Chihuahua breed guide

Chihuahuas have loyalty, charm and big-dog attitude. Even tiny dogs need training, AKC says or this clever scamp will rule the household like a little Napoleon.

A very alert dog of high intelligence, it is eager to please and responds well to positive training, but it seems well aware of how cute it is, so you must establish from the start that you are in charge.

Chihuahuas live 14 to 16 years. AKC says most are healthy little dogs, but potential heart problems such as patent ductus arteriosus and mitral valve disease, eye disease and patellar luxation may affect the breed, so a breeder who screens all breeding dogs matters.

The two coat varieties differ slightly. The smooth coat needs only occasional brushing and regular baths, while the long coat should be brushed at least once a week to avoid tangles and mats.

A Chihuahua loves to run and play and usually gets enough exercise in a very small space, even just trotting around after its people. Short, slow walks keep it in good weight. AKC warns against overexerting it.

Likenesses of Chihuahua-like dogs decorate the artifacts of lost civilizations around the world, though how the type first came to the peoples of Mexico is a secret of prehistory. When the Toltecs held sway about a thousand years ago their breed of choice was the Techichi, a larger, heavier ancestor.

The Aztecs conquered the Toltecs in the 12th century and historians credit them with refining the Techichi toward today's Chi.