Breed profile: (Beverly Hills) Chihuahua

Now that “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” is in theaters giving plenty of free advertising to puppy mills, pet shops and breeders just in time for the holidays, I thought it was time for a Chihuahua profile.

Unfortunately, many people get this breed for the wrong reasons or without thinking it through. Just because a bag of dog food would last a Chihuahua months doesn’t mean the vet bills, training classes or anything else will be cheaper. A small dog requires the same commitment and work as any other dog.

Still, Chihuahuas are great little dogs as long as they are understood and allowed to be dogs, not accessories, toys or surprise gifts.

Advantages to owning a Chihuahua dog:

1. Chihuahuas live longer than most breeds, sometimes up to age 17. There are not any major health concerns with the breed in general.

2. At 2 to 6 pounds, Chihuahuas are very manageable. They are easy to travel with and can go pretty much everywhere. They’re easy to load into a car and can even be a carry-on while flying.

3. Chihuahuas don’t eat a lot. I’m sure they eat less than my cat.

4. They make good pets for someone who lives in an apartment. They can be energetic, but they don’t need a ton of exercise. Plus landlords are more likely to allow a Chihuahua than a larger dog.

5. Even the long-haired Chihuahuas do not require much grooming.

Disadvantages to owning a Chihuahua dog:

1. Chihuahuas can be protective, territorial, leery of strangers, biters, etc. if they are not trained and socialized properly. It’s easy to let a tiny dog get away with things. This often leads to problems with socialization, housebreaking, barking, biting, etc. Chihuahuas need as many (or more) rules as a great dane.

2. Because of their size they can be stepped on or fallen on by children and other dogs and injured much easier than a big dog. One chomp from a big dog and a Chihuahua could be seriously injured. Same goes if the dog is dropped by a child, scratched by a cat or viewed as prey by a bird or other wild animal.

3. It’s easy to become overly protective of Chihuahua puppies because they are so tiny. Owners need to find that balance between letting their Chihuahua be a dog while also keeping him safe. This is harder than it sounds.

4. Due to their increased popularity in the United States, you have to be even more selective when choosing your Chihuahua. Puppy mills are mass producing them, leading to increased health and behavioral issues.

5. They are not afraid to challenge a much, much bigger dog and have a tendency to bark and be territorial of their yards and homes.

Chihuahuas are the smallest breed of dog. They come in any color with either short or long coats.

There is more than one theory on the history of the breed, according to “The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds” by D. Caroline Coile. One suggests the dogs originated in China and were brought to the New World by Spanish traders. The other suggests they originated in Central and South America, descending from small, red dogs sometimes sacrificed in religious rituals. Who knows, maybe it is a combination of the two theories. But anyway, in 1850, the tiny dogs were found in Chihuahua, Mexico, and they were brought to the United States shortly after.