Toy Dogs Group - Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is believed to have been a sacred dog of the Aztecs. However, a dog not unlike it may well have existed in Egypt some 3,000 years ago. Early Chihuahuas were slightly larger and had bigger cars than modern ones, which may be the result of a cross with the hairless Chinese Crested Dog. There are two varieties of Chihuahua, the Smooth-coated and Long-coated, the latter having long hair of soft texture, which is cither flat or slightly wavy.

Coat: Long coat Long and soft to touch, slight wavincss permissible. Smooth coat Short and dense, soft to touch.

Color: Any color or mixture.

Features: Apple-domed head; large flaring ears; large, round eyes that do not protrude; level back; medium length, high set tail, curved over back.

Size: Height: 6½-8 in. Weight: up to 6 lb.

Care: Inexpensive to keep, and both long-haireds and short-haireds arc fairly easy to groom, requiring only daily combing and brushing with a soft brush.

Character: Exceedingly intelligent, affectionate, possessive, and a good watchdog in miniature. Care must be taken on outings that it does not start a fight because it seems to imagine that it is enormous when confronted with other, much bigger canines.