Chihuahua Breed Standard

 

 

Chihuahua Smooth Coat Standard

 

General Appearance - Small, dainty, compact.

Characteristics - Alert, little dog, swift moving with brisk forceful action and saucy expression.

Head and Skull - Well rounded 'Apple Dome' skull, cheeks and jaws lean, muzzle moderately short, slightly pointed. Definite stop.

Eyes- Large, round, but not protruding; set well apart; centre of eye is on a plane with lowest point of ear and base of stop; dark or ruby. Light eyes in light colours permissible.

Ears - Large, flaring, set on at an angle of approximately 45 degrees; giving breadth between ears. Tipped or broken down highly undesirable.

Mouth - Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck - Slightly arched, medium length.

Forequarters - Shoulders well laid; lean, sloping into slightly broadening support above straight forelegs, set well under chest giving freedom of movement without looseness.

Body - Level back. Body, from point of shoulder to rear point of croup, slightly longer than height at withers. Well sprung ribs, deep brisket.

Hindquarters - Muscular: hocks well let down, with good turn of stifle, well apart, turning neither in nor out.

Feet - Small and dainty, turning neither in nor out; toes well divided but not spread, pads cushioned, fine, strong, flexible pasterns. Neither hare nor cat-like, nails moderately short.

Tail - Medium length, set high, carried up and over back (sickle tail). When moving never tucked under or curled below the topline. Furry, flattish in appearance, broadening slightly in centre and tapering to point.

Gait/Movement - Brisk, forceful action, neither high stepping nor hackney; good reach without slackness in forequarters, good drive in hindquarters. Viewed from front and behind legs should move neither too close nor too wide, with no turning in or out of feet or pasterns. Topline should remain firm and level when moving.

Coat - Smooth, of soft texture, close and glossy, with undercoat and ruff permissible.

Colour - Any colour or mixture of colours but never Merle (dapple).

Size - Weight: up to 2.7 kg (6 lbs) 1.8 -2.7 kg (4-6 lbs) preferred. If two dogs are equally good in type the more diminutive preferred.

Faults- Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Chihuahua Long Coat Standard

The Standard of the Chihuahua Long Coat is the same as the Standard of the Chihuahua Smooth Coat with the exception of the following:-

Coat - Long, soft texture (never coarse or harsh to touch) either flat or slightly wavy. Never tight and curly.     Feathering on ears, feet and legs, pants on hind quarters, large ruff on neck desirable. Tail long and full as a plume.

 

 

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Contact Details

President                                                 

Brian Alonge                                                                     

Ph 0412 803 649                                                              

Email : [email protected]

Secretary

Lorretta Stephenson

Ph 0419 532 040

Email : [email protected]

PO Box 228

Kilburn North SA 5084