Chihuahuas!

Dakotah

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#41
Aw Fran, gah Romeo is freakin' adorable. He looks like he could go for hours playing lol <3
 

Beanie

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#42
I just want you all to know that every time I see this thread title I hear the song from Beverly Hills Chihuahua...
what can make you move? CHIHUAHUA can you feel the groove? CHIHUAHUA
 

~Jessie~

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#43
Hi!

I have 4 chihuahuas and they are my favorite breed.

Three out of my four are VERY active. They can all go on long hikes and will go as far as I will take them. Tucker especially loves when we go to TN and can hike in the snow.

They're small... but are definitely far from delicate. In a lot of ways they remind me of terriers. They're very intelligent, definitely trainable, but not as biddable as Rory (my border collie). Rylie can break out of her crate within 5 minutes of being locked in it. They're good problem solvers.

All of mine are also big into jumping... and their favorite places are the tops of the couches. FAR from delicate dogs.

I wouldn't say they're one person dogs at all. They will equally love on both my husband and I. They are definitely lap dogs and want to be with you ALL THE TIME. They follow me into the bathroom. My lap is never free!

They also love to burrow under blankets- especially the short coated ones! Be careful where you sit :p Mine all sleep under the covers in my bed at night as well.

They're generally a healthy breed, and very long lived. Average life expectancy is 12-20 years. Common health issues are luxating patella (find a breeder who health tests) and collapsing trachea (use a harness when walking them).

Rory is my barkiest dog... so chihuahuas aren't as "yappy" as their reputation says! Rylie likes to bark out the window. Haha. The others will only bark if there's a noise to alert them.

Breed standard calls for 2-6lbs. Most often you'll find them weighing 4-7lbs. There are only two types of chihuahuas- long coats and short coats. Like I said, they are STURDY dogs for being so small!

I had typed up more, but Chaz ate it... so if you have any questions just feel free to ask!
 

Maxy24

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#44
I feel like an athletic breed might be better for you. Regardless of activity level, they have short legs and I feel like keeping up with you for a long period of time might be hard for them. Like I said, Tucker's fast, fun, playful, and very busy but when it comes to just GOING for a long time he starts to lag and wants to rest, I beat him at endurance. And he's 16 pounds. Though I am sure conditioning has a lot to do with endurance too...it's hard to say.
 

~Jessie~

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#45
And pictures!

Breed standard calls for an apple domed head... which has a 90 degree angle from the snout to the forehead. Chihuahuas often have moleras... which are small soft spots on the tops of their skulls.

For example, Rylie:


20060105-DSC_4145 by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

Tucker LOVES snow! He gets SO excited about it!


Eating Snow by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

Chihuahuas can fly. Emma is constantly jumping on everything and the world is her jungle gym.


The Flight by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

Chihuahuas come in an amazingly awesome assortment of colors and markings. Blues, chocolates, fawns, creams, brindles, reds, tri colors, parti colors, etc, etc. Chloe is white with blue merle markings.


20060105-DSC_4127 by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr
 

milos_mommy

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#46
Jessie, out of curiosity, what do you mean by "long hikes"? As in, how many miles, over what sort of terrain, etc?

I think for the average athletic family, a chihuahua would be a fine match, but the ones I've known just have not been cut out of any kind of extreme sports or intense hiking, but that could either be breeding or that they're simply not used to it.
 

~Jessie~

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#47
Jessie, out of curiosity, what do you mean by "long hikes"? As in, how many miles, over what sort of terrain, etc?

I think for the average athletic family, a chihuahua would be a fine match, but the ones I've known just have not been cut out of any kind of extreme sports or intense hiking, but that could either be breeding or that they're simply not used to it.
Our average "walks" are ~3 miles (a few times a week). They've been on ~5 mile long hikes (I'd consider those to be long :p ) through Florida terrain which is generally flat and somewhat muddy. In TN, in the snow, Tucker's made it ~2-3 miles and still wanted to keep going in the end. Terrain is hilly and snowy with lots to climb over in the Smokies.

Does this help?

Of course they aren't going to have the endurance of breeds more suited to athletic activities, but they LOVE walks/hikes and can keep up with a lot of breeds (at least breeds under 20 lbs).
 

Dakotah

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#48
I just want you all to know that every time I see this thread title I hear the song from Beverly Hills Chihuahua...
what can make you move? CHIHUAHUA can you feel the groove? CHIHUAHUA
ME TOO!

Hi!

I have 4 chihuahuas and they are my favorite breed.

Three out of my four are VERY active. They can all go on long hikes and will go as far as I will take them. Tucker especially loves when we go to TN and can hike in the snow.

They're small... but are definitely far from delicate. In a lot of ways they remind me of terriers. They're very intelligent, definitely trainable, but not as biddable as Rory (my border collie). Rylie can break out of her crate within 5 minutes of being locked in it. They're good problem solvers.

All of mine are also big into jumping... and their favorite places are the tops of the couches. FAR from delicate dogs.

I wouldn't say they're one person dogs at all. They will equally love on both my husband and I. They are definitely lap dogs and want to be with you ALL THE TIME. They follow me into the bathroom. My lap is never free!

They also love to burrow under blankets- especially the short coated ones! Be careful where you sit :p Mine all sleep under the covers in my bed at night as well.

They're generally a healthy breed, and very long lived. Average life expectancy is 12-20 years. Common health issues are luxating patella (find a breeder who health tests) and collapsing trachea (use a harness when walking them).

Rory is my barkiest dog... so chihuahuas aren't as "yappy" as their reputation says! Rylie likes to bark out the window. Haha. The others will only bark if there's a noise to alert them.

Breed standard calls for 2-6lbs. Most often you'll find them weighing 4-7lbs. There are only two types of chihuahuas- long coats and short coats. Like I said, they are STURDY dogs for being so small!

I had typed up more, but Chaz ate it... so if you have any questions just feel free to ask!
Thank you for the info!
I want a Chi to be about 4-7 lbs full grown, if possibly 5-6 lbs.
Like I said, I love their size and everything, I'm just worried about them matching up to my activity level.

I feel like an athletic breed might be better for you. Regardless of activity level, they have short legs and I feel like keeping up with you for a long period of time might be hard for them. Like I said, Tucker's fast, fun, playful, and very busy but when it comes to just GOING for a long time he starts to lag and wants to rest, I beat him at endurance. And he's 16 pounds. Though I am sure conditioning has a lot to do with endurance too...it's hard to say.
Just wondering, but what breed might you have in mind?
I will probably create another thread asking that later.
Because a dog that is trainable, reliable off leash, and has an energy level to keep up with me, is a HUGE thing. Plus being able to travel, but I think that falls under the training category.
 

Dakotah

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#49
Oh btw, Jessie, I FREAKING LOVE TUCKER.
He is defintely one of the most unique colors I've seen for a Chi (or probably any breed). And he is long haired <3
 

milos_mommy

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#50
Thanks Jessie!

I usually walk at least 5 (6 or 7 isn't uncommon) miles per day in NYC in the summer...last month I hiked 3 miles which was entirely up and down stairs at some waterfalls. I do definitely plan on adding a chihuahua at some point, though...maybe sooner rather than later. For me, the perks (ability to travel on public transportation) outweighs the fact that they might be a little too small to keep up. As said, if a chihuahua gets tired on a hike, they aren't so hard to carry the rest of the way :p But it is good to put in perspective when you're used to larger athletic dogs.
 

~Jessie~

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#52
Oh btw, Jessie, I FREAKING LOVE TUCKER.
He is defintely one of the most unique colors I've seen for a Chi (or probably any breed). And he is long haired <3
Thanks!

He's a blue tricolor... I LOVE the look of him. The funny thing is, both of his parents were short coats, but 3 out of 4 of his litter ended up with SUPER fluffy blue coats.

I do love the ease of being able to travel with them. We can pack up my TSX or Ian's RSX-s with all FIVE of our dogs for trips!

Holding Emma literally feels like holding nothing- she's our smallest at 3lbs. Chloe weighs 7.5lbs and is still very easy to carry around. Super portable dogs. If you're planning on doing any air travel with yours, be sure to check out Pet Flys travel bags- they're really, really cute.
 

Dakotah

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#53
Thanks!

He's a blue tricolor... I LOVE the look of him. The funny thing is, both of his parents were short coats, but 3 out of 4 of his litter ended up with SUPER fluffy blue coats.

I do love the ease of being able to travel with them. We can pack up my TSX or Ian's RSX-s with all FIVE of our dogs for trips!

Holding Emma literally feels like holding nothing- she's our smallest at 3lbs. Chloe weighs 7.5lbs and is still very easy to carry around. Super portable dogs. If you're planning on doing any air travel with yours, be sure to check out Pet Flys travel bags- they're really, really cute.
Air travel will not be an all the time thing she all of my family is in GA and I love driving vs flying. The only time I might need to fly is to Indiana to see TJ's family or if we decide to take a random trip somewhere but that won't be for probably years lol. But again, I'd much rather drive from here to freakin Alaska than fly lol.
 

Laurelin

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#54
Ok I know this is going to be an insanely DUMB question, but what is the difference in a Pap and Chi? Other than physical appearances. I actually heard someone over talking at a petsmart a few years ago and I quote "Paps and Chis are one in the same, Paps just have big ears" And I thought to myself, granted I don't know jack sh!t about either breed but I do NOT think for one second they are "one in the same".
This notion drives me absolutely batty! I hear it so often that papillons = chihuahuas = pomeranians... it's really bizarre how everyone thinks that. To me it's like saying a dalmatian is the same thing as a lab and a hound because they're roughly a similar size and shape.

The easiest thing for me is that papillons are of spaniel ancestry, chihuahuas are terrier-like (modern chihuahuas probably have terrier ancestry), and pomeranians are spitz type dogs. So there's quite a bit of difference in them because of differing family trees.
 

Dakotah

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#55
This notion drives me absolutely batty! I hear it so often that papillons = chihuahuas = pomeranians... it's really bizarre how everyone thinks that. To me it's like saying a dalmatian is the same thing as a lab and a hound because they're roughly a similar size and shape.

The easiest thing for me is that papillons are of spaniel ancestry, chihuahuas are terrier-like (modern chihuahuas probably have terrier ancestry), and pomeranians are spitz type dogs. So there's quite a bit of difference in them because of differing family trees.
Thanks Laur.
Poms are VERY adorable but I don't like "fluffy" hair, but I like long/thick coats (if that makes sense).
Paps are adorable but I don't think they would be the dog for me, though your dogs are AH-DORABLE!
 

~Jessie~

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#56
This notion drives me absolutely batty! I hear it so often that papillons = chihuahuas = pomeranians... it's really bizarre how everyone thinks that. To me it's like saying a dalmatian is the same thing as a lab and a hound because they're roughly a similar size and shape.

The easiest thing for me is that papillons are of spaniel ancestry, chihuahuas are terrier-like (modern chihuahuas probably have terrier ancestry), and pomeranians are spitz type dogs. So there's quite a bit of difference in them because of differing family trees.
Yep, that bothers me a lot as well. People seem to lump toy breeds together and they're definitely not the same!

Chihuahuas are very terrier-like, and I think a lot of people just don't realize that. They are definitely BIG dogs in SMALL bodies... fiesty, alert, over confident...

From the AKC website:

Graceful, alert and swift-moving with a saucy expression, Chihuahuas are highly intelligent and should not be underestimated even though small in size. The breed can be any color – solid, marked or splashed and the coat may be long or short.

A graceful, alert, swift-moving compact little dog with saucy expression, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament.
 

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