Chihuahuas are one of the world’s smallest dog breeds, and they come in a wide variety of colors, coat textures, and head shapes (seriously!). Originally bred in the Chihuahua State of Mexico, these dogs are now found in homes all over the world.
Today, Chihuahuas are popular companions, mainly because of their petite size and loving nature. It’s not really a surprise. However, identifying which type of Chihuahua you have can be tricky since there are so many variations within this breed.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. To ensure you know exactly what type of Chihuahua you have in your home, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to identifying all 9 types of Chihuahuas. Can you spot the difference?
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Wait, There Are Different Types of Chihuahuas?
Technically, there are only two official types of Chihuahuas. At least, according to the breed standard of the American Kennel Club (and most other clubs). The two types are smooth (short) coats and long-haired coats.
However, the Chihuahua community is a creative one. The other types mentioned in this list are unofficial types of Chihuahuas that further break down this wonderful breed into even more categories. But, why? Because we need more fun ways to describe our Chihuahuas!
We name Chihuahuas based on coat texture or type, color, size, and head shapes. And keep in mind, these are not mutually exclusive. Just because you have one type, say a smooth coat, doesn’t mean you can’t also have an apple head.
1. Smooth Coat Chihuahua
The smooth coated Chihuahua is by far the most popular and common variety of the breed. This type is what most people imagine when they think of Chihuahuas. The coat is short, soft and glossy, which will make them fantastic companions to cuddle with.
Chihuahuas with smooth coats can come in black, white, fawn, chocolate, grey, silver or tri-colors. Don’t be surprised to see a chocolate with tan and white dog. There’s a lot of variety with colors! Plus, some may even have merle or brindle markings!
But keep in mind, because of the short smooth coats, these types of Chihuahuas don’t do well in colder climates. There’s not a lot of fur to keep them warm, so they may visibly shiver when living in the cold. So maybe consider getting them a sweater.
2. Long Haired Chihuahua
Like the name suggests, a Long Haired Chihuahua has long fur that covers most of their body. But don’t expect a thick fur coat like the Samoyed. Rather, there will be longer strands of fur that grow on the ears, tail, belly and chest.
The Long Haired Chihuahua is the second most common type of Chihuahua. They won’t be nearly as common as their smooth coated counterparts. Also, expect their coats to come in a variety, ranging from the popular fawn to black.
The temperament of a Long Haired Chihuahua is generally calm and friendly, but they can be spirited or moody as well. They are very smart and enjoys learning new tricks if given the proper motivator. But even so, they can be stubborn and might not listen if they don’t want to.
3. Apple Head Chihuahua
While the American Kennel Club recognizes just two types of Chihuahuas, here’s where things become a bit unofficial. Passionate Chihuahua fans have classified this breed into two categories: the apple heads and the deer heads.
The apple head Chihuahua has a unique head shape. As you may have guessed, their head resembles the of an apple. It’s more like a rounded dome shape. Apple heads also have a relatively short snout that connects to the head at a 90 degree angle.
Expect an apple head Chihuahua’s jaws to be short, though with large round eyes. In most cases, apple heads will also have a smaller frame and overall body. In addition, apple head dogs are more likely to be born with a molera (soft spot on the dog’s head).
4. Deer Head Chihuahua
If your Chihuahua isn’t an apple head, they’re likely going to be a deer head. The Deer Head Chihuahua has a distinct head shape that resembles the antlers and head of a deer. Hence, the name. They’re less common than the apple heads.
Deer Head Chihuahuas will have a much more narrow head. Because of this, the snout tends to be a bit longer than an apple head’s. Their jaws tend to be longer as well. In most cases, deer heads tend to also have a bigger body.
Developing moleras can happen with a deer head Chihuahua, though it’s much less common. However, the thing about this type of Chihuahua is that they’re not able to compete in traditional AKC dog shows. But they can still register as an official Chihuahua.
5. Pear Head Chihuahua
Just when you thought the Chi community was clever enough to come up with two unofficial classes for these dogs, a curve ball is thrown. Yes, the two main classes are deer heads and apple heads. However among the deer heads, we can break things down even further.
Physically, the pear heads resemble the deer heads. In fact, most people just call them “deer heads.” But there is a difference, albeit very minimal. Pear heads just have a flatter skull than the deer heads. They will still have the long snout though.
In terms of temperament, there is not much difference between deer heads and pear heads. You’ll get the same loving and affectionate Chihuahua. Pear heads can also come in all the classic coat colors and have either a long or smooth short coat.
6. Teacup Chihuahua
The Teacup Chihuahua is, unsurprisingly, the smallest type of Chihuahua. They usually won’t grow above 6 inches tall, and they typically weigh less than 3 pounds. Given how the standard Chihuahuas are the world’s smallest purebreds, teacups are seriously petite dogs.
By contrast, a standard Chihuahua can grow up to 9 inches tall. Teacups are not very common though. The Teacup Chihuahua may be the rarest type of Chihuahua, however, they have been slowly gaining popularity in recent years.
The Teacup Chihuahua often has large dark eyes and a long coat that can be either smooth or long. The temperament of a Teacup Chihuahua is generally playful, curious, and energetic. But because they’re extremely small, they can be very timid and anxious depending on the situation.
7. Fawn Chihuahua (Colored)
The Fawn Chihuahua is perhaps the most popular coat color for the Chihuahua. There’s a reason why the “fawn” color is so popular. It’s a balanced blend of brown and red that perfectly complements this dog breed, no matter what coat texture.
Although we named the Fawn as a type of Chihuahua, we’re actually referring to all color-named dogs of this breed. These are your standard colors for the Chihuahua. They come in black, blue and tan, cream, chocolate and tan, chocolate, fawn and white, fawn, and red.
And just for reference, these are the non-standard colors.
- Black & red, black & silver, black & white
- Black fawn & sable, silver fawn & black
- Blue, blue and white, fawn brindle blue, fawn blue, blue merle
- Chocolate & white, chocolate blue, chocolate brindled fawn, chocolate sable fawn
- Cream & white
- Fawn brindled black
- Gold, gold & white
- Red & white
- Silver, silver & white
- White
No matter the color of the Chihuahua, they can have any variety of head shape. In addition, they can sport either the long-haired or smooth and short coat.
8. Chihuahua Hybrids
Chihuahuas are already perfect dogs. But that doesn’t mean the countless number of Chihuahua mixes aren’t excellent options too. Thanks to the Chihuahuas petite size, many breeders have used this dog to “breed down in size.”
As a result, we have wonderful and popular Chihuahua mixes, such as the Chillier (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Chihuahua), the Cheagle (Beagle x Chihuahua), the Chi-Poo (Poodle x Chihuahua) and so many more. My favorite? The Chiweenie.
In most cases, the Chihuahua hybrid inherits the head shape and pointed ears of the Chihuahua. They may inherit other colors and coat patterns from the other parent though. However, it’s nearly certain the hybrid will be small in size.
9. Hairless Chihuahua
The Hairless Chihuahua is an extremely rare type of Chihuahua. And while they are called the “hairless Chihuahua,” they’re not always completely hairless. Some may have patches of soft hair on the head, chest or legs.
Keep in the mind, the hairless Chihuahua is not a type of Chihuahua that breeders try to breed for. It’s a genetic defect that causes the hairless coat. To be specific, a mutation in the Forehead box I3 (FOXI3) gene is likely the cause.
Because Chihuahuas are little shedding machines, having a hairless one is a dream-come-true, right? Not so fast. Without hair, their skin is exposed to the harsh sun and would require even more care and attention. But regardless, they’re super rare to find.
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So what is your favorite type of Chihuahua? And if you already own a Chihuahua, which ones do you have? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Dawn
Friday 17th of February 2023
I recently lost my beloved yorkie/chihuahua little boy. What a dream dog! The breed combination was incredible! He was so smart but such a mama's boy. Oliver was mostly black with a white chin and small white chest area. No matter where we went he was the center of attention! Good nature, always a hugger, and quite the gentleman to the ladies. Would love to find another yorkie/chihuahua mix but never see any around michigan. Was excited to find your web site.