Chiuaua info

CHIUAUA

Everything you ever wanted to know about Chiuauas.

WITH THIS SITE YOU WILL BE A CHIUAUA EXPERT IN NO TIME!

If you came to here looking for information on the chiuaua you are in luck! I’ve done a lot of research and have put together everything I could think of that anyone would want to know about the loveable little dogs. From their history to how to buy them, I’m pretty sure you will find whatever it is you’re looking for here.

The history of the Chiuaua

No one knows for sure the exact origins of the Chiuauas. Many theories have come up over the years but none of them can be proven to be 100% accurate. Common myths and archeology both say that the breed is originally from Mexico. The main theory being that they are a descendant of an ancient dog called the Techichi. The Techichi was the most popular dog of the Toltec people in Mexico. It is said that the Techichi dogs were in Mexico prior to even the Mayan people!

Other groups have said that they believe the dogs to have originally come from the island of Malta. Malta is an island in the Mediterranean. One of the reasons that some people think this is that there are many paintings from that area of the world that have dogs in them that look a lot like chiuauas. One of the most famous ones is hanging in the Sistine Chapel and is from about 1480. This painting was completed before the Americas were discovered so there is no way that these dogs could have been chiuauas from Mexico.  I’ll post the painting just below this paragraph so you can  judge for yourself. If you ask me, the dog in the painting looks just like a Chiuaua.

The original dog that the breed is based on was found in the Mexican state of Chihuahua around 1850. That is how they got their name. Since the dogs were indigenous to that area of Mexico, they first became popular in the United States in the areas that border that area of Mexico. The states are mostly Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  Since then, the breed has grown in popularity and is well liked in the United States. The American Kennel Club, or AKC, has recognized them as a breed since 1904. The Chiuauas we know today are much smaller than their ancestors and no one is exactly sure why that is. Some people think it may be due to the Spanish bringing very small Chinese dogs into Mexico when they were invading it.

What the Chiuaua is supposed to look like.

Usually the height for the breed is not specified. Their weight and general shape are specified though. Because of this, height in a chiuaua varies more than it does in other breeds. A chiuauas height is usually somewhere between six and ten inches. For a chiuaua to meet the American and British standards for the breed, they can not weigh more than six pounds. The ideal weight for a chiuaua according to the breed standards is between 3.5 and 6.5 pounds, with the smaller end of that scale being preferred.  Many, if not most, non-show dogs exceed this weight range. Some pet chiuauas are capable of exceeding ten pounds or more if they are allowed to become overweight. The show requirements for the breed are the same for the long and short haired types. Most of the descriptive names for chiuauas are made up and not recognized by the bodies that make the breed standards. Toy, teacup, miniature, and even standard, are all marketing terms that were made up to sell more puppies. The only two descriptors that are generally used in the show arena are deer heads and apple heads. Obviously this is because every chiuaua has a head shaped like either a deer or an apple.

There are only two officially recognized varieties of coats for a chiuaua. Those coats are called the long-coat and the smooth-coat. It should be noted that smooth-coat chiuauas and long-coat chiuauas are genetically the same breed. Ironically the shorter haired “smooth-coat” has a coat that is not as soft and smooth as the long haired version. Also of note is that the short haired chiuaua sheds more than the long haired variant.

A chiuaua can come in almost any color. They can be solid, splashed, marked, or just about any other pattern. The only coloration that is not officially recognized as a true chiuaua pattern is the merle pattern. The gene that causes a chiuaua to have this pattern is also responsible for many health problems that they can develop so the decision was made to not recognize any merle patterned dogs so as not to encourage breeding for that trait and putting many dogs at risk for severe health problems.

Chiuaua Personality

The temperament of a chiuaua is not like most other dogs. They tend to pick one member of the family to be loyal to and can sometimes become overprotective of that person. Most chiuauas can be provoked to attack by small children, other dogs, or a new person in the house. They tend to want to be with other chiuauas over any other breed of dog, or other animal.  A chiuauas favorite place to be is in it’s “den”. They tend to burrow under blankets, pillows, and clothes to simulate being in their den. They will quite often burrow under the covers to the very foot of the bed and be more than happy to stay in there for extended lengths of time.

5 Things to consider before owning a chiuaua.

If you’re reading this because you’re thinking about introducing a chiuaua puppy into your home there are at least five things you need to think about before the big day.

 Number 1. Where is your chiuaua going to sleep until you have it house broken?

It’s pretty well understood by the majority of dog owners that crate training a puppy is the fastest and easiest way to do it. There are other more old fashion ways to house break, but crate training is the most humane and usually the fastest. In order to crate train you need a crate. The good news is that a chiuaua is small so you only need a small crate. Consider where you’re going to put the crate at in your house. Is there a good place to put it that stays at a safe temperature, has good ventilation, and won’t scare the dog? When I say “won’t scare the dog” I’m talking about not putting the crate beside the clothes dryer with its loud banding and buzzer, or beside a door that slams loudly when closed. Things like this can drive a nervous chiuaua puppy over the edge from well mannered to psycho. You can’t really blame them.

This is a good one because it comes with a cover that will make your pup feel more like it’s in a nice den.

Number 2. What is your chiuaua going to eat?

When you walk into your local grocery store to buy dog food you will quickly realize there are a million options. There are specific types of food for specific sizes and ages of dogs. The food you give a 50 pound 10 year old dog is not the same food you give a chiuaua puppy. It’s quite a daunting task to look at the hundreds of selections and know you are getting the right thing. What you’re going to want to get is one of the many brands of puppy food for small breeds. Chiuauas, like any other dog, will be happier and healthier when fed the correct food for them as opposed to table scraps or the wrong dog food.

Here’s an example of a good food for a chiuaua puppy.

Number 3. How are you going to train this new chiuaua puppy?

A lot of people get a puppy without even thinking about the fact that they are going to be responsible for teaching it how to be polite, how to go to the bathroom outside, how to sit, how to be quiet, and many other things. Trying to figure out  what to do when your puppy just won’t listen is one of the most frustrating things a new owner will have to deal with. When it comes to these things, it’s much better to go with the advise of a professional than to just keep trying different things in the hopes that one day you’ll stumble onto the magic method for teaching your dog something. I would suggest getting a book at the very least.

Here is a good one that I can recommend.

Number 4. Do you know what the health requirements of your new chiuaua are?

The chiuaua doesn’t require more care than other dogs, but there are still some minimum requirements. Just about every dog will require some type of flea/tick control, and worm prevention. As far as flea and tick control, there are many different methods for prevention. You can get drops, pills, special collars, shampoo, and sprays. You should decide what you’re going to use and make sure it’s good for small young chiuauas.

Number 5. Do you have the time to care for and raise a chiuaua?

A chiuaua puppy needs attention and special care. If you only have a few extra minutes a day, a chiuaua puppy is not right for you. Chiuauas are not the best choice for a household with small children. They need care and a lot of personal attention. If you are not willing to take your chiuaua out to go to the bathroom at all hours of the night while house training them then it will be difficult. You need to have the time to make sure your dog gets exercise, the right food, health care, personal attention, training, and play time. Please consider if you actually have enough time in your day to do all of these things. Not being able to take care of any one of these needs may result in an unhappy dog and owner.

Hopefully after reading all of this you will have learned a lot about these dogs and decided if getting one is the right thing for you. They can be great little companions, or total nightmares. It really depends on two things. The first thing that will determine if your dog is going to be a monster is it’s breeding. Many puppy mills repeatedly breed dogs with no concern for their temperament or health problems. A lot of the chiuaua puppies coming from a place like that will act badly and have health problems no matter how hard you try or how much care you take with their health. The second thing that determines if a chiuaua is going to behave well is the owner. Much in the same way that a poorly bred puppy will be very hard to turn into a good dog, a poor owner will not have a well behaved dog. Puppies need structure and care. If you don’t have the time and will to make sure your new chiuaua puppy gets those things, he/she will most likely act poorly.

The chiuaua has been a great companion to many people for many centuries. If you plan ahead for your new puppy and can honestly say that you have thought about all of the chiuaua related questions I have asked, I’m sure you and your new chiuaua puppy will have a long and happy life together. They can be really great dogs if they are selected from a reputable breeder and are cared for properly.