Fun Chihuahua Facts For Kids

There is a lot of debate surrounding the history of the origin of chihuahuas. The widely accepted belief is that chihuahuas originated and received their name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Around the 18th century, Mexican merchants sold off these dogs as guard dogs to tourists. It is believed that some of these tourists took these dogs back to America as pets. Another theory points towards the history that this dog breed descended from the breed named techichi. Techichi dogs share several similarities with the chihuahuas - they were small dogs (although larger than the chihuahuas) with smooth fur-coat (small or long coat of fur), intelligent eyes, and alert ears. Nevertheless, there have been arguments over the history as the techichis were mute dogs and their size differed a great deal from the chihuahuas. These dogs have been used as an emblem by Mexico.

Chihuahuas are meant to be companion dogs kept as pets in cozy home spaces. These little dogs sport a great personality although they almost look like a soft toy with a small size. The breed comes with a smooth coat that can either be long-haired or short-haired. There are various types of chihuahuas - black chihuahua, hairless chihuahua, brown chihuahua, white chihuahua, long-haired chihuahua, deer-head chihuahua, apple-head chihuahua, and a few others. Chihuahuas are undoubtedly small dogs but they are also fun-loving and hyper-energetic dogs. Like any other house pet, they love to cuddle and laze around sometimes but most of the time they run and jump around playfully.

If you want to know some more chihuahua facts then keep reading while you can also look up these chihuahua facts and American bulldog pitbull mix facts.

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What type of animal is a Chihuahua?

A chihuahua is a dog.

What class of animal does a Chihuahua belong to?

A chihuahua belongs to the class of mammals.

How many Chihuahuas are there in the world?

The exact number of chihuahuas in current existence cannot be ascertained due to the lack of accurate data. Chihuahuas are very popular as household dogs and are found in great numbers throughout the world.

Where does a Chihuahua live?

A chihuahua lives in a warm and cozy indoor space that can be large houses or small apartments with gardens. They normally are pet dogs and therefore, found in the comfortable company of human beings.

What is a Chihuahua's habitat?

Since the chihuahuas originated in the Mexican country, it is believed that their habitat was originally the deserts. Nevertheless, these dog breeds had been bred and reared to adorn home spaces.

Who do Chihuahuas live with?

Chihuahuas might prove to be extremely vulnerable when stranded alone to fend for themselves owing to their minuscule size. Therefore, they need to be kept as house pets only where they can be provided with adequate care and love.

How long does a Chihuahua live?

A chihuahua lifespan ranges from around 12 to 18 years. However, the dog breed has a greater life expectancy when compared with other dog breeds because they are a healthy breed and can live up to 20 years if provided with proper care.

How do they reproduce?

The reproduction process of the chihuahuas depends largely on the heat cycles of the females that begin as early as six months. The heat cycle differs with different dogs but the heat cycle in females recur after every six to eight months a year when they become highly receptive to the breeding procedure. The American Kennel Club mentions that a chihuahua male dog is capable enough to locate a female in heat within the range of five miles. When both genders reach the stage of puberty the mating process can be initiated. After breeding, the females take approximately 63 days to give birth to chihuahua puppies post-conception. During pregnancy, the females must be kept under intensive care.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of chihuahuas has not been evaluated or listed under the IUCN Red List that provides an insight into the species that are under threat or endangered. This means that the dog breed can be traced easily and therefore, not a reason for major concern.

What do Chihuahuas look like?

Chihuahuas are available in different shapes and shades with different characteristics to select from. Chihuahuas have generally been classified into two types - one with the smooth coat (or smooth-coated fur), another with the long coat. They are very little in size, lightweight, with erect, alert ears, and intelligent, bright eyes. They do not exceed eight inches in height or six lb in weight.

How cute are they?

Chihuahuas are the smallest and cutest of all dog breeds. They are miniature fur balls available in a variety of shades and color combinations. A chihuahua puppy is the cutest and it just fits in your palm! The cutest chihuahuas can be traced in fancy dog shows where they are all dressed up in colorful attires, bows, with hair tied up stylishly around the head. This dog is perhaps one of the cutest small dog breeds.

How do they communicate?

Chihuahuas, like any other dog, communicate their love, angst, fear, and other emotions through bodily gestures and also by vocalizing. The violent wagging of the tail, twitching of the ears, rubbing the head are indications of playfulness, love, and affection while whining loudly means that they are in pain or perhaps scared. These dogs also bark, snarl and growl a lot to project their aggression.

How big is a Chihuahua?

Can you imagine how big a chihuahua can be weighing just about six pounds? It is undoubtedly smaller than the cocker spaniels or even the Yorkshire terrier which is considered to be the second smallest dog breed in the entire world. Holding a chihuahua is almost equivalent to holding a toy or a water bottle - that's how small it is!

How fast can a Chihuahua run?

Chihuahuas are hyper-energetic dogs and even with that tiny little body, they can reach a speed of about 15 mph. They are very agile and filled with lots and lots of energy, always eager to go out for outdoor adventures, exercise, and fun.

How much does a Chihuahua weigh?

The chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world and it weighs less than six pounds, that is, it ranges between 4 lb -6 lb (1.8 kg -2.7 kg). These dogs are extremely lightweight and easy to carry wherever you want. Also, since they are too small and light, they are always at risk of getting injured or harmed physically especially around kids or other larger breeds. Even while handling a chihuahua one must be cautious to not hold it with too much pressure or too tightly.

What are their male and female names of the species?

A male chihuahua is generally called a dog while a female is called a 'bitch'.

What would you call a baby Chihuahua?

Baby chihuahuas are called puppies.

What do they eat?

Chihuahuas can be provided with a wholesome diet comprising fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich food. Although they have the smallest body, these dogs require three to four servings per day with a total intake of approximately 200 calories. Food like meat, fish and soft bones in their raw state is highly beneficial for their overall health.

Are they slobbery?

Only a chihuahua's owner would know how much they slobber! Sometimes they drool excessively due to excitement or infections or salivary diseases, in which case they must be taken for a checkup. Generally, they are moderately slobbery.

Would they make a good pet?

Chihuahuas can make good pets given that they are reared with proper training and grooming. Chihuahuas have a great personality but when it comes to forming a bond, they are extremely good at it, and is the reason they are called companion dogs.

Did you know...

Here are some interesting chihuahua facts for kids.

The chihuahuas are named after the state of Chihuahua.

What do we call a chihuahua who fits in a teacup? It's a teacup chihuahua!

What do we call a chihuahua whose head resembles an apple? It's an apple-head chihuahua with a rounded apple-like head.

Do you know that a chihuahua with a deer-like face is called a deer-head chihuahua?

Since chihuahuas are fragile and prone to various diseases, they must be nurtured and cared for just like human babies. These tiny dogs require frequent grooming and daily exercise. Grooming needs include dental checkups and care, brushing the fur-coat regularly to keep tangles at bay, training, and exercise for good health. Since chihuahuas are prone to dental problems, it is necessary to brush their teeth twice or thrice every week.

The cost of a chihuahua depends on the expertise and professionalism of the breeder, the quality of the breed, location and availability, the color or breed type, gender, and other significant factors. For instance, the teacup chihuahua is pretty expensive, costing nearly $2,000 while an average chihuahua cost ranges between $500 to $1,500.

Having your own Chihuahua

If you are bent on having one of the chihuahua breeds then some pros and cons must be kept in mind before going for adoption. Chihuahuas are exactly like human babies apart from the fact that human babies grow up after some time. This means that they must be kept under constant vigilance and care owing to their minute size that makes the breed highly vulnerable especially with larger dogs. The grooming, diet, training, and exercise needs depend on the size chihuahuas have. For instance, a long-haired chihuahua would require cleaning and brushing more often than a short-haired one. It is recommended that you get a cute chihuahua puppy rather than a full-grown dog as it aids the process of training and socializing the puppy and transforming it eventually into a sociable companion dog. The personality of chihuahuas differs depending upon the quality of the breed, receptivity towards social and physical training, surrounding atmosphere, and other similar elements that are likely to affect their behavior.

What problems do Chihuahuas have?

Once you have decided to adopt a chihuahua, you need to be aware of all the necessary chihuahua dog facts and the several serious health issues that the breed group is prone to. The dog breed is known to come with innumerable health problems that require attention. Some chihuahua health facts have been listed. A chihuahua dog might develop luxating patella, tracheal collapse, spinal injuries, hypoglycemia, sclerites, diseases related to tooth and gum health, obesity, reverse sneezing, kidney stones, and hydrocephalus. In case the dog contracts a disease, it would start showing the characteristics or symptoms common to that disease. Whenever the dog shows an abnormality in its behavior it must be taken to the nearest veterinarian for a checkup.

Also, a knowledge of chihuahua temperament is necessary. One of the chihuahua facts is that they have the potentiality of becoming highly aggressive dogs. They might not like a stranger intruding in its space and might portray violent aggression. Nevertheless, only the proud owner of a chihuahua dog would know the feeling of having a puppy around and seeing it grow up. You cannot help but develop a soft spot for your chihuahua puppy and wouldn't regret the feeling.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including the pitsky, or the toy poodle.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one of our chihuahua coloring pages.