Why You Shouldn’t Judge A Chihuahua By Its Size

If you haven’t heard of a Chihuahua Dog breed, where have you been? Because these tiny little Dogs have been around for ages, and they’re also a favourite pick amongst rich and famous ladies of Hollywood i.e. Paris Hilton, a popular American model, actress, television personality, socialite and the grand-daughter of Hilton hotel’s founder, Conrad Hilton, and *ahem* a co-star in an unfortunately leaked sex-tape. Well, Hollywood life, right?

Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell

She had a reality TV show named The Simple Life, in which was possibly the very first time we saw Tinkerbell (Paris’s Chihuahua) featured in it. Just what makes these pooches so desirable?

The Chihuahua Dog

The ancestry of the Chihuahua is derived from a couple of archaeological findings that led to the believe that Chihuahuas are possible descendants of the Techichi, a companion Dog reared by the Toltec people in Mexico. These artefacts, namely pots with carvings and sculptures, date back as far as 300 BC! A few artefacts that date back to 1325 AD were discovered around Georgia and Tennessee depicted Chihuahuas as well.

A Techichi Artefact

Warning! Gruesome content ahead: The Spanish Conquistador that led to the Spanish victory over the Aztec empire, Hernando Cortes wrote in one of his letters that Aztecs raised and sold these tiny Dogs as a food source (we know, gross, but tribal times are different) These pooches were also utilised as “living hot-water bags” for the ill or injured. Historians believe such practices were conducted due to the Aztecs belief in transferable pain from humans to Dogs, which also explains why they chose to burn their Dogs alive with them when they pass on, liberating the human’s sins (OH DEAR!)

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Chihuahuas used to be a rarity until the early 20^th century, with the AKC (American Kennel Club) registering the first Chihuahua named Midget in 1904. (In case you were wondering, Singapore also has its own Dog kennel club, the Singapore Kennel Club, a registry and organiser of Dog shows and competitions, including a grooming school for budding groomers!) The Chihuahuas we see today are bred from North American breeders. A Chihuahua named Gidget is a well known mascot for a feature in an advert by fast food chain Taco Bell from 1997 to 2000.

Gidget in the commercial!

Types Of Chihuahuas

Since everybody roughly has a good vision of how a Chihuahua looks like, we decided to introduce the two different types of Chihuahuas you may find out there. Chihuahuas are one of the tiniest breeds in Dog registries in the world, one of which is a smooth coat (aka short coat) and the other being the long coat. Both types can be either Apple heads or Deer heads (hey this reminds us of the Siamese Cats!).

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Here’s a simple way to tell the difference, Apple head Chihuahuas have closer set eyes and generally shorter legs and ears. Whereas the Deer head Chihuahua has eyes that are further apart and larger ears, with slender bodies. One of the appealing traits of a Chihuahua is how tiny they are, with an average weight ranging from 1.8 kilograms to 2.8 kilograms. Their wide range of colour variations include Black, Chocolate, White, Cream, Spotted, Fawn, Red, Sable, Brown and Mixed.

Fun Fact      Did you know that Chihuahuas do not breed true to size? Puppies from the same litter can grow up to be of extremely different sizes!

Grooming Requirements Of A Chihuahua

On the contrary to most long haired Dogs which require more effort when it comes to keeping their coats smooth and tangle-free, both types of Chihuahuas (long and short coat) only requires simple grooming of low maintenance. Brushing weekly for short coats, and twice per week for long coats, to rid any loose hairs. Chihuahuas do not shed much (at all) so there’s a low chance of finding hair clusters (you know what we’re talking about) around your apartment or living space!

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Of course, they’d still require the occasional baths to keep their coats fresh and clean, and nail trimming whenever necessary. Keep their ears clean of access wax and dirt build up by with a Vet-approved ear cleanser and cotton ball. If you are unsure how to perform these tasks, approach your trusted Veterinarian or Groomer for advice and demonstration ☺!

Why You May Not Suit A Chihuahua

So they’re tiny and easy to care for in terms of grooming, right? Yes that’s not wrong, but you’ve gotta put a Dog’s personality into consideration too! A Chihuahua is known for being extremely loyal to the person it trusts, and we’re talking about just one individual, and they are also protective over that very individual. Experts believe that the temperament of a Chihuahua is highly dependable on their parents or grandparents. However, these tiny feisty Dogs are also very intelligent, so it takes a diligent and patient owner to curb those behavioural issues, from young!

They can be affectionate!

We believe that their tiny proportions have also led to many owners subconsciously pampering their Chihuahuas too much, allowing certain behaviours to get out of hand. These include nipping, biting and snapping when they feel threatened, and yapping at things (sometimes imaginary). They could be rather picky with whom to get along with, like people, and even other pets. Chihuahuas are also not recommended for children because they are extremely fragile. So you see, if you’re not in luck, it could take quite a while to tame one! With a good temperament, a Chihuahua makes a darn good companion in fact! An average lifespan of a Chihuahua is 12 to 15 years or more.

Owning A Chihuahua In Singapore

These Doggos are so tiny, they’d fit anywhere! They are perfectly happy getting a little exercise running about the home like some high-strung Jack Russell Terrier would, including short walks around the estate or neighbourhood. Chihuahuas also love their snoozing space, and one can often find a Chihuahua burrowing itself in the sheets, blanket or pillow. They do not do too well in cold temperatures, which explains why a lot of owners enjoy throwing a little sweater on them (besides the fact that tiny sweaters are absolutely adorable).

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Always ensure you’ve done copious amount of research and homework before obtaining any Pet, preparation and responsibility goes hand in hand to maintaining a happy and healthy life for your Pet. Don’t be contributing to the abandonment cases in Singapore due to inability to care for your furry pals, because that’s a terrible excuse and a reason that is avoidable if you did your homework!

Adopt, Don’t Shop

Standard breeds are great, but we could say the same for all other crossbreeds and even mongrels. Before you head off to purchase a Pet, always keep an eye out for adoption drives or check out local shelters for more options, you could always count on finding your next loyal companion and providing a forever home for a rescued furry pal.