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[W546]What Is The Right Dog For Me

by Jackie Lee, Jac

The Chihuahua is a popular favorite of the toy dog enthusiasts. This spicy little character is extremely devoted and loyal to its owner. He may be reserved with strangers and a little aggressive towards other dogs, however, the Chihuahua can get along great with other indoor pets you may have. Keeping a Chihuahua's aggressiveness in check while out and about will help keep him safe. Just because he's small doesn't mean he doesn't think he can take on the big dogs.

Not all Chihuahuas have such a bold temperament. Some are very intense and will have an attitude as if they can take on the world, others may be extremely shy and timid. Either way, Chihuahuas are very protective of their owners and the rest of the family.

Due to their being so protective they can easily take on bigger dogs or other animals to "keep their family safe". You can help manage this behavior by using a good pet stroller, which will keep your pet and others he may come in contact with safe.

Upkeep And Maintenance

The Chihuahua is a very excitable dog that needs a bit of daily exercise. But the good news is that these little guys can get all of the vigorous physical activity they need from running room to room in a house or a small apartment. But do not neglect outdoor walks and play time. The Chihuahua loves to roam outside and explore. They also become very attached to their family and want to spend as much time as possible with you.

When walking your Chihuahua make sure you keep him safe from other walkers and possibly aggressive dogs. You can keep him safe on busy streets by using a pet stroller. This will get him safely to the park or other running area, and allow him to still enjoy the fresh air.

In terms of living arrangements, the Chihuahua is an indoor dog and should not be kept outside. There is nothing wrong with letting him explore the yard a couple of hours each day, or taking a walk with him, but this should be temporary. Chihuahuas absolutely hate the cold and will do whatever they can find to get to a warm place.

Grooming is a minor concern if you're the proud owner of a Chihuahua. Chihuahuas come in two types; short-haired and long-haired. Short-haired Chihuahuas need very little brushing, perhaps once every week or so. Long-haired Chihuahuas will need a brushing twice weekly.

Health Information

The Chihuahua has a longer lifespan than most dog breeds, living up to 20 years in some cases, with 16 to 17 years being the average lifespan for a healthy dog. Veterinarians suggest that owners of this dog breed get specific health tests for cardiac issues and knee problems.

The Akita, or Akita Inu hails from the Akita region of Japan where they breed has been revered for centuries. Throughout history they've been used as flood dogs, fighting dogs and for hunting deer and bear but today many people keep them as loving companions. Introduced to the United States in 1937 by Helen Keller the Akita Inu became even more popular after World War II when many American servicemen brought them back.

A member of the American Kennel Club working group, the Akita Inu was admitted to the AKC in 1972. It is a spitz type dog with the car and a triangular shaped head who weighs in at between 75 and 120 pounds. This dog has a powerful strong build with a deep, broad chest and level back. His ears stand erect on his head and he has dark brown eyes and a black or brown nose. The tail is carried high over the back. The Akita is a great swimmer due to his webbed feet. This dog has a double coat made up of a thick insulated undercoat and a waterproof outer coat and comes in white, red, sesame or brindle.

The Akita Inu is very affectionate with his family and while docile and home, can be aggressive towards other animals when he is outdoors being taken for walk. He is intelligent and fearless - a dog faithful to his family that craves companionship. This dog can be willful, however, so training will require patience as well as diversity since he can also become bored easily.

Like many purebred dogs the Akita does have some health issues that he is prone to. Hypothyroid and autoimmune thyroiditis can come up in this breed as can hip dysphasia. They can also suffer from terrible skin problems in immune diseases such as VKH. They can also have problems with their knees and our eyes.

Although they are a large dog, the Akita Inu can adapt well to apartment life as long as he gets sufficient exercise. In fact, a moderate amount of exercise is all this dog needs to keep in shape than happy.

This dog does not have any excessive grooming considerations, however the thick coat does shed heavily twice a year. They should be brushed with a firm bristle brush as often as needed and, of course, daily when shedding. Do not bathe your Akita unless it is necessary as giving him a bath will cause the natural waterproofing on their coat to be disrupted.

Article Source : Chihuahua Dogs

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Both Jackie Lee & Lee Dobbins - are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jackie Lee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Pregnancy Problems and Arts. Your biggest concern with a Chihuahua is spending enough time with him. Spending more family time can be easily accomplished by using one of the many ava. Jackie Lee's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.

Lee Dobbins - has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Lee Dobbins writes for where you can learn more about dog care as well as information and photos of your favorite dog breeds inlcuding the. Lee Dobbins -'s top article . to your Favourites.