The Chihuahua Quinceañera

By Amy Fernandez

It’s impossible to not wonder how long our dogs will live. The unfortunate reality of canine longevity is built into this deal from the moment it starts. I won’t bore you with platitudes and rationalizations about losing beloved dogs because no matter how you dice it, that bit of rough truth is always there.

That’s why we treasure our dogs even more as they get older. And thanks to the endless advances in veterinary care, we now expect them to live longer.

FYI: All that AR propaganda about mixed breed dogs living longer has zero basis in fact for a couple of reasons. Observations based on distant childhood memories cannot be substantiated. Until quite recently, there was no expectation of dogs surviving into the double-digit age group. The idea of an “old dog” is contextual in that sense.  So, let’s skip the ideological claims and get to the verified stats on ancient dogs.

Bluey, the Australian Cattle Dog still holds the world record. Whelped June 7, 1910, Bluey hung around until November 14, 1939, for a record-making 29½ years. Wow! Second place goes to Butch the Beagle. Whelped in 1975, Butch made to 2003. And in third place is Snookie the Pug who arrived New Years Day 1991 and died October 12, 2018.

Impressive, but from a technical standpoint AKC defines any dog over seven years of age as a veteran. Optimal care obviously plays a big role in longevity, but from a practical standpoint, that doesn’t seem especially old. It’s a different story when your dog hits 15. By then, that dog is inseparable from your life.

That was the case for Juan Ramos, who is probably better known for his Tik Tok star Chihuahua, Clarita. Formally known as Clarabella, she turned 15 on August 12, 2022.

Forget about wine, nothing gets better with age than a feisty Chihuahua. Moreover, in Mexico where this happened–15 is a big milestone. The quinceañera, a longstanding Latin American custom celebrating a girl’s fifteenth birthday, is known for over-the-top glamour. But like most traditional ceremonies, rigid protocols have given way to creative innovation. That explains why Mr. Ramos bent the rules and hosted a quinceañera for Clarita when she turned 15.

The “dog birthday” concept definitely has come out of the closet. Plenty of people do it. But like dogs in bed, the attached social stigma has finally given way to reality. So, Clarita’s fifteenth birthday was on the calendar just like every other major Ramos family event. And these days, the quinceañeraå has been reinterpreted to fit every mainstream or quirky vision.

However, a few associated traditions remain mandatory, mainly having a fifteenth birthday. (Good going Clarita). Another obligatory feature is a breathtaking satin and tulle gown and those don’t come off the rack in Chihuahua sizes.Actually, Clarita had three handmade dresses for this occasion. The pale pink, rhinestone covered quinceañera gown entailed three months of work. But she stopped traffic when she entered the room to Aida’s Triumphal March–proudly carried by her owner.

That was just the start. The ceremony also demands a father/daughter waltz, which likewise required some tweaking for this event.  Clarita changed outfits for the contemporary dancing later in the evening following a formal banquet for 300 guests, which included some of Clarita’s Chihuahua relatives. As dictated by custom, Clarita had an entourage of chamberlane escorts, and she was presented with her final plaything of childhood, a stuffed Chihuahua.

Anyone familiar with Chihuahuas knows they can be clannish, to put it politely. It’s also fair to say they know their Chihuahuas in Juarez. Just south of El Paso in the Chihuahua Desert­if anywhere can be called the true Mexican Chihuahua birthplace, this is it. That was where James Watson, that intractable Scotsman, first encountered the breed when traveling to judge in California. For Watson, it was love at first sight and his prolific writing leveraged the breed to popularity AND AKC acceptance.

Since this was Clarita’s party, only family members were permitted to pet her, hold her, or snap intrusive party photos.  Fortunately for Chihuahua fans worldwide, a waiter couldn’t resist posting some surreptitious pics to TikTok @xpapimarcox

There are plenty of reasons to criticize everything about this event. But Mr. Ramos explained that Clarita has been the source of happiness in their home, saying, “My intention in doing this was to take care of her, have her, and thank her.” No matter where you come from it’s hard to argue with any of that reasoning.

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=254915

Posted by Liz on Jan 10 2023. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.