Chihuahua
The smallest recognised breed. The apple-domed head is the standard type; a longer-muzzled 'deer head' form is common and not a separate breed.
- Group
- Toy
- Weight
- 1.5–3 kg
- Coat
- short
- Ears
- erect
- Muzzle
- short
- Build
- Square
- Origin
- Mexico
What it looks like
Very small with a rounded apple-shaped skull, large erect ears, prominent round eyes, and a sickle tail carried up and over. Smooth or long coated.
The characters that confirm it
- An apple-domed skull with a short muzzle and a distinct stop.
- Very large erect ears, flaring to the sides at rest.
- Under about 3 kg — anything much larger is a mix.
- A sickle tail carried up and curving over the back.
Temperament
Bold, alert and frequently under-socialised, which produces much of the reputation. Genuinely fragile physically.
Health
Patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, hydrocephalus and dental crowding. A soft spot on the skull, the molera, persists into adulthood in many and requires care. Hypoglycaemia in puppies is a real emergency risk.
Confused with
Longer legs, a finer frame and a more delicate head.
Small erect-eared mixed dogs get labelled Chihuahua routinely, and chihuahua mixes are among the commonest shelter dogs in the southwest.
Questions about this breed
How do you recognise a Chihuahua?
An apple-domed skull with a short muzzle and a distinct stop. Very large erect ears, flaring to the sides at rest.
What is a Chihuahua like to live with?
Bold, alert and frequently under-socialised, which produces much of the reputation. Genuinely fragile physically.
What health problems do Chihuahuas have?
Patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, hydrocephalus and dental crowding. A soft spot on the skull, the molera, persists into adulthood in many and requires care. Hypoglycaemia in puppies is a real emergency risk.