Chihuahua dogs are ferociously great pets

Chihuahua dogs trace their ancestors to
the Aztec civilizations in Central America and Mexico.

The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed
in the world. It is named after the Chihuahua State in Mexico. 

Current historical thought says the
Chihuahua, like the horse, was brought to Mexico by settlers from
Spain. They may have come through trade routes from China. Other
theories claim the Chihuahua came from Egypt. So, the origination is
kept secret for lack of documentation.

Appearance

One of the first aspect of the
Chihuahua dog that you see is its very large eyes and large, erect
ears. There are two varieties recognized by the AKC (American Kennel
Club): the long-coat and the smooth coat. The breed standards
include the weight of the dog but not the height which usually runs
from six to ten inches. AKC show Chihuahuas cannot weigh more than
six pounds (2.7 kg), though ideally the judges will be looking for a
dog between 3-6 pounds. The American Kennel Club registered the
first Chihuahua 1904.

Pet chihuahua standards vary greatly. I
live with my two dear chihuahuas, Tiki and Butch. Tiki weighs about
6 pounds but Butch's fighting weight is about 12 pounds. Pictures of
both are above. Both are pure bred. Butch's lineage is very strong
evidenced by his strutting walk and markings.

Chihuahuas come in a large variety of
colors. Some are solid black or white while others have chocolate,
silver, merle and other color tones.

Temperament 

The Chihuahua does not recognize its
own size. It can be a ferocious opponent and it has been known to
scare many burglars, postmen, other large dogs and just about anyone
walking down your road. The Chihuahua is known as one of the "yappiest"
breeds. It's bark can be both aggravating and life saving.

The Chihuahua's small size makes it an
ideal dog for people who live in apartments.  They are not
particularly well-suited for small children due to their temperament
and their tendency to bite when frightened. A Chihuahua will often
focus its attention on one person and it will become very jealous of
other humans who are friends of its master.

Selecting
a Chihuahua to live with you is an important step and should
not be taken lightly. Do you want an adult or a puppy? Do you want
need top lineage or are your more interested in a friendly pet?

The size of the Chihuahua makes it a
perfect apartment
companion. Of course you want to be sure you've made the
right preparations
for a New Chihuahua.

Important
Considerations:

Training

Feeding

Health

Dental
Care

Choosing
A Responsible Breeder

Vaccinations

Supplies

Chihuahua
Varieties

Applehead
Chihuahua

Merle Chihuahua

The preposterous case of the pink Chihuahua

brought to you by GoChihuahua.com

http://www.gochihuahua.com

The preposterous case of the pink Chihuahua

Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Casey, a Chihuahua-corgi mix, was abducted while she was ...

Susan Leong stopped at nothing to find the man who stole her dog. She called police, she offered a $1,000 reward, she even hired a private investigator.

This week, thanks largely to her own persistence and sleuthing, Leong has her dog back. It's now pink, the result of an odd attempt by the thief to disguise it, but it's still her pet.

Leong's hunt started the afternoon of Nov. 8 when she went shopping at her neighborhood Safeway in San Francisco's Marina District and left Casey, her Chihuahua-corgi mix, tied up outside.

While she shopped, police said Tuesday, a man came up to the 5-year-old female dog, gave her a few pats and drove off with her in a Mercedes-Benz.

"Dognapping is serious, especially if you're a dog owner," Lt. Tom Buckley said. "She was frantic."

The dognapper had aroused suspicion, however, and one witness outside the store got a partial license plate number for the Mercedes and a good description of the thief. The witness knew something was wrong because Casey kept looking out of the back window as if she was missing her owner, Buckley said.

Leong called police, alerted the city's animal control department and hired a private eye with Cannon Street Inc. Investigations, run by former FBI agent Rick Smith.

"She was going to do everything she possibly could," Smith said.

On Nov. 18, after days scouring the neighborhood and putting up flyers, Leong spotted Casey with a man near Moscone Playground in the Marina. It was in the exact Mercedes-Benz described by the witness at the Safeway.

Leong shouted to the man, "That's my dog!'' The man insisted the dog was his, jumped into the car and took off.

Leong got the full license number, and the first two characters matched the car outside the grocery store. The registered address was the Metropolitan Community Church on Eureka Street.

Police watched the church last week, but the man didn't show. Cannon investigators took up the stakeout, and on Friday, 49-year-old Jeffery Snyder of San Francisco drove up in the Mercedes -- with a Chihuahua-corgi, its freshly shaved fur dyed pink.

"The hair was dyed to alter its appearance" after Leong spotted Casey near the playground, Buckley said.

The private investigators called 911, and police came to make the arrest. Buckley said that, dye job aside, the dog is fine.

Snyder, who did custodial work for the church last year and sometimes had meals there, told police he had bought Casey from a homeless man. Investigators, however, said witnesses have identified him as the thief.

He was charged with grand theft and other crimes and released on bail.

Leong didn't want to be interviewed after being reunited with her pet, but Smith said she was pleasantly surprised it all ended so well.

"She loves the little dog,'' Smith said. "She is very pleased she got her animal back in a situation where she was fairly sure it wasn't going to happen. ''