FCI-Standard N ° 218 / 06.23.2004 / GB

CHIHUAHUA

TRANSLATION: C. Seidler. Reviewed by R. Triquet (amendments to the standard).

Origin: Mexico

Date of publication of the valid original standard: 24/03/2004.

USE: companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION FCI: Group 9 companion and toy dogs.
Section 6 Chihuahua

Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Chihuahua is regarded as the smallest pedigree dog in the world and is named after the largest state in the Mexican Republic (Chihuahua). One assumes that these dogs used to live in the wild and, at the time of the Toltec civilization, were captured and domesticated by the natives. Representations of a toy dog called "Techichi" who lived in Tula, were used as decoration in the city's architecture. These statues are very similar to the present Chihuahua.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: This dog has a compact body. Of great importance is the fact that his skull is apple-shaped and carries his moderately long tail very high, either curved or forming the shape of a semicircle with the tip pointing towards the loin region.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Length of body slightly greater than height at withers. Desire, however, is an almost square body, especially in males. In bitches, because the function of reproduction, a slightly longer body is permitted.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Quick, alert, lively and very courageous.

HEAD

Cranial region:
Skull: Well rounded apple head (a characteristic of the breed) preferably without a fontanel although a small allowed.
Stop: Well marked, deep and broad as the forehead is bulging over the set-in mouth.

FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Any color permitted. Moderately short, pointing slightly upwards.
 

Muzzle: Short, straight seen from side, broad at set-on, tapering towards the tip.
 

Lips: Lean and close fitting.
 

Cheeks: Only slightly developed, very clean.
 

Jaws / Teeth: Scissor or pincer bite. Overshot, undershot, as well as any other anomaly in the position of the upper or lower jaw must be strictly penalized.
 

Eyes: Large, rounded in shape, very expressive, not protruding, perfectly dark. Light eyes permissible, but not desired.
Ears: large, upright, widely open, broad at set-on, tapering towards their slightly rounded point. In repose inclined laterally forming an angle of 45 °.

NECK: Upper profile slightly arched.
 

Duration: Half length.
 

Shape: Thicker in dogs than in bitches.
 

Skin: Without dewlap. In the long haired variety, the presence of a neck ruff with long hair is very convenient.

BODY: Compact and well built.
 

Topline: Level.
 

Withers: Only slightly pronounced.
 

Loin: Short and firm.
 

Loin: Very muscular.
 

Croup: Broad and strong, almost flat or slightly sloping.
 

Chest: Ribcage broad and deep, ribs well sprung. Seen from front, roomy but not exaggerated. Viewed from the side, reaching to the elbows. No barrel-shaped.
 

Bottom line: Formed by a clearly tucked up belly. Slack belly is permitted but not desired.

Tail: Set high, flat in appearance, of moderate length, in a wide root, tapering towards the tip. Tail carriage is an important feature of the breed: when the dog is in motion is carried high on a curve or in a semicircle with tip towards the loin region, which gives balance to the body, should never be carried between the hind legs or curled below the backline. The hair on the tail depends on the variety and is in harmony with the body coat. In the long haired variety, the tail coat forms a plume. The tail is hanging at rest and forms a slight hook.

Tips

FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs straight and of good length, as seen from the front form a straight line with your elbows. Viewed from the side, is upright.
 

Shoulders: Clean and moderately muscled. Good angulation between shoulder blade and upper arm.
 

Elbows: Firm and fitting close to body which ensures free movement.
Pasterns: Slightly sloping, strong and flexible.

Hindquarters: hindlegs and muscled with long bones, vertical and parallel to each other with good angulation at hip, knee and hock joints, in harmony with angulation of forequarters.
 

Pawns: Short with well developed Achilles' tendons, seen from behind, they are also straight and vertical.

FEET: Very small and oval with toes and apart but not splayed (no cat-and feet). Nails particularly well arched and moderately long. Pads well developed and very elastic. Dewclaws must be removed except in countries where this practice is forbidden by law.

GATT / MOVEMENT: Steps are long, springy, energetic and active with good reach and drive. Viewed from the rear, behind the legs should move almost parallel to each other, so that the footprints behind fit directly in front of the feet. With increasing speed, the limbs show a tendency to converge toward the center of gravity (single track). Remains free and springy Movement Without visible effort, head raised and back firm. Movement remains free and springy without visible effort, head raised and back firm.

SKIN: Smooth and elastic all over.

COAT

HAIR: In this breed there are two varieties of coat.
 

Smooth Hair: Coat is short, near the body. If there is an undercoat, the hair is somewhat longer; little shelter in the throat and belly permissible; slightly longer neck and tail, short on face and ears. Coat is glossy and its texture is soft. Hairless dogs are not tolerated.
 

Long-haired: Coat should be fine and silky, smooth or slightly wavy. Not too thick undercoat desired. Coat is longer, forming feathering ears, neck, back of front and hind legs, feet and tail. Dogs with long billowing coat will not be accepted.

COLOR: All colors in all possible shades and combinations are admitted.

WEIGHT: In this breed only the weight is taken into account, not the height.
Weight: Ideal weight: between 1.5 and 3 kg.
However, dogs between 500 gr and 1.5 kg are accepted. Subjects weighing more than 3 kg shall be disqualified.

FAULTS: Any departure from the above points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
 

Missing teeth.
 

"Double teeth" (persistence of temporary teeth).
 

Deformed jaws.
 

He pointed ears.
 

Short neck.
 

Long body.
 

Roach or hollow back (kyphosis or lordosis).
 

Steep croup.
 

Narrow chest, flat ribcage.
 

Tail: incorrect set-on, short or twisted.
Short limbs.
 

Out on the elbow.
Too close behind.

FAULTS
Narrow skull
 

Eyes small, deep set or protruding.
 

Long snout.
 

Under overrun or mouth.
 

Dislocation of the patella.

ELIMINATING FAULTS:

Aggressive or overly shy.
Deer type dogs (dogs with an atypical or extremely stylized structure: refined head, long neck, slender body, long limbs).
 

Large dogs with a fontanel.
 

Drop ear or short ear.
 

Body too long.
 

Absence of tail.
 

In the long haired variety: Dogs with very long, fine and billowing coat.
 

In the smooth-haired variety: Bald patch (alopecia).
 

Weight of 3 kg.
 

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

NB: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

This breed of change is effective from September 2004.