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Chihuahuas are fascinating little dogs, arenāt they? I know I am totally in love with the breed.
So, I decided it would be fun to gather together 55 facts about these wonderful little pups. Many are from our weekly newsletter, but some arenāt.
Iām sure many of you know some of them, but there may be some surprises for you. So, here are our favorite facts about Chihuahuas.
Check out our main post that showcases all our chihuahua facts articles!
1-You should never attach a leash to your Chihuahuaās collar because their little necks are fragile. Instead, get aĀ harnessĀ to attach the leash on to.
2-Chihuahua noses can be different colors, including black, brown, gray, and pink. Sometimes they can be two tones too. (My Lucas has a dark brown and pink nose).
3-CompletelyĀ white ChisĀ are the rarest of all the colors.
4-Chihuahuas used to be larger than the now-standard 2 to 6 pounds. It is believed they were bred with the Chinese Crested to make them smaller.
5-Chihuahuas started becoming really popular as pets in the 1960s.
6-The average size of a Chihuahua litter is four pups.
7-The folks in the US first became aware of Chihuahuas when they found them in the Mexican state of Chihuahua around 1850. They soon became popular among the border states of Texas, Arizona, California, and New Mexico.
8-The Chihuahua Club of America was founded in 1923.
9-Remember the Taco Bell dog? Her real name was Gidget, and she was in hundreds of commercials (not all for Taco Bell). She lived till 2009 and died at the age of 15.
10-Ever wonder why there are long hair Chis and short hair Chis? Papillons were bred with short hair Chis to make long hair Chis.
11-Chihuahua puppies are born with floppy ears. They start standing erect as they get older. If they arenāt up by six months of age, they probably arenāt going to go up.
12-Chis with floppy ears are not the standard in the breed, but they can still be purebred Chihuahuas and have ears that lie down instead of standing up.
13-Chihuahuas come in over 30 different varieties and colors! Thatās a lot of variety!
14-TheĀ AztecsĀ believed the early ancestors of the Chihuahua had the power to take a disease from a human and transfer it to themselves as a way of protecting their owner.
15-The ancient Aztecs also thought Chihuahuas could take away their sins.
16-Along with being called the Arizona dog, Chis were also called the Texas dog in their early days in the USA.
17-Chihuahuas are such loyal dogs that they have been actually known toĀ die of a broken heartĀ when their owners die. Now thatās loyalty!
18-Chihuahuas were used as hot packs in ancient times. Maybe thatās why they always want to be sitting on us.
19-Chihuahuas are considered a ānaturalā dog because their coats are not sheared or clipped, and their tails and ears are not docked.
20-Believe it or not, most long hair Chis shed less than short hair Chis. Long coated ChihuahuasĀ shed twice a year, and during that period, they can shed a lot, but if you keep them brushed, it shouldnāt get out of control. Short-coated ChisĀ shed all the time. But it may seem like long-haired Chihuahuas shed more because of their long hair.
21-A legend of an Aztec princess during the time the Aztecs ruled the Mexican states that she kept over a thousand tiny dogs (believed to be the ancestors of todayās Chihuahuas) and each dog had its own servant. After the dog died, the servant was killed so she could continue to serve the dog in death.
22-The dog species that originally made up the Chihuahua breed are often debated. One theory is that Fennec foxes helped to develop the breed. This is plausible. In 1980 a Fennec fox was successfully bred with a Chihuahua.
23-Though both apple-headed and deer-headed Chihuahuas are popular today, the CCA (Chihuahua Club of America) states that the standard of the breed is the Apple-headed Chi.
24-Ā In over 100 years of the showāsĀ history, a ChihuahuaĀ hasĀ never wonĀ Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. Do they not like Chihuahuas?
25-The Chihuahua has the largest color combinations of any breed. Chihuahuas can come in just about any color combination. The color varieties are as big as you can imagine. Their hair also comes in long, short, or mid-coat. It can be wiry or silky and can be a single coat or double coat.
26-The Aztec Indians wiped out the Toltec nation during the 12th century but spared their dogs, which were called the Techichis. They admired the dogs because their ājobā was to guide their ownerās soul to safety in the afterlife. They kept the dogs so they could help them reach the afterlife when they died. Unfortunately for the dogs, when an owner died, he was burned, and so was the dog.
27-Long haired Chihuahuas have their own lingo for their hair. Their tail hair is called the Plume. The hair on their legs is called Furnishings. And the hair falling from their ears is called Fringe.
28-Did you know that two short-haired (or the correct term isĀ smooth-coated), Chis can produceĀ long-haired Chi puppies? Yep, they can. It has to do with theĀ fact that all ChihuahuasĀ have dominant and recessive genes, so there is a chance to produce both long and short haired Chis from parents who are both short-haired (or both long-haired).
29-A Chihuahuaās resting heartbeat is between 100-140 heartbeats a minute. A humanās resting heart rate is between 60-100 beats a minute.
30-Despite their bravado,Ā Chihuahuas are the smallest dogs in the world.
31-Chihuahuas are the ultimate snob. They generally do not like other dogs, but if there are other Chihuahuas around, they will hang out with them and snub any other breed of dog nearby. I wonder if itās because they are just more comfortable with dogs their own size. Of course, there are exceptions to this.
32-Chihuahuas can range from 1 to 10 pounds. But the standard for the breed is between 2 to 6 pounds.
33-Chihuahuas are one of the most long-lived breeds out there. A Chihuahua’sĀ lifespan averages between 12-15 years, but some have been known to live well over 20!
34-Chihuahuas are a descendant of theĀ Techichi dog. The Techichi dog didnāt bark at all and was considered mute. Other breeds of dogs that are thought to make up a Chihuahua’s descendants are theĀ Perro Chihuahueno,Ā Maltese Pocket Dog,Ā theĀ Papillon,Ā and theĀ Chinese Crested.
35-In the 1800ās it was rumored that Chihuahuas were actually a cross between aĀ rodent and a dog!
36-Did you knowĀ Marilyn MonroeĀ owned a Chihuahua? She did! Her Chihuahua’s name was Josepha. But she called her Choo-choo.
37-Other stars to own Chihuahuas are Reese Witherspoon, George Lopez, Rosie OāDonnell, Mickey Rourke, Madonna, Brian Littrell, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Paula Abdul, Kimberly Stewart, Britney Spears, Sharon Osborne, Katherine McPhee, Anne Heche, Hillary Duff, Christina Rici, Alyssa Milano, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Paris Hilton.
38-Just like human babies, Chihuahua puppies have aĀ soft spot on their headsĀ called aĀ MoleraĀ that usually closes up after a year. Sometimes they will have that soft spot all their life. My Lucy still has hers.
39-Considering their body size in relation to their brain size, Chihuahuas have very large brains.
40-Itās really easy to overfeed your Chihuahua, and they probably donāt need as much dog food as you are feeding them. Most Chihuahuas donāt need more than half a cup of food for the entire day.
41-The largest recorded littler of puppies born to a Chihuahua was ten puppies. Thatās a lot of pups for a Chi mama!
42-The Toltec and Aztec Indian tribes in Mexico considered Chihuahuas to be sacred. Unfortunately for the poor Chihuahuas, though, that meant they were sometimes used as sacrifices in religious ceremonies.
43-In 1904, a Chi named Midget was the first Chihuahua to be registered with the AKC. He was owned by H. Raynor of El Paso, Texas.
44-Despite being prone to chills and shivering due to being cold, many healthy adult Chihuahuas enjoy playing in the snow. This is okay as long as the Chihuahua only stays out aboutĀ Ā 20 minutesĀ in above freezing temperatures and is kept on a leash or supervised in a safe, enclosed area.
45-Some say thatĀ Christopher ColumbusĀ believed this breed was mute when he first came across them. The facts are just a little bit different. Historians agree that he must have been surprised by his discovery of the Chihuahua, a dog never previously seen by the Europeans. However, he didnāt make a written record that the dogs were mute. He must have come across a Chi that was a bit shy, and he did make a note in his journal that the breed seemed rather quiet.
46-A A popular urban legend says thatĀ chihuahuas can cure asthma. (Not true, I still have asthma. Lucy, you arenāt doing your job!)
47-Chihuahuas first appeared in artworkĀ in 300 BC.
48-Chihuahuas should always be supervised when outside. Because of their small size, they have been known to be swooped up byĀ eaglesĀ andĀ hawks, and attacked byĀ wolves,Ā coyotes, and evenĀ alligators.
49-There are many stories about unscrupulous āpuppyā sellers having sold rats to naive customers, passing them off as Chihuahua puppies. There is at least one documented case from Brazil in which a person paid $487 for a rat after being told it was a Chihuahua.
50-Since this breed is such a tiny dog, a miniature teacup Chihuahua is a redundant term. They are āteacupā sizedā though this terminology is a marketing term and not an official canine classification.
51-Chihuahuas have moreĀ Cesarean sectionsĀ than any other breed due to the newbornsā extremely large heads in relation to their bodies and the narrow width of most Chi females.
52-Female Chis shed more than males. They shed even more if they have not been spayed because of the hormones. They will also shed more than normal after delivering pups.
53-There is some belief that Chihuahuas may have some roots in theĀ MediterraneanĀ and became established on the island ofĀ Malta. A small dog similar to a chihuahua lived there that had aĀ MoleraĀ (soft spot on the head). Chihuahuas are the only breed known for that trait.
54-Chihuahuas are the second most euthanized breed in shelters. Pitbulls are the first.
55-Chihuahuas can love everyone in their family, but they usually bond very strongly with one person.
Bonus Fun Chihuahua Facts
56- Did you know that there has been mention of an earlier version of the Chihuahua that is much larger than the Chihuahua we see today? It is said that this dog breed shrunk in size when it was crossed with a smaller hairless dog from Asia.
57- While they may have a tiny body, they have the biggest brain in the dog world. They are easy to train and Chihuahuas are very smart. Some may argue that this dog breed borders on genius!
58- Tiny dogs are often considered to be the most aggressive toward humans and those not in their dog breed because some feel they are trying to compensate for their small size. For this reason, the dog owner is urged to socialize their Chihuahua early on with other people and animals.
59- We mentioned earlier how they were known in Texas and Arizona, but did you know that a feral pack of Chihuahuas actually took over and terrorized a town in Arizona back in 2014? More than 6000 calls by residents were made to animal control. The feral pack was blamed on the animals not being spayed and neutered which allowed them to run rampant and mate as they wanted.
60- The Chihuahua falls under the toy breed group and is classified as a lapdog companion according to the American Kennel Club.
Interested in a Chihuahua puppy for your family? We hope you were able to learn a bit more about this breed. They may be small but are fiercely loyal and make great watchdogs. They often prove to be affectionate housemates and are highly intelligent. Training is easy because they are such quick learners.
So, if you want a dog that you can form a close bond with that is loyal to you, then the Chihuahua is definitely the dog breed to consider adding to your family.
A Chihuahua is a Chihuahua no matter if they have long hair, short hair, or are a different color. Go ahead and share your Chihuahua stories with us below in the comments!
Hope enjoyed all these Chihuahua facts. I enjoyed compiling them for you.
Here are a few related posts you might also like:
50 Interesting Facts About Dogs
History and Origins of Chihuahuas
Cathy Bendzunas
Pet Blogger
Thanks so much for all the info it was truly appreciated.
You’re welcome Andrea š
I enjoyed reading about my puppy, she is 11 years old and my truly best friend. Just wanted to tell you I have a bad cold and cough as it’s our winter season now in Australia,and strangely enough my Dinky started sneezing and has a runny nose. So I think what you said about them getting sick because you were is right.
Hope you feel better soon Doreen!
I was wondering if anyone uses a car seat for their dog.. We adopted Jessie in June and he wants to sit n my lap while driving.
Hi Wanda,
Yes a lot of us use car seats for our chis. We have an article on it here if your’e interested: https://ilovemychi.com/does-you-chihuahua-need-a-car-seat/
I bought a car seat for my chi but she didn’t like it
I bought a booster seat which hooks securely to the back seat. It allows my little girl, Bella, to see outside. She absolutely loves it! Told me “four paws up on my booster seat, mommy.”
That’s great Marguerite! Some dogs love car seats and other don’t. But they are important to keep the fur kids safe.
Hi Wanda,
I use a car seat for all 3 of mine. They dont get in the car unless they are buckled in. We do a lot of traveling, we have a fifth wheel, so a car seat is a must.
Amazon has some really nice ones, you might want to take a look!
I’m a animal nierd I know so many facts and I’m only 10 years old I just wanted to say that chihuahuas are the 4th most popular dog
I wish they were Jamie! Then maybe there wouldn’t be so many in shelters.
According to the American Kennel Club they are the 30th most popular breed: http://www.akc.org/content/news/articles/most-popular-dog-breeds-full-ranking-list/
I agree with the 10yo. At least for the most registered dogs around the world they are the 4th most popular with #1 being the Labrador retriever, second is German Shepherds, 3rd are poodles of all sizes, and the 5th are golden retrievers! This is as of 2013 FCI world wide figures. Plus a photo of my baby girl, I thought she was apple head, but now think she may be both Apple & deer head… what do you think?
I know my question is related to a different post, but would like your opinion.. hereās more photos to go off of , tia!
.
Last, certainlyyy not least.
She’s so cute! She looks like a deer head to me.
I was just going by American statistics but it’s good that they are more popular world wide.
Thank you
You’re welcome Robbie. Your chi is a cutie.
Hereās a pic of my chi
What a cutie pie Riley!
Very interesting and there were things that I did not know, thank you for taking the time for sharing the information.
You are welcome Gail. So glad you enjoyed it!
Loved learning more about my baby Bella thanks
You are welcome Kym.
That is so awesome ! I now know so much more about my fur baby, thank you for all the information! ?
You’re welcome Katye.
Just something I noticed and wonder…
From what I have experienced, long hair chis are friendlier, quieter, and less shaky than short hair chis.
I wonder if that is the papillon in them.
That very well could be the reason Chrissy.
Thank You For The Info on chihuahuas i read everything!! i have a chihuahua Pomeranian shes the best & i just adore her shes the best thing that has ever happened to me!!
Youāre welcome Debraās! I bet sheās adorable.
A couple things, two long coats can NOT produce a smooth coat and some Chi’s have a molera(soft spot on top of the head) for life.
Other than that, some of those facts were interesting.
Actually 2 short hair dogs can have a long haired dog. Check out this article: http://www.animalgenetics.us/Canine/Canine-color/Length.asp
You are right thought about the molera, sometimes that will stay soft for life. I’ll fix that in the articel.
my very first Chi came from 2 smooth coat parents..and btw Paige you are wrong… a very good friend of mine is a breeder…he had a smooth coat pup come from a pair of longhairs…4 pups in the litter..2 long haired…1 medium…1 smooth….
Thank you so much I didn’t know…
You are welcome Lupe.
Enjoyed reading this Info, only got one chi but I am looking for another one is not enough! !
Thanks Lynne and you are right. One is never enough!
We have three large German Shepherds but I brought home a Chihuahua puppy(Daisy)…now I want more! My dogs love her as we do. It’s true what they say, Chihuahuas are big dogs in a small body.
What a sweet photo Cyndi! Does Daisy boss the big dogs around?
Not yet but she has a big personality so I believe it won’t be long. Lol.
I have a brother and sister my cousin breeds them they are only seven months they play so good together they are great for bipolar people or depression or just company I would not trade it for nothing they are my world
I agree Angel.
This is very interesting. My favorite breed ever.
Glad you enjoyed it Susie.
i have 2 chis thanks for the info great to know
You’re welcome Connie
Great information!!! I love my chi, Louie, to the moon and back!ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
Glad you liked it Lori!
Interesting information. One of my two rescued chis is in my lap as I read this.
Glad you like it Lenie.
[…] If you enjoyed this article, you may want to read this: 55Facts About Chihuahuas. […]
I am with the local humane society and I have 17 unadoptable Chis of course all spayed and neutered. I learned so much from your 55 Facts About Chihuahuas, thank you
You’re welcome Kathleen.
Is it true that a female needs to be neutered by a certain age if they do not have a litter or they can get something that can kill then?
Not really Crystal. If you let them get middle aged without spaying, then yes, they are more prone to uterine issues and cancers. But once they are spayed, there won’t be anything to cause those issues.
And it’s best not to neuter too early too. For awhile, they were spaying and neutering at just a few months old and now it’s been found that neutering too early can cause health problems too.
How old can they be to get spayed? Mines not a āpuppyā , and hasnāt been spayed. I only adopted her a couple months ago, and my mom being the previous owner for over a year did not get it done either, and she was already 2yo at that point.
It’s fine to get her spayed now Angelise. Being a young adult, she should have no problems with it.
My little guy’s name is Jack and he all black. He is a sweetie. Thank you for the info.
Your’e welcome Earline!
I have a half Chihuahua, half JRT rescue dog that seems to have gotten the lions share of his traits from his Chi mother. Alfie is the SMARTEST dog I’ve ever had and completely potty trained. He never soils or urinates in the house and can be left inside “loose” if I go anywhere. Based upon his behavior, I think the general belief that Chihuahuas are at best difficult and usually impossible to potty train is NOT correct!
You are lucky Dawna. I hear from many pet parents who struggle a lot with potty training. But with consistent training, I believe it can be corrected. These little guys are smart but can be stubborn.
I feel so lucky that my chi, Hunni ?, would always go potty as soon as the previous owner let her in. They never took the time to really train her correctly i.e. would just put her out back to go potty and she wouldnāt till let back in, so she asked if I truly wanted her because she would pee & poo all over my house. From the very start I looked up how to train my adult Chi according to the dog whisperer, and did exactlyyy as directed. It worked well; although I donāt let her loose without supervision with this weāve only had TWO accidents. Though sheās had a few other accidents elsewhere as she smells where other dogs have gone, and sheāll try to mark over it thinking itās ok /: Iām so glad to have my Hunni trained by going out and walking WITH her, and in the beginning rewarding when she went! Now she loves to be taken out for a short walk to go potty. The dog whisperer an help so many people with their pets in manyy ways so check him out! Thanks for the fun facts except #42 & #54 ?
That’s great you got her potty trained. It’s often hard with adult dogs.
We have two mixed breed Chihuahua’s and the one that we got at five months from the humane society has taken forever to get potty trained. We have had him about a year and he is doing well, most days. It has been very difficult to get him to go outside. Any rug that we have in the bathroom or near and entrance has been fair game for him even though we always make sure to have a potty pad lying around. The other one that we have hasn’t had the slightest problem and is good a communicating when she needs to go out.
You may want to get little pee pads for your male, Chis. My daughter has a little boy that occasionally sprays chair legs, etc. He now wears a pee pad when he comes over! She has 3 very lovable chis and we love them all.
Ive learned so much about my lil girl Patron
I’m glad it helped Shakira.
Thank you so much š
My experiences compares to some of the facts and some of the comments:
1. I had just minor problems with potty training my male chi, it took about 3 weeks with a vigilant eye. Their metabolism seem to be the problem, not intelligence or will. He is sooo shameful if I oversleep and he can’t wait anymore…
2. I live in an arctic enviroment but my long coated buddy handle it as a champ, with some apropriate clothing. 60-90 minutes in -5 celsius seems to be the limit, depending on activity level. He loves jumping around in deep snow and does it on his own.
3. My buddy goes great with other breeds, in fact better with fast breeds like greyhounds and setters than other small dogs. He runs after them a 110 mph and continues the play with jumping and teasing. I’m amazed of how much distance he can cover in one day if he wants to, I bet it’s far more than me.
So that’s a short summary of one 5 pound chihuahua. He can be a pain in the… sometimes, stubborn, flat out insane, but mostly goofy and fun. Reflects me, I assume š
He’s a cutie Jeb. My Lucas is extremely fast too. I have timed him running in the doggy door to upstairs to my room in less than 3 seconds!
I’ve never thought of timing him, but will try to! Thank you for a good tip š
Cathy, I just rescued this Chihuahua mix from the local humane. He seems to have all the wonderful qualities of a Chihuahua, but he has 16.6 pounds! I thought you might be a pug mix. What do you think?
Yeah he could have some pug in him. I think they call them chugs. He’s cute!
my sweet Jazzy is in Heaven now, she is so precious that her Creator could not resist her. May God bless all chihuahuas She loved everyone and everyone loved her. People would stop me in the street to ask me if their children could have their pictures takenwith her. Of course I said yes and she loved them. She was. really special to me,, just like yours is to you.
I’m so sorry you lost your little Jazzy.
By the way, I have a sugar glider named Jazzy.
My one year Midjet is a long hair Chi with a poofteenth of cavoodle… but super attached. she is actually bigger than my Maltx… very long… I swear sometimes she’s even part cat the way she drapes herself over me… and I’ve never owned a cat!
LOL. If she’s long, could she be mixed with a dachshund?
Many of your origin facts are incorrect, although common. I suggest confirming facts with some Aztecs, they actually do know the breeds history and origin better than settlers (regardless of how āexpertā they are).
I don’t know any Aztecs to ask. Are they even still around? I thought they had all died out or were absorbed in other cultures.
Anyway when doing research, I didn’t see any facts of the breed from the Aztec’s point of view. If you know where I can find them, please let me know Krista.
I enjoyed your article on Apple heads v. Deer heads and wanted to send you some pictures and now I seem unable to get back to that link. Anyway my current Chihuahua is a male called Mr. BB because after I got him at eight weeks he began eating a lot and became a big boy – at a mature weight of ten pounds. I believe heās a Apple head but not sure. He could be a Deer head with broken ears. Picture attached.
I also had another Chi named Bella Nina who died at seven from Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis. I believe she was a Deer head. Attached is picture of her with my Rat Terrier, Queenie. Please confirm whether Mr. BB and Nina are Deerheads. Thanks in advance. Also attached is a picture of another one of my Rat Terriers, Minnie, who I think must have a lot of Chihuahua in her. She is eight pounds and I think has a beautiful Deer head face. Great personality.
I did get your photos and will answer your questions just as soon as I get a few spare minutes.
I am sending giant congrats to our unbelievably beautiful CHI OF THE WEEK, Pudding. What a sweat puppy she is! I know her owner is very proud of her.
Lucas is his usual handsome self, love him!!!
My dogs would not use the car seats. I think we introduced them to the seats too late in their life. Should have done that while they were puppies.
Thanks to Cathy for all the great information!!
Pudding really is unbelievably beautiful Dixie.
My site hold comments in moderation until I approve them because of spammers trying to add junky comments. But you’ve been a long time commenter and it shouldn’t be holding yours in moderation.
Cathy, what is moderation? It says my post is awaiting moderation, lol
Hi Cathy
I really enjoyed reading the facts. I love my little Scooter so much. Heās white with some brown markings. And he is deaf. A lot of white dogs/animals in general who are white are deaf. It has to do with the pigment in their skin, or something like that. Anyway thanks for the newsletter.
Lisa & Scooter
Your’e welcome Lisa!
i wish I could get one of dwarf chiuluia I can teach dog of sign language I am deaf so I need one of those it hard for me to find one easy for help I did to my dog one I teach my dog she is hearing and do good learn fast for stuff and ask me go potty I say oi same as cookies or something I say sit etc she did know what cookiws is what like treat bones or stuff lol I say come with me bed she come to me and watch me like if happen of my health
I found this very interesting. Chico is my boy and yes he is so
intelligent, many people have commented on him.
He was a rescue, Iām so glad to have him…….
We have 2 chihuahuas and 1 of them in particular when excited ‘honks’ like s goose.
That definitely sounds like reverse sneezing.
I truly enjoyed this read! I love my Chi….just by chance,
My dog gags often and does the cough thing. Not like kennel cough,but it is like a honk. I took her to the vet and that was a waste. I have read and read and havenāt came up with anything. She donāt have any other symptoms. Anyone have a thought? š¬
Yep, it sounds like Reverse Sneezing which is quite common in chis. Here’s an article on it:
https://ilovemychi.com/reverse-sneezing-in-chihuahuas/
@Cathy, https://ilovemychi.com/tracheal-collapse-in-chihuahuas/ from your articles.This may be an answer. Be sure to harness and not collar walk your chi.
I have 3 chihuahuas 1 long haired (Elvis) apple head, 1 medium haired (Presley) apple head and 1 smooth haired (Priscilla) doe head. Elvisā molera never did close. You are correct, they do attach themselves to one person, and itās not me!! We do crate them when we are not home, when I open their (beds), they run right past me to my wife, But, they only listen to me. Presley is the smartest of the 3, Priscilla has the āSmall Dog Symdrumā , she doesnāt like any other dog larger than herself. We never have fights between them.
That’s great that they don’t fight Aaron.
I take it yall are Elvis fans? Did you know I’m his 3rd cousin. I never met him but my dad knew him as a child.
Lucy’s molera never did close either.
My chihuahua likes to press boundaries and has escaped death 4 times. Once she fell off a roof she managed to get on and hit the cement. By the time she made it to the vet she was fully recovered. The vet said sheās a wonder dog and I believe it.
Wow! That’s amazing Autumn!
Really enjoyed the 55 facts. So much to learn about these tiny loves! Pokita ās ( 16 years young) Mom
Sinatra did indeed give Marilyn a Maltese terrier near the end of her life, a dog she rather wickedly named Mafia, or Maf for short (some claim the dog’s full name was Mafia Honey).May 1, 2010
The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of his Friend Marilyn …www.theguardian.com āŗ life-maf-dog-monroe-ohagan
Interesting Tamara Lynn. Thanks for letting us know.
Maf was the name of the toy white poodle (not a chihuahua) that Sinatra gifted Marilyn with. She named the poodle that apparently to tease Sinatra. This is documented in several Sinatra and Marilyn biographies.
Marilyn Monroe Chihuahua
Image of marilyn monroe chihuahua
http://www.pinterest.com
Featured snippet from the web
5 Surprising Facts Chihuahuas
In 1948, Marilyn Monroe owned a Chihuahua named Josefa (sometimes called Choo Choo). … They might be the smallest breed, but Chihuahuas have taken the whole world by storm.
1: Marilyn Monroe Had a Chihuahua | Small Dogs | Animal ..
My Gracie is a chihuahua mix , her mother is pure bred, father is yorkie and shih tzu, so what does that make her sheās absolutely adorable the sweetest pup ever. However she sheds horrible and has so many skin issues I spend so much money trying to keep her comfortable, any suggestions
I have had several Chihuahuas in my adult life, some referred to them as an angkle biter,or a 4 legend door bell. I always saw them as best friends, cuddle buddies, just fur covered love.
LOL. I can see their point about being a doorbell. You really don’t need one with these little guys around.
We just adopted from a rescue a 12 week old chihuahua. He is a brindle and very smart. We have him house broken in just a few days and has bonded with me. Such a cutie
You are very blessed to have a house broken chi at such a young age!
I so love my little Oscar but he has started to snap and bite myself, partner and my son, visitors too! Afterwards he seems very sorry and wants to make up. We tried everything but he will still bite. Vet says he is perfectly healthy. Any idea what to do ???
Once this problem starts, it’s hard to break in chis as some of them are just naturally aggressive. We do have an article on biting that has some ideas of what you can do here: https://ilovemychi.com/how-to-stop-dog-biting/
I have a 9 lbs deer head, white and a 4 lbs apple head, black and tan. We call her the teacup dobermann. Love all of my furbabies and if I ask you not to bother them, respect that.
I laughed at the teacup doberman. Thanks for sharing about them Shannon!
thank you for these interesting facts! when it comes to size, I have to say that my Hector gets along much much better with bigger or even big dogs, rather than small ones. He’s very dominant, with small dogs, even fellow chihuahuas, he always tries to dominate them, he makes himself big by sticking out his ches and standing very erect, growls and lets them know who’s the boss š he has a lot more respect for bigger dogs. he also prefers the big ladies, especially labradors and golden retrievers.
That’s really interesting Roxy!
Per some elderly people my father grew up around they said if we got a chihuahua it would cure my brothers asthma and allergies. My dad got our first chihuahua. My brother was not sick again with his asthma or allergies until he left home. I’m a believer.
Dang, I wish it would work for me! I still have asthma and allergies.
I have a chihuahua name CeCa she has been in my family for 7 years old,one day she got up and would not have anything to do with me she is scared of me I have never hurt her anyway what can I do to make her love me again
That is so weird. I wonder if she had a nightmare about you and didn’t realize it was a dream. The only thing I can think of is just continue to be sweet and gentle to her but don’t try to force her to come to you. Hopefully she will come around.
Thanks for the interesting read. Just to let you know that my chi is a great boy. Picked him up at shelter when he was only 4 months old. Got an older female lab, and he followed her everywhere and learned to go outside to do his business from her. Only had two small accidents in the beginning. And I take him out around 9 to go before he climbs into bed with me, and usually makes it til 8 or 9 in the morning before he wakes up and is ready to go out again. Thought there would be a problem early on,but he is well adjusted and no potty problem whatsoever.
You are really lucky Richard! He sounds like a wonderful little guy.
@Cathy, He’s the best. I have two wonderful fur babies that I am thankful for. And having an adult dog around really makes it easier to train little ones.
I’m glad you have your wonderful fur kids Richard!
I have a chihuahua also. He’s pretty jumpy. Sometimes when he’s excited he howls. It’s a funny hi pitch. Sometimes he tries to squeeze behind me in the seat while I’m driving.
I remember one time, he ate something that made him break out into little bubbles. Like someone randomly put those tiny packing bubbles under his skin.
He used to be able to jump very high, but after he got neutered, he got chubby [He got over it within 6 hours.
He sounds like quite the character. Do you have any idea what he ate to make him have bubbly skin?
We have both a Cocoa 6 y/o female full size Chi, Princess, and a Mostly White Small Toy 18 m/o Make, Prince.
They recently “tagged” and on 7/20/21, Princess had 6 adorable Pups, 2 Male, 4 Female.
All started about 5 am, and unassisted until about 6:45,
There were no issues and she has been a great Mommy since.
I will forever be a Chi Dad.
(Retired K-9 Trainer).
Congratulations “Grand-dad”!
Also, wanted you to know,
When you spoke about intelligent breed,
My 6 y/o Princess is a Registered Certified Service Dog.
My wife has a condition where she passes out, (Blood Pressure drops), Princess has detected it, and comes to alert me if I am not around her, (in another area of the house),
She has been a Life Saver.
Princess is a little hero!
There were a few facts new to me, so thank you for this fun and interesting read.
My Chihuahua is also mixed with Scottie and Yorkie so barely sheds. His personality keeps us smiling time and again. I have always called him a diva even though he is male. He will often refuse a human food offering by turning his face away from it until it is broken up into his bite size and Hand fed. SEEā¦ā¦.total divaā¦.lol.
I would say the challenge these days with our boy is determining who his bonded human is. He is now 7, and we got him as a 10 week old pup. Originally, he was favoring my youngest son, whose dog he was supposed to be for. Here lately, he has shown no tendency toward any one person in the house (there are 5 of us). All family members are 18 or older. When in my room with my husband and myself in bed, half the time he snuggles up to me, the other times itās with me or by himself on the loveseat at the foot of the bed. When my daughter gets up to go to work, he clamors for her attention and she has taught him a few cute tricks. He still loves to sleep on my youngest sonās lap (the son who he was supposed to belong to) when heās gaming on his computer. If not interested in lap snoozing, he will hang out on my oldest sonās bed and snooze on nap #6 with him. Oh, and letās not forget the howling/singing he does when the other dogs in the house are barking (he learned to howl from a bassett we had until she passed 3 years ago).
So, not real sure how to determine who is his bonded human. Of course, if you have chicken or cheese, you are definitely his favorite at that moment.
Thanks for letting me share my boy with you.
LOL, he does sound like a little diva.
Since he’s not all chi, he may not have that total tendency to only have one human.
Thanks for sharing about him!
Loved this article. I recently adopted a 9 yr. old Chi mix, she’s 8#, has attached to me and is learning new things by leaps and bounds. She was never socialized, so that has/is my hardest lessons. We’re getting there tho.
I’m so glad she found a good home with you Anna!
My dad got my first Chihuahua for me when I was three years old, she was at a pet tore around the corner from us I picked her out. She lived to be seventeen yrs and was protective of my brother and I, she did play a lot with us our dad just loved her. I’ve had 7 Chi’s over the years along with other breeds Chi’s are my breed next is Shih-Tzu. I’m having trouble with our Chi now, she is the only one able to back out of her harness and thinks when she does it we will play. This is dangerous especially near the street, she won’t come after slipping out because to her it’s playtime. I recently bought an Escape proof harness for her, she can get out of it rather quickly too. Any ideas of another type of harness? If I can’t find one we will go back to the collar even though we don’t like them. Any thoughts from anyone? Thank You!
What kind of harness have you been using? I know the ones with thin straps are easy to get out of but the ones that kind of look like shirts, like this one: https://amzn.to/3eSJGy3 usually stay on better. If she is getting out because she is so tiny, try a harness for a ferret.
My chi was so loving to everyone, only no man could approach me, without her growling at them. She loved my grandchildren and they could do anything with her…. however, when they went to kiss me goodbye she would jump between us and steal the kiss… so my grandchildren learned to love on her first and then while petting her give me an uninterrupted kiss. Sweet memories, I will cherish forever.
That is sweet Seth!
The info about the healing aspects of Chis is so interesting. Don Lorenzo, age 4, is super-glued to my Daughter, but one day he spent four hours right next to me when I had a bad flare-up of Fibromyalgia. He was so still, he didn’t even open his eyes. Of course, he made me feel better just knowing another being cared so much about me. I think others have experienced this healing behavior with their Chis because the stories come from different cultures and times. Thank you for the great facts!
You’re welcome Suzy!
Cathy, I’m sending love and prayers for you. You do so much for us Chi lovers. I will pray everyday and hope you recover successfully. Much love.
Carolyn Dennison
Thank you Carolyn!
My prayers are with you Cathy and i love all the information that you give to us regarding Chihuahuas.
Thank you Raylee!
Dear Kathy I’m sending my best wishes thinking of you I know you will get through this try to be positive think about your lovely fur babies they bring such joy love and thoughts from Pat Boston and Bumble
Thank you Pat!
I am very shocked to hear your recent health diagnosis Cathy. I hope you are getting the very best of care. Have you heard of ESSIAC tea,? a herbal remedy that is known to cure cancer and can be taken along with other treatment. There is lots of information online about ESSIAC tea, well worth a read. I WISH YOU A FULL AND SPEEDY RECOVERY.XOX
Thank you Sandra. No, I haven’t heard of that tea but I’ll definitely look it up. Thanks!
Diane,Kurt,
Love their lil’Coco, so very much, is it possible for the owners to die of a broken heart, since he passed before us ? I really think so,… Broken, by his “Love” !!! š„ŗ
I had a short haired deer chihuahua, who lived until she was 10 yrs old. She passed away from cancer in her brain, due to seizures. She passed 3years ago. Now Iām trying to get another girl Chihuahua, but having
a hard time finding one or two.
Thank you for the information on Chihuahuaās.
Your story of feral chiuauasin Arizona,. Giveeimfo I really want another since mine passed away. I, ll take two if cheap enough don, t.need papers, I, m on SS someone please sell me a dog I miss her!
Sorry Thomas, that’s an older story. I have no idea if they still have a feral chihuahua problem or how to adopt one of them.
My Chi is so affectionate, so loving and loyal. But she barks at everything any time of the day. My neighbors on three sides all have dogs. If my Chi is outside when any of them are out, all bets are off.
How do I insert a picture?
Hi Jim,
You can’t put a photo on here anymore. The plugin I used to use that let readers add photos no longer works and I haven’t found anything to replace it.
My Chi watches TV, intensely. No dogs are allowed in foreground or background on the TV. She will attack the TV if I don’t hold onto her.
Too funny. One of my dogs likes to watch TV too and he will growl at the animals but he’s never tried to attack them.
My chi likes to ride my walker and my mobility scooter..he is a four year old rescueā¦
I bet that’s cute Irene.
Hi, do you know what enzyme my chi is missing if she eats her own poop?
I don’t think anyone knows for sure but it is suspected that it may be zinc and copper and vitamin B deficiencies. We have an article about dogs eating poop here: https://ilovemychi.com/why-dogs-eat-poop/
Iām having a hard time with my chi peeing. He goes all the time when I take him out but still will just pee on floor a bd sometimes if heās sitting on my lap. Very frustrating! Any ideas why?? Thanks!
If he’s peeing in weird places like your lap or bed, first get him checked by your vet. He may have a bladder infection or other physical problem.
If he has always been this way, he needs a refresher in potty training. Check out this post: https://ilovemychi.com/housetraining-your-chihuahua/
Until you get this under control, I’d get some belly bands on him when he’s in the house.
I have had chihuahuas and pit bulls together. My elderly toothless chi killed a nest of mice that got into our house. He pounced and killed then so fast! Potties ran away from mouse.
LOL, that sounds like my friend’s pittie. She would run away terrified every time she heard her own fart. It was so funny.
Really enjoyed your 50 interesting facts! Even though I am on Chi # 5 I learned a lot from your list. Hard to imagine a mute chihauhau. Iām lucky that I have never had my pack go wild with barking as I have with a different Breed.
I consider my two Chihauhau barking a service to me because my little loved ones āalert meā all the time when someone is in our space that I did not notice. They are my āAlertā dogs.
Yeah they do make great watch dogs though it can get annoying when they bark at every little leaf blowing in the wind.
Loved all of this information, my first
Chi, Louis, was a rescue, I got a bag of dog food for Louis and Java, my poodle, opened it and fed them, Java threw all his food up, but Louis did not!
They kept him and did everything they could, but he passed. My Java, because he threw it all up, survived, but the vet wanted him on a strong antibiotic, just in case!
Java was so broken-hearted and just moped around for weeks. I went and picked out a puppy. When I brought Latte’ home, I put her in a basket on the kitchen counter, she was so little, she fit right in my hand. I put a towel in the floor, in a circle and called Java over, he stuck his butt up in the air, one front leg stretched outon each side of the towel and his butt in the air and he rubbed his face gently all over her, ALL OVER HER, she was his from that moment and he would not allow anyone to pick her up but me, ROFL
That’s so sweet Catherine! I’m so sorry you lost Louis though and of all things, bad food! Can I ask which food it was? And I assume you aren’t still feeding them that.
My husband and I enjoyed your Fifty Interesting Facts. We actually learned a lot! Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked it Ann!
i had a chihiwawa
I got a female 7 week old chihuahua pup 2 days ago (parents are partners relatives dogs) sheās settling in brilliantly, we also have a cat whoās a scared of everything, heās slowly getting used to her but any advice would be brilliant, also have a 5 year old autistic son, heās really good with animals and loves her to much. Any advice would be appreciated š
Congratulations on your new puppy! It sounds like everything is going well but I do have a few posts to give you some tips:
https://ilovemychi.com/are-chihuahuas-good-with-cats/
https://ilovemychi.com/do-chihuahuas-and-children-mix/
When we had our Ellie Mae if we said the word Pizza she would run thru the house sqeeling because she loved Pizza. And Ellie Mae never missed a thing that went on . Even when you thought she was sleeping she would pop right up and look at you. Ellie loved riding in the car . One day my husband ran an errand and didnāt take her well she sat there crying. I had to give my husband hell when he got home! We miss herš¢
Aww, Ellie Mae sounds like she was a special pup!
Very good information let me learn more about my puppy Daisy.. thank you
You’re welcome Kevin!
It broke my heart to read that Chis are the second most breed to be put to sleep! I just couldn’t believe that!!! I live in OK and every time I go somewhere, people just come up to me and want to pet my Bella. I find that MORE PEOPLE IN MY AREA HAVE CHIS! I just LOVE my little Bella. First Chi I EVER had! If I was younger, I would rescue all I could and give them love!!!
Yeah I had a hard time believing it too. Here on the east coast, it’s often hard to find available chihuahuas in shelters. I do know California and Texas tend to have a lot in their shelters. Maybe becuase they border Mexico.
I hear that they don’t get bigger than ten lbs.My CHIHUAHUAS is 17 lbs.And hes a pure breed and hes a deer head.Is that common to have a chi that weight and size.
Yep it sometimes happens. Just like with people. But it’s not the breed norm.
Hello,My name is Lisa.I have a chihuahua as i was reading your artical about the sizes and weight of a chi is usualy 6lbs or lighter.My brucie is 17lbs.And he is pure breed chi.He is a deerhead chi.He is a little bigger than i have even noticed.So is this rare or common.
It’s somewhat rare but it does happen sometimes. just like some people are really tall (think Shaquille O’Neal) some dogs get really big too.