Gypsy
is a nine year old smooth-coated Chihuahua
born on October 12, 1998. She was born at
MacBeth Kennels in Troutville, Virginia.
She is AKC registered as
a red color with red nose leather which is
fairly unique. Most red Chihuahuas have
black nose leather. Her coat is very short,
tight and slick with almost no hair at all
on her undersides. She weighs five pounds,
six ounces.
Gypsy's body type is
slender and fine-boned and is sometimes
called "deer type Chihuahuas". This
body type was the original style of the
Chihuahuas in show rings for many years and
is still shown and acceptable. Many
Chihuahua breeders have bred for a more
cobby body type in recent years, but it is
just a matter of personal preference. I like
Gypsy's delicate elegant look, but I think
all Chihuahua dogs are beautiful.
Many people have inquired
about how I get Gypsy to pose
for photos. I have even had a few negative
comments suggesting that I am "torturing the
poor dog" by dressing her up. Let me assure
you nothing could be farther from the truth
and is actually amusing if you knew me and
knew how Gypsy is doted on.
The sessions to
photograph Gypsy are very short and never
more than about five minutes in duration,
usually less. I started photographing Gypsy
when she was very young and always made sure
the sessions were pleasurable and she was
rewarded even if I did not get a good photo.
She NEVER wears any of the
costumes shown on the site except during
these very brief photo sessions. The rest of
her day-to-day life is spent in undressed
bliss without so much as even a collar. So
Gypsy is now accustomed to dressing up
briefly and having her picture made because
she knows it will only take a moment or so
and there will be wonderful treats at the
end.
I prefer not to divulge
any of the technical trade secrets which I
have developed to photograph Gypsy, but if
you work with your own pet on a regular
basis, use patience, kindness and reward,
and always keep the sessions brief you will
have positive results, too. Each pet has to
be handled differently and with tenderness,
love and respect. Once you earn their trust
it is very easy.
Gypsy is very smart even
by Chihuahua standards. I have had other
breeds which were bright and precocious, but
never as intelligent as Gypsy. We do not
train her to do "tricks" preferring to enjoy
her sensational personality which never
ceases to amaze us. She rules our household
like a queen whose royal treatment is her
birthright. Because she is so very
intelligent she can be strong-willed and
high-strung at times like any thoroughbred.
Gypsy is paper trained
and stays very clean because she does not go
outside like most dogs. She was extremely
easy to housebreak and it only took a few
days. It was almost as if she trained
herself!
Gypsy has the run of our
home except for the area near our back
entrance when we are home. She has a special
gated area in one end of a hallway for times
when we are not home, we have company or if
she is tired or not feeling well. I
recommend having a "safe area" like this for
all indoor pets. Gypsy loves this space
which is all hers and sometimes will even go
to her bed on her own when she is tired.
This area has her own comfortable bed and
fresh water. We do not leave food out for
Gypsy at all times. She is fed on a daily
schedule without snacks in-between to help
her maintain a healthy weight. See our
Editorial
about Chubby Chihuahua dogs.
When we are home she
spends most of her time very close to me or
my husband Bruce or my daughter Barbara. She
loves to watch TV or sit with me while I am
at the computer. She has a heating pad on
top of a bed pillow with her own special
blanket which is her favorite spot on the
sofa for watching TV and snoozing during the
day. Chihuahuas love to be warm!
Gypsy sleeps with me
every night no matter what. She tells me
when she is tired and ready for bed. This is
a very special nightly ritual to me and it
is when I feel the closest to her. She leads
a very privileged life indeed. We would not
have it any other way because she returns
our love ten-fold and is an integral part of
our lives.
I hope this page has
answered a few questions about Gypsy.
