Don't Call Them Rat-Dogs!
Chihuahuas are magnificent, noble creatures who should be revered by humans... One of the (many) great things about adopting a Chihuahua is that it has helped lessen my many other obsessions, as I am now more obsessed with my Chihuahua (JJ...short for "Jen Junior") above all else, making me a crazy dog lady, which is fine since at least it's a definable type of crazy. I have always adored Chihuahuas, possibly because of their badass behavior and remarkable cuteness and it has always been my opinion that Chihuahuas get a bad rap. Sometimes I'm walking JJ and I hear someone say, "Oh look: A rat in a sweater." Unoriginal, cruel and unnecessary. Last time I checked, rats weren't descended from wolves! Yes, JJ is small, but she still likes to do normal dogs activities like getting petted, hangin' with her friends, chewing bones, eating, peeing on fire hydrants and snuggling. I've recently become convinced that much hostility toward Chihuahuas is due to their Mexican heritage. Did you ever watch the dog shows and notice that, even though the Chihuahuas are the cutest, it's always some French or English dog that wins?! Totally racist and possibly "size-ist" too. Even so Chihuahuas are entering pop culture consciousness at an alarming rate. From Beverly Hills Chihuahua to Paris Hilton's Tinkerbell, they're all over the place.
Speaking of Tinkerbell, many people think that Paris Hilton is responsible for the trend of "carrying your dog in a bag" but as any Chihuahua parent knows, people have been carrying their Chihuahuas around for years, from Jayne Mansfield to Marilyn Monroe. When my Chihuahua was a tiny babe, I could carry her around in my hand or overall pocket, but now that she's a husky girl, she rides in a purse and I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS! After all, if you could take your best friend or child to a bar in a purse, wouldn't you consider it? OK, maybe not your child, but your best friend, certainly.
It's simply a matter of convenience especially since Chihuahuas are extremely loyal and like to be where their humans are even if their humans are on their fifth beer at the Blarney Cove. Chihuahuas are so loyal in fact, that Aztecs believed Chihuahuas could be used as spirit guides to help the dead find their way through the underworld. As a result, many were probably killed for the sole purpose of assisting nobles and royalty on their journey through death. Also, because Chihuahuas are so tiny they're not the swiftest movers so sometimes you've just gotta scoop 'em up and let 'em ride in your bag.
Now I'm all sidetracked talking about Chihuahuas in bags instead of simply talking about Chihuahuas. My own Chihuahua, JJ, understands an incredible amount of the English language, is a model/actress and is a fierce watchdog. She also has her own blog. Try not to hate on Chihuahuas just because they're so popular and whatever you do, don't call them Rat Dogs. Trust me, they've heard it before.
