Are they healthy for those years? That depends on you. Chihuahuas are more prone to injury than to illness or disease. So whether a Chihuahua lives a long healthy life, or not, is more dependent on how careful you are to keep them safe. That's quite a responsibility! Here are some of the injuries Chihuahuas are vulnerable to:. Remember, a tiny creature can be seriously injured or killed by something that a bigger dog would barely feel. Children should not pick up this breed.
If an older child is trustworthy and your Chihuahua is calm and wearing a harness and leash, you can place her in the child's arms, but keep the leash short and under control. It's safer if children sit on the ground to hold and play with a Chihuahua. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your tiny dog. Outside of their own fenced yard, Chihuahuas should always be kept under leash or arm control. Too much can happen to these little guys in the blink of an eye.
Chocolate, white, black and tan, and blue it's actually gray, but it's called blue. Here is my complete list of health problems in Chihuahuas. According to the Chihuahua Standard, Chihuahuas can be any color — solid, marked, or splashed. Blue is not a normal color in dogs, like black or brown or white. There isn't a blue gene.
Instead, a blue Chihuahua has inherited a normal black gene Unfortunately, there is a skin problem associated with dilution genes. The symptoms are a gradual thinning or loss of the blue hair, plus nodules bumps on the skin, and repeated bacterial infections. If you have a blue Chihuahua or are thinking of getting one, read more about color dilution alopecia on my Chihuahua Health page.
Often one or both eyes is blue. You've probably seen this color in Australian Shepherds, Shelties, or Collies. Fairly recently, though, merle dogs have been showing up in a number of breeds for example, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Poodles that historically didn't include merle dogs. The suspicion, probably justified, is that another breed with the merle gene was crossed with the breed that didn't have it, inserting the merle gene into the latter's gene pool.
In the case of the Chihuahua, blue merle Dachshunds were probably crossed in. Which essentially means that merle Chihuahuas aren't truly purebred. But since genetic diversity is a good thing in living creatures, I don't view cross-breeding as an evil thing. If there are a few Dachshund genes floating around in a merle Chihuahua, that wouldn't bother me.
Just as dilution genes act on pigment by washing it into a lighter color, merle genes act on pigment by whitening it. This results in lovely swirls and patches. Unfortunately, that whitening effect is not limited to hair. The pigment inside a dog's ears and on their eyes — essential pigment that nerve endings require to conduct auditory and visual impulses — can also whiten.
This is most likely to happen when a puppy inherits merle genes from BOTH parents. Thus, a merle should never be bred to another merle, as the risk to the pups is huge. Skeletal and cardiac deformities can also occur.
Because of these risks, many countries have banned merle Chihuahuas from being shown at dog shows. Some countries have even banned them from being registered. So buyer beware. Don't buy a merle puppy from two merle parents. And don't let greedy breeders gouge you into paying an outrageous price for a color with potential health risks.
Chihuahuas are very common in the United States. Close to breeds are ranked in popularity by the AKC where 1 is most popular and Chihuahuas rank around the 30th position. But they're actually much more common than that, because a lot of Chihuahuas are registered with other organizations, or left unregistered. But first, are you really, really sure you want one?
Are you sure you can provide what this breed needs? Next, consider whether you want a Smooth Coat or Long Coat, an applehead or deerhead, a cobby build or deer build. Or you can just hop onto Craigslist and buy the first Chihuahua puppy you see from someone who "just breeds pets" or "just had one litter. Not unless the seller has done the proper health certifications on the puppy's parents.
One huge difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible "puppy producer" is — health certifications. If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing and able to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your Chihuahua ends up with inherited cataracts and bad knee joints. Adopting an adult Chihuahua or Chihuahua mix can be very rewarding — for both you and the dog.
Chihuahuas may be turned over to Rescue because of housebreaking problems, or barking, or general nastiness when unsocialized or treated like babies. Other Chihuahuas are given up simply because of changed family circumstances, and these dogs may have no behavior problems at all. Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies Chihuahuas can sometimes be found here, although shelter personnel can be overzealous in labeling every small dog with big eyes and ears as a "Chihuahua cross.
Did you know there's a quick and simple DNA test that can tell you definitively which breeds make up any given dog? The Papillon is similar to a Chihuahua in appearance But the Papillon's temperament is quite different, tending to be milder-mannered, quicker-moving, more inclined to play fetch, and loves racing on an agility course.
Also easier to housebreak! If you want a tiny breed and have allergies, consider the Yorkshire Terrier. Yorkies are a nice blend of terrier and toy traits and you clip the coat short for easy maintenance.
But very hard to housebreak! If you want a truly spunky little guy with a low-maintenance coat, and you don't mind some shedding, consider the Toy Fox Terrier. He's similar to a Yorkie in being a blend of toy and terrier traits, but coming down a bit more on the terrier side. If your heart is set on a tiny dog and you're allergic, the light-shedding Maltese might fit the bill.
Compared to Chihuahuas, Maltese have a softer, sweeter temperament, as their ancestry is not terrier, but spaniel. Hard to housebreak, though! An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. Dog training videos. Sometimes it's easier to train your puppy or adult dog when you can see the correct training techniques in action.
The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website, or distributed in any way without permission from the author.
Smooth Coat Chihuahua with a bright expression. Books by Michele Welton "Respect Training for Puppies" or "Respect Training for Adult Dogs" is a step by step guide to help you bring out the best in your pup so you can enjoy a calm and well-behaved dog, no matter what his age. Apple head. Deer head on a Chihuahua. Cobby build, apple head. Attentive Chihuahuas with deer heads and deer builds.
Chihuahuas love other Chihuahuas. Gorgeous Long Coat Chihuahua with a saucy expression. So beautiful! Nice moderate apple head with a graceful deer build. Dark blue Chihuahua. Blue ranges from light silver to dark charcoal. Merle Long Coat Chihuahua. Classic apple head, short muzzle, tricolor Smooth Chihuahua. Chihuahuas love to be with other Chihuahuas. Respect Training For Puppies: 30 seconds to a calm, polite, well-behaved puppy. Chihuahuas will definitely rule the roost, so to speak.
Keep in mind Chihuahuas, as with any dog, can get into trouble if they haven't been socialized from a young age. If they get into a yappy argument with another dog, even a much larger one , their spunky nature means they won't back down. But if they are properly socialized, they'll do well with other dogs in the home especially other Chihuahuas , and even with cats.
As charming as Chihuahuas are with their owners, they can be suspicious of humans they don't know. And although they can get along with older children , they're not an ideal dog for families with super young kiddos, as they are just too fragile for toddler playtime. A Chihuahua may leap from a child's hands and injure herself if she's not being held correctly, so make sure to supervise your kids around these tiny pups and teach them how to interact with small animals.
Chihuahuas are natural performers and have appeared in many TV shows and movies, including Beverly Hills Chihuahua. George Lopez voiced the film's four-legged star, Papi. Long-haired Chihuahuas should be brushed once a week to avoid tangles or matted fur. Both coats don't shed much , except minimally once or twice a year. George also recommends brushing their teeth at least every other day, as poor dental care can lead to other health problems. Thier nails, which grow quickly, should be trimmed regularly for all Chihuahuas.
And if your pup develops tear stains beneath her eyes, you can carefully wipe them to remove discharge. Their tiny size doesn't do much to keep them warm, so naturally, Chihuahuas don't tolerate the cold well. You may also see them shiver when they're overly excited or stressed. But they're also born fashionistas, and your Chihuahua won't mind being dressed up in a sweater or coat.
When it comes to dinner time, make sure you provide high-quality food in the right amount for your Chihuahua's age, as they are prone to becoming overweight. Check with your veterinarian for guidance. Exercise will help as well, as even older Chihuahuas may surprise you with their energy level. Up for playing as long as you want, Chihuahuas enjoy walks, supervised romps around the yard, and retrieving toys.
They can go-go-go until they drop, so don't let them tire themselves out too much , especially on hot days. Chihuahuas need 20—30 minutes of exercise daily, but this need can be met by them just following you around the house all day which just so happens to be a favorite pastime. Chihuahuas are also fast learners: They can compete in agility and obedience trials with just as much enthusiasm and success as larger dogs, and remain curious and bold throughout their life.
Having to take a dog outside when it's cold and wet is never any fun, and Chihuahuas could not agree more. Keep them warm in coats or sweaters, or train them to use potty pads on chilly, rainy days.
These tiny pups are generally a pretty healthy breed. Most Chihuahuas live to be at least 10 years old and can live to be an impressive 18 years, but they may develop health issues as they age. Some potential health issues to be aware of, according to the CCA, are folic acid, heart disease , patellar luxation loose kneecaps , hypoglycemia , and epilepsy.
Additionally, a Chihuahua's ears can be prone to earwax build-up and dry skin. If you're adopting a Chihuahua, ask for all available medical information. One common occurrence with Chihuahuas is the presence of molera, a small, pencil-eraser-tip-size hole in the top of the skull.
Whether a Chi keeps its soft spot depends on size, genetics, and skeletal structure. While the Chihuahua's origin isn't crystal clear, two main theories exist.
One says Chihuahuas descended from a Central or South American dog known as the techichi sometimes spelled techihi , a larger version of the Chi dating back to the 9th century and the Toltec civilization. The Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs, who then made techichi prominent in their society, as they believed the dogs had mystic powers—including the ability to see the future, heal the sick, and safely guide the souls of the dead to the underworld.
Techichi lived in temples, were part of many rituals, and were buried with the dead. This section covers what a Chihuahua looks like in general, showing expected physical traits and then dives into the different aspects that can make Chihuahuas look different from each other. Long haired Chihuahua on the left; smooth coat Chihuahua on the right. The body is off-square which means that a Chihuahua is slightly longer measured front body point to base of tail than he is tall measured from the withers [top of the shoulder blade] to the floor.
The skull is domed apple shaped , though quite a few Chihuahuas have the more narrow and slanted unofficial deer shaped head. The ears are relatively large and stand erect. Chihuahuas are born with floppy ears and they gain strength to stand as the pup matures. Adult Chihuahuas do not always carry the ears up, they can hold the ears back and this is often done according to their mood.
Ears also typically fall back when resting or sleeping. The tail is long and carried sickle, meaning a slight upward curve. The eyes are round and full. Eye color is typically a dark brown.
Light brown may be seen with Chihuahuas that have light-colored coats. Hazel or green eyes are possible, seen most often with fawn and white coats. Ruby is possible but extremely rare. Blue eyes can be seen once in a while, however are considered a major fault in the show ring.
Coat length can be smooth short or long. Smooth coats are tight and shiny. Long coats either have straight or slightly wavy hair. While most Chihuahuas are single coated with one layer of fur, some are double-coated with an undercoat.
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