The Chihuahua is one of the most widely recognized dog breeds in the world and this exceptionally small dog makes a great companion.
Like many other breeds, the full origin of the Chihuahua is unknown. The breed is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua where dogs now recognizable as the breed were first found. They dogs were held sacred by some native groups and were kept as companions by the upper class. While the ancestry is unclear, there are paintings found in Europe that depict dogs with a striking similarity to modern Chihuahuas.
The breed is recorded as the being the oldest breed in the America. If Chihuahuas originated in Europe, they did not stay there, but the breed was introduced or reintroduced to Europe in the late 19th century.
The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world, and breeders currently strive to produce smaller and smaller dogs. They do not stand more than a foot high, and both sexes are roughly the same height.
Chihuahua coats come in a rainbow of colors, and the length of the coat varies depending on the breeding. The head is relatively large and rounded, and the round eyes are spaced far apart on either side of a short snout. The breed possesses naturally erect ears. At the end of the small body is a tail that curls either up over the body or to the dog's side.
Chihuahuas have a wide range of temperaments that depend heavily on lineage and training, but there are some general trends. Most Chihuahuas are affectionate and fiercely loyal to their owners and families. Most properly socialized dogs will also behave in this manner with strangers and acquaintances. Unfortunately, this can mean that a Chihuahua may not accept the addition of a new child to the family, and this breed can occasionally merit childcare concerns due to tendencies to be standoffish and aggressive.
Of course, this only applies to some members of the breed and good training can help, but sometimes a Chihuahua is not always the best dog for a house containing children or other breeds of dog.
To complicate matters, some Chihuahuas are difficult to train; including basic necessities such as bathroom training. To alleviate some of these somewhat aggressive and troublesome issues, regular exercise such as a brief walk may alleviate some of the "stress" that triggers undesirable behaviors.
This is an energetic breed, and roaming around indoors might not be enough for even this small dog to get enough physical and mental exercise. Chihuahuas have a reputation as a yappy breed. Fortunately, proper training and exercise can usually decrease this and rid any aggression that may store in the breed. Also, contrary to what many toy dog owners will do, this dog breed should not be babied as Chihuahua tend to try to claim ownership and pack-leader status by continually being carried and climbing onto its owner.
Chihuahuas are a mixed bag of characteristics with a clouded past, but this is a popular companion breed for a reason. Somewhere in the human-dog interaction, something clicks, and this lively pooch receives worldwide fame for it.