TYPES OF CHIHUAHUAS

Types of Chihuahuas

The question on the different types of Chihuahuas can be answered in several ways. Despite there only being 2 different offical breeds, every Chihuahua is very unique. The Chihuahua breed has one of the most variaties of any other breed when it comes to shape and colour. Chihuahuas only have two coat lenghts, the short-haired Chihuahua and the long-haired Chihuahua, which have already been described in section breed info. Both have a mixed, solid or patterned coat that is made up of fawn, sable, chocolat, black and/or white colours. The body size and shape of a Chihuahua is quite different between breeds. Long-haired have longer legs and are more ‘elegant’. The short-haired Chihuahua is usually shorter and stumpier.

How many types of Chihuahuas exist?

As mentioned above there are only officially two different types of Chihuahua breeds. The distinction between both is made on the base of hair length. Mixing between breeds is discouraged by the various kennel clubs as the mixing of Chihuahua breeds is not included in their breeding standards. Moreover, mixed breeds will not be allowed for registration. Unofficially the term “Type of Chihuahua” can be answered, but in a loose fashion. Within the Chihuahua breed there can be a distinction based on head shape, body type, coat length and general size (looking at you Teacup).

different types of chihuahua

This means that we have 2 official types and 5 unofficial types of Chihuahuas.

Official:

  • Long-haired / Long coated Chihuahua
  • Short-haired / Smooth coat Chihuahua

Unofficial:

  • Apple head Chihuahua
  • Deer head Chihuahua
  • Teacup – known for its small size
  • Fawn Chihuahua
  • Merle coat Chihuahua

Why don’t more types of Chihuahuas exist?

When looking at dogbreeds we must keep a scientific holdon. The Chihuahua genetics tell us that when you breed two shor-haired Chihuahuas you can have long-haired offspring. Compare this to both parents having blond hair, and you still have dark hair. We are still talking about the same breed, just a different genetic strain. This is not the case for other dogbreeds where a dominant gene can be bred into a race. It is this lack of breed predictability that disqualifies the Chihuahuas from having multiple or seperate breeds.

The reason people want to know or find the different types of chihuahua breeds is because of their own physical preference. You’ve seen cute pictures of the Chihuahua you want, but you cannot find the type of Chihuahua breed. We’ve compiled a list of the different ‘Type of Chihuahua’. Although officially there are only 2 types, we’ve made an overview of the 5 different types of Chihuahuas.

Long Hair / Long-coat Chihuahua

The long haired Chihuahua has a soft guard with fine hairs which keeps the Chihuahua warm and makes it extremely soft to touch. Additionally, the downy undercoat gives them an extra fluffy appearance.

While most long haired dogbreeds are in need of regular grooming and trimming, the Chihuahua does not require the same amount of effort. With minimal grooming requirements we can immediately disproof the stereotype that they need alot of maintenance. Contrairy to popular belief, this breed sheds less than the short-haired Chihuahua. This is caused by the lack of an undercoat. It can be quite difficult to see whether or not your chihuahua is a long-haired variant at birth as it can take up to 3 or more years for the full long-haired coat to develop. Patience and good nutrition is of great importance with this Chihuahua breed.

Short-haired /
Smooth-coat Chichi

The short-haired Chihuahua is a tiny bit rougher and as mentioned above sheds more hairs than its long-haired counterpart. The short-hair is often correlated to the apple shaped head. However, deer shaped short-hair exists.

This type of chihuahua breed is also easily groomed and requires minimal maintenance. At birth the long and short-haired chihuahua look the same. The only difference will be in the shape of their body and head.

The long and short coats are the only two type of Chihuahua recognized by all major clubs. This holds true for the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom (KC) and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI – International club with 80+ member countries around the world).

Apple-head Chihuahua

Another one of those types of Chihuahuas is the ‘Apple-head’. Although not officially recognised as a breed, the apple shaped head is a very distinct feature. Round head, spiked ears and near-eyed sums up this (unofficial) Chihuahua breed. For a Chihuahua to be considered a ‘breed standard’ Chihuahua it must have a well rounded apple domed head. This means that according to breed standards, technically only long- or shorthaired apple-head Chihuahuas are propper Chihuahuas.

In the show ring, the head in general is of the utmost importance. The stand-up ears, large expressive eyes, small nose, and moderate snout are all elements that are judged carefully. However, it is the shape of the skull that most judges will focus on. In conformation – per breed standards around the globe – the only recognized type is the apple head. The skull is described as a well rounded and apple domed.

Deer-head Chihuahua

The deer-head chihuahua is seen as a distinct Chihuahua breed due to the fact that it looks like a pony version of a deer. This type of Chihuahua breed has a longer nose, the eyes are further appart and it has a flattened skull. Their snout is also shaped differently as it stop is less prominent. Furthermore, deer-heads usually have longer legs and a longer body.

This type of chihuahua is preferred by some but ill-favoured by others.Within the Chihuahua show community the deer-head is defavoritised compared to the apple-head. According to the breed standards they do not meet the requirements of a proper Chihuahua. Outside the Chihuahua show community the deer-head Chihuahua is a favoured, and many breeders purposefully breed the deer-head look. The reaon being that the deer-head looks less deformed and hass less genetic problems.

Teacup Chihuahua

This type of Chihuahua only exists theoretically. The term ‘teacup’ is a reference to the maximum height and weight the Chihuahua can have. Dwarf Chihuahuas or dogs smaller than 23cm (9”) and weighing less then 2kg (5lb) fit the description. The Teacup Chihuahua is not recognised as a different type of dogbreed. It either belongs to the long-haired or short-haired breed. Even in unofficial standards the teacup Chihuahua is not a recognised breed. The teacup chihuahua is one of those types of chihuahuas that does not really exist.

Note that your chihuahua puppy is not a teacup chihuahua. These requirements are only relevant when your Chihuahua is fullgrown. As soon as the dog outrgrows its height and weigh requirement it is no longer a potential teacup.

Although the teacup chihuahua is very cute, you should be aware that these measurements only occur when the dog is genetically deformed. People selling teacup puppies often sell weak dogs with many health issues. Additionally, these dogs will often outgrow the requirements and become full grown weak Chihuahuas. It is also very important to be aware that most pictures of Chihuahuas in teacups are just puppies!

Considering the health issues linked to the teacup chihuahua one might be surprised that it is so popular. So where did this increase in interest come from? One of the things that skyrocketed the interest in the teacup chihuhua was due to the Paris Hilton. She was the owner of a teacup-sized chihuaha and carried it around everywhere. As a consequence, people became familiar with the Teacup Chihuahua and started looking for one. This aided in encouraging breeders to focus on smaller Chihuahuas.

Fawn Chihuahua

Because theoretically only two types of Chihuahuas exist, the fawn chihuahuas does not really exist. It is one of the most mythical types of Chihuahuas. However, due to its distinct coat and recognisable colour it has become ‘a thing’. Note that there is no official recognition of any sorts. The fawn Chihuahua is simply a misunderstanding. As mentioned above, one of the most common colours in Chihuahua coat is fawn. Additionally, a baby deer is a ‘fawn’ and there is such a thing as deer-shaped Chihuahuas…. For the above mentioned reasons, and the frequent apparation of ‘fawn chihuahuas’, it is believed to be a breed. This, however, is not the case!

Merle Chihuahua

What is a Merle Chihuahua? Well… again not really a type of chihuahua. Merle refers  to the coat of the dog. The spotted pattern and distinct colors make it so that it seems like a different type of chihuahua. However, the merle chihuahua is usually part of the long haired Chihuahua type.

Here is what wikipedia has to say about it:

“Merle is a distinguishing marking of several breeds, particularly the Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Australian Shepherd. It is also present in the Pomeranian and Chihuahua, but is a disqualification according to the FCI, the Canadian Kennel Club [CKC] and other kennel club standards. It is only the American Kennel Club [AKC] that allows the registration of the ‘merle.’ In the Cocker Spaniel breed, it is a recognized pattern, although incorrectly listed as a ‘color’. In several breeds, such as the Pomeranian and Chihuahua, merle is an indicator of cross breeding by many breeders and associations.”

Dog breed info

On this page we won’t be going over the characteristics of the Chihuahua, we are simply looking at the different types of chihuahuas. If you wish to have more information concerning the breed, you can find it on the following pages: