No, it is not a small dog or a Mexican food as many people have guessed. A chinchilla is an extremely cute animal that is often described as looking like a mixture of a rabbit and a squirrel. They are about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide on average, have an extremely soft coat, and a bushy tail similar to that of a squirrel. Chinchillas are extremely clean, have no natural odor, and are generally very healthy animals.
Chinchillas have a great temperament, and they each have their own personality.
Some like to be held while others prefer to run around. They are very curious, so even the ones who run around and investigate the area, eventually come back to see what you are doing. If you lay on the ground they will usually climb over you, but often will run when you try to catch them. It is like they are playing a game with you. It is fun to watch them when they run in an open area, as they run and hop.