Dogs

Here you’ll find a wide variety of Chihuahua harnesses for sale. Some of the most popular types are no-pull, slip-on, vests and even shirt harnesses. 

*As an Amazon Associate, Chihuahua Wardrobe earns from qualifying purchases.

If you’re Chihuahua is constantly pulling and tugging when you try to walk them on a leash and collar, then perhaps you need to make the switch to a harness. While there are many different types of harnesses available for sale, they all have the same basic purpose – to keep your Chihuahua securely attached to a leash without having them choke themselves. This will allow you to continue walking them safely and securely with none of the strain places around the neck. If this sounds like something you are interested in, check out our selection.

What Are Harnesses?

Because they aren’t used as much as traditional collar and leash combinations, many people are confused about the purpose of harnesses and how they work. Even if you don’t know what a harness is, chances are you’ve seen a Chihuahua or some other dog wearing one at some point or another. From far away, it’s easy to mistake one for a regular collar, especially on small dogs. So, what exactly is a harness? If you’re wondering what these devices are and what benefits they provide, keep reading.

Basically, a harness is a strapped piece of equipment that wraps around a Chihuahua’s body to provide a secure area for a leash attachment.  Instead of hooking a leash up to their collar (which can be painful), you can attach it to the harness. This allows you to walk them safely around the yard, park or anywhere else you please without the threat of them running off. While some owners may simply allow their Chihuahuas to run free without a leash, this isn’t recommended simply because there are too many potential predators and threats that may harm them. Besides, there are leash laws in a number of jurisdictions throughout the country. The bottom line is that you need to keep your Chihuahua on a leash when you aren’t in a fenced-in area, and a harness provides a safe and effective way to accomplish this.

Sled dogs almost always use harnesses to gain more leverage and pulling power. Wearing one naturally lowers their center of gravity and gives them more power when pulling a load behind them. Harnesses for sled dogs are usually broken down into three different categories – H-back, X-back and freight harnesses. While there are some notable differences between them, they all serve the same basic purpose of keeping the sled dog securely attached without straining their neck.

Benefits of Using a Harness

There are several benefits to using a harness over a collar, but unfortunately, many owners overlook this option. Before making the decision to use a collar on your Chihuahua, you should familiarize yourself with some of the benefits associated with harnesses. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why you should use a harness…

• Harnesses allow you to safely control your Chihuahua without the risk of them injuring their neck. Some Chihuahuas tend to pull and tug when they are being walked on a leash and collar. While this may not seem like a big deal, the excessive force placed on their neck can damage their neck and throat. Harnesses are perfect for Chihuahuas exhibiting this type of behavior because they spread the pull force throughout their body instead of it being concentrated on their neck.
• Another advantage that harnesses have over collars is that they tend to stay more securely around a small Chihuahua’s body. I think most owners have experienced their Chihuahua slipping out of their collar. If the collar is too large for their neck, it’s naturally going to slip out when they begin to pull on it. Thankfully, this isn’t a problem with harnesses, as they connect around their body and (usually) two front paws.
• A lesser-known benefit that comes with using a harness is the additional element of style. After shopping around for clothes and harnesses to add to your Chihuahua’s wardrobe, you’ll probably notice how some harnesses are built directly into shirts or sweaters. This allows your Chihuahua to look cute and adorable while giving you the ability to keep them securely attached to a leash.
• Chihuahua harnesses are generally more comfortable to wear than regular collars. The fact is that Chihuahuas can’t talk to tell us when they are uncomfortable or in pain, so it’s up to us as their owner to look out for the signs. As you can expect, wearing a tight collar wrapped around their neck all the time can become quite uncomfortable. Removing it and replacing it with a harness, however, is a more comfortable alternative that will still allow you to keep your Chihuahua attached to a leash.

Choosing a Chihuahua Harness

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when confronted by such a wide variety of Chihuahua harnesses. However, you should take the time to choose the one that’s most tailored to fit your Chihuahua’s specific needs. Every Chihuahua is unique and different in his or her own way; therefore, some harnesses will work better than others. So, how do you know which harness to choose? Start by identifying the needs of your Chihuahua. If they tend to pull aggressively when you are walking them, then it’s a good idea to stick with a no-pull harness. If you’re just purchasing a harness for the style factor, then you’ll want to choose one with a sleek design that will naturally say something about your Chihuahua. Take these factors into consideration when shopping for a new Chihuahua harness to help find the one that’s right for your canine.

It’s not uncommon for Chihuahuas to pick up ticks when they are running and playing outside. Once a tick falls into their fur, it will bite down and begin feasting on the Chihuahua’s blood. Ticks will fall off in 2-4 days when they are full of blood, but most veterinarians advise owners to remove ticks manually. If you’ve noticed a tick on your Chihuahua, remove it by following the steps listed here.

Allowing a tick to remain on your Chihuahua will leave them vulnerable to disease and infection. Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) is one such disease that’s transmitted to both dogs and humans through tick bites.  Although transmission only occurs in about 1% of bites, Lyme disease is both painful and dangerous, especially in a small Chihuahua. The good news is that you can drastically reduce the chance of infection by removing ticks from your Chihuahua within 24 hours of attachment.

Inspect Your Chihuahua For Ticks

Check your Chihuahua for ticks by slowly running your hand against their fur so you can see their skin. If you run your hands across a tick, it will likely feel like a small, hard bump. Perform a close inspection of any bumps you find to determine whether or not it’s a tick (see image to the left). Ticks are small arachnids, meaning they have 8 legs, and they are usually either black or brown in color.

Some Chihuahuas — especially the smooth-coat varieties — are easier to check for ticks than others. A visual inspection is oftentimes enough to identify ticks lingering on a smooth-coat Chihuahua. For long-coat varieties, though, you need to run your hands through their fur to feel for any ticks. A grooming brush or comb may also help with identifying ticks on your Chihuahua.

Step #1 – Preparation

Before you start pulling and tugging away at the tick, you’ll need to gather some items. Gather a pair of tweezers, some latex gloves and some triple antibiotic ointment. Also, fill a disposable cup with a small amount of rubbing alcohol (used to kill the tick). Make sure all of these items are in place and proceed to the next step.

Step #2 – Removal

Sit down in a well-lit room and gently pull back your Chihuahua’s fur to locate the tick. Use your tweezers to grab the tick’s head as close to your Chihuahua’s skin as possible. Ticks forcefully attach themselves to their host, so you’ll need to clamp down hard with the tweezers to remove it. With their head clamped in the tweezers, pull the tick directly out and away from your Chihuahua’s body. Don’t jerk or twist the tick, but instead pull it directly out in a straight motion.

Step #3 – Disposal

Contrary to what some people may believe, flushing a tick down the toilet does not always kill it. Rather than flushing your tick down the toilet or throwing it in the trash, place it inside a disposable cup of rubbing alcohol, which will kill it within seconds. Please remember to only use a disposable cup to avoid spreading germs into your normal drinking cups. Let the tick sit in the rubbing alcohol for at least 20-30 minutes before flushing it down the toilet.

Step #4 – Cleaning & Rewarding

Once you’ve removed the tick from your Chihuahua, cover the wound with a small amount of triple antibiotic ointment. You can expect the area to remain red and slightly swollen for up to 2 weeks, but using antibiotic ointment will speed up the healing process while reducing the chance of infection. However, you should only use a very small amount, as some Chihuahuas may attempt to lick it off.

Lastly, give your Chihuahua a treat as a reward for everything they’ve endured. Removing ticks from a Chihuahua is typically painless, but it’s still a traumatizing experience that they don’t fully understand. Rewarding them afterward with a treat will make them forget about this unpleasant experience.

Tick Warnings and Tips For Chihuahua Owners:

• Closely monitor the tick bite area over the next 2 weeks for signs of infection.
• Soak the tweezers in a ‘fresh’ cup of rubbing alcohol after removing the tick.
• Baby ticks are as small as the tip of a pen.
• Products such as Frontline Plus are effective at killing both fleas and ticks.
• Don’t attempt to remove ticks with a hot match, as this will only encourage it to bite down harder while secreting more saliva into your Chihuahua.
• Never pull a tick from your Chihuahua using your bare hands. Instead, use a pair of tweezers or a tick removal tool.

References:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-if-you-find-tick-your-dog

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fleas-and-ticks

Biting is an instinctual characteristic shared by all dogs, and Chihuahuas are no exception.

Long before we domesticated them, dogs have used their teeth to kill prey, improve jaw strength, fend off predators, establish dominance in their pack’s social hierarchy, and play with other canines. Modern-day dogs have inherited this behavior from their ancestors, biting when provoked or otherwise stimulated. Unfortunately, this often results in owners, family members or complete strangers getting bit — behavior that should not be allowed.

Is a Biting Chihuahua Really That Bad?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year, 800,000 of which require medical attention. Because of their small size, however, many owners turn a blind eye to their Chihuahua’s biting. After all, how much harm can a 5-pound Chihuahua really cause?

While a bite from a Chihuahua isn’t going to inflict the same damage as a bite from a larger dog like a pit bull or boxer, it can still leave a painful wound that’s prone to infection. There’s an old myth that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth, but this isn’t a true. A dog’s saliva may contain one or more disease-causing pathogens, including Pasteurella multocida, Pasteurella canis, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Capnocytophaga canimorsus. When a Chihuahua bites, germs such as these can enter through the wound and cause an infection.

Biting is also a financial liability for the owner. If someone is bitten by your Chihuahua while visiting your home, the victim could sue for the cost of medical bills, pain and suffering, and other related expenses. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) and State Farm, roughly one-third of all homeowner’s insurance claims paid out in 2014 and 2015 involved dog bites.

Furthermore, it’s usually children between the ages of 5 and 9 who are bitten by dogs. Their small size, erratic movements, and inability to identify a dog’s temperament makes them a prime target for an attack. Children and Chihuahuas can safely coexist in the same home, but only after teaching both the boundaries of acceptable behavior.

Why Chihuahuas Bite

Chihuahuas possess innate behavioral traits passed down from their ancestors, including biting. Even the most docile “lap-friendly” Chihuahua can bite when pushed to the edge. To prevent this unacceptable behavior, owners must familiarize themselves with some of the reasons why Chihuahuas bite.

Teething

A Chihuahua puppy’s baby teeth (milk teeth) will erupt through his gums at 3 to 5 weeks of age, allowing the pup to transition from mother’s milk to dry food. To relieve the discomfort associated with this developmental process, puppies will bite and chew on just about anything they can get their paws on, including toys, socks, shoes, carpet, rugs or even your hand.

This behavior will continue until all 28 baby teeth have erupted. Your Chihuahua’s biting and chewing habits may return when his adult teeth erupt — usually occurring around 3 to 4 months of age.

Because of his young age, a puppy’s bite isn’t going to inflict much damage, nor does he intend to cause damage. Nonetheless, it’s important to begin teaching your Chihuahua early that biting is not acceptable.

Follow these tips to control your Chihuahua’s biting during the teething stage:

• Allow but don’t encourage your Chihuahua to bite your fingers.
• Teach bite inhibition by pulling your hand away saying “Ouch! That hurts!” when your Chihuahua bites too hard. This is the single most important thing you can do (we explain in greater detail below).
• Fill ice cube trays with low-sodium chicken or beef broth and place them in the freezer. Once frozen, offer the cool treat to your teething Chihuahua.
• Chilled carrots are an excellent and nutritious treat for a teething Chihuahua.
• Divert your Chihuahua’s chewing away from things like shoes and carpet by providing them proper toys. Rope toys are great because they can withstand countless hours of chewing. Kong toys are some of the toughest dog toys on the market, making them perfect for a teething Chihuahua. You can even fill them with water and freeze it for added relief of sore gums.
• Avoid plush toys, as they offer little-to-no relief of sore gums and are easily torn apart.

Maternal Aggression

Female Chihuahuas are more likely to bite during the first 2-3 weeks after giving birth. Known as maternal aggression, this behavior is the result of powerful chemical alterations occurring throughout her body, including increased production of the hormones oxytocin and prolactin, and decreased production of progesterone.

Known as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is released by the hypothalamus section of the brain and is associated with maternal bonding, nurturing and attachment. It’s used to stimulate contractions during labor, helping the fetus move through the birth canal.

Levels of the calming hormone progesterone decrease when a female Chihuahua is about to give birth, triggering increased production of the hormone prolactin. In addition to stimulating milk production, prolactin is associated with nesting and maternal instinct. Veterinary experts believe prolactin is also primarily responsible for the behaviors exhibited by female dogs during pseudopregnancy. These hormonal changes experienced by a female Chihuahua during pregnancy, or shortly after, can make her more aggressive.

You shouldn’t attempt to correct a female Chihuahua’s maternal aggression, but rather keep your distance until her hormones go back to normal. If you need to inspect or weigh her puppies, wait until she leaves her nesting area for food or water. Her aggression should gradually fade with each passing day after giving birth, with her behavior returning to normal within 3 to 4 weeks.

Pain-Induced Aggression

Chihuahuas have a natural instinct to protect themselves from danger. When a Chihuahua experiences pain, he may lash out and bite the person nearest to him, regardless of whether that individual caused the pain. He doesn’t know who or what caused the pain, but his natural fight-or-flight instinct tells him to lash out at the nearest person or animal.

According to a study of 13 dogs conducted by researchers at Autonomous University, Barcelona, pain-inducted aggression was identified in all dogs. “Dogs that had never been aggressive before the onset of pain began to behave in this way in situations where an attempt is made to control them,” explained lead researcher Tomàs Camps. This study was published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior— Clinical Applications and Research.

If your Chihuahua suffers from a medical condition like patellar luxation, which is common in this breed, he may exhibit aggressive behavior when touched in the affected knee. Owners and family members should use caution when handling a Chihuahua who’s suffering from painful physical conditions or injuries to avoid being bit.

A Chihuahua doesn’t necessarily have to be suffering from an injury or medical condition to exhibit pain-induced aggression. Toy breeds are most susceptible to pain-induced aggression because of their small size and heightened sensitivity towards pain. If a child (or adult) presses pulls, pinches or pushes your Chihuahua with too much force, he or she may get bit.

Signs that your Chihuahua is in pain may include:

• Aggressive behavior
• Flattened ears
• Loss of appetite
• Not interested in playing
• Reluctance to accept treats
• Yelping, whining or growling when touched (reactions such as these typically occur when a specific spot is touched)
• Difficulty jumping and climbing stairs
• Heavy panting
• Excessive paw-licking
• Difficulty sleeping

If you believe your canine companion is suffering from pain, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian ASAP. After performing an examination, your veterinarian can help to identify the cause of the pain and offer advice on treatment and pain medication options.

Past Abuse

According to the study “Behavioral and Psychological Characteristics of Canine Victims of Abuse” published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (JAAWS), dogs with a history of past abuse were more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior towards unfamiliar people and unfamiliar dogs.

If you adopted a Chihuahua from a shelter or rescue, perhaps his biting is the result of abuse by a former owner. You can check with the organization from which you adopted your Chihuahua to see if there’s any history of abuse, but many cases go unreported. 

Whether it’s physical abuse, social isolation, yelling/verbal punishment, confinement to a chain, or removing the pup from its mother too early, abuse comes in many different forms. Some Chihuahuas recover quickly from such abuse, while others have lasting emotional scars that sow the seeds for aggressive behavior.

Teaching a Chihuahua with past abuse to trust humans again isn’t an easy task, nor will it happen overnight. With time, patience, dedication and lots of affection, however, you can help your Chihuahua overcome these negative feelings.

Fear

Chihuahua is more likely to bite another animal or person if he fears for his safety. Veterinarians are often the target of such aggression, simply because dogs are fearful of unfamiliar people and situations. When you take your Chihuahua to see a new veterinarian for the first time, he may growl and nip during the examination. The veterinarian isn’t going to harm your canine companion, but he or she is still perceived as a potential threat.

Because the victims of fear bites are typically strangers, owners should tell strangers not to pet or otherwise touch their Chihuahua. It’s not uncommon for strangers to stop and pet dogs at the park. In doing so, they place themselves at risk of being bitten. If you walk your Chihuahua in a park or other public area, politely decline any requests to pet your canine companion, unless your Chihuahua is familiar with the individual.

Socialization is key to nipping fear-inducted biting in the bud.

Territorial

Chihuahuas have a natural instinct to protect what they believe is their property, including toys, food, treats, water, beds, people and home. Known as territorial aggression, a Chihuahua is more likely to bite another person or animal if that person or animal encroaches upon their property. The purpose of this isn’t to harm the individual but to make him or her go away.

A prime example of territorial aggression is when a postal worker delivers mail to a home, only to get chased and potentially bitten by the homeowner’s dog. According to a report by the United States Postal Service (USPS), 6,549 of its employees were attacked by dogs in 2015. The dog perceives the postal worker as encroaching upon HIS territory, so his natural instinct is to chase the postal worker away.

Preventing bites from territorial aggression begins with teaching your Chihuahua that it’s YOUR property and that YOU will protect it. If he acts aggressively when a stranger knocks on the door, show him that it’s okay by asking a friend to come over and knock and enter through the front door, rewarding your Chihuahua with a treat afterward.

If your Chihuahua is aggressive in a particular area, such as the corner of the living room, give him access to the area only when he’s not displaying signs of aggression. You can do the same if he’s aggressive around a toy, taking the toy away and giving it back when he’s docile. Some experts also recommend making dogs “work” for their toys and property by performing basic obedience commands like sit or heel, after which the dog is rewarded with the toy or item. Along with regular socialization and positive reinforcement, this can put an end to territorial aggression.

To prevent territorial aggression around food, carefully approach your Chihuahua with a treat while he’s eating. He should stop eating momentarily to accept the treat, after which you should walk away and wait a few minutes before returning with another treat. This shows your Chihuahua that it’s not always bad when someone enters his territory.

Illness

Certain illnesses and diseases may trigger aggressive behavior in Chihuahuas. Hypothyroidism is one such disease that can make an otherwise docile dog more likely to bite. Located next to the larynx (voice box), the thyroid gland is a small gland that’s responsible for producing thyroid hormones, which regulate healthy metabolic functions. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of these hormones.

While hypothyroidism occurs mostly in larger breeds, Chihuahuas may develop it as well. A simple blood test performed at the veterinarian’s office can reveal whether your Chihuahua is suffering from this disease. Thyroid hormone supplements like Levothyroxine (Soloxine) are often prescribed to treat hypothyroidism in dogs.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism may include:

• Aggressive behavior
• Lethargy
• Hair loss and excessive shedding
• Sudden weight gain
• Hyperpigmentation of the skin
• High cholesterol
• Anemia

Lyme disease is another disease that’s been linked to aggressive behavior in dogs. Transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, it can cause swollen joints, swollen lymph nodes, lethargy, loss of appetite, as well as neurological symptoms like irritability, confusion and aggression. However, only 5-10% of dogs with Lyme disease show symptoms.

There’s a vaccine available for Lyme disease, but many veterinarians recommend traditional tick prevention methods instead due to the risk of adverse reactions from vaccination.

Teaching Your Chihuahua Not to Bite

There’s no universal training technique that will stop all Chihuahuas from biting. Dogs bite for many reasons, and the method for stopping this behavior varies depending on the trigger. With that said, the following tips can greatly reduce many instances of biting and other forms of aggression in Chihuahuas.

Don’t Punish for Growling

Many owners scold or otherwise punish their Chihuahuas for growling. In doing so, they eliminate a key warning sign that precedes biting. If you teach your Chihuahua that growling is bad, perhaps he’ll bite without warning the next time he’s provoked. The possibility of biting is still there, but the warning sign — growling — is removed.

Allowing your Chihuahua to growl may sound counterproductive if you’re trying to teach him not to bite, but it’s actually beneficial. Owners can teach their children to back away from the Chihuahua when he growls to avoid getting bit.

Growling may also reveal the cause of his aggression. If your Chihuahua growls when picked up, perhaps he’s suffering from a painful injury or medical condition. If he growls when another pet approaches his crate, his aggression is territorial.

Teach Bite Inhibition

Bite inhibition refers to a dog’s ability to control the force of his bite. When you give your Chihuahua a treat, for instance, he shouldn’t bite your hand using the full strength of his jaw. If he knows bite inhibition, he’ll accept the treat more cautiously to prevent injuring you. The goal isn’t to prevent your Chihuahua from biting, but rather to teach him to control the force of his of bite.

Puppies learn bite inhibition at an early age while nursing and playing with their littermates. If a puppy bites one his littermates too hard, the littermate may let out a high-pitched yelp, saying “You bit me too hard — and it hurt!” The same goes for puppies while nursing: biting the mother too hard may cause her to get up and walk away. If a puppy wants to play and nurse, he must learn to control his bite.

This is one of the reasons why puppies should stay with their mother for at least eight weeks. If a puppy is removed too early, he’s less likely to develop bite inhibition through playing and nursing. The same goes for singletons who are born without playmates.

Here are the three rules to follow when teaching bite inhibition:

1. Respond to forceful bites. When your Chihuahua bites too hard, respond by pulling your hand away and saying “Ouch, that hurt!” You should then ignore him for the next few minutes to discourage forceful biting.
2. Be consistent with your training efforts. Consistency is key when teaching your Chihuahua bite inhibition. If you respond with a loud “Ouch” on one occasion but not the next, it confuses him by sending mixed messages.
3. Reinforce into adulthood. Bite inhibition is best taught at an early age, while the puppy is still young. However, you should continue to reinforce it well into your Chihuahua’s adulthood.

Socialization

Chihuahuas are much more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior if they aren’t socialized. When a Chihuahua isn’t exposed to other people, animals and environments, he’s likely to develop fear-induced aggression, such as biting an unfamiliar person’s hand. 

One study conducted by researchers from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University found that unsocialized puppies were 580 times more likely to develop aggression problems later in life.

The idea behind socialization is to show your Chihuahua that other people and animals aren’t bad, preferably while he’s still a puppy. Puppies are most sensitive to socialization between the ages of 3 and 16 weeks, making this is a critical time to prevent aggression. If your Chihuahua has positive experiences with other people and animals at a young age, he’ll develop a more relaxed disposition towards unfamiliar faces in the future.

Here are some tips to follow when socializing your Chihuahua:

• Make sure your Chihuahua is up to date on his vaccinations before exposing him to other people and animals.
• Take a trip to the pet store with your Chihuahua.
• Bring your Chihuahua on car trips (just don’t leave him in the car).
• Go on walks with your Chihuahua, such as dog parks, around the neighborhood, wooded trails, etc.
• Play fetch with your Chihuahua outdoors.
• When taking your Chihuahua to a dog park, walk him around the outside of the fence first.
• Take your Chihuahua to friends’ and family members’ homes.
• Invite friends or family members over to your home, encouraging them to play with your Chihuahua.
• Sign up for a group-based obedience training class.
• Reward your Chihuahua with a treat after each socialization experience.

Spaying/Neutering

Spaying or neutering may reduce aggression in Chihuahuas. According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, intermale aggression was reduced in 60% of male dogs by neutering, with a rapid reduction of aggression in 25% and a gradual reduction in 35%.

Neutering results in lower levels of testosterone, reducing behavior associated with this hormone such as urinating to mark territory, hyperactivity, running away, and aggression.

Spaying a female Chihuahua eliminates her heat cycle, and subsequently the behaviors associated with going into heat. It may also reduce female hormone-driven behavior, including nest guarding in pseudopregnancy.

In the past, it was widely believed that neutering male dogs before puberty was necessary to prevent these behavioral problems. A study cited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), however, suggests that neutering male dogs in adulthood is just as effective at reducing aggression as neutering before puberty.

Professional Help for Biting and Aggression

When all else fails, seek professional help for your Chihuahua’s behavior. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) recommends consulting with a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.

Alternatively, you can seek professional help from a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT) or member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

The bottom line is that you shouldn’t throw in the towel just because your previous training efforts have failed.

References:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/stop-your-dogs-chewing

https://www.cesarsway.com/nipping-nipping-in-the-bud

Potty-training is an essential process that every owner must go through with their Chihuahua. Unless you plan on keeping your furry four-legged friend in a fenced-in backyard (not recommended), you’ll have to teach them to use the bathroom outside the house and not inside. Unfortunately, however, Chihuahuas have a notorious reputation for being a breed that’s difficult and downright stubborn to housebreak. In fact, some owners throw in the flag and simply lay out pee pads for them instead. The truth is that practically any Chihuahua, no matter how old they are, can be potty-trained when it’s done correctly and under the right circumstances.

Although Chihuahuas can be successfully potty-trained at any age, it’s recommended that you start as soon you bring them into your home, preferably when they are still a puppy. During the first 6-12 months of a Chihuahua’s life, their brains are developing at a rapid pace; therefore, they will naturally catch on to routines and consistency. You can use this to your advantage by instilling the basic potty-training commands in your Chihuahua’s head. When they learn these principles at an early age, it will stay with them well into their adult years, making the potty-training process easier for the both of you.

Chihuahua Potty-Training – Where Should I Start?

It’s easy to feel lost and confused when you first bring your Chihuahua home. You’re busy preparing their bed, making sure they have food and water, and you’re probably playing them with, too. While all of this fine, you need to place potty-training at the top of your list of priorities. As stated above, it’s crucial that you begin teaching them the basics of where using the bathroom is acceptable and where it’s not.

Before you start attempting to potty-train your Chihuahua, you’ll need to pick up a few basic items first. These items are necessary to encourage good behavior, as well as prevent bad behavior. Here are the things you’ll need:

• 1-2 boxes of small milk bone treats for rewarding good behavior.
• A crate that’s just large enough for your Chihuahua to stand up and turn around in.
• A small, comfortable bed with a couple soft blankets.
• A soft, non-abrasive collar with a leash that’s at least 10-feet long.

Note: This isn’t an entire list of everything you need to own a Chihuahua, but rather a list of items that will come in handy when potty-training your Chihuahua.

Potty-Training Basics

One of the key factors to successfully potty-training your Chihuahua is letting them know when they do something bad. When you see them do their business on the floor inside your home, quickly walk over to them and immediately say “No!” or “Bad boy/girl!” You should never physically spank or hit your Chihuahua, as this may injure them and make it more difficult to train them. Instead, stick with a strong verbal statement, letting them know that what they did is unacceptable. Chihuahuas are quite emotional, and verbally telling them “no” while pointing at them is all it takes to get the message across.

No matter how hard you try to prevent it, accidents will happen. It’s an inevitable part of owning any indoor dog, regardless of breed, so don’t expect your Chihuahua to be any different. After you see them peeing or pooping inside the house, tell them “No!” and walk them outside. While you’re walking them, say something along the lines of “go potty” or “go pee-pee,” as this will help them associate the words with the actual behavior. It may take some time, but remain patient and wait for them to do their business. When they are good and use the bathroom outside, give them a milk bone treat along with lots of petting and praise as a reward for their good behavior. Treats go a long ways when it comes to potty-training and obedience training, so use them to your advantage.

Another little trick I’ve learned that helps to potty-train a Chihuahua is to always take them to the same place outside to do their business. Chihuahuas have a keen sense of smell and will be able to tell where they’ve used the bathroom before. When they come across an area where they’ve already used the bathroom, they will notice the scent and assume it’s okay to use the bathroom here again. You can begin walking your Chihuahua to other parts of the yard once they are older and fully potty-trained, but stick to a designated area during their early puppy years.

Chihuahua Crate Training

Some owners are under the impression that forcing a small Chihuahua to stay cooped up inside a crate is cruel and inhumane. After all, how fun can it be to remain stuck inside a crate where you can barely move around? The fact is, however, that a crate gives your Chihuahua their own personal space in which they can call home. There’s a certain sense of security they begin to feel and associate with their crate, and chances are they grow to enjoy being inside it. As the owner of three Chihuahuas myself, I frequently find my Chis hiding in their crates even with they are allowed to roam the house free.

The reason why crates are such an effective potty-training tool is because you can confine them to it anytime you’re unable to watch them. Instead of “hoping” your Chihuahua doesn’t use the bathroom inside the house, you can rest assured knowing they are safely confined to their crate. Naturally, most Chihuahuas won’t use the bathroom in the same crate where they sleep and rest. If they have to use the bathroom, they will try to hold it until you let them outside. This works in your favor, as it lets your Chihuahua develop the skills necessary to hold their pee until you take them outside. Just remember to never leave a Chihuahua in a crate for long periods of time.

References:

https://www.aspca.org/news/house-training-your-dog-or-puppyhttp://pets.thenest.com/potty-train-teacup-chihuahua-3559.html

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-potty-train-your-dog-or-puppy

As with any breed, a Chihuahua’s lifespan varies depending on a number of different factors (see below for a complete list). Some of these factors are controllable, whereas others are outside of owners’ control. Owners should familiarize themselves with these factors so they give their Chihuahua the longest, fullest life possible.

There’s no fool-proof method for predicting exactly how long they can live, but current data suggests that Chihuahuas live an average of 15 to 20 years when properly cared for by a loving owner.

Small breeds like the Chihuahua and Yorkshire Terrier live longer than medium-to-large breeds like the Labrador Retriever and Mastiff. Medium-to-large breeds have an average life expectancy of 10 to 13 years.

Does this mean all Chihuahuas live between 15 and 20 years? Not necessarily, but this is a good rule of thumb to follow.

Factors That Impact a Chihuahua’s Lifespan:

• Diet – a Chihuahua’s diet will directly impact their lifespan. Owners should feed their furry four-legged friends a nutritious, well-balanced premium dog food with no fillers, preservatives or artificial flavors. Avoid the temptation of feeding your Chihuahua leftover dinner scraps, as this can lead to obesity, toxicosis and other health problems.

• Weight – equally as influential in a Chihuahua’s lifespan is weight. Obese Chihuahuas are prone to a variety of adverse health conditions that may lower their average lifespan, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Underweight Chis may also experience a lower average lifespan due to malnutrition and a weakened immune system.

• Healthcare – it should come as no surprise that healthcare plays a role in a Chihuahua’s lifespan as well. Taking them to the veterinarian for routine checkups will promote a long, healthy life by diagnosing illnesses early, before they progress to life-threatening ailments. Most veterinarians recommend taking adult Chihuahuas between the ages of 7 and 10 for a wellness check once a year. If you have senior Chihuahua over the age of 10, however, you should take them for a wellness check twice a year.

• Genetics – “good genes” can lengthen a Chihuahua’s lifespan, which is why it’s important to pay close attention to a pup’s parents if you’re looking to adopt. If the parents are healthy, energetic and happy, their pups are more likely to live a long and healthy life.

• Spaying/neutering – Chihuahuas that are spayed and neutered tend to live longer than those that aren’t fixed. Neutering a male Chi before the age of year will decrease their risk of developing testicular and prostate cancers, and fixing female Chis before their first heat cycle can reduce their risk of developing uterine and ovarian cancers. Of course, there are other health benefits associated with spaying and neutering a Chihuahua, such as lowered aggression levels, reduced risk of running away, and fewer pups ending up in the pound.

• Vaccinations – Chihuahuas require vaccinations and follow-up booster shots to protect against potentially life-threatening diseases like the parvovirus, Leptospirosis, Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough), canine influenza, distemper and rabies.

• Oral Care – like most small breeds, Chihuahuas are prone to dental problems like tooth decay, tooth toss and gum disease. Some studies suggest that as many as 9 out of 10 Chihuahuas will experience dental problems. Allowing your Chihuahua to suffer from poor oral health can reduce their lifespan. Bacteria enters the bloodstream through bleeding gums (caused by gingivitis) and goes straight to the heart and kidneys.

• Gender – statistically speaking, females live longer than their male counterparts. The exact cause of this longer average lifespan is unknown, but studies suggest female Chihuahuas live 1 to 2 years longer than males.

• Activity Levels – keeping your Chihuahua active is crucial to promoting a long, healthy life. Whether it’s playing fetch, tug-of-war (with a toy, of course), or going for a walk around the neighborhood, give your Chi plenty of daily exercise. Doing so will burn excess fat, build muscle, strengthen their immune system and ward off illness,  which can increase their average lifespan.

The World’s Oldest Chihuahua

The world’s oldest Chihuahua on record (keyword being on record) is Megabyte, who passed away on January 1, 2014, at the age of 20 years and 265 days. Other than the occasional news article and blog posts, details are scarce about Megabyte’s life; however, we know this full-bred Chihuahua lived 20 full years before passing away on New Year’s Day, 2014.

There have been several reports of Chihuahuas living to 20, 21 and even 22 years of age. These reports were never verified, and thus Megabyte retains his title as the world’s oldest Chihuahua.

Chihuahua Age In Human Years and Dog Years

*This chart can be used for all dogs under 20 pounds.

References:

http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_oldest_dogs

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/dogs-and-life-span-which-breeds-live-longest

Like many modern-day dog breeds, much of the Chihuahua’s history is shrouded in mystery.

Where did the Chihuahua originate from? Were they brought over from Europe? Are they descendants of a different breed? Were they bred for a specific purpose like hunting rodents or herding livestock? While there’s no definitive answer to these questions, historians have concocted several theories on the Chihuahua’s history that we’re going to explore.

The State of Chihuahua, Mexico

Historians continue to speculate on the Chihuahua’s true origins, but most agree that it leads back to the state of Chihuahua Mexico. Spanning 95,544 mi² (247,460 km²) and bordering Texas and New Mexico to the northeast (see map below), Chihuahua is a the largest of Mexico’s 32 states. It was here where dog fanciers are believed to have discovered some of the earliest Chihuahua specimens in the mid-1800s.

In 1884, Mexican merchants began selling the small dog to border tourists, many of whom brought them back to the U.S. to keep as pets. Back then, the dog didn’t have an official name. Rather, people named it after the region in which it was seen. This resulted in the modern-day Chihuahua being called the Arizona dog, Texas dog, Mexico dog, and the Chihuahua dog. Of course, only one of these names withstood the hands of time, with the breed now being universally recognized as the Chihuahua.

The Techichi Theory

Historians generally accept the idea that some of the earliest Chihuahuas were discovered in Mexico in the late 1800s. It’s what happened before this period that continues to spark debates.

One of the most plausible theories is that the Chihuahua is a descendant of the Techichi, a small-framed companion dog domesticated by several pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations and Native North American tribes. With an average weight of 10 to 20 pounds, the Techichi is roughly twice the size of the Chihuahua but shares many of its counterpart’s physical characteristics. Unlike the Chihuahua, the Techichi is believed to have been mute with only long coats (the Chihuahua has both short and long coats).

Maya and Toltec Civilizations

Following this theory, it’s safe to assume either the Maya (1800 BC to 900 AD) or Toltec (900 AD to 1150 AD) were the first to domesticate the Techichi. The Maya — not “Mayan” as some describe this civilization — viewed dogs as being guardians of the afterlife, using them in burial ceremonies and as a source of food. They would often sacrifice, mummify and bury dogs alongside their respective owners, believing their canine companions would join them in the afterlife. The Maya even had nine different words for dog in their language, some of which referred to specific varieties. It’s unknown which breeds the Maya domesticated, but historians believe it included the Techichi and the Xoloitzcuintli (Xolo) at the very least.

When archeologists unearthed ancient burial shafts in Colima, Mexico, they discovered effigy pots and sculptures dating back to 300 BC depicting a dog with striking similarities to the Chihuahua. Archeologists have also discovered wheeled dog toys in Central America dating back to 100 AD, showing both apple head and deer head varieties. These were likely two variations of the Techichi, suggesting a direct link with the modern-day Chihuahua.

Another piece of evidence reinforcing the Techichi theory lies in a 1,200-year-old Maya figurine depicting a woman holding a child in one hand and a small dog with Chihuahua-like characteristics in the other. This figurine can be found at New Orleans’ Tulane University.

The Maya civilization began to decline in 800 AD, giving rise to the Toltec by 900 AD. And like their predecessors, the Toltec also domesticated dogs for food and sacrificial purposes. Archeologists have discovered Toltec carvings of small dogs with rounded apple heads and erect ears, presumably the Techichi.

The Aztec and European Explorers

The Aztec rose to power shortly after the end of the Toltec civilization, establishing their capital of Tenochtitlán in 1325 AD. They viewed the Toltec as being the perfect example of a civilization, following many of their predecessor’s traditions, including both human and dog sacrifices. In an effort to appease their gods, they would sacrifice humans in blood-offering ceremonies. If humans weren’t available, the Aztec would sacrifice dogs, including the Techichi.

Like the Maya, Toltec and other Mesoamerican cultures, the Aztec believed that sacrificial dogs joined their owners in the afterlife. Furthermore, they believed diseases could be transferred from humans to dogs, curing the human in the process.

Several European explorers described the Techichi in written journals. After journeying to the New World in 1529, Franciscan priest and ethnographer Bernardino de Sahagún spent the next 50 years studying the Aztec culture. In his work, Sahagún wrote about the Aztec’s ceremonial practices, which included sacrificing the small dog.

“The deceased were burnt, encircled by all their clothing and belongings, but he who had nothing among his wretched belongings went bare, and underwent much pain and suffered much in order to pass the place of the obsidian-bladed winds. And also they caused him to carry a little dog, a yellow one, and they fixed about its neck a loose cotton cord. It was said that he (the dog) bore the dead one across the place of the nine rivers in the land of the dead.”

The Aztec emphasized color in their culture, viewing yellow as the color of death. According to Sahagún, they would sacrifice yellow-colored Techichis, believing the deceased canines would help them cross the ninefold river to Meitlantecutli. The Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernandez (died 1515) wrote about the Techichi being used as a food source by the Aztec, similar to the way in which Spaniards would eat rabbits.

Other written accounts by European explorers describe how the Aztec domesticated and used the Techichi as pets. In “The Natural and Moral History of the Indies,” Spanish Jesuit missionary José de Acosta (1540 to 1600) described the Aztec, whom were believed to be Indians at the time, feeding dogs and keeping them for company.

“The Indians so love these little dogs that they spare their meat to feed them, so when they travel in the country they carry them upon their shoulders or in their bosoms, and when they are sick they keep them with them but only for company.”

The Techichi, along with their native owners, didn’t fare well following the arrival of European colonizers. Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (1485 to 1547) led a third expedition to the New World, which he partly funded using his own money. Cuba’s governor, Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, attempted to cancel the expedition shortly before the ships sailed. Cortés ignored this order, however, embarking on a bloody conquest that would lead to the fall of the Aztecs while nearly eradicating the Techichi in the process.

Was the Techichi Crossed with Another Small Dog?

While many historians believe the Chihuahua is a descendant of the Techichi, others believe it’s a cross between the Techichi and a small hairless dog known as the Chinese Crested.

If you’re familiar with the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition, you’ve probably heard of this breed before. Held annually in Petaluma, California, it celebrates dogs for their “unique” appearance, rewarding the winning owner with $1,000 and a trophy. All dogs are eligible to participate, but the Chinese Crested continues to dominate the competition, winning year after year.

Photo of a Chinese Crested

Weighing an average of 10 to 13 pounds (4.5 to 1.4 kg), the Chinese Crested is smaller than many other breeds, albeit larger than the Chihuahua. Some historians believe it was crossed with the Techichi, resulting in the modern-day Chihuahua. Perhaps Chinese explorers or merchants brought the hairless dog to the Americas, but widespread Chinese immigration to Central and North America didn’t occur until the mid-to-late 1800s. If the Chinese didn’t land in the Americas until the 19th century, it would have been impossible for the Chinese Crested to cross with the native Techichi.

Well, several theories suggest China discovered the Americas before Christopher Columbus. If true, maybe some of these early Chinese explorers brought the Chinese Crested to Central America and/or North America, where it was later bred with the Techichi to create the Chihuahua. That’s a long shot to say the least, yet it’s still a possibility historians consider.

Other theories link the Chihuahua to the Xoloitzcuintli (Xolo), a small and mostly hairless dog that has roamed Mexico for thousands of years.

Fun Fact: The Xolo is the official dog of Mexico and was added back to the AKC’s list of official breeds in 2011.

Nonetheless, many historians reject the Chihuahua’s connection to any hairless breed, including the Xolo and Chinese Crested. These hairless breeds have rectangular heads and stiff tails, which is in stark contrast to the Chihuahua’s physical appearance.

Giorgio Armani, the first Xoloitzcuintli to be named best of its breed at the Westminster Dog Show

The European Descent Theory

Another possibility is that Chihuahuas originated from Europe, specifically the island country of Malta.

Nestled 50 miles (80 km) below Italy, this Mediterranean island was once home to a small dog, known as the Maltese pocket dog, which shared a distinct characteristic with the Chihuahua: an opening in the skull, also known as a molera or soft spot. Between 80% and 90% of all Chihuahuas are born with this undeveloped cranial gap.

Another piece of evidence connecting the Maltese pocket dog to the modern-day Chihuahua lies in the Sistine Chapel. In 1482, Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli completed a fresco on the second compartment of the south wall. Known as The Trials and Calling of Moses, this vibrant fresco depicts a boy holding a small dog with an uncanny resemblance to the modern-day Chihuahua.

One could argue that the Maltese pocket dog is actually the Techichi or Xolo brought over from Mexico, but Botticelli completed this fresco ten years before Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas. Therefore, it would have been impossible for him to know what the Techichi looked like.

Below is a photo of Botticelli’s The Trials and Calling of Moses, along with a closeup revealing the boy holding a small dog.

The dog certainly looks like a Chihuahua… What do you think?

The Trials and Calling of Moses Is the boy holding a Chihuahua? You be the judge.

DNA Evidence Sheds Light on Chihuahua’s Origin

A recent study involving the Chihuahua’s DNA may shed light on the breed’s origin. Researchers from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden sought to investigate the origins of several modern-day American dog breeds, including the Chihuahua. For the study, researchers compared the Chihuahua’s mitochondrial DNA to Asian dogs, European dogs and archeological sites, looking to see if there was a connection.

Researchers did not find a link between the Chihuahua and any Asian or European dogs. They did, however, discover the Chihuahua’s unique DNA type in Mexican pre-Columbian samples, suggesting the breed — or perhaps its Techichi ancestor — was around in Mexico before the European explorers arrived.

You can access these findings in the Royal Society journal.

The Modern Chihuahua

One of the first detailed written accounts of the Chihuahua was by James Watson, a dog judge and writer who immigrated from Scotland to New York in the 1870s. When traveling to San Fransisco to attend a dog show in 1888, Watson stopped by El Paso and crossed the border into Mexico to investigate rumors of this talked-about breed. Here, he purchased a Chihuahua, whom he later named Manzanita, from a Mexican merchant for $5.

Watson returned soon after to buy several more Chihuahuas, including one of the first champions of the breed, Juarez Bell. He wrote about his new companions in The American Kennel Register and Country Life in America, describing them as being small enough to fit in his pocket.

In the 1890s, Mexico’s president gave the famous Italian-French opera singer Adelina Patti a bouquet of flowers in which a small Chihuahua was hidden. Patti felt an immediate connection with her new canine companion, taking Bonito across the country as she toured. At the time, many people had heard of Chihuahuas but never actually seen one. Patti changed the Chihuahua’s course in history by presenting this affectionate, fun-loving breed to the world.

Carl Lumholtz, Norwegian explorer and researcher of indigenous Mexican cultures, wrote about the Chihuahua in his two-volume set Unknown Mexico (1902). According to Lumholtz, the Chihuahua fetched “quite a price” by dog fanciers. He also described the breed as being timid with erect ears, prominent eyes and a small hole on the top of the skull. We did some math to determine exactly how much Chihuahuas cost back then, and after adjusting for inflation, we discovered that James Watson spent the modern-day equivalent of $133.03 for his Manzanita.

It wasn’t until 1904, however, when Texas resident H. Raynor registered the first Chihuahua, Midget, with the AKC. During that same year, three other Chihuahuas were registered with the AKC. And just a few years later, the AKC had its first champion. By 1915, 30 Chihuahuas were registered with the AKC.

The Chihuahua Club of America (CCA) was founded in 1923 to promote the breed and provide educational resources on health, grooming and general characteristics. In 1952, the CCA separated the breed into two different varieties: the smooth coat and long coat.

In 1928, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) — Canada’s version of the AKC — added the Chihuahua to its list of officially recognized breeds. In 1948, the United Kennel Club (UKC) — the UK’s version of the AKC — followed suit by adding the Chihuahua to its list as well.

The Chihuahua’s Popularity Grows…

In the early-to-mid 1900s, owners preferred working dogs that could hunt, herd livestock, retrieve fowl and kill varmints. While affectionate and fun-loving, the Chihuahua lacked many of these functional traits. Instead, breeds such as the Collie, Boston Terrier, Beagle and Cocker Spaniel were chosen. This resulted in slow and seemingly stagnant growth for the Chihuahua’s popularity in the U.S.

The public’s perception of dogs began to shift in the 1960s. Rather than owning dogs for work purposes, people sought to own them for companionship — and the Chihuahua was the perfect canine companion. Word quickly spread about this pint-sized dog with a fierce yet loving personality, sparking a newfound popularity for the breed. In 1964, the Chihuahua ranked #12 based on AKC registrations. The AKC even lists the Chihuahua as one of the top 10 breeds of the 1960s. In the 1980s, some 25,000 were registered with the AKC.

In the mid-1990s, the fast food restaurant chain Taco Bell launched an innovative marketing campaign starring a talking Chihuahua named Gidget Chipperton. Voiced by Carlos Alazraqui, Gidget presented the Chihuahua to millions of Americans. So, in addition to increasing revenue and brand recognition for Taco Bell, the commercial campaign played a key role in the Chihuahua’s popularity, particularly in the U.S.

It’s safe to say Taco Bell’s advertising campaign introduced the Chihuahua to millions of Americans. In 1999, the Chihuahua ranked #7 based on AKC registrations. In 2000, it dropped to #8 on the list. In 2001 and 2002, the Chihuahua ranked #9. The Chihuahua’s rankings gradually declined thereafter, dropping to #11 in 2006, and #12 in 2007 and 2008.

In 2012, the Chihuahua ranked #18 based on AKC registrations. With the Chihuahua’s declining rank in AKC registrations, some people assume the breed is no longer popular, but this isn’t necessarily true. At the turn of the 20th century — when the AKC began recognizing the Chihuahua — it didn’t recognize many other breeds. Over the years, the AKC added more than a hundred breeds to its list. As of November 2016, the AKC recognizes 202 breeds. So while the Chihuahua may rank lower today in terms of registrations, this is partially because of the increasing number of recognized breeds.

The Chihuahua has also been popular in the U.K., Canada, Mexico and Australia. In 2008, the Chihuahua (smooth coat) ranked #17 in Canada based on CKC registrations. In 2013, it ranked #4 on the Fédération Cynologique Internationale’s (FCI) list of most registered breeds. In 2015, the Chihuahua (smooth coat) ranked #13 in the U.K. based on the UKC registrations.

Today, the Chihuahua consistently ranks as one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S., Mexico, U.K., Canada, Australia, and many other countries.

What are your thoughts on the Chihuahua’s history? Let us know in the comments section below!

References:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/585352/Techichi

http://www.akc.org/about/archive/guide-collections/chihuahua-collection/

The Chihuahua (2012) by Susan Payne

Chihuahuas, Complete Pet Owner’s Manual (2013) by Caroline Coile Ph.D

Chihuahuas are known for being loyal and affectionate, but are they smart? As social creatures, all dogs exhibit some degree of intelligence. They must socialize with their pack in the wild, and they must socialize with their human counterparts in domestic environments. As they interact with their pack or family members, they become more intelligent. To learn more about the IQ of Chihuahuas and whether they are smart, keep reading.

Are Some Breeds Really Smarter Than Others?

Canine intelligence is difficult to measure. We can measure human intelligence using IQ tests like the Stanford-Binet and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) tests, but there is no universally recognized IQ test available for dogs.

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland, however, some breeds are smarter than others. For the study, researchers performed a battery of smartDOG cognitive and behavior tests on 13 popular breeds.

Researchers discovered “significant differences” between the tested breeds for five of the seven cognitive tests. The Border Collie, for instance, scored higher on the inhibitory control test than the Malinois. The Australian Shepherd, on the other hand, scored higher on the unsolvable task test than the Golder Retriever. The Chihuahua wasn’t included in this particular study, but the team’s findings indicate that some breeds are smarter than others.

Researchers didn’t find any difference between the breeds for the short-term memory and reasoning tests.

The Intelligence of Dogs: Where the Chihuahua Stands

Research published in “The Intelligence of Dogs” suggests the Chihuahua is the 127th smartest breed out of 140 breeds surveyed, earning it a working and obedience intelligence ranking of #67.

Originally published in May 1994 — and later republished in 2006 with new insights and a new preface — “The Intelligence of Dogs” is an international best-seller that delves into the intelligence of man’s best friend. It was authored by Stanley Coren, PhD, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia.

After transitioning from neuropsychology to the study of dogs and the relationships between people and dogs in the early 1990s, Coren began working on “The Intelligence of Dogs.” At the time, there were only guides on canine health, training and breed information; there weren’t any guides on canine intelligence. This prompted Coren to investigate the intelligence of dogs, ranking 140 breeds by working and obedience intelligence based on survey responses.

Other notable dog books authored by Coren include:

• “The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events”
• “The Wisdom of Dogs”
• “Do Dogs Dream? Nearly Everything Your Dog Wants You to Know”
• “Born to Bark: My Adventures with an Irrepressible and Unforgettable Dog”
• “Dogs All-In-One for Dummies”
• “The Modern Dog”
• “How to Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication”
• “Why We Love The Dogs We Do”
• “What Do Dogs Know?”

The 3 Types of Canine Intelligence

Canine intelligence is closely correlated with a dog’s ability to perform tasks. Dogs that quickly and easily perform tasks are generally considered more intelligent than those that take longer or struggle to complete tasks. In “The Intelligence of Dogs,” Coren notes that there are three specific types of canine intelligence.

1. Instinctive Intelligence: The innate ability to perform the tasks for which it was bred, such as retrieving waterfowl, herding livestock or guarding property.
2. Adaptive Intelligence: The ability to adapt and learn how to perform tasks independently through experience and the dog’s environment, such as finding hidden treats or knocking over toy containers.
3. Working and Obedience Intelligence: The ability to learn how to perform tasks from humans, such as standing or sitting in place on command. Working and obedience intelligence is essentially trainability, or how easy a dog is to train to compete in obedience trials.

According to Coren, 51% of a dog’s intelligence comes from its genes and 49% comes from environmental circumstances.

“The Intelligence of Dogs” author Stanley Coren. Photograph by CaptainPsychology, distributed under a 3.0 CC license.

The working and obedience intelligence rankings in Coren’s international best-seller are based on survey responses from American Kennel Club (AKC) and Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) judges. Coren sent an extensive questionnaire to all AKC and CKC obedience trial judges.

The questionnaire asked the judges to rate breeds based on the following criteria:

• The number of repetitions a breed needs to learn a new command given by a human trainer.
• The success rate of a breed obeying an already-taught command on the first attempt.

The questionnaire also asked the judges to rate which breeds they believe to be the 10 most intelligent and the 10 least intelligent. Coren received responses from 208 judges. He then ranked all of the breeds for which he received adequate response data. If a breed wasn’t included in at least 70 responses, Coren didn’t rank it.

Coren ranked a total of 140 breeds based on the judges’ scores. Some breeds earned identical scores, in which case they shared the same ranking. The Giant Schnauzer and Portuguese Water Dog, for instance, both ranked #28, whereas the Border Terrier and Briard both ranked #30. When accounting for ties such as this, the working and obedience intelligence rankings for 140 breeds ranged from #1 to #79.

Working and Obedience Intelligence Rankings

A photo of a Border Collie and Afghan Hound, which rank as the most and least intelligent breed, respectively.

Coming in at #1, the top-ranked breed for working and obedience intelligence is the Border Collie. Border Collies are herding dogs. They were originally bred to herd sheep along the border of England and Scotland. Their long history of working with and obeying humans’ commands makes Border Collies exceptionally obedient.

There was a Border Collie named “Chaser” with a vocabulary equal to that of a three-year-old child. Chaser was the main subject of a study into canine intelligence spearheaded by John W. Pilley, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Psychology at Wofford College.

During the years-long project, Piley and his associates were able to teach Chaser the names of 1,022 objects. Coren’s findings in “The Intelligence of Dogs” reinforce the belief that the Border Collie is among the smartest, if not the smartest, breed on the planet.

At the bottom of Coren’s list is the Afghan Hound at #79. While elegant and affectionate, Afghan Hounds exhibit poor obedience based on the criteria based on Coren’s criteria. When compared to other breeds, they require more repetitions to learn new commands and have a lower success rate of obeying known commands on the first attempt.

The Chihuahua ranks #67 out of #79 for working and obedience intelligence. There are still 126 breeds with higher scores and 13 breeds with lower scores, though, suggesting the Chihuahua is the 127th smartest breed out of the 140 breeds surveyed.

According to Coren, rankings generally indicate the following:

• Breeds that rank #1 to #10 learn new commands in fewer than five repetitions and obey known commands on the first attempt 95% of the time or better.
• Breeds that rank #11 to #25 learn new commands in five to 15 repetitions and obey known commands on the first attempt 85% of the time.
• Breeds that rank #26 to #39 learn new commands in five to 25 repetitions and obey known commands on the first attempt 70% of the time.
• Breeds that rank #40 to #54 learn new commands in 25 to 40 repetitions and obey known commands on the first attempt 50% of the time.
• Breeds that rank #55 to #69 learn new commands in 40 to 80 repetitions and obey known commands on the first attempt 40% of the time.
• Breeds that rank #70 to #79 may require hundreds of repetitions to learn new commands, and they obey known commands on the first attempt 30 percent of the time.

Why the Chihuahua Ranks So Low for Working and Obedience Intelligence

Chihuahuas certainly aren’t dumb, so why do they rank so low for working and obedience intelligence? Intelligence is unique to each dog. Just like some people are smarter than other people, some dogs are smarter than other dogs. This applies to all breeds, including the Chihuahua. There are super-smart Chihuahuas that are brighter than the rest.

No methodology for testing canine intelligence is perfect, including Coren’s. Coren relied on responses from AKC and CKC obedience trial judges. If a breed performed poorly in obedience trials, it would typically receive low scores from judges and, thus, receive a low working and obedience intelligence ranking.

Obedience trials really only show how well a dog obeys his handler’s commands. Working breeds, such as the Border Collie and Golden Retriever, were originally bred to perform practical tasks, so they tend to have an innate ability to learn and obey human-instructed commands — more so than companion breeds like the Chihuahua.

The Chihuahua still ranks higher for working and obedience intelligence than many other breeds. Coren only ranked breeds for which he received adequate response data. There are 200 breeds recognized by the AKC, but Coren only ranked 140 of them. He ranked the Chihuahua #67, indicating that the Chihuahua is the 127th smartest breed out of 140 breeds for which he received adequate response data or 200 total breeds.

The Chihuahua’s low working and obedience intelligence ranking may be attributed to the breed’s stubbornness. These small dogs are known for being headstrong and stubborn, which can prove counterproductive during training sessions. You may give your Chihuahua a command, only for him to ignore you.

But you can’t blame Chihuahuas for being stubborn. Most Chihuahuas are stubborn because of the way in which they are trained. Owners either use punishment-based training or are inconsistent with their training approach, both of which Chihuahuas respond poorly to.

Are Chihuahuas Smart?

They may rank low for intelligence based on Coren’s research, but Chihuahuas are still smart. The AKC says the Chihuahua is “a very alert little dog of high intelligence” that can “excel in obedience training and other canine sports.” The CKC describes the Chihuahua’s temperament as being “saucy, superior intelligence.” If they weren’t smart, they wouldn’t be described as such by two of the world’s leading kennel organizations.

Memory and Retention

Chihuahuas have excellent memory and retention. They can remember routines, such as eating, walking and sleeping routines. Your Chihuahua, for instance, may go to his food bowl at the same time each day, expecting you to feed him, and he may lie down in his at the same time each night.

Chihuahuas can also remember the location of objects. Your Chihuahua may hide his favorite toy under a couch cushion, only to retrieve it the following day. Some Chihuahuas can remember the location of places like parks and veterinary clinics.

Chihuahuas can even remember the purpose of objects. When you grab your car keys, your Chihuahua may jump and bark with joy, believing he’s about to go for a car ride. If you bring home a tube of topical flea medicine, he may run and hide, believing you’re about to apply it. Excellent memory and retention is a sign of intelligence.

Perceptive of Emotions and Body Language

Chihuahuas are adept at reading their owners’ emotions and body language. By observing subtle cues, they know how their owners feel.

A study published in the journal Learning & Behavior found dogs can sense six human emotions: anger, happiness, sadness, fear, surprise and disgust. Chihuahuas, though, are more attuned to their owners’ emotions than many other breeds.

As companion dogs, Chihuahuas develop strong bonds with their owners. Your Chihuahua will probably spend most of his time by your side or in your lap. All the time your Chihuahua spends with you will improve his ability to sense your emotions and body language. Changes in your facial expression or the tone of your voice, for example, may convey a particular emotion that your Chihuahua is able to sense.

Fast Learners

Chihuahuas are fast learners. According to Coren, it typically takes 25 repetitions before they begin to understand a new command and 40 to 80 repetitions before they consistently respond to the command. That may sound like a lot, but you can easily reach 80 repetitions in just a handful of training sessions.

Because they learn so quickly, Chihuahuas often compete in obedience and agility trials. Obedience trials require participating dogs to obey their handler’s commands, such as heel, sit and stay. Agility trials, in comparison, require participating dogs to complete a timed obstacle course.

Eager to Please

Chihuahuas love to please their owners. When their owners are happy, they are happy. In addition to being a sign of intelligence, the breed’s eagerness to please plays a key role in their ability to learn so quickly.

You can train your Chihuahua with positive reinforcement. Rather than scolding or punishing your Chihuahua when he fails to obey a command, reward him when he does obey the command. You can pet and praise him, or you can give him a treat. Positive reinforcement will show your Chihuahua that you are happy with his behavior. And since he wants to please you, your Chihuahua will continue to perform the desired behavior.

Problem-Solving

In “The Intelligence of Dogs,” Coren notes that Chihuahuas are good at solving problems. They don’t always need the assistance of their owner or solve problems. Rather, Chihuahuas can often solve problems on their own, indicating a high level of adaptive intelligence.

Chihuahuas develop problem-solving skills at a young age. As puppies, they may learn how to escape a gated indoor area or how to open a treat jar. Chihuahuas will continue to refine their problem-solving skills as they enter and progress through adulthood.

Communication

They may not speak our language, but Chihuahuas can still communicate with us. Chihuahuas, in fact, exhibit some of the best dog-to-human communication skills in the canine kingdom. Using both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication, they can let their owners know what they need.

If your Chihuahua wants to be covered up, he may scratch at the blanket, waiting for you to pull it over him. If your Chihuahua is hungry but has an empty food bowl, he may push it toward you, believing you will refill it. If he wants you to wake up in the morning, he may lick your face. These are examples of nonverbal communication.

Verbal communication involves barking or other noises. If your Chihuahua needs to go potty, he may bark at the door. If your Chihuahua is about to have a seizure, he may whine or whimper at your feet. If he wants to play, he may perform a high-pitched, energetic bark. If there’s a stranger walking by the front of your house, your Chihuahua may perform a low-pitched bark or growl while looking out the window.

Name Recognition

Chihuahuas can recognize names — and not just their own names. They can recognize the names of people, toys and other pets.

You can teach your Chihuahua new names through repetition. Repeating the name of the person, toy or other pet over and over will allow your Chihuahua to develop an association between the two. He will begin to associate the name with the person, toy or other pet.

Big Brain

Chihuahuas have the largest brain relative to their body size in the canine kingdom. A typical Chihuahua’s brain measures about 2.25 to 2.5 inches in diameter and weighs approximately 1.94 grams (55.1 grams). That’s about the same size as a small lemon and the same weight as a dime.

Other breeds may have larger brains, but they fall short of the Chihuahua’s brain-to-body ratio. The average brain-to-body for all breeds is about 1:125, meaning the brain of a typical dog is about 125th the size of the dog’s body. There are slight variations in brain-to-body ratios from breed to breed, however. Because Chihuahuas are so small, their brains are proportionally larger, compared to their body size, than all other breeds.

Skilled Watchdogs

Chihuahuas are naturally skilled watchdogs. They are alert, protective dogs that will sound the alarm for potential threats. Whether there’s a wild animal roaming in your backyard, a burglar trying to break in through a window or even a fire starting in your kitchen, your Chihuahua will probably let you know.

Watchdogs alert their owners to the presence of threats by barking. In “The Intelligence of Dogs,” Coren lists Chihuahuas as #6 on his list of the top #15 watchdog breeds. Coren contacted over a dozen canine experts to create this list, many of whom were professional trainers and dog masters for police departments. After analyzing their responses, Coren concluded that the Rottweiler was the #1 watchdog breed among the experts, with the Chihuahua coming in at #6.

Sounding the alert for potential threats requires a certain level of intelligence. Watchdogs must be aware of their surroundings, have a loud bark, have excellent vision and hearing, and they must be able to distinguish between normal and not-normal sights and sounds. Their small size makes them less-than-ideal guard dogs, but Chihuahuas make excellent watchdogs.

Brain Games for Your Chihuahua

Looking to mentally stimulate your Chihuahua? There are a variety of brain games you can play with him. Brain games are toys or activities that require your Chihuahua to think. Brain games are essentially problem-solving exercises for the brain.

You can challenge your Chihuahua’s cognitive capabilities with a hidden treat toy. As the name suggests, hidden treat toys are toys that contain a hidden treat (or food). They require dogs to solve a puzzle to access the treat. Your Chihuahua may have to knock or roll a hidden treat toy in a certain way, for instance.

There are also snuffle mats. Snuffle mats are large mats with pockets or strips of fabric where you can hide treats. They aren’t necessarily toys, but snuffle mats work in the same way. Your Chihuahua will have to use his nose to search for the treat within the snuffle mat.

Scent games can keep your Chihuahua mentally sharp. They involve hiding one or more scents and allowing your Chihuahua to sniff it out. All dogs have a keen sense of smell. A typical dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than that of a human’s. Scent games will encourage your Chihuahua to use his sniffer to find treats.

You can hide treats around your home. Alternatively, you can hide a treat in a closed fist, followed by extending both of your hands in front of your Chihuahua. Your Chihuahua will then have to sniff out the hand holding the treat. There are even scent game kits available for sale that contain scented bean bags, sprays or other items for your Chihuahua to sniff out.

Obstacle courses are brain games. Chihuahuas must exhibit both physical and mental skills to complete them. They must walk and balance through the course while mentally processing the obstacles they encounter.

You can create an obstacle course using common items around your home, such as chairs, blankets, pillows, hola hoops, doggie gates and empty cardboard boxes. If you’re going to create an obstacle course, though, make sure it doesn’t pose a risk of injury to your Chihuahua.

Teaching your Chihuahua new names is a form of mental stimulation. He probably already knows his name, but how many other names does your Chihuahua know? You can teach your Chihuahua the names of toys. You can then command your Chihuahua to fetch a particular toy. If he successfully retrieves the right toy, reward him with praise and a treat.

In addition to new names, you can teach your Chihuahua the “drop it” command. It’s an obedience command that involves a dog dropping an item in his possession. If your Chihuahua is holding a treat or toy, the “drop it” command should prompt him to release it.

Not only will the “drop it” command mentally stimulate your Chihuahua; it can keep your Chihuahua from chewing on things he shouldn’t be. If you notice your Chihuahua chewing on the side of your couch or one of your shoes, the “drop it” command will make him stop — assuming you’ve taught your Chihuahua this obedience command.

Hide-and-seek is a multigenerational childhood game that’s popular throughout the world. You can play it with your Chihuahua to keep him mentally sharp while simultaneously building a stronger bond with him. Just find a hiding spot and wait for your Chihuahua to find you.

When playing hide-and-seek with your Chihuahua, don’t hide in the same place each time. Chihuahuas are fast learners. After hiding in the same place two or three times, your Chihuahua will probably remember. For a more mentally stimulating game of hide-and-seek, choose a new hiding spot each time.

Does Age Affect Intelligence?

The age of any dog can affect his intelligence. Puppies are like sponges and rely heavily on social learning. They watch their littermates and parents. As they absorb this information, puppies learn how to perform the same tasks, resulting in a higher level of intelligence.

Senior dogs, in comparison, have more experience. They’ve learned how to adapt to their environment and, ultimately, survive. However, senior dogs may experience age-related cognition decline. Their cognitive capabilities may decline as they grow older.

With that said, you can still teach an old Chihuahua new tricks. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna found that all dogs were able to learn; senior dogs simply learned more slowly than younger dogs.

Diets high in antioxidants, selenium and fatty acids have been shown to protect against age-related cognitive decline in dogs. If you have a senior Chihuahua, talk ask your veterinarian for dieting advice.

Don’t let their small size fool you into thinking Chihuahuas aren’t smart. While individual variation exists within the breed, Chihuahuas are absolutely smart. They have excellent memory and retention, are perceptive of body emotions and body language, are fast learners, are eager to please, can solve problems on their own, can communicate using verbal and nonverbal methods, can recognize names, have larger brains and make excellent watchdogs.

References:

https://news.arizona.edu/story/do-bigger-brains-equal-smarter-dogs-new-study-offers-answers

Do you have a smart Chihuahua? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Chihuahuas are often referred to as being either “deer head” or “apple head,” depending on their appearance and physical characteristics.

It’s a common assumption that deer head and apple head are official varieties of the Chihuahua. But if you read the breed standards for the Chihuahua, you won’t find them listed as such. The American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) recognizes only long coat and smooth coat (short coat) varieties. They do, however, call for a well-rounded “apple dome” head. So, what are deer head and apple head Chihuahuas and how do they differ?

Deer Head and Apple Head: What Does it Mean?

“Deer head” and “apple head” are unofficial terms used to describe a Chihuahua’s appearance, particularly in regards to his muzzle and facial structure.

• Apple head Chihuahuas have a round apple-like head with a 90-degree angle where the muzzle joins the forehead.
• Deer head Chihuahuas have a longer deer-like head with a sloped junction of approximately 45 degrees where the muzzle joins the forehead.

There are other differences between the two (see below for a complete list), but you can usually tell a Chihuahua’s type by looking for these characteristics.

Somewhere throughout the Chihuahua’s history, the breed separated into two variations: the apple head and deer head. We don’t when this genetic evolution occurred, nor do we know how. Pre-Columbian artifacts discovered in Central America depict small dogs with both apple and deer-shaped heads, suggesting this evolutionary split occurred before the Europeans discovered the New World.

Some breed experts theorize that a small ancient dog known as the Techichi is the Chihuahua’s true ancestor, while the deer head variety is a cross between the Techchi and the Chinese Crested. Others believe the Techichi is the deer head’s true ancestor. Regardless of how it happened, there are now apple head and deer head Chihuahuas.

The Apple Head Chihuahua

The apple head Chihuahua is named after its apple-shaped head, which is noted in the breed’s standards.

Apple head Chihuahuas can have a smooth coat or a long coat in any number of colors or color combinations.

Here are some of the characteristics of an apple head Chihuahua:

• Apple head Chihuahuas feature a prominent 90-degree angle (known as a stop) where the muzzle meets the forehead. This juncture should essentially form an “L” shape, indicating an apple head. This is the most distinguishable feature of an apple-head Chihuahua.
• Apple head Chihuahuas have shorter jawlines than deer head Chihuahuas.
• They often have shorter necks than deer head Chihuahuas.
• The AKC specifically mentions the apple-like facial features in its breed standards for the Chihuahua.
• Due to their apple-shaped skulls, apple head Chihuahuas tend to have more prominent and expressive eyes.
• Apple head Chihuahuas have a stout, “cobby” body featuring short legs relative to their body length.
• Nearly all apple head Chihuahua puppies are born with a molera or “soft spot” in their skull. This cranial opening typically closes, however, by 3 to 4 months of age.
• Apple heads are the only type of Chihuahuas that can compete in the show ring.

The Deer Head Chihuahua

Also living up to its namesake, the deer head Chihuahua has facial characteristics resembling that of a young deer’s face. If you look at a young deer’s face, you’ll notice they have a long muzzle, large ears and a sloped forehead, which are characteristics of this breed variation.

Deer head Chihuahuas are also found in both smooth and long coats. While coat colors vary, fawn is the most common.

Deer head Chihuahuas are just as popular, if not more popular, than apple heads. The Taco Bell dog, Gidget, was actually a deer head Chihuahua. During her 8-year career with the national fast food chain, she was responsible for introducing this breed to millions of Americans. Gidget was the first Chihuahua many Americans had ever seen. Her adorable appearance and fun-loving personality skyrocketed the breed’s popularity through the late 1990s.

Here are some of the characteristics of a deer head Chihuahua:

• The muzzle of a deer head Chihuahua is longer than an apple head’s.
• Instead of a 90-degree angle, deer head Chihuahuas have a slope where the muzzle meets the forehead. You can feel for this slope by gently running your index finger from the tip of your Chihuahua’s nose up to his skull, which should reveal a gradual slope of approximately 45 degrees.
• This variation typically has longer legs, resulting in a taller body height without the “cobby” appearance of an apple head Chihuahua.
• Deer head Chihuahuas have larger ears, which like its apple head counterpart, also remain erect and upright once fully developed.
• Deer head Chihuahuas often have longer necks.
• They also have a longer jawline than apple head Chihuahuas.
• Because they are not recognized by the AKC as an official variety, deer head Chihuahuas are disqualified from participating in conformation dog shows.
• Moleras occur in deer head Chihuahuas, though the condition is more prevalent in apple heads.
• Fawn is the most common coat color for deer head Chihuahuas (see images of deer head photos above).
• Deer head Chihuahuas are often larger than apple heads, weighing more than the standard six pounds as defined in the AKC’s breed standards.
• Whether true or not, some owners claim deer head Chihuahuas are less aggressive.
• It’s also believed that deer head Chihuahuas have fewer health problems.

Only Apple Head Chihuahuas Meet Breed Standards

Neither the AKC nor any other major canine association distinguishes between apple head or deer head Chihuahuas. The breed standards for the Chihuahua require “A well rounded ‘apple dome’ skull, with or without molera.” Other variations of the head, including the deer head, are not allowed.

Upon hearing this information for the first time, many owners assume their deer head Chihuahua isn’t a real Chihuahua. If a Chihuahua doesn’t meet the AKC’s breed standards, conventional wisdom may lead you to believe he’s not an actual Chihuahua, right? Not necessarily. You can still have a purebred Chihuahua without the characteristic apple-shaped head, and you can still register him with the AKC, assuming he’s a pedigree whose parents are also registered. However, he won’t win any ribbons for showmanship at conformation shows like the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the National Dog Show, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, or Crufts since he doesn’t meet the breed standards.

Breed standards created by the AKC and other canine organizations are used for judging dogs at conformation shows. If a competing dog fails to meet the standards for his respective breed, judges will automatically disqualify him from receiving the championship title. Spayed or neutered dogs are also disqualified from competing in conformation shows, regardless of whether they meet their respective breed’s standards.

The bottom line is that deer head Chihuahuas are real Chihuahuas; they just won’t win points or championship titles at conformation shows. The same can be said for Chihuahuas weighing over six pounds, which is also grounds for disqualification.

Should the AKC Recognize Deer Head Chihuahuas?

Being that they are so common, there’s a strong argument that the AKC should acknowledge deer head Chihuahuas as a variation of the breed — and this wouldn’t be the first time the organization has done so.

In 1936, the AKC separated the English Cocker Spaniel into two varieties: the traditional English Cocker Spaniels and the American Cocker Spaniels. A decade later, they revised the standards again to include the American Cocker Spaniel as a separate breed (only dogs of different varieties can be interbred, not breeds). While similar in appearance the American Cocker Spaniel is shorter than its English counterpart and found in more colors. American Cocker Spaniels are also “showier,” with less instinctual drive to chase prey.

1952, the Chihuahua Club of America (CCA) — the official AKC parent club for the breed –revised its standards for the breed, separating the Chihuahua into long coat and smooth coat varieties, the latter of which was preferred as pets. More than half a century later, breed standards created by all of the major canine associations recognize long coat and smooth coat varieties. Perhaps we’ll see similar action taken by the AKC in the near future, acknowledging the deer head Chihuahuas as a separate variety.

Can My Chihuahua Have Characteristics of Both Apple Head and Deer Head?

Absolutely! Many Chihuahuas are born with, or later develop, characteristics of both apple head and deer Chihuahuas. A Chihuahua with a perfectly found apple-shaped dome may feature the longer muzzle and larger ears of a deer head variety. Or a Chihuahua with the sloped muzzle of a deer head may feature the apple head’s cobby body.

Furthermore, don’t assume that breeding two apple head Chihuahuas will result in a litter of all apple heads, or vice-versa for deer heads. When breeding two Chihuahuas of the same variety, there’s always a chance that one or more puppies in their litter will be the opposite variety.

In Conclusion…

Unless you plan to compete your Chihuahua in a conformation show, don’t worry about whether he’s an apple head or deer head. While there are nuances between these two varieties, both exhibit the breed’s fierce, confident and fun-loving personality.

Is your Chihuahua an apple head or deer head? Let us know in the comments section below!

References:

https://www.akc.org/breeds/chihuahua/index.cfm

https://chihuahuaclubofamerica.org/