Ah, the Chihuahua, such a misunderstood dog. Yappy, snappy, reminds us of a bad boss with a Napoleonic complex.

And to be completely honest, I have not always appreciated Chihuahuas.

But in the spirit of Cinco de Mayo and all things Mexican, let’s look at ten really good   reasons to love a Chihuahua:

1. They are built for speed. Check out Chandler’s annual Chihuahua races.
2. They are built for desert climates. They love being warm and burrowing under covers and sleeping flush up against you.
3. If you buy one big ol’ bag of dog food, it can last a year if you have a Chihuahua.
4. At two to six pounds, the Chihuahua is the smallest breed in the world. You have no upper body strength? No problem. You can still carry your Chihuahua around.
5. Learning how to spell Chihuahua correctly boosts your IQ.
6. Chihuahuas are one of the oldest registered breeds in America; they were recognized in 1904.
7. Chihuahuas, or dogs just like them, are believed to date back to 5^th century AD. They were bred as the forerunner of the doorbell.
8. They seem to be OK with wearing funny hats.
9. What we see as incredible unfriendliness bordering on psychosis is just a Chihuahua protecting their person.
10. Just like with any other dog, a Chihuahua’s behavior depends on how he was raised and the experiences he has encountered.