instead of dairy ones, you can snatch the permanent ones and by doing so damage your pet's health. It is undesirable to delay a visit to the doctor, if you do not get rid of the milk teeth in time, then the bite begins to deteriorate in young chi-chi, besides, between the tusks growing in two rows, remains of products begin to accumulate, which leads to inflammation and caries.

In females, by the age of 8–9 months, the first estrus occurs, males approximately at the same age begin to be actively interested in women and put “tags” throughout the territory. From this point on, animals can already produce offspring. After the very first estrus, growth most often in bitches stops; in males, this process is completed by 9 months. But, the final form is formed only 1.5-2 years.

Mini-Chihuahuas usually live from 15 to 20 years, in this parameter they are significantly ahead of the dogs of many other breeds. The life of a pet is affected by a whole range of factors:

• balanced diet;
• normal weight;
• full care.

Equally important is the genetic predisposition, which is different for each dog, and regular veterinary examination. According to statistics, the smaller the dog, the more health problems it has, any veterinarian can confirm this. Mini-Chihuahuas are prone to the following pathologies:

• hydrocephalus:
• obesity;
• hypoglycemia;
• heart disease;
• bronchitis;
• tracheal collapse.

At the same time, most of the problems faced by chi-chi, with the right approach and timely treatment, quickly go away without giving any complications.

Officially, there are two types of Chihuahuas:

• short-haired

• long haired

Depending on the weight category, the following classification parameters are established:

• standard - animals weighing 1.5-3 kg;
• mini chi-chi weighing from 1 to 1.5 kg;
• super mini - These are animals whose weight varies from 500 g to 1 kg.

It is noteworthy that the smaller the dog weighs, the higher its cost, however, in this case it means the weight of an adult dog, not a puppy. The fact is that puppies are born into the world in the weight of 75-100 g and grow for almost a year, it is not possible to predict in advance which class the animal will belong to. Although with a certain probability it can be assumed that if both parents weighed less than 1 kg, then the offspring will be limited to this weight category.

Do not forget that the life expectancy of mini pets is less than that of animals of standard size.

Be sure to look at the photos that show the breeders, many unscrupulous sellers go to the deception and in the ads for the sale post a photo of someone else's pet or one of their most successful, but in fact they offer something completely different.

Usually those responsible to the seller go to meet the wishes of a potential buyer, and unscrupulous people are trying in every possible way to avoid and not to send a new image.

To minimize the risks of buying a Chihuahua, it’s best to contact in specialized breeding nurserieswho have been registered Canine Federation of the Russian Federation. Prices for dogs vary depending on puppy class: show, petit and brit.

Brit has good breeding data, so it is often used for breeding.

Dogs from the pet category can become good pets, but they are not suitable for participation in international exhibitions, as they have pronounced deviations from the accepted standard, they are no longer used for breeding, these dogs are cheaper than the rest.

Before you buy, be sure to determine what exactly you need a puppy. If you intend to take him to competitions and expect to receive prizes, you will have to spend money on a show class, always with titled parents and a good pedigree.

Be sure to study in advance exactly how the puppy should look, and even better, when choosing, invite an expert to evaluate the puppy category. The pedigree will also be needed in the case when you buy a dog for the soul, if there is no such document, you risk to buy the most ordinary half-breed or a purebred dog. Having a pedigree is always a guarantee of a stable psyche of the animal and a good exterior of the pet.

Unscrupulous breeders often resort to another trick, playing on the desire of any buyer to save. So, puppies whose cost approaches 20 thousand, they offer for 10, arguing the low cost that his parents, titled dogs, had an “unplanned mating”. This term is now used to justify the absence of a pedigree.

Usually, the buyer forms a picture in his head, as two high-class dogs didn’t get involved in time and straighten out the document for such a puppy. In practice, most often under this vague wording lies nothing but the intercourse of dogs of different breeds. As a result, animals of various sizes and colors are obtained, which, most often with all their desire, cannot claim the name of chihuahua, most often the buyer receives “pug-snee” or “chiho-toa”

When choosing a dog it will be useful to use the advice of experienced breeders.

You should not believe the claims of breeders that your dog will certainly belong to the show class only because both of his parents are champions. Statistics say that there is no direct connection here and even a puppy with a most distinguished dog can be born with marked differences from the standard.

Care for chi-chi is easy. Due to the subminiature size, the Chihuahua breed dog gets on well in a spacious private house and in a small city apartment. Keep in mind that these animals are incapable of holding back the desire to go to the toilet for a long time, so if you do not have the opportunity to walk a dog 2 times a day, then it is better to get a tray for him so that the pet has already managed all its natural needs.

The baby must certainly have his own personal space where he will sleep and rest, feeling completely protected. In the first few days of stay in the new house is best to keep the dog in a small aviary.

As you get used to it, you can expand the walking radius - first, leave the animal in a closed room, then let it out into the corridor, and then completely allow it to walk through the whole living space.

It is best to choose small designs so that the dog does not freeze in them. As the dog grows and develops, the tray with saucers will need to be gradually moved away and, after a couple of months, set in the final place, for example, bowls can be placed in the kitchen, and the tray in the bathroom or on the loggia.

Caring for the coat of four-legged pets of this breed usually does not create any difficulties for the owner, the condition of the coat of the animal directly depends on the type of food of the dog. It is recommended to brush your pet 2-3 times a week with a special massage brush and, if necessary, select all small rubbish. The hair is combed in the direction of hair growth. Long-haired dogs should be cut from time to time in the areas near the anus and between the fingers, this is necessary in order to keep the dog in a hygienic state.

Chihuahua's hair becomes polluted rather slowly, it is a very neat animal, therefore dogs do not require frequent bathing. All washing procedures are carried out only as a grease appears, if you arrange this more often, it can cause skin dryness. Usually, chihuahuas are bathed 3-4 times a year, and you need to use specialized shampoos for this.

Dry the pet with cold air from a hairdryer, then wrap it in a warm towel so that it absorbs the remnants of moisture and warms the pet. After bathing, you must comb your dog, as bath procedures usually cause a small shed.

Chihuahua's ears tend to accumulate a lot of dust and highlight earwax, therefore periodically Gently clean the inside with a cotton wool moistened with ear cleaning fluid or with plain warm water. Bulging eyes a couple of times a week should be washed with tea brewing or a weak solution of furatsilina - this will save them from lacrimal sediment and various mucous secretions.

Do not forget to regularly cut the claws, but this should be done as carefully as possible, since they grow together with the vessels that feed them and, if carelessly moving, sensitive paw pads can be damaged.

During the haircut procedure, be sure to look at the nails - they are transparent to the light, so you will immediately notice the boundary of the pulp from the inside.

At a young age it is strictly forbidden to leave your pet unattended.The fact of the matter is that his bones are rather fragile, while the fontanel on the skull is large, and therefore all sorts of jumps from a chair to dense surfaces can end in fractures at best, and in the worst case, can cause severe injuries.

During this period, wearing chihuahuas should be held with one hand under the tummy, and the second - under the ass. Keep in mind that dogs are nimble, always turn out and try to jump, and this is fraught with head injuries, because the seizure should always be soft, but tenacious.

To make moving the animal more secure around the house, the first time, while you are not used to the dog, you can wear a small bell, so the pet will be able to report its approach every time. This will reduce the chance of stepping on a tiny dog ​​to a minimum.

All packages, wires, and packaging must be removed from the floor. Animals of this breed have a great love for them and uncontrollably gnaw everything that comes across them under their teeth, and at the same time they can swallow pieces of plastic that are not naturally eliminated from the body in a natural way.

Walking the dog must be in a tightly fixed collar, if the fixation is weak, then the pets start to get scared, get out and run away. On the streets with great traffic, as well as in areas of crowds, it is better to keep your pet in your arms.

On the street of these formidable, but small dogs can wait another trouble - the crows and other large birds. The fact is that small chihuahuas often remind them of mice and rats, which birds hunt, so they can get close to the dog and even start to peck. In the cold season, bring your pet out to the street exclusively in clothes, he needs jumpsuit and shoes. The fact is that these dogs have impaired thermoregulation, so they often freeze.

Even the smallest dogs nevertheless remain carnivorous creatures, and the diet for your pet should be made so that the share of meat products in it was at least 80%. Chi-chi are very capricious and fastidious dogs, so you have to proceed not only from the usefulness of the product, but also from the taste preferences of the animal. The dog should get protein from lean meat (veal, beef, chicken or turkey), it will be useful from time to time to introduce a menu of lactic acid products, eggs and fish.

Meat is given only boiled, a couple of times a week feeding offal is allowed, it is best to use the liver and heart. Sources of carbohydrates for a pet are cereals - dogs love buckwheat, oatmeal, corn and rice. It is best to cook them in meat broth, and add some grated cheese for flavor. As a useful vitamin supplement in the feed, vegetables are introduced: carrots, as well as pumpkin, potatoes or zucchini, always in ground form with the addition of sunflower, linseed or sea buckthorn oil.

Chihuahuas respond very well to fruit, because they can safely give strawberries, bananas, raspberries and apples. In winter, instead of fresh fruits, fruit purees can be offered to pets.

In conclusion, we should focus on the pros and cons of this breed. The advantages of Chihuahuas include:

• compactness - with such a pet, you can even enter those stores and institutions where entry with animals is usually strictly prohibited, whether it is a smooth-haired or a fluffy dog;
• comfortable walking - this dog does not feel any need for long walks, in order to warm up properly, it is enough for a pet to jump along the corridor, animals can spend months in the room and not experience any longing for fresh air;
• food economy - chi-chi eats very little, so it takes a little money to feed him;
• good health - there was practically no breeding work on the dogs of this breed, therefore they retained all the qualities and the immunity that they got from their ancestors;
• accuracy - Chihuahuas are not capable of harming the home environment, they are more likely to harm themselves, but they will never chew on slippers or tear up furniture in the house.

Of the minuses are the following:

• injury - dogs are quite fragile, if you fail to grab them, you can do harm, therefore, when living together with such pets, you have to be extremely careful;
• breeding difficulty - unfortunately, chihuahuas almost never give birth on their own and without the help of a veterinarian, since the miniature size does not allow them to push the cubs out of the womb;
• the difficulties of dressure - these animals can not be called inconsistent, but still they are not amenable to training, these animals first perceive intonation and only after voice phrases, therefore each team requires prolonged memorization.

In the next video, you can watch the puppies of a mini-Chihuahua at the age of 4 months.