APPEARANCE OF CHIHUAHUA

The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, where it was discovered in 1850.

Appearance of chihuahua including :

Coat

The AKC ( American Kennel Club ) recognizes two varieties of Chihuahua :

1. The long-coat ( also referred to as long-haired )

Long-haired Chihuahuas are actually smoother to the touch, having soft, fine guard hairs and a downy undercoat, which gives them their fluffy appearance. Unlike many long-haired breeds, long-haired Chihuahuas require no trimming and minimal grooming. Contrary to popular belief, they also typically shed less than their short-haired counterparts. It may take up to two or more years before a full long-haired coat develops.

2. The smooth-coat ( also referred to as short-haired )

The term smooth-coat does not mean that the hair is necessarily smooth, as the hair can range from having a velvet touch to a whiskery feeling.

Standards

Breed standards for this dog do not generally specify a height, only a weight and a description of their overall proportions. As a result, height varies more than within many other breeds.

Generally, the height ranges between 6 and 10 inches ( 15 to 25 cm ) at the withers, however, some dogs grow as tall as 12 to 15 inches ( 30 to 38 cm ).

AKC show dogs ( American standard ) must weigh no more than 6.0 lb ( 2.7 kg ).

The Federation Cynologique Internationale ( FCI ) standard calls for dogs ideally between 1.5 and 3.0 kg ( 3.3 to 6.6 lb ), although smaller ones are acceptable in the show ring. However, pet-quality Chihuahuas ( that is, those bred or purchased as companions rather than show dogs ) can, and do, range above these weights, to 10 pounds ( 4.5 kg ), or even more if they have large bone structures or are allowed to become overweight.

This does not mean, however, that they are not purebred Chihuahuas, it only means that they do not meet the requirements to enter a conformation show. Oversize Chihuahuas are seen in some of the best, and worst, bloodlines.

Color

The AKC Chihuahua standard lists under color :

• Any color-Solid
• Marked
• Splashed

This allows for all colors from solid blacks to solid whites, spotted, or a variety of other colors and patterns. A few examples are :

• Fawn
• Red
• Cream
• Chocolate
• Blue
• Black

Patterns, all with or without white markings, include :

• Sable
• Irish spotting
• Piebald spotting
• Extreme white spotting
• Brindle
• Masks
• Merle
• Tan points

Classifying Chihuahua colors can be complicated due to the large number of possibilities. Examples would be a blue brindle or a chocolate and tan. Colors and patterns can combine and affect each other, resulting in a very high degree of variation. That said, the classic Chihuahua color remains fawn. No color or pattern is considered more valuable than the others. Although blue is considered rare, it is all just a matter of personal preference.

Size

Different-sized chihuahuas such as :

• Teacup
• Pocket size
• Tiny toy
• Miniature
• Standard

The Chihuahua Club of America issued a statement stressing that these descriptions are misleading. T