Chihuahuas
Chihuahua is the name of both a state of Mexico and that state's capital city.
| Estado de Chihuahua | ||
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| Location | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Capital | Chihuahua | |
| Area | 244,938 km sq Ranked 1st |
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Population |
3,047,900 Ranked 12th |
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| Governor (2004-2010) |
Jose Reyes Baeza (PRI) | |
| Federal Deputies | PRI/PVEM:7 PAN:2 |
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| Federal Senators | PAN:2 PRI:1 |
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| ISO 3166-2 Postal Abbr. |
MX-CHH Chih. |
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The state of Chihuahua is the largest of the 31 states of Mexico and is located in the northwestern part of the country. It has a mainland area of 244,938 km². Although it is primarily identified by its large desert areas, in fact, Chihuahua has more forests than any other Mexican state. On the slope of the Sierra Madre mountains, (around the regions of Casas Grandes, Cuauhtemoc and Parral), there are vast prairies of short yellow grass, where most of the agricultural produccion of the state comes from.
The state is named after its capital city, Chihuahua. The origin of the name is not known for sure, but it is old, predating the Spanish, and is thought to derive from the Nahuatl Xicuahua, or "dry, sandy place".
Chihuahua stands on the U.S.-Mexico border, bounded on the north by the U.S. states of Texas and New Mexico and, to the east of Ciudad Juarez, by the Río Bravo del Norte (Rio Grande). The states of Sonora and Sinaloa border it on the west, Durango on the south, and Coahuila on the east.
As of 1990, there were 2.5 million inhabitants of the state. The largest city is not the capital, Chihuahua, with a half-million inhabitants, but Ciudad Juarez, with 1.5 million residents (2004 estimate). The capital was founded in 1709 by Don Antonio Deza y Ulloa.
Chihuahua's population is predominantly Mestizo, but it also has one of the largest proportion of white population among the Mexican States (35%). It also includes such minority groups as the indigenous Tarahumara, Tephehuanes and Warojios in the mountainous areas, as well as large rural communities of Mennonites of German/Dutch origin and Anglo-American Mormon settlers (primarily in Colonia Juarez and Colonia Dublan, near Casas Grandes ).
Chihuahua is known for its production of apples, nuts, timber, cattle, and dairy products, sheep, ferrous (gold, silver, lead, zinc) and nonferrous metals, cement, and ceramics. Large assembly plants (a.k.a. Maquiladoras) geared toward export across the northern border are the dominant industry. The town of Mata Ortiz is recognized worldwide as the center of a new pottery movement.
The state also has a large service sector: tourism, banking and high tech enterprises.
One of the most notable features of Chihuahua is the Barranca del Cobre, or Copper Canyon, a spectacular canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon.
Chihuahua played a pivotal role in the Mexican Revolution, and was a battleground between revolutionary forces led by Pancho Villa and federal forces.
| Chihuahua | ||
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A brown and tan Chihuahua
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| Alternative names | ||
| Country of origin | ||
| Mexico | ||
| Common nicknames | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| FCI: | Group 9 Section 6 #218 | Stds |
| AKC: | Toy | Stds |
| The AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) is an optional recording service for purebred dogs that are not yet eligible for AKC registration. | ||
| The AKC Miscellaneous class is for breeds working towards full AKC recognition. | ||
| ANKC: | Group 1 (Toys) | Smooth Stds Long Stds |
| CKC: | Group 5 - Toys | Smooth Stds Long Stds |
| The CKC Miscellaneous group is for breeds working towards full CKC recognition. | ||
| KC (UK): | Toy | Smooth Stds Long Stds |
| NZKC: | Toy | Smooth Stds Long Stds |
| UKC: | Companion Breeds | Stds |
| Not recognized by any major kennel club | ||
| This breed of dog is extinct. | ||
| Notes | ||
The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog and is named for the Chihuahua region in Mexico.
Contents
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Appearance
The standard recognized by the AKC (American Kennel Club) is only known as "Chihuahua", but they come in two varieties, the longcoat and the smoothcoat. According to AKC standards, Chihuahua should not weigh more than six pounds, although they often weigh more. They come in many colors, and are known for their large erect ears. Chihuahua puppies are often mistaken for hamsters because of their scrunched faces, extremely small size, and light coats.
Temperament
Although they are prized for their personality and loyalty, chihuahuas are not well-suited as small children's pets because of their size and physical fragility. However, their alertness, intelligence and size make them easily adaptable to a variety of environments, including the city and small apartments, and make for usually long lifetimes of 15 years or more of loving companionship. They are often stereotyped to be yappy and fragile, but if the dog is trained correctly, they make good companions and pets. Many Chihuahuas tend to focus their love and devotion on one person, becoming overly jealous of that person's human relationships. Male chihuahuas can be extremely difficult to house break. Most Chihuahuas are very bold and love attention.
History
They are thought to be descendants of an ancient, similar, but slightly larger breed associated with royalty in Aztec civilizations known as the Techichi. They are the oldest canine breed in North America.
Health
This breed requires expert veterinary attention in areas such as birthing and dental care. They are also prone to some genetic anomalies, often neurological ones, such as seizure disorders and patella luxation. They are also known for their moleras and sensivity to eye infections.
Miscellaneous
"Teacup" and "Deer-faced" Chihuahuas
In recent years there has been an increase in the use of the terms "teacup" (or tea cup) and "deer" (or deer-faced) to describe Chihuahuas.
Along with "mini" and "tiny toy", "teacup" is sometimes used to describe Chihuahuas and other dogs that are very small. These and similar terms are not officially used by any kennel club or reputable breeder. Chihuahuas naturally vary in size, and very small Chihuahuas are often runts, unhealthy, or undernourished, or, if otherwise healthy, may have shortened life spans and other health problems due to extreme dwarfing. They are not normally suitable for breeding, and may require special care. Some breeders of small Chihuahuas increase the prices of the Chihuahuas, arguing that the smaller they are, the more they are worth. Most reputable breeders strongly disagree both with the pricing and with the breeding for smaller animals.
"Deer" or "deer-faced" are terms that are sometimes used to describe Chihuahuas that do not have the breed-standard apple-domed appearance. These terms are also unofficial and have no real meaning.
Famous Chihuahuas
- Tinkerbell, Paris Hilton's pet
- Scab, John Gebhardt's pet
- Smoky, Eminem's pet
- Bit Bit, Britney Spears' pet
- Bruiser, Elle Woods' pet in the Legally Blonde movies
- Gidget, the Taco Bell mascot
- Ren Höek, of Ren and Stimpy fame
- Wheely Willy, a motivational "speaker"
- Tito from Oliver and Company
- Taquito, the University of Puerto Rico's School of Medicine volleyball mascot
- The Spooky Chihuahua from Invader Zim
- Pepito, Xavier Cugat's chihuahua immortalized in the children's book Pepito the Little Dancing Dog: The Story of Xavier Cugat's Chihuahua.
Made by us, and if you change anything I will hurt you tee hee
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