CrystalJem Chihuahus, the history, standard, and information about Chihuahuas

Chihuahua History, Standard & Colours & Celebrity Owners

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Standard Chihuahua Weight Chart Celebrity Owners

History of the Chihuahua

THE WORLD'S SMALLEST DOG, the Chihuahua, seems to be the subject of the biggest disagreement
among dog historians as to this breed's country of origin.
Some authorities write that the tiny dog evolved in Egypt and that the mummified remains of a small dog
with the unique "molera," or fontanelle, was unearthed in a tomb dating back 3000 years.
From here it is assumed the little breed was taken to Mediterranean countries and eventually to Mexico
at the time of the Spanish Conquest (1519). Those who hold a contrary view state that
four breeds of dog were domesticated in Mexico long before the Spanish Conquest.
One was a dog resembling the Chihuahua which played an important role in religious ceremonies.
To support this claim there are artifacts dating to ancient Mexican culture.
It is further claimed that the Spanish took some of these small dogs with them when they returned to Spain.
Thus they became established throughout Europe and the islands of the Mediterranean.
Yet another theory has been put forth that claims the dogs were brought to Mexico by Chinese traders
just over 100 years ago.
Wherever the Chihuahua originated, it is known that the little dogs were discovered late in the 19th century
by American tourists who were visiting Mexico. On their return to the United States
they brought some of the dogs with them. It is from these first specimens,
probably crossed with English black and tan toy terriers, that the present-day S
mooth-Coat was developed and named for Chihuahua, the Mexican state where the breed was discovered.
It is said that the Long-Coat variety was developed entirely in the United States
by crossing the smooth variety with other toy breeds which are thought to have been
the Papillion and Pomeranian. The Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier,
and Toy Poodle are also mentioned as other possibilities.
The Chihuahua was first registered in Canada in 1928.

Chihuahua Standard

General Appearance
A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight - A well balanced little dog not to exceed 6 pounds.
Proportion - The body is off-square; hence, slightly longer when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, than height at the withers. Somewhat shorter bodies are preferred in males.
Disqualification - Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.
Head A well rounded "apple dome" skull, with or without molera.
Expression - Saucy.
Eyes - Full, but not protruding, balanced, set well apart-luminous dark or luminous ruby. (Light eyes in blond or white-colored dogs permissible.)
Ears - Large, erect type ears, held more upright when alert, but flaring to the sides at a 45 degree angle when in repose, giving breadth between the ears.
Muzzle - Moderately short, slightly pointed. Cheeks and jaws lean.
Nose - Self-colored in blond types, or black. In moles, blues, and chocolates, they are self-colored. In blond types, pink nose permissible.
Bite - Level or scissors. Overshot or undershot bite, or any distortion of the bite or jaw, should be penalized as a serious fault.
Disqualifications - Broken down or cropped ears.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders.
Topline - Level. Body - Ribs rounded and well sprung (but not too much "barrel-shaped").
Tail - Moderately long, carried sickle either up or out, or in a loop over the back, with tip just touching the back. (Never tucked between legs.)
Disqualifications - Cropped tail, bobtail.
Forequarters
Shoulders - Lean, sloping into a slightly broadening support above straight forelegs that set well under, giving a free play at the elbows. Shoulders should be well up, giving balance and soundness, sloping into a level back. (Never down or low.) This gives a chestiness, and strength of forequarters, yet not of the "Bulldog" chest.
Feet - A small, dainty foot with toes well split up but not spread, pads cushioned. (Neither the hare nor the cat foot.) Pasterns - Fine.
Hindquarters
Muscular, with hocks well apart, neither out nor in, well let down, firm and sturdy. The feet are as in front.
Coat
In the Smooth Coats, the coat should be of soft texture, close and glossy. (Heavier coats with undercoats permissible.) Coat placed well over body with ruff on neck preferred, and more scanty on head and ears. Hair on tail preferred furry.
In Long Coats, the coat should be of a soft texture, either flat or slightly curly, with undercoat preferred.
Ears - Fringed. (Heavily fringed ears may be tipped slightly if due to the fringes and not to weak ear leather, never down.)
Tail - Full and long (as a plume). Feathering on feet and legs, pants on hind legs and large ruff on the neck desired and preferred.
Disqualification - In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.
Color Any color-Solid, marked or splashed.
Gait The Chihuahua should move swiftly with a firm, sturdy action, with good reach in front equal to the drive from the rear. From the rear, the hocks remain parallel to each other, and the foot fall of the rear legs follows directly behind that of the forelegs. The legs, both front and rear, will tend to converge slightly toward a central line of gravity as speed increases. The side view shows good, strong drive in the rear and plenty of reach in the front, with head carried high. The topline should remain firm and the backline level as the dog moves.
Temperament Alert, with terrier-like qualities.
Disqualifications
Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.
Broken down or cropped ears.
Cropped tail, bobtail.
In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.