Long haired Chihuahua

Long-haired Chihuahua

A long-haired Chihuahua is a lovely sight to be held--behold! A diminutive individual from the start, to watch one strut its saucy stuff just can't be done without a smile. That added touch of long, flouncing hair gives additional depth of character to expressions their short-haired cousins just can't achieve.

The American Kennel Club's Breed Standard of October 30, 1990, refers to the hair on a short- or long-haired Chihuahua as "Long Coats" or "Smooth Coats". The coat on a long-haired Chihuahua should have a soft texture, either flat or curly with an undercoat preferred. Their ears should be fringed. A slight dip to the ears is acceptable as long as the dip is due to the weight of the long hair and not to weak ears! Their tails should be full with a long plume and their feet and legs should have a feathered look. The hind legs should have "pants" and a large ruff on the neck is preferred.

From a genetic standpoint, a long-haired Chihuahua comes from recessive genes. That makes them special, since you have to have these recessive genes in both breeding partners in order to get a long-haired Chihuahua pup.

Breeders are very careful to track their long-haired Chihuahua stock. To improve the breed or to get a certain texture in the long coat, they must keep excellent records of each dog that is bred. Dollar value increases dramatically for the well-documented pedigree.

Taking care of a long-haired Chihuahua does have its difficulties, especially after a romp in an unmanicured field. Like any dog with a long coat, they must be groomed extensively to eliminate knots, mats, and burs. You'll also have to look closely to check for ticks and other hitchhikers!

Bathing a long-haired Chihuahua should be done once a month, on average. Consult your vet, of course, but most Chis are good groomers. They may get dirtier from all the petting they receive than from any explorations they engage in themselves! All you have to do is to watch the dainty steps a Chi will take to make its way through a lawn, let alone an untended field! Be sure to use a residue-free shampoo so the natural shine of the plume is enhanced rather than dulled.

Since long-haired Chihuahuas love attention, there should be no problem getting your Chi to sit still for a good brushing. Besides, any time they can monopolize THEIR special person is quality time!