Long Haired Chihuahua

Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world and is named after the place of there origin. The standards for this breed of dog do not generally specify a height. The weight and the overall proportions are specified however. While some long haired Chihuahuas are known to grow up to only 6 to 10 inches, others are known to grow up to 12 to 15 inches. 6 pounds is the weight that a Chihuahua is not supposed to weight more than by both American and British standards. As far as show rings are concerned, the smaller a Chihuahua the more is its demand. However if your Chihuahua is not meant for the shows but you own one just for companionship or for petting, in other words if you have a pet quality Chihuahua it can afford to weigh above 10 pounds as well. Also if the Chihuahua has a large bone structure, it can be grossly overweight.

The characteristics of both long haired Chihuahua and short haired or smooth coat Chihuahuas are more or less the same except that the difference lies in their kind of coat, quite obviously. The word smooth coat does not always imply that the growing hair is soft and smooth as the texture of the hair can vary from feeling velvety to feeling whiskery. Long haired Chihuahuas are actually the ones that are available in coats which are smooth to touch, along with a downy undercoat and soft fine guard hairs and these qualities are what lend to the long haired Chihuahua a fluffy appearance. Quite surprisingly long haired Chihuahuas barely require trimming and can do with minimal grooming unlike other long haired breeds. Also the long haired Chihuahuas shed less hair as compared to their short haired counterparts.

Chihuahuas are very short tempered and can easily be provoked to attack. So even though your child needs to be careful around a pet Chihuahua, the breed is known to be very faithful to owners. Moreover, being aggressive also makes them alert, swift, intelligent and great for keeping a watch over the household. Even though a Chihuahua may be loyal to a single owner, it may be attached to more than one. They do not get along well with other breeds and do not appreciate being cuddled much. These dogs are attention seekers, affectionate and love to exercise; even though they are hyper they can be pleased rather easily. If Chihuahuas are left untrained, they are reputed to be like “yippy dogs” which goes on to explain a terrier like attitude.

However it has been notices that long haired Chihuahuas have a more mellow temperament. If you have a child at home and want to get a Chihuahua for a pet, a long haired Chihuahua is a better option than the short haired one. Even though these dogs do not bite for the heck of it they definitely would if they feel threatened. So your child must be taught how to be careful in his approach towards a pet Chihuahua at home.