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The Full Chihuahua Description

The Chihuahua is more than small; he's tiny. His adorable, apple-shaped head and big moist eyes make him nearly irresistible to kids. This sassy charmer is a healthy dog, but he is fragile. He likes to bark and scamper around, but is mainly an indoor dog, not able to tolerate cold weather.

Did you know?

The Chihuahua comes in two varieties: long and smooth coat.
The Chihuahua is graceful, alert, and swift.
This breed is clannish, recognizing and preferring his own kind. As a rule, he does not like dogs of other breeds.
Legend and history are rich in tales of the ancestors of the present Chihuahua. He is described as a popular pet, as well as a religious necessity, among the ancient Toltec tribes and later among the Aztecs. Archaeologists have discovered remains of this breed in human graves in Mexico and in parts of the United States.
The modern Chihuahua is quite different from his early ancestors, with his variegated colors ranging from snow white to jet black. Mexico favors the jet black with tan markings, and the black and white spotted. The United States prefers the solid colors.

So you want to own a Chihuahua?

The Chihuahua's size makes it a wonderful dog for people who live in small city apartments.
The breed is very hardy and adaptable, but it must live inside a home or an apartment, the Chihuahua should not live outside.
Chihuahuas are good travelers and can easily go anywhere with their owners

Indicative Breed Standard

General Appearance

Small, dainty, compact.

Characteristics

Alert little dog; swift-moving with brisk, forceful action and saucy expression.

Temperament

Gay, spirited and intelligent, neither snappy nor withdrawn.

Head and Skull

Well rounded ‘apple dome’ skull, cheeks and jaws lean, muzzle moderately short, slightly pointed. Definite stop.

Eyes

Large, round, but not protruding; set well apart; centre of eye is on a plane with lowest point of ear and base of stop; dark or ruby. Light eyes in light colours permissible.

Ears

Large, flaring, set on at an angle of approximately 45 degrees; giving breadth between ears. Tipped or broken down highly undesirable.

Mouth

Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Slightly arched, medium length.

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid; lean, sloping into slightly broadening support above straight forelegs, set well under chest giving freedom of movement without looseness.

Body

Level back. Body, from point of shoulder to rear point of croup, slightly longer than height at withers. Well sprung ribs, deep brisket.

Hindquarters

Muscular; hocks well let down, with good turn of stifle, well apart, turning neither in nor out.

Feet

Small and dainty, turning neither in nor out; toes well divided but not spread, pads cushioned, fine, strong, flexible pasterns. Neither hare- nor cat-like,
nails moderately short.

Tail

Medium length, set high, carried up and over back (sickle tail). When moving never tucked under or curled below the topline. Furry, flattish in appearance,
broadening slightly in centre and tapering to point.

Gait/Movement

Brisk, forceful action, neither high-stepping nor hackney; good reach without slackness in forequarters, good drive in hindquarters. Viewed from front and behind legs should move neither too close nor too wide, with no turning in or out of feet or pasterns. Topline should remain firm and level when moving.

Coat

Long Coat: soft texture (never coarse or harsh to touch) either flat or slightly wavy. Never tight and curly. Feathering on ears, feet and legs, pants on hindquarters, large ruff on neck desirable. Tail long and full as a plume.
Smooth Coat: smooth, of soft texture, close and glossy, with undercoat and ruff
permissible.

Colour

Any colour or mixture of colours.

Size

Weight: up to 2.7 kgs (6 lbs), with 1-1.8 kgs (2-4 lbs) preferred. If two dogs are equally good in type the more diminutive preferred.