The Chihuahua may be a small breed of dog, but these dogs have larger than life personalities and lots of love and loyalty to give their owners. Tiny though they may be, Chihuahuas are a delight to be around as long as they have been properly trained and socialized. Before you adopt any breed of dog, Chihuahuas included, you need to make sure that you know all of the relevant facts about the breed including their temperament, common health problems and everything else that you need to know as a prospective owner.
Chihuahuas may be referred to either as deer headed or apple headed and may have either long or short coats; other than their distinct appearance, they share the same physical and behavioral traits. They’re all curious, friendly and sometimes comical dogs who seem to somehow think of themselves as bigger than life.
If you’ve been looking for a Chihuahua, you’ve probably seen the phrases apple head and deer head used and it’s entirely understandable if you’re a bit confused by this and whether one type or the other meets the officially recognized standards of the Chihuahua breed.
The American Kennel Club asserts that to meet the standards for the breed, a Chihuahua should be nearly square shaped. However, females tend to have slightly more elongated bodies to allow for their role in the reproductive process. The AKC also has standards for the shape of the skulls of these dogs, with apple head being the generally accepted standard for show dogs.
The terms apple head and deer head are purely descriptive terms which refer to the shape of the Chihuahua’s skull; the deer head Chihuahua has a slightly longer, narrower skull than do apple head Chihuahuas. Breeders who offer deer head Chihuahuas for sale that promote them as being a separate breed or officially recognized type of Chihuahua, however, are being somewhat misleading. Officially, there are only two types of Chihuahua, regardless of the shape of their heads: long haired and short haired.
The standard for apple head Chihuahuas is that they must have heads with an identifiably rounded shape featuring a narrow jaw and short muzzle. Their eyes should not be too close together, large and round – and they should not protrude. The standards for this breed, as with all others are very particular and if you intend to raise your new pet as a show dog, you need to be well aware of the official standards for the breed before you choose a new puppy to adopt and welcome into your home.
