How to choose a Chihuahua.

Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog. The 3 month old puppy fits easily in the palm of your hand. It was first discovered in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, as a result of which it received such a strange name. Chihuahua is the ancestor of many miniature dog breeds. Purebred representatives of the breed are good-natured, playful, affable and somewhat distrustful of strangers. But as soon as they recognize “their own” in a person, they immediately become affectionate and easily fall into their hands.

There are two varieties of this breed - long-haired and smooth-haired. And categories depending on weight:

  • 0.5-1.5 kg - super-mini;
  • 1.5-2.5 kg - mini;
  • 2.5-3.5 kg - standard.

It is hard to imagine that any of the breeders would raise a dog only to sell it afterwards. Therefore, they buy mostly puppies. 2.5 months is the most acceptable age for purchasing. The puppy already eats on its own, does not suckle, and the first necessary vaccinations are given to him.

Chihuahua puppy

What to look for when choosing a puppy

We will advise you how to choose a Chihuahua so that this purchase does not turn into disappointment. So, notice the following:

  1. General condition. The puppy is healthy if it is active, well-nourished, there is no discharge from the eyes, ears and nose, the skin is clean, the dog eats well. And if you like the puppy, but you still have some doubts, ask to measure his temperature. Ideally, it should be 39 degrees.
  2. Exterior. The length of the muzzle of a thoroughbred dog is equal to 1/3 of the entire head (from the earlobe to the back of the head). The stop is well pronounced (transition from the muzzle to the head).
  3. Teeth - two canines on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw are mandatory. The number of incisors is ideally six at the top and at the bottom. But dogs of this breed may have less by 2.5 months.
  4. Correct bite - the lower incisors overlap with the upper ones, the canines of the lower jaw are located between the canines and the extreme incisors of the upper one. The slightest deviation when changing teeth can cause a distorted bite.
  5. The coat of a smooth-haired puppy is smooth and shiny, long-haired - soft and thick.
  6. Abdomen without indurations and bulges. If it is swollen, then it is likely that the puppy is helminthized.
  7. Paws. When looking at the puppy from behind, the left and right limbs should form an almost straight line. The ankles are well spaced. The legs themselves are short and straight. It is important, when choosing a Chihuahua, to feel the joints in order to exclude the presence of dislocations and displacements.
  8. The tail of the dog is straight, without kinks or kinks.
  9. It is ideal to take a baby from a litter with no more than 4 babies. These puppies received enough breast milk, which is most important.
  10. It's good if you can see the parents. They must be strong in musculature, have a shiny coat and not suffer from any disease.

An important point when choosing a puppy is the environment where he spent the first weeks and months of life. Dogs should be kept clean, well-groomed, well-fed, cheerful, the attitude of the owners towards pets should be friendly. Dogs sense this, and by their mood you can determine how "happy" or "unhappy" baby you will bring to your home.

Important features

Chihuahua, like any other breed, has its own characteristics. Some points may seem strange to a person choosing a dog. Therefore, let's pay attention to them:

  1. Because of the miniature size of the Chihuahua, it is difficult to keep warm, so they are often attacked by signs of trembling. So if the puppy you are about to buy is trembling, then this is not a sign of illness, but of his pedigree.
  2. The fontanel does not overgrow in most of the breed even in adulthood. Although in other puppies, including miniature breeds, the molera disappears by the age of 3 months.
  3. Chihuahua males are slightly shorter in body length than females.

Bitch or dog?

If a dog is chosen as a companion, then there is not much difference in who to take into the house. It is worth paying attention only to physiological aspects.

Bitch. She is in heat twice a year. For Chihuahuas, it is almost bloodless, so there will be no particular problems with hygiene. Moreover, dogs of this breed are extremely clean and neat.

The Chihuahua male is an excellent companion. Despite its tiny size, it brings a lot of pleasant moments to the owners. And due to its diminutiveness, it does not cause unnecessary trouble. Chihuahuas do not shit in the house and do not mark the territory indoors. If you are not going to knit a male, then get him a same-sex friend. They will get along great and play together. But as soon as you tie your Chihuahua at least once, be prepared for the fact that you will have unnecessary troubles, and your friend will be waiting for the bitch and suffer from the fact that she is not.

Long-haired Chihuahua

What should alert you

Unscrupulous sellers often deceive their buyers. Here are some points that should alert you:

  1. Selling a puppy up to 2.5 months old. At this age, the Chihuahua has poorly developed many characteristics of the breed. You may be offered a mestizo or a dog of another, less expensive breed.
  2. Too round head and long muzzle, narrow set of eyes and ears, tail curled like a ram. Don't trust a seller who claims to be a breed imported from Mexico. In fact, it is a cross with other breeds.
  3. Excessively large, somewhat rude physique. Massive trunk, thick legs and overweight with normal height at the withers and body length. Such dogs are called by unscrupulous sellers the English type of Chihuahua.
  4. In contrast to the previous type, too small, comical head with large eyes, thin legs with pronounced dwarfism.
  5. The blunt muzzle and angular limbs indicate a cross between a Chihuahua and a pinscher.

There is a breed standard. There are no exotic names in it, invented by unscrupulous breeders to attract gullible buyers. It's just a Chihuahua. And that's enough!

We hope that our tips will help you avoid troubles with acquiring a puppy, make the choice simple and straightforward, and the dog will grow up to be the best representative of its breed.

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