Breed Standards

A Breed Standard sets out the criteria which describe the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance, including correct colours, of a breed.

The Breed Standards of the smooth coat chihuahua and long coat chihuahua are identical except for the descriptions of the coat.

Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)

Kennel Club, London 1994, Updated October 2009
General Appearance   Small, dainty, compact.
Character​istics   Alert, little dog, swift moving with brisk forceful action and saucy expression.
Temperament   Gay, spirited and intelligent, neither snappy nor withdrawn.
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), with 1.8-2.7 kgs (4-6 lbs) 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)

Kennel Club, London 1994
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 hindquarters, large ruff on neck desirable. Tail long and full as a plume.