Chihuahua puppies are cute, adorable and tiny. With large, dark, protruding eyes, no wonder you fall in love with this adorable breed. Chihuahua puppies are like human babies. They must be kept warm, fed often, and supervised. In return, your puppy will be loyal and attach to you quickly.
Long-Haired and Short-Haired
The two recognized types are long-haired and short-haired, also called smooth coat. Long-haired coats are soft, straight or slightly wavy. The tail is full and long. The ears have hair cascading around the edges. Long-haired Chihuahuas do shed, but not as much as the smooth coat Chihuahuas. Short-haired or smooth coat Chihuahuas have a soft and glossy coat. The hair on the head and ears is not as thick as the rest of the body. Because they shed more than the long-haired Chihuahuas, you will have to brush them and get used to having little hairs on your clothes and sofa.
Apple Head and Deer Head
The American Kennel Club categorizes the Chihuahua as either long or short haired. They also recognize the apple head Chihuahua as the standard for Chihuahuas. The head of an apple head Chihuahua is shaped like -- you guessed it -- an apple. The skull is dome-shaped and larger than the jaw area. The nose is short. Deer head Chihuahuas have a longer nose and a head shaped similar to a deer. The ears protrude forward like a deer. If you want to put your dog in shows, choose a puppy with an apple head. If you want a Chihuahua as a companion, either shaped head will give you lots of love.
Colors and Markings
Fawn is the most common color for Chihuahuas. The shade varies from a reddish tint to chocolate or cream. Blue is a rare color. It can be almost black or closer to silver. Black Chihuahuas can be solid or have white or tan markings. White Chihuahuas have lighter eyes and pale noses -- almost albino in appearance. Red Chihuahuas can be bright red or have black hairs dispersed through the red. Brindle is a striped pattern. The striping or streaks are a darker color on a lighter coat. Merle is a blotched pattern that varies in size and shape, similar to the Australian shepherd. Parti-color Chihuahuas are mostly white with spots in various shapes and colors throughout the body.
Teacup Chihuahuas are smaller than the norm. This is not a type of Chihuahua but a puppy that is bred to be small or may have been malnourished to create the diminutive size. They are fragile and prone to many health problems such as irregular blood sugar and respiratory issues.
When purchasing a puppy, note that the top of the skull may have a soft spot called the molera. This is common in Chihuahuas. It may disappear as the puppy grows, or it may not.
- chihuahua image by Digitalpress from Fotolia.com