Breed Information:

This is just a little general information on the breed.

There are many different theories for the origin of the chihuahua. One is that the chihuahua is originally from Mexico, another that it comes from China, and some that it began in Egypt. The most popular theory is that chihuahuas originated in Mexico with the Toltec people. The Toltec's existed in Mexico in the ninth century and were said to have a small dog of heavy bone called the Techichi which some theorists believe to be the ancestor of the chihuahua. Carvings and relics found in the area resemble the chihuahua. When the Toltecs were conquered by the Aztecs they kept the techichis and it is believed that they were used as religous sacrifices. The dogs were sacrificed and buried with their master's remains with the belief that the master's sins were transferred to the dogs remains, ensuring safe passage to the final destination. There are many other origin theories, one being that chihuahuas are descended from fennec foxes, which you can kind of see when you look at the ears on some of them! :)

The chihuahua first came to the United States in the mid-1800's. The breed slowly became popular. In the late 1800's kennel clubs were organized and chihuahuas began to be exhibited. From then on growth of the breed was very slow. The first chihuahua was registered in the AKC stud book in 1904. Popularity increased and the Chihuahua Club of America was formed in 1923 as well as the introduction of a breed standard. The long coat and smooth coat chihuahuas were seperated into two varieties in 1952.

Chihuahuas are tiny dogs but have huge hearts. They are brave, bold, loving little dogs that will steal your heart. Chihuahuas are one of the few breeds that can come in any color, there is no mismarking in color. (To see more about colors, see our color page.)

They make excellent companions and are real lap dogs. If you would like to compete, there are conformation shows, agility, obedience, and other performance classes. They will go as far as you take them!

The chihuahua standard as denotated by the American Kennel Club is:
(From AKC.org )

General Appearance
A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament.


Size, Proportion, Substance

Weight - A well balanced little dog not to exceed 6 pounds.

Proportion - The body is off-square; hence, slightly longer when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, than height at the withers. Somewhat shorter bodies are preferred in males.

Disqualification - Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.

Head

A well rounded "apple dome" skull, with or without molera.

Expression - Saucy.
Eyes - Full, but not protruding, balanced, set well apart-luminous dark or luminous ruby. (Light eyes in blond or white-colored dogs permissible.)

Ears - Large, erect type ears, held more upright when alert, but flaring to the sides at a 45 degree angle when in repose, giving breadth between the ears.

Muzzle - Moderately short, slightly pointed.

Cheeks and jaws lean.

Nose - Self-colored in blond types, or black. In moles, blues, and chocolates, they are self-colored. In blond types, pink nose permissible.

Bite - Level or scissors. Overshot or undershot bite, or any distortion of the bite or jaw, should be penalized as a serious fault.

Disqualifications - Broken down or cropped ears.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck - Slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders.

Topline - Level.

Body - Ribs rounded and well sprung (but not too much "barrel-shaped").

Tail - Moderately long, carried sickle either up or out, or in a loop over the back, with tip just touching the back. (Never tucked between legs.)

Disqualifications - Cropped tail, bobtail.

Forequarters

Shoulders - Lean, sloping into a slightly broadening support above straight forelegs that set well under, giving a free play at the elbows. Shoulders should be well up, giving balance and soundness, sloping into a level back. (Never down or low.) This gives a chestiness, and strength of forequarters, yet not of the "Bulldog" chest.

Feet - A small, dainty foot with toes well split up but not spread, pads cushioned. (Neither the hare nor the cat foot.)

Pasterns - Fine.

Hindquarters

Muscular, with hocks well apart, neither out nor in, well let down, firm and sturdy. The feet are as in front.

Coat

In the Smooth Coats, the coat should be of soft texture, close and glossy. (Heavier coats with undercoats permissible.) Coat placed well over body with ruff on neck preferred, and more scanty on head and ears. Hair on tail preferred furry.

In Long Coats, the coat should be of a soft texture, either flat or slightly curly, with undercoat preferred.

Ears - Fringed. (Heavily fringed ears may be tipped slightly if due to the fringes and not to weak ear leather, never down.)

Tail - Full and long (as a plume). Feathering on feet and legs, pants on hind legs and large ruff on the neck desired and preferred.

Disqualification - In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.

Color

Any color-Solid, marked or splashed.

Gait

The Chihuahua should move swiftly with a firm, sturdy action, with good reach in front equal to the drive from the rear. From the rear, the hocks remain parallel to each other, and the foot fall of the rear legs follows directly behind that of the forelegs. The legs, both front and rear, will tend to converge slightly toward a central line of gravity as speed increases. The side view shows good, strong drive in the rear and plenty of reach in the front, with head carried high. The topline should remain firm and the backline level as the dog moves.

Temperament

Alert, with terrier-like qualities.

Disqualifications
Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.
Broken down or cropped ears.
Cropped tail, bobtail.
In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.

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