by Rielle Bright

Created on: November 28, 2008   Last Updated: June 17, 2009

Many people want small size dogs for various reasons, not the least is the cute factor. The smaller the cuter? If you are considering the pint sized Chihuahua here are some things you should know about them.The Chihuahua hails from Mexico, which is probably quite obvious.They come in long and short haired versions.They have big bat ears that aid in ridding the chihuahua of excess body heat.These huge ears are flat when they are pups and then stand erect. There is a theory, according to Animal Planet, that the Chihuahua's ancestors were a wild Mexican fox instead of the traditional wolf heritage. This is not a proven fact but, it is a reasonable theory.

The Chihuahua is not for small children. They are very fragile, even if they don't know it themselves! Also an important note on this breed is the fact that they tend to bond with only one person, which is not to say it can't be a family pet but he is more for the one person who wants "a baby" to spoil rotten! As they will behave as children like several small breeds. Also important is thier training. Training a chihuahua is quite easy if started at a young age and quite hard if only started later. So don't put it off, start training immediately.

This breed can be protective of his owner or the one he has bonded with. They think they are big dogs but, must be protected from dangers. Never leave him outside alone or he may become a large bird's dinner! I have never heard of this happening but I suppose it could be possible. Who knows maybe some chihuahuas that have gone missing have been snatched up by some hawk or other large bird. This is basically a fragile but healthy breed that lives 15-20 years. However they are prone to obesity because of the owner's tendencies to overfed these adorable little dogs! So no matter how cute they beg, think of their future health! They do best in warm climates and are sensitive to weather. Some little doggie clothing shoud keep them warm enough to make a few trips outside during colder weather.

By AKC standards the Chihuahua, as the world's smallest dog, should be between 2 and 6 pounds. Shedding is very minimal and grooming is a piece of cake.These little dogs love to be pampered and carried around.They want to be the center of attention. He gets enough exercise around the house and yard but will enjoy outings as well. the Chihuahua should be pretty healthy as long as they are not overfed and they have thier vet checks and shots on schedule.

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