Long Haired Chihuahua Are Fun to Own

Chihuahua is the smallest dog around the world. It is a very popular breed and partially its popularity rises with an increasing celebrity ownership. Amazingly, the Chihuahua is dated back to Aztec civilization, however, over time it was brought to Mexico by the Spanish settlers, and then to the United States. Some researchers also believe that Chihuahua was originally native to Egypt, and then it made its way to Spain via Mexico.

Long haired Chihuahua typically has smooth undercoat along with a long overcoat, which makes it difficult to differentiate from Pomeranian. American Kennel Club (AKC) defines the hair of this dog as 'Long Coats' or 'Smooth Coats'. A long haired Chihuahua has an apple-shaped head, with big eyes and tasseled ears. Typically the height of a Chihuahua may range between 6 to 9 inches. The exhibited dogs have lesser weight compared to the non-exhibited ones. While the former weighs around less than 6 pounds in average, the later may go up to 10 pounds or more.

While considering temperament and personality, there is no distinction between short haired and long haired Chihuahua. Both of them are very loving and affectionate. They have a jovial personality on one hand, however, a very alert type on the other. They are the most preferred pet for the elderly and disabled people because of their friendliness and socialization. This breed also has a negative reputation of being high-stubborn and it becomes tough to train. However, following a successful training, this breed turns out to be an excellent pet.

Although it belongs to 'Toy Dog' group, many standard breeders do not recommend both short and long haired Chihuahua for households with small children. They go very well with adults and offer their nice companionship throughout. Due to their small size and fragile bone structure a long haired Chihuahua must be handled very carefully, otherwise there is always a risk for potential injury. They can make friendships very easily with other breeds and animals such as cats and dogs from other breeds.

Both short and long haired Chihuahua is highly sensitive to cool temperature. So, in order to keep them in comfort, they are commonly found in coats or sweaters especially during winter and spring season. Although long haired Chihuahua looks exquisite with its long wavy soft hair, it needs a thorough care and proper grooming. Long haired Chihuahua needs extensive grooming in order to remove knots, mats and burs. Also a closer look is also required in order to make the dog free from ticks and other hitchhikers. Bathing with residue-free shampoo is important for a long haired Chihuahua. It should be done at least once in a month.

From the genetic perspective, long haired Chihuahua is the product of recessive genes. It means both the partners must carry these recessive genes in order to have long haired Chihuahua offspring. Professional breeders usually maintain a good track of their long haired Chihuahua stock. They need to maintain an excellent record of each of the dog of this variety in order to ensure the improved quality of the breed as well as to customize certain texture over the long coat. When the pedigree is properly documented, the price increases dramatically.