🐾 Chihuahua

Chihuahua

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
• Family & relatives: A tiny dog breed; like all dogs it descends from the wolf and is related to every other dog breed.
• How to spot it: A very small dog with big round eyes, large upright ears, and a short or long soft coat in many colors.

Its body & abilities

• Size: One of the smallest dog breeds, about 15 to 23 cm tall at the shoulder.
• Weight: Usually about 1 to 3 kg (2 to 6 lb).
• Body & adaptations: Some are born with a soft spot on the top of the skull called a molera, a bit like a human baby.
• Top speed: Small legs but quick and lively, trotting and darting around the house with ease.
• Strength: Tiny but brave, it often acts like a much bigger dog and loves to guard its family.
• Senses: Sharp hearing and a keen nose, and it barks to alert its family to anything new.
• Growing up: Puppies are born very small and helpless, open their eyes in about two weeks, and grow up in under a year.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Lives indoors as a beloved pet, happiest curled up warm on a lap.
• Where in the world: Kept as a pet worldwide; the breed's name comes from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico.
• Territory: Its territory is the home and yard it shares with its family.

What it eats

• Diet: A small pet that eats dog food in little meals, with fresh water every day.
• Favorite foods: Good-quality dog food, with treats now and then; small dogs need small portions.
• How it hunts: Long ago its ancestors were companion and ratting dogs; today it mostly just plays and cuddles.

How it behaves

• How it moves: Walks, trots, and runs on short legs, and loves to leap onto laps and sofas.
• When it is active: Active in short bursts through the day and enjoys long naps in cozy spots.
• Family life: Very social with its family and often bonds closely to one favorite person.
• How it talks: Talks with barks, yips, wagging, and happy wiggles to share how it feels.
• Babies: After about 63 days a mother has a small litter of one to four puppies, which she nurses and keeps warm.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: A loving companion animal; its job is to be a friend, not a worker.
• Conservation: Domestic breed, not a wild animal, so it is not counted for conservation.
• Dangers: Because it is so tiny, it needs gentle handling and care to stay safe and healthy.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: One of the longest-living dog breeds, often about 14 to 18 years.
• In our culture: A famous symbol of Mexico and a popular tiny companion seen in movies and shows around the world.
• Where to see it: In homes as a family pet and at dog shows.
• Fun fact: The Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds in the whole world.