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Chihuahua
The Chihuahua, named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, is the smallest breed of dog in the world. Generally, the height ranges between six and ten inches. However, some dogs grow as tall as 12 to 15 inches. Both British and American breed standards stipulate that a Chihuahua must not weigh more than six pounds for conformance competition.
Chihuahuas come in many colors including Fawn, Red, Cream, Chocolate, Blue, and Black. Merle coloring is a spotted coat. Colors and patterns can combine and affect each other, resulting in a very high degree of variation. The classic Chihuahua color remains fawn.
Being naturally territorial and protective, Chihuahuas can be easily provoked to attack, and are therefore generally unsuitable for homes with small children given their tendency to bite when frightened. The AKC describes the breed as, "A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament." The breed tends to be fiercely loyal to one particular owner and can become overly jealous of that person's human relationships. They do not always get along with other breeds preferring the company of other Chihuahuas. These traits generally make them unsuitable for households with small or boisterous children.
Chihuahuas crave attention, affection and petting. They can be hyper, but eager to please. They have a reputation as a "yippy" dog, which can be resolved with proper training. Long haired chihuahuas tend to have a more mellow temperament.
Chihuahuas are sometimes picky eaters, and care must be taken to provide them with adequate nutrition. Average lifespan range for a healthy Chihuahua is 10 to 17 years.
Some of the content on this page was originally published on Wikipedia
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