Chihuahua Genetic Concerns and Standard

Breed Predisposition to Disease and Congenital Conditions


Cleft palate
Collapsed trachea
Corneal dystrophy
Corneal edema
Demodicosis
Dislocation of the shoulder
Fatty liver syndrome
Glaucoma (secondary to subluxation of lens)
Hemophilia A, Factor VIII or AHF deficiency
**Prolonged bleeding.
**Hemorrhagic episodes
**Prolonged PTT, reduced AHF and Factor VIII.
Hydrocephalus
**Dilation of ventricles of brain with increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure.
**Hypoglycemia may follow stress in young puppies.
Hypoglycemia
**Concentration of glucose in the blood below the normal limit.
Hypoplasia of dens (odontoid process)
**Either hypoplasia of dens or its non-union with C2 produces atlantoaxial subluxation.
**Onset at any age producing signs ranging from neck pain to quadriplegia.
Iridal atrophy
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
**Deficiency of tear production.
**May be followed by vascular invasion and hyperpigmentation of the cornea.
Mitral valve defects
Patella luxation
**Medial or lateral **Most common are medial, accompanied by tibial rotation on the long axis, bending of the distal end of the femoral shaft and shallow femoral trochlea. **Lameness at 4-6 months. Pinnal thrombovascular necrosis
Pulmonic stenosis
**Narrow pulmonary artery at its origin. Trichiasis

Breed Standard
General Description
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.


Approved September 11, 1990
Effective October 30, 1990