Quezi

Coco the Chihuahua Dog (photo by Toby Lee Spiegel - CC-BY)

Chihuahuas come in two types: short coat, (also called smooth coat), and long coat. They are identical except for coat length. The short coat is most popular. The Chihuahua is known by its small size, big ears, large and beautiful dark eyes. This is the smallest dog breed in the world and the oldest breed in North America.

The history and origins of the Chihuahua are mysterious. The dog came into prominence about 100 years ago in the Mexican state, Chihuahua - but many believe the dog originally came from Egypt while other stories claim that the Chinese first bred the dog.

The name is pronounced “Chih-wah-wah” and is frequently shortened to Chi.

The Chihuahua is in the AKC Toy Group and recognizes the size to be 2 – 6 pounds, however there are many Chihuahuas that grow larger.  Both of mine weigh about 8 pounds each.

There is no such thing as a ‘teacup’, ‘mini’ or ‘pocket’ Chihuahua. These are just bred from the runts of the litters of an already very small dog.  Beware of any breeder who tries to sell you a teacup Chihuahua.  The Myth of the “Teacup” .

Chihuahuas are bred in every possible color: black, red, fawn, chocolate, cream, white, blue, sable, silver, and can have any possible color combination either solid, marked, splashed, spotted, or brindle.

Chihuahuas are alert, intelligent, saucy, and love to be with their owner – they make great lap dogs.  It is not advisable to own a Chihuahua if you have very young children.

Apple Head Chihuahuas have a round or dome-like head similar to the shape of an apple. the upper part of the chihuahua’s skull is wider than the lower part in the jaw area. the term Deer Head Chihuahuas have a longer noses and a head shape similar to that of a small young deer.

All Chihuahuas are born with an opening soft spot at the top of the skull known as a “molera”. It is similar to the open fontanel human children are born with.  It makes the skull more flexible as the Chihuahua grows into it’s large head. This molera commonly closes by maturity, however some Chihuahua’s retain this feature throughout their life, so extra care should be given.

Another feature is their ears, which are large and held erect, while flaring to the sides at a 45 degree angle.  Interestingly the Chihuahua uses its ears to express a wide variety of emotions.

A Chihuahua has an average lifespan of 12 – 15 years, but some have lived up to 18 years.

In general, the Chihuahua is a healthy hearty dog for it’s size. There are a few conditions you will want to look out for: luxating patella (slipped stifles or loose kneecaps), collapsed trachea, hypoglyemia, heart murmur, and because they have big eyes and live close to the floor, they are more prone to eye injuries than a lot of other breeds. Also, Chihuahuas are prone to being overweight.

Internationally the breed is recognized by the following clubs:

Kennel Club of Great Britain (KCGB)
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
United Kennel Club (UKC)
The Kennel Club (UK)
ANKC
NKC
NZKC
APRI
ACR