Chihuahua tõustandard

ORIGIN: Mexico.

UTILIZATION : Companion dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs.

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  state of   the Mexican Republic  (Chihuahua). One assumes that these dogs used to live in the wild and, at the time of the Toltec civilization,   were   captured   and   domesticated   by   the   natives. Representations  of   a  Toy dog  called « Techichi » which  lived  in Tula, were used as decorations on town architecture.   These statues are very similar to the present day Chihuahua.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: This dog has a compact  body. 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   semicircle  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, especially   in   males.   In   bitches,   because   of   the   function   of reproduction, a slightly longer body is permitted.

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

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION:

Skull: Well rounded apple head (a characteristic of the breed).
Stop: Well  marked,  deep and broad as   the   forehead  is  rounded above the set-on of muzzle.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: Any  colour  permitted.  Moderately  short,  pointing  slightly upwards.
Muzzle: Short,   straight   seen  from  side,  broad at   set-on,   tapering towards the tip.
Lips: Lean and close fitting.
Cheeks: Only slightly developed, very clean.
Jaws/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, perfectly dark.  Light eyes permissible, but not desired.
Ears: Large,   upright,  widely   open,   broad   at   set-on,   gradually tapering   towards   their   slightly   rounded  tip.     In   repose   inclined laterally forming an angle of 45°.

NECK: Upper profile slightly arched.  Medium length.  Thicker  in dogs than in bitches. 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: Only slightly marked.
Back: Short and firm.
Loin: Strongly muscled.
Croup: Broad and strong; almost flat or slightly sloping.
Chest: Ribcage broad and deep, ribs well sprung. Seen from front, roomy but not exaggerated. Seen from side, reaching to elbows. Not barrel shaped.

Underline and belly: Formed by a clearly tucked up belly. Slack belly is permitted but not desired.

TAIL: Set on high, flat in appearance, of moderate length; broad at root, tapering gradually towards the tip. Tail carriage is an important characteristic of   the breed  :  when  the dog  is  moving  it is carried either  high  in a curve or in a semicircle with  tip  towards  the  loin region, which gives balance to the body,  it should never be carried between the hindlegs nor curled below the backline. The hair on the tail depends on the variety and is in harmony with the body coat. In the long haired variety, the tail coat forms a plume. Tail is pendant in repose and forms a slight hook.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs straight and of good length; seen from the front, they form a straight line with the elbows.   Seen from the side, they are upright.
Shoulder: Clean and moderately muscled.  Good angulation between shoulder-blade and upper arm.
Elbow: Firm   and   fitting   close   to   body,   which   ensures   free movement.

Metacarpus (Pastern): Slightly sloping, strong and flexible.

Forefeet: Very small and oval with toes well apart but not splayed (neither   hare-   nor   cat-foot). Nails particularly  well arched and moderately long. Pads well developed and very elastic.  Dewclaws are not desirable.

HINDQUARTERS: Hindlegs   well   muscled   with   long   bones, vertical and parallel to each other with good angulation at hip, knee and hock joints, in harmony with angulation of forequarters.

Hock: Short with well developed Achilles’ tendons; seen from rear, they are well apart straight and vertical.
Hind feet: Very small and oval with toes well apart but not splayed (neither   hare-   nor   cat-foot).    Nails   particularly  well   arched   and moderately long.   Pads well developed and very elastic.  Dewclaws are not desirable.

GAIT  /  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 footprints of the hind feet fit directly into those of the front feet. With increasing speed, the limbs show a tendency to converge towards the median plane (single track).  Movement   remains   free and springy without  visible effort, head raised and back firm.

SKIN: Smooth and elastic all over body.

COAT

Hair: In this breed there are two varieties of coat.

• Smooth-haired: 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.

• Longed-haired : 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 will not be accepted.

COLOUR: All colours in all possible shades and combinations are admitted, except merle colour.

SIZE AND WEIGHT: In this breed only the weight is taken into consideration, not the height.

Weight: Ideal weight : between 1.5 and 3 kg.

Subjects weighing less than 500 gr and more than 3 kg shall 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  and  its  effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

• Missing teeth.
• “Double teeth” (persistence of temporary teeth).
• Pointed ears.
• Short neck.
• Long body.
• Roach or hollow back (Lordosis or Kyphosis).
• Steep croup.
• Narrow chest, flat ribcage.
• Tail : incorrect set-on, short or twisted.
• Short limbs.
• Out at elbow.
• Too close behind.

SEVERE FAULTS:

• Narrow skull
• Eyes small, deep set or protruding.
• Long muzzle.
• Under or overshot mouth.
• Unstable stifle.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Deer   type   dogs  (dogs  with   an   atypical   or   extremely   stylized structure: refined head, long neck, slender body, long limbs).
• Dogs with an open fontanel.
• Drop ear or short ear.
• Deformed jaws.
• Extremely long body.
• Absence of tail.
• In   the   long-   haired   variety   :  Dogs  with   very   long,   fine   and billowing coat.
• In the smooth-haired variety : Bald patch (alopecia).
• Merle colour
• Subjects weighing less than 500 gr and more than 3 kg.
• Any dog clearly showing physical  or behavioural  abnormalities shall be disqualified.

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