First question you have to ask yourself is.. Do you want a chihuahua or a dog?? I don’t say a chihuahua is not a dog but you can say it’s a dog with special needs!

What to expect from a chihuahua

Chihuahua’s usually get attached to one person, which they can be very protective off. If you live with more people in the same house the chihuahua will ‘fight’ for his place. With ‘fight’ I mean trying to be dominant at one or another.

When he or she is a puppy it will try to ‘bite’ in a playful way or ‘riding’ you on your leg or arm. It seems harmless because they are so cute and small, but if you allow this behavior the dog wil eventually growl, bark and even bite to protect his home or even worse, attack YOU because you didn’t show him or her who’s in charge.

Is the Chihuahua a Family dog?

It’s important to socialize your puppy chi from the start. It’s best when he or she get used to different situations, like a crowded mall, small and big dogs, children, lot of noises etc.

When you train your chi the right way it’s a perfect dog for small or big families! They are very social and good with children. Be careful with smal children when they pick up the little pup, because they are fragile.

What I have noticed is that a Chihuahua needs a lot of attention. They would prefer to sit on your lap all day if they could. So if you are away from home a lot and your little chi is often alone, it is highly recommended to take another one so that they have each other’s company and are less dependent on your attention.
A chi really likes company around him and feels lonely quickly.

And I have to warn you… Once you have one chihuahua, you want to have more!

Learn the ‘Dogrules’

It’s very important that a chihuahua learns the same rules as any other dog. A lot of people think because of its size it doesn’t need the same rules as a ‘normal’ dog but that’s the BIGGEST mistake chi owners make!  

Chihuahua’s are very small but they have the courage of a big dog! They often not realize how small they are and if your not carefull your chi can easily come in ‘dangerous’ situations like barking to a big dog as if they are the same size. Big dogs not always appreciate that and attack the little one as one of his own size.. That is not something we want to happen to our little friend!!  

Easy to train a Chihuahua?

Chihuahuas are one of the smartest dogs of al dog breeds!! They are very sensitive and know how to adjust in different situations. It’s not hard to train a chi because they pick up very fast! You’ll be surprised! Just like with every other dog breed you have to be patient and don’t give up when your dog doesn’t do what you want fast enough. Repeat is the KEY!

TIP; Train your dog in different environments so he or she understands for example to sit or lay down whenever you ask for it.

Different Types of Chihuahuas

If you are kind of a dog lover who wants a specific dog for specific reasons that knowing the different types of chihuahuas is ‘a must.’ On the other hand, if you are just passionate about having chihuahua any type will suit you. But, still, it is better to know at least some basic specifications of this small dog. After all, there are chihuahuas with short hair and chihuahuas with long hair. They call itshort-coated and long-coated.Technically speaking, there is only one type of chihuahua. Therefore, the term ‘types of Chihuahuas,’ talks about differences of the dog’s head shape, coat length, and head shape. These differences are minor, but they do provide some measuring standard when selecting a dog from various Chihuahua types.

Chihuahua Types In a Nutshell

  • Smooth-Coat Chihuahua
  • Long-Coat Chihuahua
  • Apple Head Chihuahua
  • Deer Head Chihuahua
  • Teacup chihuahua

Let me tell you more about these Chihuahua variations.

Smooth-Coat Chihuahua

First, what is likely the most common type of Chihuahua you’ll see at the dog park: the short hair Chihuahua. (smooth-coat)

The only notable difference between the smooth-coat Chihuahua and the other recognized breed variety (the long-hair Chihuahuas) is, well, the coat. That’s it!

Believe it or not, the smooth-coat Chihuahua has short hair, while the long-coat Chihuahua has (wait for it…) long hair. Because the short hair gives the animals a bit of a streamlined appearance, they’re sometimes called smooth-coat Chihuahuas.

You would think that the short-haired Chihuahuas shed little less hair then the long-hair… Guess what… It’s not. They shed every few months. So keep your vacuum cleaner handy. You should also note that short-haired Chihuahuas will be more likely to catch a chill in cold weather, so make sure you pick up a dog sweater for your little friend to wear.

Long-Coat Chihuahua

As explained in the previous section, long-haired Chihuahuas simply have longer hair than their short-coated counterparts.

It can take up to 24 months at most for a long-haired chihuahua to develop a full and luxurious coat. From this point forward, you’ll need to ensure you keep that coat clean (as you would with all dogs) and have him groomed regularly.

A weekly brushing is also a good idea, and your chi will likely enjoy these grooming sessions, which will give you another way to bond with your furry friend.

Apple Head Chihuahua

Having discussed the two official varieties of Chihuahua, we can now move on to other types, which differ from each other without receiving official recognition. And to do that, we’re gonna start with head shape; all Chihuahuas have one of two types of heads.

The first is the so-called apple head chihuahua. These cute little canines have heads that are rounded and vaguely apple-shaped. These Chihuahuas are likely the type most people envision when thinking of the breed, and they’re fairly common too.

In addition to having a more rounded head, apple head Chihuahuas have a slightly shorter muzzle too. They’re also born with something called a molera.

Deer Head Chihuahua

While most chihuahuas have apple-shaped heads, others have heads that are described as being more deer-like. Accordingly, these cuties are called deer head chihuahuas.

Deer-headed Chihuahuas differ from their apple head counterparts in a few ways, but two of the most notable are that deer head Chihuahuas have slightly longer heads and no slope on their noses (as is seen on the apple-head chihuahua).

There’s one other important difference between these two types of Chihuahuas: The deer head Chihuahua often grows a little bit larger than the apple head chihuahua.

Tea-cup Chihuahua

Now, all Chihuahuas are small, but the so-called teacup Chihuahua is ridiculously small. As their name implies, they are said to be small enough to fit in a teacup.

Teacup chihuahuas have to weigh less than 5 pounds and be no taller than 9 inches.

It’s worth noting that many folks disapprove of the breeding of teacup Chihuahuas. Teacup dogs are abnormally tiny and tend to have painful lives due to the genetic issues that come from being purposely bred to be unnaturally small.