According to the AKC standard a Chihuahua should not exceed 6 pounds. In real life, however, they do. Some Chihuahuas weigh in at 10 pounds or more. Some Chihuahua have longer legs and are lighter boned that is described in the AKC standard. Their muzzles tend to be longer and they have a more "deerlike" look. This type of Chihuahua is labeled a "deer type Chihuahua." The deer type Chihuahua may have some advantages as a pet. They tend to be better walking companion and they fare better in obedience trials. They are less susceptible to hypoglycemia. However, if you want a "true" Chihuahua you can show or breed, then you need to get one within the standard. If you want a "true" Chihuahua you can love, get whatever appeals to you the most.
Some Chihuahuas are at the other end of not so perfect according to the AKC standards weighing in at as little as 2 pounds. A 2 pound Chihuahua is unofficially named "teacup" or "pocket" Chihuahuas. They are not a separate type of Chihuahua but simply unusually small specimens of the breed. They are somewhat more fragile and vulnerable to hypoglycemia, but not at all "unhealthy" or full of health problems just because they are smaller.
Coat
Chihuahuas come in two coat types: Smooth coat and the less familiar long coat. Neither coat type is difficult to care for or requires long hours of careful grooming. Both types can be seen within the same litter. The long coat is not thick and requires minimal brushing of about 2 times per week. Neither coat type sheds a lot.
Color
Chihuahuas can be solid colored or parti-colored (spotted). The color pattern can be clear, sabled (dark-tipped hairs), masked, or brindled (color broken up by irregular vertical dark stripes). The shade can be basically black or diluted shades of chocolate, blue, or red or its diluted shades of gold or cream, or white.
Sex
Females tend to be smaller than males. Both males and females tend to get along well together. Some people think males may be slightly sweeter. Each has their own adversities with sex hormones and adult sexual maturity. The solution for both sexes is neutering or spaying.
Age
Most people tend to look for a puppy when adding a pet to the family. However, puppies are not for everyone. They are cute and fun, but they are also an incredible amount of work. Chihuahua puppies are more fragile than other breeds. Hypoglycemia is more prevalent especially among the teeny tiny Chihuahuas. Of they miss one meal or overexert themselves they can go into hypoglycemia very quickly.
Many Chihuahua breeders will not send a Chihuahua pup to a new home until the pup reaches at least 10 weeks of age. This is extra work for the breeder, but a breeder who is willing to take on this extra work for you, the consumer, is a breeder worth waiting for or seeking out.
Connie Limon owns Little Guys Dog Clothes Shop. Purchase designer dog clothes and accessories for your Chihuahua and other toy breeds at: http://www.littleguysdogclothesshop.com
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Your Toy Puppy's First Check-up and Settling In
Try not to take your new puppy to the vet the very first day you bring him home. Allow your new toy puppy to get acquainted with its new family, home and surroundings. Do take your toy puppy to the vet within 48 to 72 hours and begin to establish a rapport between the vet and your new puppy.
You will want to make sure you've purchased a healthy puppy. If your vet finds disease or a defect the breeder was not aware of your health guarantee may warrant a return of the puppy for a full refund or exchange within a certain amount of time.
It is important to spend time with your new toy puppy during the first week in his new home. Exercise will be important. Make sure you are also having fun and building a bond of trust. Play games together. Puppies love to run after toys you toss and bring them back to you. The more your new toy puppy focuses on you, the easier it will be to train him later.
Have a collar and leash ready to put on your new toy puppy for times you take him out. Toy dogs can be accidentally injured or killed by children or adults who might drop them, or step on them. Provide adequate supervision for the toy puppy at all times.
Expose your toy puppy to all the normal day-to-day noises in your household such as television, radio, the telephone ringing. Introduce your toy puppy to the rest of canine household. You want your new toy puppy to be accepted as a new family member. Do not bring your toy puppy inside to invade your other dog's turf until they have been properly introduced on neutral ground (belonging to neither of them at the moment). If you have more than one other canine to introduce to the new member, introduce them all one on one, to each of the others one at a time. Just as you would give lots of attention to your first-born when brining home a new baby, be sure to give lots of praise to your other dogs when in the presence of a new puppy. Pat the dog. Pat the puppy.
When the older dog or dogs show a caring, gentle reaction to the new toy puppy, praise them for their good behavior. Don't let anyone feel left out at anytime. You want to create one big happy family. Let them spend time together in the beginning under your close supervision.
Depending on the season you bring your new toy puppy home, have on hand all his special clothes. For example, if it is spring or summer, have lightweight, cotton t shirts, shirts or dresses. If it is cold weather have coats hats, sweaters and fleece t shirts readily available for inside and outside. Dressing your toy puppy can help create a healthy bond between you and your new toy puppy. Consider having several stylish collars, leashes and accessories.
Connie Limon is a Shih Tzu breeder. Buy Designer dog clothes especially for the toy breeds, coats, sweater and fleece t shirts in a variety of colors and styles at: http://www.littleguysdogclothesshop.com
This article is FREE to publish with resource box.


Dog Behavior Training - Dog Aggression Toward Its Owners
A dog that growls at and/or bites its owner does so for some reason, even if the
behavior appears to be "unreasonable" to the owner. If your dog displays
aggressive behavior towards you, for the safety and welfare of you, your family
and your dog, it's important to find out why as quickly as possible.
Call your vet right away and schedule an appointment for a complete medical
examination. Talk with your vet about testing your dogs hormonal balance,
neurophysiologic functions and allergies. The test results may reveal the
underlying cause. This has been especially helpful in dogs that have mood
swings.
When growling or biting has erupted as a consequence of scolding or punishment
for behavior such as chewing, jumping, general unruliness, or overprotection of
food, these problems must be dealt with swiftly and firmly to correct the
aggression it is initiating.
As the dogs owner, you must understand that your dog growls or bites at you as a
result of defensive feelings. Even the dog that growls when ordered off the
couch is reacting defensively, as it feels its dominance status has been
threatened.
If scolding and punishment provoke aggression, your dog is reacting to a
perceived threat to its physical safety. In either of these situations, your
own threatening behavior may be producing negative results.
If the results of a medical examination show no signs of a medical condition
that would be causing this behavior, you will have to examine your
own behavior closely to determine what you are doing to make your dog feel
threatened.
If you can't hire the services of a professional, I highly recommend you pick up
a copy of Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer by Adam Katz for indepth
instructions on dog behavior training. This ebook is available on my blog.
http://dog-behavior-training.blogspot.com/