A big dog in a little body (Chihuahua)

Member Name: skittle

Product:	Chihuahua
Date:	25/10/00 (705 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great pet

Disadvantages: Can be snappy

Our family bought our first Chihuahua when I was about six. We had actually wanted a Yorkshire Terrier, but when we went to view the puppies the breeder also had a litter of Chihuahuas which she showed us. A pair of huge brown eyes in a tiny white face peered up at my mum and she changed her mind instantly, so Alice came home with us!

My mum was a dog breeder so at any time we would usually have about six or seven adult Chihuahuas and a dozen or so puppies. Chihuahua puppies are tiny, a newborn pup will easily fit onto the palm of an adults hand, however, in relation to the size of the parents the puppies are really quite large.

Chihuahuas are generally incredibly brave dogs. I've seen a pack of four Chihuahua's take on and then chase away a pair of Dobermans! This isn't an unusual occurrence either, most Chihuahuas will stand their ground against anything they perceive as a threat, even the postman! They are also very vocal dogs and will always warn off any person or animal that they think is invading their territory. Despite their diminutive stature they make excellent guard dogs, although they could do very little physical damage to a burglar most people would find it very difficult to sleep though the barking of one of these yappy little critters in full attack mode!

Chihuahuas absolutely love attention and really live up to the ideals of a lapdog. They like nothing more than to cuddle up with their preferred human (Chihuahuas do tend to be one person dogs) for an hour or two of intensive stroking. As they are so tiny they are very light eaters and require very little exercise, the odd ramble around the block will be fine. They are also perfectly happy to spend most of their time indoors, which means that they are perfect for people who live in flats or have only small gardens.

I would recommend Chihuahua's as a first dog for children as any child who manhandles a Chihuahua will soon learn respect for
animals, a Chihuahua will not stand for any kind of rough treatment. However, caution is advisable as I have known Chihuahuas to become quite snappy if they are not shown at an early age that they are not the boss of the household.

That said, Chihuahuas are absolutely the best choice for disabled or elderly people who would love a dog but can't cope with a very boisterous animal, or indeed for any fan of toy dogs.

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