The Chihuahua is a feisty little dog that is incredibly loyal to its family. More often than not, the Chihuahua will attach itself to one family member in particular and dote over that person for as long as both of them will live. They do tend to get jealous if their favourite person showers more love and attention on another pet or person.
The Chihuahua breed is small in size and love to cuddle and snuggle into laps or blankets or anything that looks remotely cozy. You might want to cautious of not stepping on them due to their small size and also to prevent them from jumping off high pieces of furniture. However small they might be, the Chihuahuas do make excellent watchdogs; they aren’t very sociable with strangers and quick to bark and sound the alarm.
Chihuahuas are a little hard to train and need a lot of patience and an effective reward based system to teach and discipline them. Housebreaking them is one of the most difficult things to do. Not responding well to rough handling, the breed adapts best to older mature children. Due to their moderate energy levels, they don’t require a lot of exercise too. A daily walk and the occasional game of catch will do the trick. They like to tackle other dogs and show that they’re fearless, so you might want to keep them on a leash whilst being outdoors.
The Chihuahua’s come in two variations- the Short Coat Chihuahua and the Long Coat Chihuahua.
Care & Health-
- Major concerns: none
- Minor concerns: pulmonic stenosis, hydrocephalus, patellar luxation, KCS, hypoglycemia
- Occasionally seen: none
- Suggested tests: cardiac, knee
- Life span: 14 – 18 years
- Grooming: To avoid excessive shedding, you might want to brush the fur daily for about 5 minutes.
History:
The Chihuahuas are descendents of the Techichi dog of the Toltecs of Mexico along with the Mayan dogs of South America. The name of the breed is said to have come from a northern region of Mexico, sharing the border with Arizona and Texas. The Chihuahua was brought to Europe by the discoverer Christopher Columbus.
The modern day Chihuahua is supposed to be a cross between the Chinese Crested, to breed for a smaller size of the dog. When introduced to the States, they were referred to as the “Texas Dog” or the “Arizona Dog”.
As of 2007, the Chihuahua’s popularity ranked 12th out of 157 breeds.
The Patterdale Terrier
The Patterdale Terrier has strong hunting instincts, which makes it unsuitable for an apartment lifestyle. This breed of Terriers fall under the working dog breeds and as the name suggests, they need a lot of work. If you have an apartment, then the dog will need a lot of exercise to expend the stamina so that your house can remain intact. If left along for too long, then their tough, energetic self takes over and there’s no telling what part of the house will be unconquered by them. The Patterdale Terriers love their family and will bond very closely will them. If they have received enough exercise, they’ll be more than happy to climb onto your lap and snuggle with you.
Patterdale Terrier dogs require a daily walk or a run and love going on long walks or hikes. They are very comfortable in water and swim rather well. Because of their hunting instincts, they need to be on a leash when they’re outdoors. Their instinct to chase smaller animals might get the better of them. To avoid any unwarranted accidents or canine confrontations, it’s safer to keep them on a leash. If they do manage to run off, it’s quite difficult to heel them. Training them too can be quite the challenge; they are eager to please you but have a short attention span. The slightest of sounds can distract them. Patience and being firm is key; avoid any rough handling. You could experience some difficulty in housebreaking them.
This sensitivity to movement is what makes them good watchdogs. At the slightest sound of an intrusion, they will bark and alert you. Patterdale Terriers are generally friendly and gets along with most people. The same can’t be said about other house pets, especially if they’re smaller. It isn’t advisable to have two pets if one of them is a Patterdale Terrier. They will play with children all day long but need to be supervised around younger children, in case they get a little too playful and excited.
Appearance:
- Average Height: 10-12 inches
- Average Weight: 10-13 lbs
Care & Health:
Grooming: The Terrier’s coat doesn’t need any upkeep as such. An occasional brushing is all it needs; every day if you want to reduce the amount of shedding around the house.
History:
The Patterdale Terrier hails from the Yorkshire and Lake District in England and were originally bred to hunt and kill foxes and rats and rabbits. Until they were introduced to the United States in 1978, the Patterdale Terriers were only known around the Great Britain region.
The Patterdale Terrier Club of America was formed in 1993 and the breed was registered with the UKC in 1995.
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