What do Chihuahuas Look Like?

Proportion and Size

The Chihuahua is the smallest of the registered American Kennel Club breeds. The Chihuahua weighs in at about two pounds to six pounds. No height is given in the standard, but most Chihuahuas are six-to-eight inches tall. As with many breeds, the Chihuahua body is slightly longer when measured from the point of shoulders to point of buttocks than it is tall at the withers (top of shoulder), which is called off-square. A shorter boy length is preferred in males, and a longer body length is preferred in females (female Chihuahuas need extra space to carry their puppies).

Head

The head of a Chihuahua is a distinctive apple shape, with its rounded skull but not completely round. The eyes are large and far apart. The Chihuahua breed is also known for having a soft, small hole in their heads called a molera. Moleras are common in 80-90% of Chihuahuas. The Chihuahua has large pointy ears that perk upright at a 45-degree angle when the dog is alert and flare out to the sides of the head when the dog is resting. The muzzle or snout of the Chihuahua is moderately short and slightly pointed at a right angle. A Chihuahua's teeth are arranged in a level or scissors bite. The scissors bite is ideal for the breed. If a Chihuahua's upper front teeth meet tightly outside its lower front teeth, that is a scissors bite; if its upper and lower teeth meet flush with each other when the mouth is closed, that is called a level bite. A Chihuahua's teeth are known to wear down faster if the bite is level.

Neck, topline, and body

The Chihuahua has an attractive, graceful neck carried with a slight arch that slopes gracefully into the Chihuahua's shoulders or withers. An ideal neck is a medium length, without wrinkles and folds. If the neck is too short and the head looks like it is attached to the shoulders directly,, the Chihuahua will look unbalanced. A neck that is too long will make the Chihuahua look weak.

The Chihuahua's topline is level and flows along the top of its back from the withers to where the tail meets the body. There should not be a dip in the middle or an upward/downward slope.

The Chihuahua's body should be rounded and well-sprung to house the lungs and heart. The body should not appear to be flat along the sides. and the tail moderately long and carried up in a sickle shape or as a loop that touches the back.

Coat

There are two types of Chihuahuas, smooth coat and long coat. A smooth coat Chihuahua has short fur that is close to the body. A long coat Chihuahua is the same as the smooth coat Chihuahua except it has an undercoat. The outer coat is a protective layer of fur under another layer of fur. A long coated Chihuahua's fur is about an inch to an inch and a half long. A long coated Chihuahua will also have long fur on its ears, long fur on the buttocks, long fur on the back of the legs and neck.

Color

Chihuahuas come in any color.