Chihuahua Selection

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Is A Chihuahua The Right Pet For You?

Choosing a pet can be a hard decision and choosing what breed of dog to have as a pet is, perhaps, even harder. But it’s all a matter of considering the important aspects in your life, your home and your personal preference. If you go for a dog, you will need to take into consideration the size, breed, temperament, food and grooming requirements as well as the environment that it will be living in.

Temperament

The Chihuahua, being small in size, can be a good and convenient pet as it may need minimal food and maintenance. Its loyalty and closeness to its master and his mistress also makes this breed an ideal companion. 

Chihuahuas are easy to bring along as they can fit in a purse, a tote bag, a jaunt in the car or small pet carriers. They are known to enjoy outings a lot hence, they can make your trips more exciting. 

At home, this dog breed is a very curious creature so be sure to keep important and valuable stuff out of their reach. Otherwise, you would mess up your home. If not disciplined well, Chihuahuas can also control their masters. 

A distinct character of this dog that makes it different from the other breed is its being individualistic. In other words, it only interacts with its own breed and often dislikes the others. Other than his master and his mistress, the Chihuahua normally is always suspicious of other people, pets and things and reacts easily to provocation. For this reason, this dog is not advisable for homes with children as loud noises can easily provoke them. This breed is ideal for the elderly people as well as those who live in apartments and those who are fond of pampering their pets. 

For pet lovers who already have a dog or several dogs in their home, it’s best to take into account the important aspects of the Chihuahua before deciding to get this kind of breed. And for people who already have a Chihuahua, the best thing to do if you’re planning to add another dog in your home is to get the same breed. In this way, your dogs get along well inside your household. 

Health maintenance

Although petite, the Chihuahua is a strong-boned dog with a lifespan of more than 16 years. However, pet owners must be aware of the common diseases that affect this kind of breed. Some of them are the slipped stifles, a knee injury that affects the joints; jawbone disorders, eye and heart diseases; tooth and gum problems; and fractures. 

Also, Chihuahuas must not be allowed to jump from high places as they could suffer joint injuries or fractures as a result of the impact on landing. Rough playing with children should be avoided as well as it could hurt the dog. 

During the cold winter months, pet owners should avoid bringing these dogs outside without protective clothing. Chihuahuas have a high metabolism and therefore easily lose their body heat the reason why they should be kept away from cold climates. 

After keeping these things in mind, you now should have a good idea if the Chihuahua can be the right pet for you and your family.  When buying a Chihuahua make sure you pay attention to physical features as well as watching the puppies to see their personalities.

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