Chihuahua shirts are undoubtedly popular. They come in countless different styles and designs with practically any graphic, phrase or logo you can think of. Whether you want to go with a basic shirt featuring a single color or a more detailed one with rhinestones or some other flashy design is up to you. Just remember to choose a shirt that’s designed to fit your Chihuahua’s size body. Just like our shirts come in different sizes, so do Chihuahuas, and it’s important to only choose a shirt that fits them properly.
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How To Choose a Chihuahua Shirt
If this is your first time shopping for a Chihuahua shirt, it’s easy to feel lost and confused. After all, most of us have trouble buying shirts for ourselves, so trying to buy one for a Chihuahua is going to be equally if not more difficult. You have to not only make sure it fit rights, but that it also looks cute enough so that you’ll actually dress them up in it. Far too many owners purchase shirts and other clothes for their Chihuahuas and then later realize they don’t look good on them. The fact is that you probably won’t dress them up in a shirt if it doesn’t look good on them.
Before you even think about what style of shirt your Chihuahua will look good in, you should narrow your selection down to comfortable choices. Even small imperfections such as stitches or seams that protrude out can cause a lot of discomfort when worn by a Chihuahua. If you’re purchasing a shirt in person, take a minute to feel the material and determine whether or not it will be comfortable. 100% cotton shirts and cotton wool blends are generally the most comfortable materials around. However, polyester shirts with a soft interior lining can also prove to be quite comfortable.
Does It Fit?
Chihuahuas can range in size from as small as 2 pounds or as heavy as 10 or more. Although the (American Kennel Club) AKC standards state that Chihuahuas must weigh less than 6 pounds, the fact is that many of them are much heavier; therefore, some shirts may not fit them as well. Unless you want them to look like a clothes hanger, you must choose a shirt that fits them properly.
So, how do you know whether or not a shirt will fit your Chihuahua without dressing them up in it beforehand? The truth is that sometimes it’s easier, while other times it’s more difficult. Read the description of any shirt you’re considering purchasing for your Chihuahua to see if the manufacturer has size specifications listed. Depending on who manufactured the shirt, they may include sizing information for it. For instance, some of the smaller shirts may be designed to fit Chihuahuas weighing up to 2 pounds, while other shirts may fit Chihuahuas weighing 4-6 pounds. Of course there are also shirts that are “one size fits all.” These shirts are usually made with a soft, flexible cotton that has some give in it. Remember, though, there’s no such thing as a TRUE one size fits all shirt, so don’t be fooled by this labeling.
Popular Types of Chihuahua Shirts
If you’re still having trouble finding a shirt for your Chihuahua, you should consider some of the following types of shirts:
- Graphic t-shirts with cute sayings or phrases on them.
- Shirts with rhinestones or other small accents.
- Plain striped cotton shirts.
- Pink shirts featuring ruffles or frayed ends.
Hopefully the suggestions listed above will spark some ideas in your mind on what shirt you should choose for your Chihuahua. Remember, ideally, you want a shirt that’s going to express your Chihuahua’s personality. If they’re a feisty little ankle-biter, a shirt with a skull and crossbones will fit their personality perfectly. On the other hand, a cute pink shirt will likely fit a pampered female Chihuahua the best.
Chihuahua Shirt Care and Maintenance
Caring and maintaining Chihuahua shirts is a bit different than traditional people’s clothes. If you intend on making them last for several years, you should familiarize yourself with the proper methods for caring for your Chihuahua’s shirts. Only then will you be able to make them look as pristine as they did when you first bought them.
Unlike most of our clothes, Chihuahua shirts don’t need to be washed immediately after wearing them. In fact, washing them too much may actually damage some of the shirts out there by unraveling loose thread. Depending on the activity levels of your Chihuahua and where the environment where they play, you can usually get by with washing it once every 10 wears. When you’re ready to wash it, place it in the washing machine along with any other Chihuahua clothes that are dirty and run it with warm water and a bit of detergent.
Some Chihuahua shirts have specific washing instructions printed inside the label. Before placing any shirts in the washing machine, check to see if there’s a label inside the collar, as this will tell you what the best and safest method for washing is.