How to Identify a Chihuahua

Last Updated: April 26, 2021 References

A member of the toy group^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} and thought to be the smallest of all dog breeds, Chihuahuas are tiny but bold. They act much larger than they truly are and have several key identifying traits. This wikiHow will help you figure out whether or not a dog is a Chihuahua.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Looking at Body Structure

1
Look at the size. Chihuahuas are perhaps the smallest breed of dog, standing at only 5–8 inches (13–20 cm) tall.^{[2]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Their weight is not to exceed 6 pounds (2.7 kg).^{[3]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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Did you know? Today, the Chihuahua is considered to possibly be the world's smallest breed of dog, but their ancient ancestor, the Techichi, was larger and heavier. It is believed that Techichi were bred with small hairless dogs from Asia and that this reduced their size.^{[4]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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2
Notice large ears. One key Chihuahua feature is the breed's large, erect ears. They stand at angles of about 45 degrees, though they may stand more upright when the dog is alert.^{[5]
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3
Inspect the eyes. Chihuahuas have full, round eyes. They are set well apart and are a luminous dark or ruby color, though blond or white dogs may have lighter eyes.^{[6]
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4
Check the dog's head shape. Chihuahuas have "apple" heads,^{[7]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Their heads are well-rounded and resemble domes.
5
Take notice of the tail. The tail of a Chihuahua is moderately long. It can be carried sickle or loop over the back, with the tip barely touching the back.^{[9]
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6
View the dog's overall body structure. Chihuahuas are very small dogs and have short bodies. Their shoulders are lean, and their hindquarters are muscular.^{[10]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Assessing the Coat

1
Identify the coat type. Chihuahuas have two different coat types: smooth and long.
- Smooth coated Chihuahuas have shorter fur that is soft, close, and glossy. They have furry tails and ruffled necks.^{[13]
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- Long coated Chihuahuas are soft with longer fur that is either flat or wavy. They have fringed ears, feathering, full and long tails, and ruffled necks.^{[14]
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Tip: Since Chihuahuas were bred to live in the warm climate of Mexico, even longhaired Chihuahuas don't do well in the cold. During the colder seasons of autumn and winter, Chihuahuas could benefit from having a coat to wear, though it may take some getting used to.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
2
Understand that a Chihuahua can be any color. A Chihuahua's coat can be any color,^{[15]
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3
Look for a coat pattern. Some Chihuahuas have a solid one- or two-color coat, but many Chihuahuas have coat patterns. A Chihuahua may be seen with any coat markings or "splashing",^{[16]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Taking Notice of Temperament

1
Look for a large personality. Chihuahuas are bold and courageous, despite their small size. They have a lot of personality packed inside of their small bodies.^{[18]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
2
Recognize attitude. Chihuahuas are described as being sassy dogs. They will attempt to be the boss of the household if they aren't taught otherwise.^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
3
Notice intelligence. Full of intelligence, Chihuahuas are very bright dogs that are quick to learn, especially if something fun is involved. They can perform well in agility or obedience trials.^{[20]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
4
See if the dog is alert. Chihuahuas are alert, and they don't easily trust strangers. Because of this, they can make excellent watchdogs.^{[21]
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Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}
5
Check for loyalty. Chihuahuas may have some attitude, but they love to love. They are loyal and want to be around their owners more than anything else.^{[22]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}