Inever wanted a small dog.

In my mind, and in my past, a dog — a real dog — was a creature both beefy and substantial. Not like a St. Bernard, but like one you'd see in a movie or something. The kind of dog you think of when you think, "dog."

Naturally, I have a chihuahua.

Sort of. At least in part. Buster, who is somewhere around 16 or 18 years old, is part chihuahua, part something else. Who knows what. Probably some kind of terrier or something. The point is, he is the kind of dog I never wanted to have.

And now I don't know if I'd have any other kind. Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.

Evidently, I am not alone in my fondness for these kinds of dogs. According to U.S News & World Report, the chihuahua is the most popular dog breed in Arizona .

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