| Some say it started with the Taco Bell dog. A | | | | by settlers, ranchers and those passing |
| five hundred million dollar ad campaign | | | | through. This lead to the animals becoming |
| featured a talking Chihuahua which | | | | originally-known as Arizona Dogs. Once it |
| continually repeated the slogan, "Yo quiero | | | | began obvious that these cute little dogs |
| Taco Bell," which is Spanish for "I want Taco | | | | were actually coming out of the Chihuahua |
| Bell." Then came the Legally Blond films and | | | | region of Mexico where they had been |
| the unstoppable Bruiser. The topping on the | | | | discovered in the early 1800's, the regional |
| cake was when Paris Hilton appeared on the | | | | name stuck. |
| cover of Seventeen magazine and later tried | | | | |
| living The Simple Life on Fox TV with | | | | For the first time ever this past year, |
| Tinkerbell, her pet Chihuahua. Celebrities | | | | Chihuahuas have made the top ten list of most |
| have discovered what many pet owners already | | | | registered or licensed dogs in many areas of |
| knew: Chihuahuas are the best dogs to own and | | | | the USA. There can be no doubt that part of |
| care for. In the process, they've set off a | | | | their popularity comes from the media |
| Chihuahua Craze that is reaching towering | | | | exposure the breed has received and the fact |
| proportions. | | | | that big-name celebrities are favoring the |
| | | | breed. But it also has to do with the fact |
| When most people think of Celebrities and | | | | that Chihuahuas are small, very easy to care |
| their toy dogs, Yorkshire Terriers, Toy | | | | for and live a long time. |
| Poodles, Pekinese, Lhasas and Shih Tzus | | | | |
| usually come to mind. That's because famous | | | | Most Chihuahuas eat dry dog food and feed |
| folks like Audrey Hepburn, Zsa Zsa Gabor and | | | | once every couple of hours or as their hunger |
| Mia Farrow were regularly photographed with | | | | moves them. A small, full bowl of dry food |
| their beloved pets. In Audrey's case, it was | | | | and dish of water easily gets them through an |
| a Yorkie. In her early days of fame, Mia | | | | entire day. Chihuahuas are known for being |
| Farrow was rarely seen out in public without | | | | healthy, hearty dogs that do well in |
| her Lhasa. Zsa Zsa and Eva Gabor loved to | | | | virtually any situation. They can easily deal |
| walk through the hot spots of Beverly Hills | | | | with temperatures of forty to ninety degrees |
| and be photographed with a multitude of Toy | | | | Fahrenheit. When it gets a bit too chilly, |
| Poodles, Pekinese and Shih Tzus. But times | | | | doggie clothes solve the problem. When it |
| have changed! | | | | gets too hot, Chihuahuas are always happy to |
| | | | enjoy their owner's air conditioning. Most |
| The always innovative Madonna may have set | | | | have few health issues and live from fifteen |
| the standard for change not long ago when she | | | | to nineteen years of age, with an average |
| sported her beloved Chihuahua, Chiquita, for | | | | lifespan of sixteen years. |
| a press photo op. Noah Wyle, one of the hot | | | | |
| stars of ER, was recently photographed with | | | | Those wanting to breed Chihuahuas are often |
| his Chihuahua while on holiday. Jennifer | | | | surprised to find that they can give birth up |
| Lopez has also joined the exclusive club of | | | | to twice a year, normally have from one to |
| famous Chihuahua owners. Younger celebrities | | | | five puppies and take just sixty-five days to |
| like Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Paris | | | | give birth. Few have problem births and the |
| Hilton, Christina Ricci, Jordon, Reese | | | | survival rate of pups is very high compared |
| Witherspoon and members of Simple Plan have | | | | to other toy breeds. Chihuahua puppies are |
| found themselves attracted to these fabulous | | | | ready to be adopted by eight weeks. |
| canines and brought a huge amount of | | | | |
| attention to them. | | | | Because celebrities are constantly exposed to |
| | | | new situations and always on the go, they can |
| Chihuahuas make great pets because they are | | | | appreciate the fact that most Chihuahuas tend |
| very low maintenance, the world's smallest | | | | to attach themselves emotionally to one |
| dogs and longest lived breed. Celebs love the | | | | person or family and rarely bolt if given the |
| fact that Chihuahuas prefer the company of | | | | opportunity. All Chihuahua owners appreciate |
| humans more then they enjoy being with other | | | | the intelligence of the breed. They are very |
| animals and can easily accompany their owners | | | | easy to train and adjust well to change. In |
| everywhere. Chihuahuas love to be held or | | | | areas where it's legal, Chihuahuas walk |
| carried around in their very own shoulder bag | | | | obediently near their owners without a leash. |
| and that makes them especially attractive to | | | | |
| busy celebrities and people who are always on | | | | Chihuahuas come from the same parent breed of |
| the move. | | | | dogs that Chinese Cresteds, Mexican Hairless |
| | | | Dogs and Xolos do. These are known to be the |
| Unlike most toy dog breeds, the Chihuahua is | | | | most ancient of all dog breeds still existing |
| not a created one. The first widespread | | | | today. Drawings of what appear to be |
| mention of Chihuahuas occurred during the mid | | | | Chihuahuas are found throughout the world, |
| to late 1800's in weekly or monthly tabloids | | | | some being thousands of years old. This makes |
| that specialized in tales of the American | | | | us wonder when and where the Breed actually |
| West. Highly fictionalized accounts of the | | | | originated? Most Chihuahuas are either |
| small dogs spread by these publications | | | | shorthair or longhair, come in an amazing |
| claimed they were actually a mix of rodent | | | | variety of colors and purebreds tend to weigh |
| and canine or had been magically created by | | | | from under a pound to no more then six pounds |
| Medicine Men. In reality, Chihuahuas were | | | | fully grown. |
| first noticed along the Arizona-Mexico border | | | | |