by Donna Devane

Created on: November 02, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2008

The Chihuahua is a tiny dog with a larger than life sense of self. He has good reason to as his ancestors date back to the time of the Toltecs and were later used by the Aztecs to guide souls into the after life. Chihuahua dogs were made popular in more modern times when found in the Mexican Chihuahua State in the 1850s .

Being very small isn't an issue with these little dogs. They have a type A personality and will quickly take control of the household. People considering adopting a chihuahua puppy should become the pack leader at once, establishing discipline, rules, boundaries, limitations and lots of love.

Often these small dogs are treated as children and without proper guidance can and do become very spoiled. Due to the small size, generally 2-6 pounds they get away with things that no big dog owner would ever tolerate.

If allowed to rule the home they often become snippy and will growl, bark and even bite. They are generally not a good match for small children as the chihuahua is easily injured and if cornered and aggravated by a child, they can be prone to bite.

Now for the good stuff about these wonderful little dogs. They are alert, bright, very loving and loyal.

Chihuahua makes a wonderful companion and really enjoys being dressed up with stylish sweaters and T shirts. They do tend to shake a lot when excited, frightened or cold.

You can easily train these little guys to paper for toilet, but don't forget to walk them and let them in a contained area for running, jumping and playing. Being a high energy breed they will soon begin shredding paper when bored. They would make wonderful employees for the government shredding documents, it's amazing how quickly they can turn a newspaper into a pile of mulch.

Socialize your new puppy early as they tend to become aggressive when they are the only pet in the home. Make sure that family and friends are introduced early and often so that they don't become habited to protecting you from outsiders. These dogs become a ball of fire when allowed to.

By following guidelines of discipline, boundaries and lots of love, they will fill your home with joy and laughter for up to 15 years.

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