The Chihuahua is very small-sized dog. It has always been a popular and an adorable dog, loved and owned by many celebrities. There are ongoing debates about the origin of the Chihuahua. Some argue that an old Aztec civilization was the origin of Chihuahua, while some others assert that it came from ancient Egypt. While the former group explains that the Chihuahua was actually brought by Spanish settlers to Mexico from old Aztec, and then it came to the United States, the later group suggests it made its way from Egypt to Spain via Mexico. Long haired Chihuahuas looks very similar to Pomeranians. The hair of the long haired Chihuahua is commonly known as "long coats" or "smooth coats". With their apple-shaped head, big eyes and tasseled ears, they look simply exquisite. They are the smallest dog in the world. Their size may vary between six inches and nine inches. Show dogs may weigh less than six pounds in average, however the weight of the normal pet dog may be as high as ten pounds or more. While considering temperament and personality, there is no distinction between the short haired and long haired Chihuahua. Both of them are very loving and affectionate. They have a jovial personality on one hand and also a very alert type on the other. They are the most preferred pets for the elderly and disabled people because of their friendliness and socialization. This breed also has a negative reputation of being very stubborn and van be tough to train. However, following a successful training, this breed turns out to be an excellent pet. Although it belongs to the Toy group, many standard breeders do not recommend either short or long haired Chihuahua for households with small children. They go very well with adults and offer nice companionship. Due to their small size and fragile bone structure a long haired Chihuahua must be handled very carefully, otherwise there is always a risk for potential injury. They can make friendships very easily with other breeds and animals, such as cats and dogs from other breeds. Both the short and long haired Chihuahua can not tolerate cold temperatures. They need to wear coats or sweaters to feel comfort during the winter and spring seasons. Like any other long haired breeds, long haired Chihuahuas need proper grooming and utmost care. If the dog does not receive proper grooming and care, the hair will become full of knots, mats and burs and the hair will lose its shine. Similar to any other long haired breeds, the long haired Chihuahua demands extensive grooming in order to maintain the luster in its wavy hair. Regular care of the hair is necessary to eliminate knots, mats and burs as well as to keep them free from ticks and hitchhikers. Monthly bathing with residue-free shampoo is mandatory. From a genetic angle, short hair is dominant over long hair. If both the partners are long haired Chihuahua, only then is it possible to have long haired Chihuahuas as offspring. It is the responsibility of the professional breeders to keep good breeding records of their long haired Chihuahuas, so that the highest quality in offspring can be effectively maintained. They need to maintain an excellent record of each of the dog of this variety in order to ensure the high quality of the breed as well as to customize certain textures over the long coat. When the pedigree is properly documented, the price increases dramatically.
Long-haired Chihuahuas are characterized by their by their smooth undercoat and long overcoat. The Long-haired Chihuahua is one of the two official versions of Chihuahuas recognized by the American Kennel Club. With its large eyes and erect ears, it is not difficult for people to mistake this version of the Chihuahua for a Pomeranian. As one of the smallest dogs, attention and care has to be given to the Long-haired Chihuahua, given its fragility.
Food for the Long-haired Chihuahua has to be chosen meticulously. Generally, Chihuahuas do not like frequent changes in their food. Given the small size of the Long-haired Chihuahua, the teeth of these animals are also relatively small compared to other dogs. As such, food has to come in small bite-sized proportions in order for ease of chewing and digestion. Chihuahuas tend to have two meals daily. Food should be fresh and any leftover food should be disposed off to prevent the growth of bacteria and germs which might cause the Long-haired Chihuahua to fall sick. Generally, most vets recommend dried food to prevent the build up of plaque and tartar. Also, plenty of drinking water should be provided for sufficient hydration. Supper is not advisable in order to prevent obesity and poor eating habits in future.
The Long-haired Chihuahua needs to be bathed regularly, on a basis of at least once a month. In countries with warmer temperatures, frequent bathing is advisable in order to prevent discomfort and fleas. While grooming, care should be taken to untangle possible knots on the long overcoats of the Long-haired Chihuahua. Care must be taken to prevent water from entering the ears during bathing to prevent the risk of the Chihuahua suffering from infection.
While Chihuahuas are often dubbed as pocket dogs, exercise is necessary to prevent obesity. The Long-haired Chihuahua is no exception here and frequent short walks are necessary for the health of these pets as well as to build up greater interaction and better relationship between the Long-haired Chihuahua and its owner. Care however, must be taken regarding the distance as even a walk around the block might prove potentially exhausting for the Long-haired Chihuahua.
In winter, it is important to provide the Long-haired Chihuahua with sufficient warm clothing. Despite its long overcoat, it is necessary to purchase warm clothing for these dogs as they do not adapt as well to the cold as compared to other dogs such as the German shepherd. In summer however, clothing should be removed to prevent discomfort. Many Chihuahua owners tend to choose style over comfort by clothing their Long-haired Chihuahuas in the heat of the summer. The extra clothing, coupled with the already long overcoat of hair of the Long-haired Chihuahua can result in extreme discomfort for the animal.
For families with children, it is important to educate the young not to drop the Long-haired Chihuahua. Falls often lead to injuries, even death for a young Long-haired Chihuahua. Chihuahuas are the only breed of dogs to be born with soft skulls known as moleras. These fill up with time as the Chihuahua gets older. Thus, great care is needed especially during the first six months until the skull is completely formed.
Regular timely checkups are also a necessity as an insurance against any possible outbreaks of illness. Long-haired Chihuahuas are active dogs and any tell tale signs of lethargy might mean possible illness.
Given the right care and a healthy dose of commitment and time spent, owners of the Long-haired Chihuahua can look forward to a fulfilling pet-owner experience.
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Sandra Dean.. has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Sandra Dean is a passionate lover of the Chihuahua and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved