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As the smallest breed of dogs, Chihuahuas have been gaining increasing popularity. Spotted everywhere from the beaches of Miami to the bustling metropolis of London and New York, these dogs have also been adopted by the likes of celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Sandra Bullock and Hilary Duff.

Why the popularity of the Chihuahua amongst canine lovers? Cited on top of the list is the size of the average Chihuahua. At a full grown height between 6 to 9 inches and an average weight of between 2 to 6 lbs in weight, Chihuahuas make portable pets. With the increase in travel amongst city dwellers, the portability of the Chihuahua translates to greater ability amongst canine lovers to bring their dogs with them wherever they go. In fact, it is not surprising to spot Chihuahuas on planes, in spas and shopping malls. The small size of Chihuahuas also means cheaper feeding costs and a smaller living space required. Comparatively, the height and weight of a full grown Chihuahua amounts to only the height and weight of puppies belonging to other breeds of dogs. Given this, it is not difficult to see why Chihuahuas are more popular as pets compared to other dogs given their mobility.

Chihuahuas enjoy appeal among canine lovers due to their unique characteristics. Each Chihuahua has a unique personality compared to others. Few generalizations can be made about the personalities of Chihuahuas except that they are fiercely loyal and devoted to their owners and can be gentle and loving. Most Chihuahuas are lively and fearless, never in fear of strangers or human contact. Some however, might be suspicious and jealous towards strangers. Affection towards their owners varies in most instances. While most Chihuahuas tend to display their affection towards one particular person in a family, there are also instances where Chihuahuas display affection to the family on a collective basis.

Chihuahua appearances on the big screen and its popularity amongst celebrities have also contributed to its increasing popularity. Free publicity has been given to the Chihuahua since Xavier Cugat appeared with his Chihuahua on television in the 1930s and 1940s. The adoption of the Chihuahua by Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in recent times has resulted in an increased sustenance of an already large Chihuahua population in the United States. Indeed the diary of Hilton's Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, has received much coverage by the media, resulting in another bout of publicity for the Chihuahua to the public.

However, Chihuahua training is necessary. It is a well known fact that smaller dogs tend to have fiery tempers, and the Chihuahua is no exception given its small size. A Chihuahua pup requires training as an insurance that it would not become a nuisance or even a danger to the owner's family when it is full grown. Of primary importance is the need for potty and housebreaking training in order to ensure a certain level of discipline. Equally important too is the need to educate it to prevent confrontations with other dogs. Given the fiery temper of the Chihuahua and its complete ignorance of its small size, confrontations between Chihuahuas and other dogs often result in injuries for the Chihuahua.

On average, Chihuahuas make great pets given its unique characteristics, small size, and lively nature. With adequate training and the right amount of restrain, it is not difficult to see why Chihuahuas are popular today relative to other dogs.