Feline Musings

For the first time in my life, I have fallen in love – with a canine.  

A tiny bundle of abundant energy with a staggering fox-trot, I saw this pocket-dog at a local pet shop. Hubby and I had walked into the pet shop to catch a glimpse of fish in the aquarium. I suddenly saw this black pup with white feet pads … and then I lost sight of it. It had skittered away. I asked the pet-shop owner, where the little pup had disappeared. He answered nonchalantly that it must be somewhere around. As if on cue, this tiny little thing appeared from under the table and started sniffing around my feet, tail wagging with supersonic enthusiasm. I fell head-over-heels in love with the lively thing. I wanted to take him home.  

I enquired after the pint-size enigma. The pet-shop owner told me it’s a Chihuahua (of course I found the actual name with spelling after frantic googling for pocket-dogs) and it would cost Rs 2500/-. I wanted to take the doggie home that very moment. Practical, and steadfast, hubby instantly refused.

Hubby was concerned that his daily chores list (as if he has a list!!!) would now have a doggie-potty-walk added to it. He vehemently opposed the idea and said that we didn’t need a miniature nuisance in our life drowning itself in the toilet flush! Well, I knew the doggie would be lonely, with hubby and me away at work, and I would need hubby’s support to care for it. So, we walked away from the pet shop without a new family member. 

Its been more than twelve hours, and I am still not convinced that we cannot get a Chihuahua to our home, and I have these beautiful images of it snuggled in a baby blue basket, placed on our bedroom side table; of its basket hanging on our exercise bike handle, and big black foxy eyes looking at me gleefully as I move around the kitchen; of it sitting on my lap as I browse through the internet; adorned in fancy colored sweaters that I would coax my mom to knit for it …  

Hubby dear has conjured less optimistic imagery like cleaning up doggie mess; weekend bath with expensive L’Oreal shampoo; a doggie intently competing with him for a place under the bedcovers, chewed chappals, tattered newspaper, doggie hair shed on the bed and the sofa, scratch marks on table glass tops ….  

I tried a final handle in conviction. I told him to imagine himself out on daily walks with this adorable creature at his feet, and how the apartment girls would meet him with gleeful remarks like, “Oh! What a cute doggie!” “What’s the cutie pie’s name?” “Can we hold him for a minute?” I tried alluring him with these cheerful images of being pursued by impish smiles and flattering female attention. For a moment the husband’s eyes sparkled, his cheeks blushed, he gave a wide grin. I coaxed on, hopefully. But my persuasive success was short-lived; hubby’s trepidation of daily doggie-potty-walk returned with a vengeance. 

So, finally the little Chihuahua doesn’t come home, and I have given up on thinking of a real name for it. But, yes, I did a lot of internet research and here are some great facts for people who can get their own pocketful of mischief. 

The Chihuahua stats-file:  

 The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, where it was discovered in 1850. Chihuahua’s are one of the longest living dog breeds and can live up to 18 years or more. Their height varies from 6-9 inches (15-23 cm.) and weight from 2-6 pounds (1-3 kg).

The Chihuahua is also recognized as one of the oldest dog breeds. Historical facts concerning the Cholula Pyramids and the Chichen Itza ruins indicate that Chihuahuas have existed before the 16th century. It is said that the ancestors of the Chihuahua were the companions of the ancient Toltecs during the 9th century and were used for religious reasons. Although it can not be determined when Chihuahuas came into existence, it is believed that they existed before the Mayans.

Chihuahuas are prized for their devotion, ferocity, and personality. Their curious nature and small size make them easily adaptable to a variety of environments, including the city and small apartments. Chihuahuas are often stereotyped as high-strung, though it has been shown that correct training and socialization can result in an outstanding companion animal.

Chihuahuas are not well-suited as small children’s pets because of their size, temperament, and tendency to bite when frightened. Chihuahuas are one-person dogs. They are known to establish a close, trusting relationship with one person, and will be suspicious of everyone else.

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