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The
Chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world, standing a maximum of
9 inches high at the shoulder. His coat comes in two varieties.
The short, smooth coat may be any colour
or combination of colours. Required grooming is minimal. Because
of his size, the Short-Coated Chihuahua requires protection from
cold winter weather and extremes of heat. He loves to sunbathe and
may overdo it!
This
is a lively, alert, affectionate breed, who wants to go everywhere
with his owner. This has given rise to the nickname, "Velcro
pet"! Chihuahuas want to be petted, talked to, and spoiled
constantly. Having a strong dash of "terrier attitude",
Chihuahuas make good watchdogs. They like to show who's boss and
are often quite yappy. The breed standard notes that the Chihuahua
has a "saucy" expression, and his bright eyes, dainty
lines, and perky appearance endear him to many. He does best if
socialized early and is definitely an indoor dog. Small children
must be very careful when handling him as his tiny size makes him
susceptible to injury during rough play. The Chihuahua has also
been known to hurt himself when jumping from the back of a couch
to the floor or leaping out of his owner's arms to the floor.
Remember his size!
The
Chihuahua is very intelligent although he does have a mind of his
own and can be stubborn to the point of being obstinate. Training
should be mandatory for the development of good manners, and will
require patience, persistence and practice on the part of the dog
and the owner. Except for his coat, the Short-Coated Chihuahua is
identical to the Long-Coated Chihuahua and can be born in the same
litter. Prized for their small size, these dogs fit well in
environments that are generally not "dog-friendly" such
as apartments.
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