Appearance
Chihuahua Appearance
What a Chihuahua Looks Like
Overview
Though there is only one breed: the Chihuahua, there are several factors that can make this breed's appearance vary quite a bit. This section covers what a Chihuahua looks like in general, showing expected physical traits and then dives into the different aspects that can make Chihuahuas look different from each other.
General Appearance
Long haired Chihuahua on the left; smooth coat Chihuahua on the right
The body is off-square which means that a Chihuahua is slightly longer (measured front body point to base of tail) than he is tall (measured from the withers [top of the shoulder blade] to the floor).
The skull is domed (apple shaped), though quite a few Chihuahuas have the more narrow and slanted unofficial deer shaped head.
The ears are relatively large and stand erect. Chihuahuas are born with floppy ears and they gain strength to stand as the pup matures. Adult Chihuahuas do not always carry the ears up, they can hold the ears back and this is often done according to their mood. Ears also typically fall back when resting or sleeping.
The tail is long and carried sickle, meaning a slight upward curve.
The eyes are round and full. Eye color is typically a dark brown. Light brown may be seen with Chihuahuas that have light-colored coats. Hazel or green eyes are possible, seen most often with fawn and white coats. Ruby is possible but extremely rare. Blue eyes can be seen once in a while, however are considered a major fault in the show ring.
Coat length can be smooth (short) or long. Smooth coats are tight and shiny. Long coats either have straight or slightly wavy hair. While most Chihuahuas are single coated with one layer of fur, some are double-coated with an undercoat.
Read more
about Different Types of Chihuahuas.
Head Shape
Deefer at 2 years old, a Chihuahua with an apple domed skull,
photo courtesy of Gail Edwards
There are two types of heads, the apple head which fits the AKC Chihuahua breed standard and the deer head which is an unofficial head shape. Apple-shaped heads are quite rounded with the forehead curving out to the stop and deer heads are more narrow and slant down.
Read more
about Apple Head vs Deer Head Chihuahuas.
Two Varieties: Long Coat and Smooth Coat
Foxy, a long coat Chihuahua at 4 years old, photo courtesy of Jane Harris-Scott
The long coat (also known as the long haired) and smooth coat (also known as the short coat) Chihuahua are different varieties of the same breed. They are the same in every single aspect, other than the length of the fur.
The smooth coat is seen much more often than the long coat and is the original coat of this breed (the same as the Chihuahua's ancestors, the Techichi). The long coat was introduced some time afterward by bringing in breeds with long hair including the Yorkshire Terrier and the Papillon. Even so, Chihuahuas with long coats will never look like breeds with full-length coats since the hairs are not able to grow much longer than a few inches.
Read more
about Long Coat Chihuahuas.
Size
Charo, a 4 year old Chihuahua, sitting on the back of the much larger Racy
(they are looking at their human who was eating Oreos),
photo courtesy of Linda Gulick
With the AKC breed standard of 'not to exceed 6 lbs.'
(2.72 kg), the Chihuahua is one of the smallest purebred dogs. There are other tiny breeds with no minimum weight as well, such as the Maltese (the AKC breed standard calls for a dog 'under 7 pounds' [3.2 kg]) and the Yorkshire Terrier (the AKC breed standard states they 'Must not exceed 7 pounds').
The standard weight requirement for the show ring can lead everyday pet owners to wonder if their Chihuahua is unnaturally large. However, it is very common for pet Chihuahuas to be over 6 pounds with over 20% larger than 8.5 pounds (3.8 kg).
Read more
about Chihuahua Size and Weight.
Another aspect in regard to size are teacup or 'mini' Chihuahuas. This is not an official variety of the Chihuahua. In many cases, this is merely a marketing term meant to imply that the dog is smaller than a standard Chihuahua, which is impossible since there is no minimum weight for this breed.
In some cases, this term may be used to describe a Chihuahua that is on the smaller side, typically under 4 pounds (1.8 kg) as an adult, but again this is entirely unofficial.
Read more
about Teacup and Mini Chihuahuas.
Colors
If there is one thing that this breed does not have a shortage of, it's color. There are 28 AKC recognized colors (many are combinations) and 11 recognized markings that a Chihuahua may have. Most of these are the same as the FCI, KC, etc., except for merle which the AKC does recognize (though tends to discourage) yet other countries do not allow.
Chihuahuas can be one solid color, two colors, or three colors, all of which can have markings. There are also some pretty patterns like brindle (striped) and sable (dark-tipped hairs).
Read more
about Chihuahua Colors.
The Changing Appearance of Chihuahuas as They Age
Pictured left to right: Tucker at 7 weeks old photo courtesy of Mary Jo,
Quinn at 4 months old courtesy of Carrie Bornes,
and Charlotte at 3 years old photo courtesy of Deb
Like other breeds, Chihuahuas go through a transformation as they age, looking much different at the one-year-mark than their younger counterparts.
Newborns are born with very floppy ears and rounded bodies. During the first 6 months, the body lengthens, a Chi grows a bit leaner, and ears can go up and down for months before they finally stand erect. Adult Chihuahuas are typically slender and compact little dogs.
Read more
about Chihuahua Age.