The Chihuahua may be the smallest of all the dog breeds, but these tiny tail-waggers hold a big place in the hearts of dog lovers! The compact canines are so popular with their admirers that they are celebrated with their own chihuahua day– International Chihuahua Appreciation Day, which is held on May 14!
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Fun Facts About Chihuahuas
The name of the breed was inspired by the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Standing at 3.8″ tall, a tiny Chihuahua named Millie holds the Guinness Book of World Records title as the World’s Smallest Dog!
In 2013, a 6.26″, long-haired Chihuahua called Cupcake earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Smallest Service Dog!
The Chihuahua Club of America was launched in 1923.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Chihuahua ranks 34th among the most popular dog breeds.
Chihuahua Stars of The Big and Small Screen
Angel — Fans will know this pretty pup as Chloe from Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
Charlotte — A long-haired Chihuahua with her own Instagram account, Charlotte starred alongside actor Paul Mescal (Normal People) in the music video for Grammy nominated artist Phoebe Bridgers’ tune “Savior Complex,” which was directed by Golden Globe winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Gidget — As the mascot for the popular restaurant chain, in the late 1990s this gender-bending Chihuahua had America saying “Yo quiero Taco Bell.” Gidget would go on to portray Bruiser Woods’ mother in Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde.
Ren — The demented dog from the animated duo Ren and Stimpy.
Ruscoe — Discovered at a Los Angeles animal shelter, Ruscoe portrayed Papi, a Rover with a romantic heart, in the box office hit Beverly Hills Chihuahua.
Tinkerbell — The Chihuahua whose cuteness brought about a small dog craze among the glitterati in the early 2000s, Tinkerbell (aka Tinks) starred alongside her famous mother Paris Hilton in the reality series The Simple Life.
Famous Pet Parents of Chihuahuas
Following are just a few of the many famous faces who have been fortunate enough to have shared a period of their life with a Chihuahua:
Paula Abdul — Over the years the love of several Chihuahuas have put a song in the heart of the chart-topping choreographer, including Bessie Moo, Nemo, Tulip and Batman.
Lauren Ash — The Superstore cast member is a proud pet parent to two senior Chihuahuas named Fox and Peaches, both of whom are rescue dogs. Speaking about her fur baby Fox, the star stated: “Adult and senior dogs have just as much love to give as younger ones and I encourage everyone to give an older dog a chance. I promise it will change your life in the best possible way.”Fox even had the opportunity to help dogs in need by appearing alongside the actress in a Best Friends Animal Society campaign promoting pet adoption.
Selma Blair — When the star’s dog Ducky crossed Rainbow Bridge, the star wrote on Instagram to her late barking buddy: “Please send us our next dog. With the spirit of you and wink. Our hearts are broken.” As though helping her family heal after the loss, one month after saying goodbye to Ducky the actress said hello to Cappuccino Houston (aka Cappy), who became part of the star’s fur family thanks to Angel City Pits, Best Friends Animal Society and NKLA.
Kaley Cuoco — The Big Bang Theory alum has a big heart for animals in need, and during the pandemic she happily became a foster failure when she officially adopted a senior shelter dog called Dumpy. (Video by The Dodo):
Miley Cyrus — A friend to all with paws, in 2013 the “Wrecking Ball” singer made a rescue Chihuahua named Bean a part of her fur family.
Katherine Heigl — A pet parent over the years to many rescue dogs, including Chihuahuas Gertie, Gracie Lou and Poppy, in 2019 the Emmy Award-winner teamed up with Helen Woodward Animal Center for social media campaign to help chihuahuas find homes!
Carrie Ann Inaba — The host of The Talk posed with her rescue Chihuahua Peanut (who was adopted by the star from Best Friends Animal Society Los Angeles) for a photo campaign which helps to shine a spotlight on the need to save the more than 9,000 companion animals who fate their fate each day in US shelters. “I got involved with this campaign because adopting an animal is one of the most beautiful healing experiences you can have,” Inaba said. “Not only do you help heal the wounds of an animal who has been discarded, lost or who never had a family before, but animals also heal you. All seven of my ‘kids’ are adopted—some rescued right off the streets, some from the shelter system where they would have been euthanized, and some from no-kill sanctuaries.”
Padme Lakshmi — The Top Chef host is a doting Mom to Divina, a Chihuahua adopted from the rescue Animal Haven.
Miranda Lambert — Among the country crooner’s passel of pups is Delta Dawn, a Chihuahua mix named after a classic Tanya Tucker song. Fans can spot the pup in several of her famous pet parent’s music videos.
Tommy Lee — Bowie, a Chiweenie from East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys, California, has a “Home Sweet Home” thanks to the Motley Crue drummer, who adopted him on National Puppy Day.
Harry Lloyd — In 2015 Actor Harry Lloyd, who has starred in the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, the PBS series Wolf Hall and the Oscar-nominated Steven Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything, accepted the real life role of a forever pet parent to a Chihuahua he found at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society.
George Lopez — The comic actor, who tickled the funny bones of his Fido-loving fans when he provided the voice of Papi in the popular Disney adventure Beverly Hills Chihuahua, shares his life away from the camera with a Chihuahua he named Owen the Giant. The pup got his big break thanks to the Los Angeles-based, volunteer run rescue organization Wags and Walks.
Jayne Mansfield — Among the Hollywood legend’s coterie of canine companions was a Chihuahua named Gallina.
Ross Mathews — RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Ross Mathews welcomed three-year-old Chihuahua Selena Francisca Camarena Mathews into his life in 2017. The TV personality adopted his new fur baby from the L.A. rescue Wags and Walks.
Paul O’Grady — Not only has the presenter of the UK series Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs a celebrity ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, he is also a doting Dad to Eddie, a Chihuahua mix who was born by emergency C-section at the renowned animal welfare charity.
Dan Smyers — In 2021 one half of the chart-topping country music duo Dan + Shay welcomed a 16-year-old Chihuahua from Wags & Walks in Nashville into his heart and home.
Adopting A Chihuahua
The Chihuahua ranks second in euthanized dog breeds, with only Pit Bulls losing their lives more in shelters across the country. If you are a potential pet parent who is thinking about making a Chihuahua part of your pack, please look for your new furry family member at shelters and rescues in your area!
Search for adoptable Chihuahuas online at:
Pin it to remember International Chihuahua Appreciation Day
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