FCI-Standard No 218

CHIHUAHUA
(Chihuahueño)

TRANSLATOR : C. Seidler.

ORIGIN : Mexico.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 22.05.1995.

UTILIZATION : Companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION FCI : Group 9 Companions and Toys
Section 6 Chihuahueño
Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Chihuahua is regarded as the smallest pedigree dog in the world and carries the name of the largest province of the Mexican Republic. One assumes that these dogs used to live in the wild and, at the time of civilisation of the Tolteks, were caught and domesticated by the inhabitants. Illustrations of a Toy dog called " Techichi" which lived in Tula, were used as decorations on town architecture. These small statues are very similar to the present day Chihuahua.

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

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Length of body slightly greater than height at withers. Desired, however, is an almost square body shape, specially in males. In bitches, because of pregnancy, a slightly longer body is permitted.

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

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION : Well rounded apple head (a characteristic of the breed) without or with only a small fontanel.
Stop : Very marked, deep and broad as the forehead is bulging over the set-on of muzzle

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Any colour permitted. Nasal bridge moderately short, pointing slightly upwards.
Muzzle : Short, seen from side, broad at set-on, tapering towards the tip.
Lips : Lean and close fitting.
Cheeks : Moderately developed, very clean.
Teeth : Scissor or pincer bite. Overshot, undershot, as well as any other anomaly in position of upper or lower jaw must be strictly penalized.
Eyes : Large, roundish in shape, very expressive, not protruding, completely dark. Light eyes permissible, but not desired.
Ears : Large, upright, noticeably broad at set-on, gradually tapering towards their slightly rounded point. In repose slightly inclined laterally.

NECK : Upperline slightly arched.
Length : Medium length.
Shape : Thicker in dogs than in bitches.
Skin : Without dewlap. In the long haired variety, the presence of a neck-ruff with longer hair is highly desirable.

BODY : Compact and well built.
Topline : Level.
Withers : Hardly marked.
Back : Short and firm.
Loin Region : Strongly muscular.
Rump : Broad and strong without slope.
Chest : Ribcage broad and deep, ribs well sprung. Seen from front, roomy but not exaggerated. Seen from side, reaching to elbows. Not barrel shaped.
Lower Line : Formed by a clearly tucked up belly. Slack belly is permitted but not desired.

TAIL : Set on high, of moderate length; broad at root, tapering gradually towards the tip. Tail carriage is an important characteristic of the breed : carried either high in a curve or in a rounded semi circle with tip towards the loin region, which gives balance to the body.
Coat is according to variety and in keeping with body coat. In the long hair variety, the coat forms a plume. Tail is pendant in repose and forms a slight hook.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Straight and of good length; seen from the front, the front legs together with the elbows, form a straight line. Seen from the side, their stance is vertical with slightly sloping, strong and flexible pasterns. Shoulders are clean with little muscles. Angulation between shoulder-blade and upper arm is proportionate. Elbows firm and fitting close to body which ensures free movement.

HINDQUARTERS : Well muscled with lengthy bones, vertical and parallel to each other with good angulation at hip, knee and hock joints, in harmony with angulation of forequarters. Hocks short with well developed Achilles tendons; seen from rear, they are straight and vertical in position, not close together.

FEET : Very small and oval with toes well apart but not splayed (neither hare nor cat foot). Nails specially well arched and moderately long. Pads well developed and very elastic. Dewclaws must be removed.

MOVEMENT : Steps are long, springy, energetic and active with good reach and drive. Seen from rear, hind legs should move almost parallel to each other, so that the foot prints of the hind feet fit directly into those of the front feet.
With increasing speed, the limbs show the tendency to converge towards the centre point of gravity (single track). Movement remains free and springy without visible effort, head raised and back firm.

SKIN : Smooth and elastic all over body surface.

COAT

TEXTURE OF COAT : In this breed there are two varieties of coat.
A.Short hair : Coat is short, lying close all over body. If there is an undercoat, the hair is somewhat longer; sparse coat on throat and belly permissible; slightly longer on neck and tail, short on face and ears. Coat is glossy and its texture is soft. Hairless dogs are not tolerated.
B.Long hair : Coat should be fine and silky, smooth or slightly wavy. Not too thick undercoat desired. Coat is longer, forming feathering on ears, neck, rear of front and hind legs, on feet and on tail. Dogs with long billowing coat, as in a Maltese, will not be accepted.

COLOUR : All colours in all possible shades and combinations are admitted.

HEIGHT AND WEIGHT : In this breed only the weight is taken into consideration, not the height.
Weight : Between 500 gr and 3kg. A weight of between 1 and 2 kg has preference. Animals weighing more than 3 kg will be disqualified.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
- Narrow skull.
- Eye small, deep-set or protruding.
- Long muzzle.
- Too pointed ears.
- Short neck.
- Roach or hollow back (Lordose or Xyphose).
- Long body.
- Short limbs.
- Out at elbow.
- Too close behind.
- Narrow chest, flat ribcage.
- Sloping rump.
- Tail : incorrect set-on, short or twisted.
- Under- or overshot mouth.
- Absence of individual teeth.
- Deformed jaws.
- Double teeth.
- Luxating patellas.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
- In the long hair variety : Dogs with very long, fine and billowing coat (as in a Maltese).
- In the short hair variety : Bald patches (alopecia).
- Drop ear or short ear.
- Absence of tail.
- Weight over 3 kg.
- Extremely long body.
- Slender, light, long cast, stag-like type.

N.B : Male animals must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.