Chihuahua Dog Breed | Chihuahua Dog Breed Mating In Love And Giving Birth
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 20 May 2017
Chihuahua - Dog Breed
The Breed History
In Mexico an indigenous dog, the Techichi was represented in historical records beginning in the 9th century and is considered the primary source of the modern Chihuahua's genes. Some historians believe the dog was crossed with a hairless breed from the Orient at some point. In the travels of Columbus, a similar small mute dog was noted in Cuba. This type of dog was highly treasured in Toltec and Aztec civilizations, so much so that they were often buried with their masters. It is unlikely that the origin of the breed was just in the Chihuahua area of Mexico, but since many of the foundation dogs that were exported in the mid 1800s came from this state, the name was selected. Longhaired varieties may have resulted from Yorkshire Terrier or Papillion crosses. First exports to the US occurred in the early 19th century, and AKC registration began in 1908.
Breeding for Function
The Aztecs used to sometimes sacrifice the red-colored dogs, and the blue ones were considered sacred. Primarily throughout the breed history though, these were highly valued companion dogs.
Physical Characteristics
Height at withers: 6-9" (15-23 cm).
Weight: Under 6 lb (2.5 kg). They are considered the smallest dog breed.
Coat: Two coat varieties exist: smooth and longhaired. Smooth haircoats are glossy, lay close, and are soft textured, and sometimes an undercoat is present. A bit of ruff is preferred. Long coats are soft, flat, and an undercoat is preferred. Some feathering is desirable. Any color is accepted whether solid, solid with markings, or splashed colors.
Longevity: 12-14 years.
Points of Conformation: Their build is compact and well muscled, and they are longer than tall, with fine bones. They have a domed skull, large wide-set dark eyes, though in light dogs, the eye color may match the coat. Domed skulls in some dogs leads to an open fontanelle termed molera. Ears are erect when alert, and folded back when resting. They are large and triangular. The muzzle is moderately short and tapers. The nose is black or self-colored, or pink in blonde dogs. The neck is short and the topline is level, ribs are well sprung and the thorax is moderate in depth. The tail is sickle shaped and rests out or up over the back (just touching). Limbs are straight, and feet are very small with toes set well apart.
Recognized Behavior Issues and Traits
Breed characteristics reported include: Loyal, alert, and very fast movers. They express many terrier qualities, and have high activity/ energy levels. They are noted for poor cold tolerance, and love close human contact and lots of attention. May be snappy with strangers or young children, and can be dominant and aggressive. Medium to high barking tendency, some are picky eaters, good for apartment or house-not for rural outdoors, and have low grooming and exercise needs.
Normal Physiologic Variations
Molera: An open fontanel in the skull (molera) is a frequent finding in the breed, and may not always be associated with hydrocephalus. Infantile Stress Hypoglycemia: Very young Chihuahuas can be vulnerable to stress hypoglycemia once weaned. Treat with oral dextrose and warming.
Merle Coat Color: Caused by a dominant mutation in the SILV gene. Breeding two merle dogs together should be avoided, as homozygous dogs can be born with multiple defects, including blindness, deafness, and heart anomalies.
Cesarean Section/Dystocia: A high percentage of Chihuahua litters show difficult whelping and are delivered by C-section. A study in the UK shows 34.4% of Chihuahua litters are delivered via C-section.
Drug Sensitivities
None reported
Inherited Diseases
Patella Luxation: Polygenically inherited laxity of patellar ligaments, causing luxation, lameness, and later degenerative joint disease. Treat surgically if causing clinical signs. Reported 8.9x odds ratio versus other breeds. OFA reports 5.5% affected. Dorn reports a 7.91x odds ratio in Chihuahuas versus other breeds. Reported at an increased fequency in the 2009 CCA Health Survey.
Hip Dysplasia and Legg-Calve Perthes Disease: Polygenically inherited traits causing degenerative hip joint disease and arthritis. Too few Chihuahuas have been screened by OFA to determine an accurate frequency. Reported 26.8x odds ratio for Legg-Calve- Perthes versus other breeds.
Elbow Dysplasia: Polygenically inherited trait causing elbow arthritis. Too few Chihuahuas have been screened by OFA to determine an accurate frequency.