JUNA DOGS FCI

The Chihuahua dog breed's charms include his small size, outsize personality, and variety in coat types and colors. He's all dog, fully capable of competing in dog sports such as agility and obedience, and is among the top 10 watchdogs recommended by experts. He loves nothing more than being with his people and requires a minimum of grooming and exercise. Chihuahuas are not recommended for homes with children under the age of eight, simply because of the chance of injury by a young child. Regardless of your family situation, it's important to remember to socialize your Chihuahua to children, adults, and other animals. Chihuahuas are mistrustful of strangers, which makes them good watchdogs, but they need to learn to meet people in a friendly manner. It's also important to remember that Chihuahuas tend to forget they are small and will stand up to a larger aggressive dog; as a result the Chihuahua needs vigilant supervision in new situations, while they're on walks, and when they're in the yard. The Chihuahua's personality and unique size make him a wonderful go-everywhere companion. People who live with Chihuahuas become devoted to them, and many say that once you share your life with one, there will be no other dog breed for you.

 

For whom a Chihuahua?

Chihuahuas are suitable for anyone who wants a nice, small, faithful friend. Pet you can take anywhere with you, on short walks and long holidays. They adapt easily to all conditions and can live even in a STUDIO APARTMENT.

 

History

As with so many breeds, the Chihuahua's origins are unclear, but there are two theories of how he came to be. The first is that he descended from a Central or South American dog known as the Techichi. When we look at the evidence of the Chihuahua coming from Central and South America, we find ourselves looking back to the Toltec civilization. There are Toltec carvings dating to the 9th century C.E. that depict a dog resembling the Chihuahua, with the same large ears and round head. These dogs were called Techichi, and their purpose in Toltec civilization is obscure. When the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs, they absorbed the Techichi into their society. Many of the dogs lived in temples and were used in Aztec rituals. The Aztecs believed that the Techichi had mystic powers, including the ability to see the future, heal the sick, and safely guide the souls of the dead to the underworld. It was customary to kill a red Techichi and cremate him with the remains of the deceased. The Aztecs also used the Techichi as a source of food and pelts. The Spanish conquered the Aztecs in the late 1500s and the Techichi faded into obscurity. The second theory is that small hairless dogs from China were brought to Mexico by Spanish traders and then bred with small native dogs. Regardless of which theory is accurate, the shorthaired Chihuahua we know today was discovered in the 1850s in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, from which he took his name. American visitors to Mexico brought the little dogs home with them. They began to be shown in 1890, and a Chihuahua named Midget became the first of his breed to be REGISTERED with the American Kennel Club in 1904. The longhaired variety was probably created through crosses with Papillons or Pomeranians. The breed's popularity took off in the 1930s and 1940s, when it was associated with dance king and Latin music bandleader Xavier Cugat. Since the 1960s, the Chihuahua has been one of the most popular breeds registered by the AKC. Today they rank 11th among the 155 breeds and varieties the AKC recognizes.

 

Personality

The bold and confident Chihuahua is often described as being terrier-like. His alert nature and suspicion of strangers make him an excellent watchdog. He's sensitive and thrives on affection and companionship. Chihuahuas often bond to a single person, although they're usually willing to make friends with new people if properly introduced. Expect them to be a little reserved at first, though. Chihuahuas can be timid if they're not properly socialized as puppies. Like every dog, Chihuahuas need early socialization — exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences — when they're young. Socialization helps ensure that your Chihuahua puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog.

 

Care

Despite the Chihuahua's small size, like all dogs he needs exercise and training. The amount of energy an adult Chihuahua has can be surprising. He'll endlessly chase squirrels in the backyard and is willing to play as long as you are. Chihuahuas enjoy walks, supervised romps around the yard, and retrieving toys. They'll go until they drop, so it's important to make sure they don't tire themselves out, especially on hot days. As much as they enjoy playing outdoors, Chihuahuas should never live outside. They aren't safe from raptors such as hawks, coyotes, or other larger dogs that could go into your yard. They are bred as companions, and the best place for a companion is with you. Training a Chihuahua can be an enjoyable task. They are successful in several different dog sports such as agility and obedience, but puppy kindergarten and basic obedience class are important even for a Chihuahua who's strictly a companion. Your Chihuahua will meet many different dogs and people in class, contributing to his socialization, and he'll learn the manners all dogs should know. Chihuahuas are as easy to housetrain as any other breed as long as you take them out frequently and on a consistent schedule. Puppies need to go out as soon as they wake up in the morning, after every meal, after naps, after playtime, and just before bedtime. Using a crate to confine them when you're unable to supervise them will teach them that they can control their bladder and prevent them from having accidents in the house. If they're not crated, plan to take them out every one to two hours, and don't crate them for more than two to four hours at a time except overnight. Beyond housetraining, crate training is a kind way to ensure that your Chihuahua doesn't get into things he shouldn't. Like every dog, Chihuahuas can be destructive as puppies. They might not do as much damage as a Lab puppy, but those little teeth can definitely leave their mark. Crate training at a young age will also help your Chihuahua accept confinement if he ever needs to be boarded or hospitalized. Never stick your Chihuahua in a crate all day long, however. It's not a jail, and he shouldn't spend more than a few hours at a time in it except when he's sleeping at night. Chihuahuas are people dogs, and they aren't meant to spend their lives locked up in a crate or kennel. Train your Chihuahua using positive reinforcement techniques such as food rewards, praise, and play, and you will soon find that he can learn anything you can teach.

 

Coat, Color and Grooming

Chihuahuas come in two different coat types: smooth and long. The smooth-coated Chihuahua has a smooth, shiny coat that fits close to the body with a ruff of thick, longer hair on the neck. The hair on the head and ears is thinner, and the tail is furry. The long-coated Chihuahua has a soft coat that's flat or slightly curly. On the body it's almost as smooth as that of a smooth-coated Chihuahua, but the ears have a fringe of hair, and the plumed tail spreads out like a fan over the back. He also has a ruff on the neck and longer hair called feathering on his feet. The hind legs are also covered with long hair that resembles pants — and that's what it's called. On the stomach is longer hair known as a frill. Besides coming in two coat types, Chihuahuas are found in a range of colors and markings. They can be solid colors such as black, white, fawn, chocolate, gray, and silver as well as tricolor (chocolate, black, or blue with tan and white, for instance), brindle, spotted, merle and a variety of other markings. Shades can be very pale to very dark for all the colors. The Chihuahua is a wash-and-go dog. Grooming him takes only a few minutes each week. Brush him weekly with a rubber grooming mitt or a brush with short, natural bristles for a shorthaired Chihuahua and a pin brush for a longhaired Chihuahua. A fine-toothed flea comb helps remove loose or dead hair. Chihuahuas shed small amounts year round and may shed somewhat more heavily — a relative term for a dog this small — in the spring and fall. The longhaired Chihuahua's undercoat may come out in little clumps. Regular brushing will help KEEP shedding under control. With regular brushing, a Chihuahua shouldn't need a bath more than every month or two. Use a shampoo formulated for dogs so you don't dry out the coat and skin. Ears are an important area to check when you are grooming your Chihuahua. If you smell an odor or see wax, clean the inner ear with a cotton ball, using a cleanser recommended by your veterinarian. Avoid going into the depth of the ear, past where you can see. If the ears are dry along the edge, rub a little baby or coconut oil onto them. Some Chihuahuas develop tear stains beneath their eyes. You can carefully wipe the eyes to remove discharge, and there are products available to remove the stains. A Chihuahua's nails grow quickly. Keep them trimmed short. If you can hear them clicking on the floor, they're too long. The earlier you introduce your Chihuahua to nail trimming the less stressful the experience is. At the same time, check the pads for any foreign objects or injuries. Like many small breeds, Chihuahuas are prone to poor dental health. Brushing their teeth can help their mouths stay healthy. Brush the teeth at least two or three times a week — daily is better — to remove tartar and bacteria. Start when your puppy is young so he'll be used to it. As you groom, check for sores, rashes, or signs of infection such as redness, tenderness, or inflammation on the skin, in the ears, nose, mouth, and eyes, and on the feet. Ears should smell good, without too much wax or gunk inside, and eyes should be clear, with no redness or discharge. Your careful weekly exam will help you spot potential health problems early.

 

Breed Standard

ORIGIN: Mexico.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 28.07.2009.
UTILIZATION: Companion dog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.:Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs. Section 6, Chihuahueño. Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
The Chihuahua is regarded as the smallest pedigree dog in the world and carries the name of the largest state of the Mexican Republic (Chihuahua).  One assumes that these dogs used to live in the wild and, at the time of the Toltec civilization, were captured and domesticated by the natives.  Representations of a Toy dog called « Techichi » which lived in Tula, were used as decorations on town architecture.  These statues are very similar to the present day Chihuahua.

GENERAL APPEARANCE
This dog has a compact body.  Of great importance is the fact that his skull is apple-shaped and that he carries his moderately long tail very high, either curved or forming the shape of a semicircle with the tip pointing towards the loin region.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS
Length of body slightly greater than height at withers.  Desired, however, is an almost square body, especially in males. In bitches, because of the function of reproduction, a slightly longer body is permitted.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT
Quick, alert, lively and very courageous.

HEAD
CRANIAL REGION

• Skull: Well rounded apple head (a characteristic of the breed). 

• Stop: Well marked, deep and broad as the forehead is rounded above the set-on of muzzle.

FACIAL REGION

• Nose: Any colour permitted. Moderately short, pointing slightly upwards.

• Muzzle: Short, straight seen from side, broad at set-on, tapering towards the tip.

• Lips: Lean and close fitting.

• Cheeks: Only slightly developed, very clean.

• Jaws/Teeth: Scissor or pincer bite.  Overshot, undershot, as well as any other anomaly in position of upper or lower jaw must be strictly penalized.

• Eyes: Large, roundish in shape, very expressive, not protruding, perfectly dark.  Light eyes permissible, but not desired.

• Ears: Large, upright, widely open, broad at set-on, gradually tapering towards their slightly rounded tip.  In repose inclined laterally forming an angle of 45°.

NECK

• Upper profile: slightly arched.

• Length: Medium.

• Shape: Thicker in dogs than in bitches.

• Skin: Without dewlap. In the long-haired variety, the presence of a neck-ruff with longer hair is highly desirable.

BODY
Compact and well built.

• Topline: Level.

• Withers: Only slightly marked.

• Back: Short and firm.

• Loin: Strongly muscled.

• Croup: Broad and strong; almost flat or slightly sloping.

• Chest: Ribcage broad and deep, ribs well sprung.  Seen from front, roomy but not exaggerated. Seen from side, reaching to elbows. Not barrel shaped.

• Underline and belly: Formed by a clearly tucked up belly.  Slack belly is permitted but not desired.

TAIL
Set on high, flat in appearance, of moderate length; broad at root, tapering gradually towards the tip. Tail carriage is an important characteristic of the breed : when the dog is moving it is carried either high in a curve or in a semicircle with tip towards the loin region, which gives balance to the body, it should never be carried between the hindlegs nor curled below the backline. The hair on the tail depends on the variety and is in harmony with the body coat. In the long haired variety, the tail coat forms a plume. Tail is pendant in repose and forms a slight hook.

LIMBS 
FOREQUARTERS
General appearance : Forelegs seen from the front form a straight line with the elbows.  Seen from the side, they are upright.

• Shoulder: Clean and moderately muscled. Good angulation between shoulder-blade and upper arm.

• Elbow: Firm and fitting close to body, which ensures free movement.

• Forearm: Straight and of good length.

• Metacarpus (Pastern) : Slightly sloping, strong and flexible.

• Forefeet: Very small and oval with toes well apart but not splayed (neither hare- nor cat-foot).  Nails particularly well arched and moderately long.  Pads well developed and very elastic. Dewclaws are not desirable.

HINDQUARTERS 
General appearance : Hindlegs well muscled with long bones, vertical and parallel to each other with good angulation at hip, knee and hock joints, in harmony with angulation of forequarters.

• Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Short hocks with well developed Achilles’ tendons; seen from rear, they are well apart straight and vertical.

• Hind feet: Very small and oval with toes well apart but not splayed (neither hare- nor cat-foot).  Nails particularly well arched and moderately long.  Pads well developed and very elastic. Dewclaws are not desirable.

GAIT / MOVEMENT
Steps are long, springy, energetic and active

 

 

 with good reach and drive.  Seen from rear, hind legs should move almost parallel to each other, so that the footprints of the hind feet fit directly into those of the front feet. With increasing speed, the limbs show a tendency to converge towards the median plane (single track). Movement remains free and springy without visible effort, head raised and back firm.

SKIN: Smooth and elastic all over body.

COAT 
Hair : In this breed there are two varieties of coat.

• Smooth-haired: Coat is short, lying close all over body.  If there is an undercoat, the hair is somewhat longer; sparse coat on throat and belly permissible; slightly longer on neck and tail, short on face and ears.  Coat is glossy and its texture is soft.  Hairless dogs are not tolerated.

• Longed-haired: Coat should be fine and silky, smooth or slightly wavy.  Not too thick undercoat desired.  Coat is longer, forming feathering on ears, neck, rear of front and hind legs, on feet and on tail.  Dogs with long billowing coat will not be ACCEPTED.

COLOUR
All colours in all possible shades and combinations are admitted, except merle colour.

SIZE AND WEIGHT
In this breed only the weight is taken into consideration, not the height.
Weight : Ideal weight : between 1.5 and 3 kgs. Weight between 500 gr. and 1.5 kgs tolerated.
Subjects weighing less than 500 gr and more than 3 kg shall be disqualified.

FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
•Missing teeth.
•“Double teeth” (persistence of temporary teeth).
•Pointed ears.
•Short neck.
•Long body.
•Roach or hollow back (Lordosis or Kyphosis).
•Steep croup.
•Narrow chest, flat ribcage.
•Tail : incorrect set-on, short or twisted.
•Short limbs.
•Out at elbow.
•Too close behind.

SEVERE FAULTS 
•Narrow skull
•Eyes small, deep set or protruding.
•Long muzzle.
•Under or overshot mouth.
•Unstable stifle.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
•Aggressive or overly shy.
•Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified
•Deer type dogs (dogs with an atypical or extremely stylized structure: refined head, long neck, slender body, long limbs). 
•Dogs with an open fontanel.
•Drop ear or short ear.
•Deformed jaws.
•Extremely long body.
•Absence of tail.
•In the long- haired variety : Dogs with very long, fine and billowing coat.
•In the smooth-haired variety : Bald patch (alopecia).
•Merle colour.
•Subjects weighing less than 500 gr and more than 3 kg.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.