The long-haired Chihuahua is a small dog and 1 of the 2 coat types that include;
- Short coat Chihuahua that is also known as the smooth-haired Chihuahua.
- The long coat Chihuahua that we are going to be talking about today.
Did you know that Chihuahuas come in different shapes and colors? Well, they do and today we are going to look at the long-haired variety.
So, what do you need to know before going out to get this dog if you have not done so already?
In this article, we are going to be looking at all that and all that you need to know from the appearance, how to take care of them, and more.
General Characteristics appearance of the Long-haired Chihuahua
Long-haired chihuahua summary table | |
---|---|
Height | 6 to 9 inches |
Weight | 3 to 6 pounds |
Lifespan | 15 to 20 years |
Breed Type | mixes and more |
Purpose | companion dog |
Suitable For | adult families |
Grooming requirements | moderate to high grooming |
Color Variations | His coat can be black, red, blue, cream, brown and white |
Health concerns | Patella luxation, hypoglycemia and heart problems |
Temperament | tenacious, loyal, mischievous, Playful, loving |
Other Names | Long haired Chi |
It is hard not to recognize the Chihuahua once you see one.
Height and weight
They can have a height of up to 9 inches.
Chis are small dogs that weigh around 6 pounds. Both the British and the American breed standards state that this dog should not weigh more than this.
The physical appearance
Long-haired Chihuahuas have intelligent eyes with large and erect ears that are held upright when they are alert.
Their tails and legs are proportional to their bodies. These tails are however long that may be carried sickle either out or up or in a loop over the top.
The neck of a long-haired Chihuahua is usually slightly arched sloping into the shoulders.
As far as the head is concerned you can get two types of heads;
- Deer headed
- Apple headed
Deer headed Chihuahuas
These Chihuahuas have snouts that are slightly longer and have a softer angle where the muzzle meets the forehead(around 45 degrees).
AKC does not recognize these types of Chis.
Apple headed Chihuahuas
This is the Chihuahua that you commonly see on the breed standards.
Their muzzles meet the forehead at a 90-degree angle.
This results in a Chi that has eyes that are bulging out thus creating that classic Chihuahua face that you commonly see.
Coat appearance
These dogs have longer coats than other Chihuahuas and this is especially on their necks, ears, legs, and tails. This may mean a little bit more grooming for you.
The long-haired Chihuahua comes in a variety of color that includes white, cream, black, red, blue tan, and even brown. They can also have tri-colored or bi-colored coats.
These adorable pooches shed all year round and mostly during summer and spring when the weather turns hot.
This means that he is not a hypoallergenic dog.
Although, if you are considering a hypoallergenic dog you should consider visiting this post I did just for you.
You might also want to learn of some shedding remedies to make life with your dog less hairy.
You should know that the coat of a long-haired Chihuahua can take quite long to grow to its full length. Some of them may grow the coat when they are still young but for this variation, the full coat may not grow till they are 14 to 24 months of age.
About the Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are named after a state in Mexico that you may have guessed is called Chihuahua.
He is also known to be the smallest dog in the world.
These dogs are ancient dogs that date back to 100 AD. However, they have ancestors the Techichi dog that dates even further than that.
The Techichi dog was depicted in paintings even as far as 300 BC.
It is thought that Chihuahuas were used as burial dogs during the Aztec times and would be cremated to guide their owners in the afterlife.
This idea came up because of a cremation ritual depiction. However, it was later decided that the animal in the picture was not a dog but rather a rat.
It is also thought that the Chihuahua was bred to hunt rats and other smaller animals.
These dogs were first seen in America in the late 1800s after they moved up from Mexico.
Their popularity has been growing ever since and has even become a fashion after they were seen in movies like Legally Blonde.
The American Kennel Club does recognize this dog as a toy dog.
What you may not know about the Chihuahua
The origin of this dog goes back to the Toltec civilization which was one of the pre-Columbian cultures.
They are one of the bravest dogs.
Chis have a great lifespan and are the dogs with the longest life expectancy which is up to 20 years.
No other dog breed has a wide range of colors like the Chihuahua.
These pooches prefer to be on the company of other dogs that are just like them but can relate well with other animals if they are socialized properly.
This is the smallest dog on the planet both in length and weight. As far as being small goes the smallest dog according to the Guinness World Records is a Chihuahua by the name Brandy.
Chis are born with a soft spot on their cranium just like human babies.
The original name of this dog is “chihuahueno” or Chihuahian that means an arid and sandy place in Tarahumara.
Chihuahuas are sensitive to low temperatures and that is why you may commonly see them wrapped up in winter. They tremble but it is not always due to low temperatures but also excitement.
Male long-haired Chis have longer coats than females.
Temperament and personality of the Log-haired Chihuahua
Just because this variation has a long coat does not mean that his personality will be different from the other Chihuahuas like many may tend to believe.
In general, the long-haired Chi is known for being loyal, curious, lively, intelligent, and loving.
They also have a devotion to their owners like no other which makes them protective.
This devotion also means that they are not supposed to be left alone for long periods. They can become quite noisy and destructive.
The long-haired Chihuahua is happiest when he is relaxing on the owner’s lap giving all the love.
When you combine this with the fact that they are incredibly difficult to housebreak means that if you are going to get this dog you should be ready to devote time to give them the attention that they crave.
All that being said these dogs do not do so well with little children.
These dogs could easily get hurt in case of any rough handling considering that they are 6 pounds.
Even though they love to play, they could end up nipping or barking at children in case of any rough play.
However, they do well with teens and adults but their play must be supervised.
When it comes to other pets they prefer to be with other Chihuahuas but that does not mean that they can not get well with other pets if they are well socialized. ‘
Socialization is very important when your pup is growing up to prevent your dog from developing behaviors that you may not be able to correct even when he grows up.
This is because as opposed to larger dogs it is more difficult to correct unwanted behaviors in smaller dogs like the long-haired Chihuahua.
Puppies
Because of their popularity, long-haired Chihuahuas are bred by puppy mills that are mainly interested in getting money.
You need to be careful of these people as they are mostly amateur breeders that are there mainly for the profit as opposed to prioritizing the health of the puppies.
This is why you need to make sure that the puppy you get is from a reputable and responsible breeder.
Cost:
A purebred long-haired Chihuahua will cost you anywhere between 500 and 1500 dollars.
Grooming requirements
When you are grooming a Chihuahua you should make sure that you take care of the soft spot on their head that is known as a Molera. This soft spot is similar to that one of a child.
However, the skull hardens as the puppy grows and you should take a lot of care when you are handling these puppies.
This dog sheds but it depends on the season and during these shedding seasons, the coat needs to be brushed at least once a day to prevent mats from forming.
I would advise you to use a slicker brush to get through the long coat.
Bathing the dog is also important but should only be done when the pooch gets dirty and smelly.
When you bath the dog too many times the skin may dry out and it is also important you make sure that water does not get into the ears.
And apart from taking care of the coat, you will need to make sure that you clean and check the ears for infections.
Dip a cotton bud into an ear cleaning solution after which you will use it to clean the dog’s ears.
Make sure that you are cleaning the outer area as you do not want to damage the dog’s ears. Visit a groomer if you are not comfortable doing it by yourself.
The nails might also need to be clipped if they are too long.
Brushing and checking the teeth is also important when you are grooming the long-haired Chihuahua.
Feeding the long-haired Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are small and adorable dogs that do not need to eat much.
You will, however, need to make sure that you meet their calorie requirements that are about 400 calories.
This will translate to about 1 and a half cups of kibble.
These meals should be split and given to the dog in three portions, one in the morning, another in the middle of the day and the evening.
The food that you give to your long-coat Chihuahua should have a low salt content.
Food that has contents of salt may dehydrate this adorable dog sickening him and you should, therefore, choose food that is tailored for small dogs like him to avoid such issues.
It is also advisable that you choose grain-free foods that may not upset the dog’s stomach.
You should also avoid foods that have artificial fillers that are high in carbs and are mostly found in dry foods.
Water is also an essential part of the diet that you will need to include as dehydration can be a very serious issue, especially in hot climates.
Exercise requirements
Long-haired Chihuahuas love to play and be active.
And because of their small legs, they can get exercise just by following you around the house.
This, however, does not mean that the pooch does not need a walk. 20 to 30 minutes of daily walks will be enough for this small dog.
Avoid using a collar and use a harness instead when you are walking the dog as too much pressure could cause the trachea to collapse.
A leash is important while walking as it can be difficult to recall him once he has run away chasing something which they love to do.
Training a long-haired Chihuahua
You should begin to train these dogs as soon as they get home as they tend to be stubborn.
If your cute-faced Chihuahua does not get proper training you will have a difficult time dealing with hin in the house.
Start training by teaching then the basic commands and house training.
This will also be important to establish dominance because they can be very territorial animals.
If there is something that you do not want him to do or a place that you do not want them to go make it known to him.
The best way to do this is by using reward-based training where you reward the dog for every command that he gets right and ignore him for those that he does not.
Food rewards and verbal cues are some of the rewards that you cna use.
Never punish your dog for a behavior that you may not like as it may affect the bond between you and your dog doing more harm than good in the long run.
Punishment has also been found to increase stress and anxiety.
Socialization is also part of training and when we are talking about this we are focussing on other humans, pets, and environmental changes. Everything that the present-day world has to offer.
The more exposure your dog gets the more he will learn not to react to them with hostility and not to be wary about them.
The pros and cons of owning a long-haired Chihuahua
Pros
They make good housemates and are ideal for apartment living because of their small size.
Chis are easy to groom.
These dogs are very portable making ideal travel companions and they also like going on trips and getting to know more places.
Cons
This dog is easily susceptible to physical harm and is easily injured if they are not handled with care. They must also be protected from low temperatures as they tend to lose heat easily.
Chis tend to have joint problems especially in their knees and they can therefore not endure high-impact exercises and long hikes.
They may have some emotional problems sometimes.
Health concerns of the long-haired Chis
One of the biggest concerns with Chihuahuas is the risk of developing patellar luxation.
This is a condition that affects the ability of the dog to move correctly at the knee joint causing a condition that is known as osteoarthritis.
The condition can be treated depending on how severe it is through medication and in the most severe cases through surgery.
Hypoglycemia
It is also known as low blood sugar and may occur in the long-haired Chihuahua because of its small size.
When your dog is low on sugar which is the main source of sugar his ability to function goes down.
This condition develops your dog may not have enough muscle mass that can hold energy enough for the dog.
You can deal with this condition by feeding the pooch in small portions of food throughout the day and giving him food that is formulated for small dogs.
Pulmonic Stenosis
This is a congenital heart defect that is characterized by obstruction and narrowing of blood through the pulmonary valve.
Other conditions that may be suffered by the long-coat Chihuahua are;
- Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca
- Hydrocephalus
- Heart Murmur
How long do chihuahuas live?
Despite having all these health concerns Chis have a long lifespan which is usually between 15 to 20 years.
Summary of the long-haired Chihuahua
In case you are looking for a small and cute dog that has a big heart then the Long-haired Chihuahua will be a great match for you.
They may need a lot of attention and so you have to be ready to dedicate your time to them.
If you have small kids in the house or are away from home most of the time this may not be the dog for you.
Have you owned a Chihuahua before? What have your experiences been with this pooch?
leave a comment in the comment section below and tell us what your opinion on this dog is.
there you go WOOFF!!!!
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