Once you have decided on a Chihuahua, you must narrow down your choice. The breed standard will guide you through some of these decisions. These official descriptions formulated by each breed’s national parent club provide detailed explanations of ideal traits and serious faults. No Chihuahua is perfect, but the standard gives you a clear idea of the mental and physical qualities that are considered desirable and undesirable.
It is important to be aware of these points. Quite a few Chihuahuas don’t match these accepted criteria. We all have personal preferences and this will certainly influence your choice. However, it is equally important to recognize the difference between important and insignificant differences.
For instance, a Chihuahua that is a bit too big or small will still make a great pet. According to the standard, the ideal Chihuahua should not exceed six pounds in weight. Typically, they weigh three to seven pounds and measure six to nine inches in height at the shoulder.
If a Chihuahua turns out to be far larger than the size limit stipulated in the standard, it may not actually be a purebred Chihuahua. Some unusual traits are represented to buyers as highly desirable when in fact they are not. Features such as blue or chocolate coat color, green eyes, and pink noses can and do occur in this breed, but they are not considered exceptional or valuable. Other traits such as blue eyes or a very thin coat may signal the possible presence of a health problem.
Reputable breeders seek to produce Chihuahuas within the size range described in the standard, but litters occasionally include undersized puppies. Most of these tiny Chihuahuas are perfectly healthy. Because they are too small for breeding, show, or dog sports, they are represented as pets. However, if Chihuahuas are bred solely for the goal of small size, this often comes at the expense of other important traits like health, balanced temperament, and typical appearance.
Colors and Coats
Chihuahuas can be found in colors from white to black and everything in between. Some of these include black and tan, chocolate, cream, fawn, red, silver, sable, blue and gold solid colors, and exotic marked or splashed combinations.
In addition to these colors and combinations, there are also two distinct coat types. In 1952, Long Coat and Smooth Coat Chihuahuas were designated as separate AKC varieties, meaning that they are exhibited separately at dog shows. The varieties can be interbred. The Smooth Coat is genetically dominant over the Long Coat, but these combinations can result in litters containing both varieties.
Smooth Coat. The Smooth Coat should be flat, soft, and glossy. Some Smooth Coat Chihuahuas have a dense undercoat; others have very little. The lack of undercoat may cause the hair to appear thinner on the sides of the head, the ears, the chest, and the belly. Many Smooth Coat Chihuahuas possess a thick ruff and a very distinctive flat, furry tail, but these features are dependent on the amount of undercoat. Smooth Coat Chihuahuas tend to shed slightly more than Long Coats. A thorough brushing with a currycomb or bristle brush two or three times a week will easily keep it under control.
Long Coat. Long Coat Chihuahuas have a soft textured, flat, or slightly wavy coat. The amount of undercoat varies, but there should not be any thin or bare patches. The top coat ranges in length, being shorter and flatter over the body, front of the legs, and head. Longer hair called feathering is found on the feet and the back of the legs. The neck and chest are covered with a thick ruff. The tail sports a long plume of hair and the ear fringe should become gradually longer and thicker from ear tip to base.
Although they have more coat, Long Coat Chihuahuas are also quite easy to groom. A bristle brush should be used on shorter areas of coat. The longer hair should be groomed two or three times a week with a good-quality pin brush and a metal comb to remove dead hair and prevent mats.
Chihuahua Characteristics
Aside from the differences in coat length, both varieties should be identical in size, structure, and proportion. The Chihuahua’s overall shape is slightly rectangular, meaning that he should not appear to be very leggy, gangly, and spindly or excessively squat, heavy, and thickset. His legs should not appear to be very long or very short. The breed standard describes the Chihuahua’s chest as well developed with strong forequarters. In other words, he should be sturdy and compact, despite his small size.
His back is level from shoulders to tail, without any noticeable rises or dips at either end. His tail is long and straight and can be held up, outward, or loosely looped over his back. The Chihuahua’s charming expression is one of his most celebrated attributes. These dogs are often described as apple heads, and the standard describes the ideal head shape as “a well rounded ‘apple dome’ skulk”. Obviously a Chihuahua’s head should never be flat, narrow, or wedge shaped.
On the other hand, it shouldn’t be completely round or extremely domed. The term apple dome means that the head is obviously rounded with greater width between the ears than above the eyes. To a great extent, the Chihuahua’s eyes produce his saucy expression. They are large, round, luminous, and wide set but never bulging or protruding. They can range in color from dark to light.
What Is a Teacup Chihuahua? Past versions of the Chihuahua standard have included a clarification that two to four pounds was the preferred size, but the current standard gives equal preference to all dogs that do not exceed six pounds. A Chihuahua at the top end of this size limit is still a very small dog and every Chihuahua is considered a Toy breed. This makes additional size classifications redundant and irrelevant.
Even so, Chihuahuas are regularly advertised as Teacup, Pocket Size, and Miniatures with promises that they will weigh less than two pounds when full grown. Be suspicious of any breeder who advertises this as a primary goal of their breeding program, as health is often sacrificed for size.
Secure Fencing. Chihuahuas relish outdoor exercise. They do not require a large backyard, but if you intend to exercise your Chihuahua in your yard, secure fencing is essential. Chihuahuas can squeeze through surprisingly tiny spaces or become caught or injured , trying to do so. Many Chihuahuas are expert diggers. Others love to chase small animals. These instinctive habits can encourage escape attempts.
Invisible fencing is not recommended for this breed. It will not prevent other dogs from entering and does not guarantee that your Chihuahua will not leave the premises. Decorative perimeter fencing with cutouts or widely spaced slats may need to be reinforced with mesh or chicken wire to prevent accidents or escapes. If your Chihuahua is prone to digging, you may need to add brickwork or underground mesh along the bottom of the fence. Of course, the best safety measure is to always supervise your dog when he is outdoors.
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