9781422279328

and this is set off by large, flaring ears. The Chi’s dark eyes shine with love and devotion—or with mischief. If you like grooming, you can choose the long-coated Chi; oth- erwise the smooth-coat will be your choice. Both varieties come in a wonderful array of colors and patterns. The molera Many Chihuahua puppies are born with a molera, or open fon- tanel, which is a unique breed characteristic. The opening allows the puppy to be born from a small mother with no damage to the brain. Human babies are also born with an open fontanel, but the frontal and parietal bones of the cranium fuse soon after birth. In the case of the Chihuahua, the bones may not fuse until the dog is an adult, and in some cases the fontanel remains open all the dog’s life. An open fontanel should not be considered a defect, but dogs should be treated with extra care, as the head is more vulnerable. There is an open spot in the skull, and a dog hit in that spot may die. However, in dogs with a molera, the opening is typically small—0.25 to 1 inch (6 to 25 mm) across. And the number of dogs with a molera well into adulthood is small.

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