Facts About Chihuahuas

Remember Papi and Chloe from the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua? Well, despite the stark differences in their individual bearings, there was one thing that was common in both - their lofty attitudes more than made up for their missing size! Although small and frail in appearance, Chihuahuas are quite aggressive and fiercely protective of their pack (both human and canine) and territory and can put up quite a fight to defend both! Well, from that amazed look in your eyes, I can make out that you probably weren't aware of this fact about these petite pooches. Well, there is much more to this tiny, frail looking canine than meets the eyes. Read right ahead to uncover more such fun facts about Chihuahuas!

Chihuahua Information

So you thought they were all eyes-n-ears? Wait till you read more about this amazing canine breed and you'll end up harboring a little more respect for them!

• Chihuahuas hold a prominent place in the history of ancient native American civilizations. They were regarded sacred by the ancient Aztecs, Toltecs and other Indian civilizations that occupied the American continent way before Christopher Columbus set foot on American soil.
• While most people believe that Chihuahuas were discovered for the first time in the Mexican state of Chihuahua (hence the name), historic and archaeological records - paintings recovered from ancient European ruins depicting Chihuahua-like dogs - show evidence that this breed originated in the Mediterranean island country of Malta.
• Most newborn Chihuahuas have droopy ears which become erect as they grow in years.
• The average Chihuahua lifespan is 16 years which can extend to a maximum of 18 years if it gets proper attention and good care from its owner.
• Similar to various other small dog breeds, Chihuahuas tend to be pretty yappy and would bark at the sight of just about any person it is not familiar with.
• Don't be fooled by its petite dimensions - Chihuahuas are known to be quite aggressive and are prone to attack on the slightest provocation. This makes them not-quite-suitable for households that have small or hyperactive children.
• Also, this breed of dogs have a strong sense of clan and quite a snooty demeanor with regards to other creatures. They do not get along well with other pets and even when it comes to dogs, they tend to limit their interactions to other Chihuahuas. Well, justified bearings of an ancient heritage which cannot be regarded anything less than canine royalty, considering there was a time when Chihuahuas were worshiped in temples!
• Chihuahuas are fiercely loyal and can become attached to a particular member of the family more than the others to the extent of being possessive and aggressively protective about that member!
• Among all dog breeds, Chihuahuas have the largest brain in proportion to its body size! That might just explain why the Chihuahua behaves more like a real person and exhibits somewhat human-like jitters!
• Chihuahuas should be fed several small meals throughout the day rather than just two huge meals. Also, they cannot digest canned food properly hence, care must be taken to keep canned food away from these dogs as they are prone to develop diarrhea and other digestion issues if they happen to eat canned stuff.
• Chihuahuas are quite active and get bored easily. Hence, leaving toys for them when you're away and taking them for walks keeps them in a good state of mind and temperament. However, even when you play with them, avoid being too rough as they can get aggressive owing to their terrier-like hunting instincts.
• The most common diseases to afflict this breed include eye infections and ocular disorders, heart disease, jawbone disorders, epilepsy, dental issues and oral problems, hemophilia, hydrocephalus, cystinuria and patellar luxation.

So, as you can see from these random facts about Chihuahua, this canine breed comes with a long history of human interaction and companionship. Being graceful, agile, intelligent and extremely loyal, Chihuahuas are great pets that double up as good watch dogs due to their alert senses, and their barking prowess. Do not underestimate their valor from their size, as, to quote Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, even the tiniest Poodle or Chihuahua is still a wolf at heart!