CHIHUAHUAS

http://www.marysgraphics.com/chiacat/chiindex.html

COCOA, IS VERY ENERGETIC,LOVES TO PLAY
WITH ALL THE PUPPIES..A.C.A,REG.

WELCOME TO OUR CHIHUAHUA PAGE,, THESE GUYS ARE JUST SPOILED ROTTEN,,,I
HAVE 2 MORE CHIHUAHUA GIRLS TO GET PICTURES OF,,I HAVE BEEN SO FAR
BEHIND,,BUT TRYING TO GET CAUGHT UP....

THIS LITTLE GUY IS BWK'S PEANUT
BRITTLE,,PARENTS ARE COCOA AND JERSEY,,HE
IS FROM OUR LAST LITTER WITH COCOA AND
JERSEY,,,WE HAVE DECIDED TO ADD HIM TO OUR
BREEDING PROGRAM,,PEANUT IS A VERY SMALL
LITTLE GUY,,HE LOVES ATTENTION,,AND LOVES
TO HAVE HIS TUMMY SCRATCH...

THIS IS PEACHES,

BUTTERCUP,HAS NEW PUPPIES WITH PEANUT

A Chihuahua puppy Breed standards for this dog do not generally specify a height, only a weight and a description of their overall proportions. As a
result, height varies more than within many other breeds. Generally, the height ranges between six and ten inches. However, some dogs grow as tall
as 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm). Both British and American breed standards state that a Chihuahua must not weigh more than six pounds for
conformation.
Chihuahua breeders often use terms like Teacup, Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature or Standard to describe puppies. These terms are not recognized
by the breed standards. Chihuahua's are commonly referred to as either Apple heads or Deer heads, the former having short noses and rounded
heads similar to that of an apple; the latter having longer noses and more elongated heads.

American Kennel Club in the United States only recognize two varieties of Chihuahua: the long-coat, and the smooth-coat, also referred to as
short-haired.[9] They are genetically the same breed. The term smooth-coat does not mean that the hair is necessarily smooth, as the hair can range
from having a velvet touch to a whiskery feeling. Long-haired Chihuahuas are actually smoother to the touch, having soft, fine guard hairs and a
downy undercoat, which gives them their fluffy appearance. Unlike many long-haired breeds, long-haired Chihuahuas require no trimming and
minimal grooming. Contrary to popular belief, the long-haired breed also typically sheds less than their short-haired counterparts. It may take up to
two or more years before a full long-haired coat develops.

More than most other breeds, how a Chihuahua turns out depends largely on the genetic temperament of his parents and grandparents (entire lines
are social or antisocial) and how it is raised (socialization and training) when brought home.[1] A Chihuahua must be chosen with care, as the
temperament of its owner(s) can make a difference in the temperament of the pup. Ill tempered Chihuahuas can be easily provoked to attack, and are
therefore generally unsuitable for homes with small children.[12] The AKC describes the breed as, "A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy
expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament."[9] The breed tends to be fiercely loyal to one particular owner and in some cases
may become over protective of the person, especially around other people or animals, but may be attached to more.[citation needed] They do not
always get along with other breeds,[12] and tend to have a "clannish" nature, often preferring the companionship of other Chihuahuas over other
dogs.[13] These traits generally make them unsuitable for households with children that are not patient and calm.[9] Although some chihuahuas do
well with children, one must train their chihuahua by introducing them to children at an early age.[citation needed] Chihuahua's have a little quirk of
"denning" themselves. Several new Chihuahua owners have been taken aback, when their little dogs start burrowing themselves in everything from
pillows, clothes hampers, and blankets. These little creatures love their dens. You'll often find them under the covers in the beds right at the bottom of
the bed, deep in the dark and safety of what they believe is their den. It's a very noteworthy quirk of the breed, as often with new owners, they can
accidentally sit or lean onto these fragile little creatures. This den behaviour is believe to have come from the supposition of Chihuahua's being
descended from the inbreeding of wild desert fox breeds in Mexico.[citation needed]

Health disorders
This breed requires expert veterinary attention in areas such as birthing and dental care. Chihuahuas are also prone to some genetic anomalies,
often neurological ones, such as epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Chihuahuas, and other toy breeds, are prone to the sometimes painful disease, hydrocephalus. It is often diagnosed by the puppy having an
abnormally large head during the first several months of life, but other symptoms are more noticeable (since "a large head" is such a broad
description). Chihuahua puppies exhibiting hydrocephalus usually have patchy skull plates rather than a solid bone and typically are lethargic and do
not grow at the same pace as their siblings. A true case of hydrocephalus can be diagnosed by a veterinarian, though the prognosis is grim.

Overfeeding a Chihuahua can be a great danger to the dog's health, shortening its life and leading to diabetes.[14]Chihuahuas have moleras, or a
soft spot in their skulls, and they are the only breed of dog to be born with an incomplete skull. The molera fills in with age, but great care needs to be
taken during the first six months until the skull is fully formed. Some moleras do not close completely and will require extra care to prevent injury.
Many veterinarians are not familiar with Chihuahuas as a breed, and mistakenly confuse a molera with hydrocephalus. The Chihuahua Club of
America has issued a statement regarding this often deadly misdiagnosis.[15] Chihuahuas can also be at risk for hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
This is especially dangerous for puppies. Left unattended, hypoglycemia can lead to coma and death. This can be combated with frequent feedings
(every three hours for very small or young puppies). Chihuahua owners should have a simple sugar supplement on hand to use in emergencies,
such as, Nutri-Cal, Karo syrup or honey. These supplements can be rubbed on the gums and roof of the mouth to rapidly raise the blood sugar level.
Signs of hypoglycemia include lethargy, sleepiness, low energy, uncoordinated walking, unfocused eyes and spasms of the neck muscles (or head
pulling back or to the side). Chihuahuas are prone to eye infections or eye injury due to their large, round, protruding eyes and their relatively low
ground clearance. Care should be taken to prevent visitors or children from poking the eyes. The eyes also water to remove dust or allergens that
may get into the eye. Daily wiping will keep the eyes clean and prevent tear staining. Chihuahuas have a tendency to tremble but this is not a health
issue, rather it takes place when the dog is stressed, excited or cold. One reason for this may be because small dogs have a higher metabolism than
larger dogs and therefore dissipate heat faster. Due to this Chihuahuas often wear coats or sweaters when outside in the cold or in overly
air-conditioned places. Chihuahuas often like to dig and snuggle down in blankets for sleeping.

Although figures often vary, as with any breed, the average lifespan range for a healthy Chihuahua is approximately 10 to 17 years.

Chihuahuas are sometimes picky eaters, and care must be taken to provide them with adequate nutrition. Chihuahuas could earn this reputation
because they seem to find small unnoticed bits of food all day. Sometimes wet or fresh food can have the most appealing smell to these constant
eaters. "They will eat when they are hungry" does not apply as Chihuahuas are prone to hypoglycemia and could be at a critical state if allowed to go
too long without a meal. At the same time, care must be exercised not to overfeed them. Chihuahua's have a notoriuos problem with dental issues.
Dental care is a must for these little creatures. The teeth problems can also be caused from giving too much human foods, many a Chihuahua has
had to become toothless due to dental issues. Human food should be avoided. Due to their small size even tiny high fat or sugary treats can result in
an overweight Chihuahua. Overweight Chihuahuas are susceptible to having an increased rate of joint injuries, tracheal collapse (reverse sneezing),
chronic bronchitis, and shortened life span.

Chihuahuas are also known for a genetic condition called 'luxating Patella'. It's a genetic condition that can occur in all dogs, old or young, slim or
overweight, particularly small dogs. In some dogs, the ridges forming the patellar groove are not shaped correctly, and a shallow groove is created. In
a dog with shallow grooves, the patella will luxate (Slip out of place) sideways, especially toward the inside. This causes the leg to 'lock up' and will
cause the chihuahua to hold its foot off the ground. When the patella luxates from the groove of the femur, it usually cannot return to its normal
position until the quadriceps muscle relaxes and increases in length. This explains why the affected dog may be forced to hold his leg up for a few
minutes or so after the initial displacement. While the muscles are contracted and the patella is luxated from its correct position, the joint is held in the
flexed or bent position. The knee cap sliding across the femur can cause some pain, due to the bony ridges of the femur. Once out of position, the
animal feels no discomfort and continues his activity.

Chihuahuas are also prone to some heart related disorders such as heart murmurs, i.e., extra heart sound produced due to turbulent blood flow and
Pulmonic Stenosis in which the blood outflow from the heart's right ventricle is obstructed at the pulmonic valve.[16]