THE CHIHUAHUA HEADPIECE

The Chihuahua Club of America1 describes the Chihuahua

as an alert little dog with a saucy expression! The

Chihuahua standard for the dog’s head, as set by the parent

club and recognized by the American Kennel Club and

clubs worldwide, has barely been modified since inception.

Please see the breed’s standard as applied to the

Chihuahua head and neck, reprinted below for review at

the end of this chapter. Keep in mind that the correct

expression for this breed, even with a “terrier like

temperament”, cannot be achieved without the correct

balance on all the individual parts of its ‘headpiece’.

THE CHIHUAHUA HEAD

The Chihuahua’s head is defined by a skull that is well

rounded. The skull type is one that is shorter/flatter faced

or what is called brachycephalic. This head typically

1 http://www.chihuahuaclubofamerica.com/breed-info/chihuahuau-breed-standard/breed-standard1

comes with a more extreme, deep stop, which may

accompany a predisposition for an under bite. It should

appear in balance, if not a tad bit larger than the balanced

dog as a whole. In this chapter we will be addressing the

correct Chihuahua headpiece and all that it bears.

This domed head or ‘apple’ head as it is sometimes

referred to (similar to a baking apple), is never flat but

always round and higher domed. It is not oval shaped, nor

is it too narrow and certainly not flat. This is the

characteristic which defines Chihuahuas from Terriers, Min

Pins etc.

The Chihuahua, often referred to as a ‘Head Breed', is

so much more than its head, yet one can see why

this reference is often misguidedly made.

Please take notice of the sketch2 on this page, the

head is rounded on the top as well as the sides. The so

2 Sketch by Lynne MacLellan/Minegold

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called ‘deer head’ Chihuahua is not what we are referring

to; although they may make fine pets. They are not what

breeders should be perpetuating and are not recognized as

correct according to the standard set by the parent club.

In other words, the Chihuahua conforming to the standard

is not the dog in the commercial!

Let’s look now at what other features make up the

Chihuahua headpiece. Its jaws should be noticeably lean.

Above the jaws we find very a small amount of flesh to the

side of the muzzle, below the eye. The lips are not

remarkable, but worn as a kind of window to the bite

within, discussed later in this chapter.

THE CHIHUAHUA MOLERA

Another unique characteristic of the Chihuahua head is

an opening called the molera. This is similar to an open

fontanel on a newborn human baby. In the Chihuahua the

molera often times remains partially open throughout the

life of the dog. Although many moleras close as the dog 3

matures, more extreme higher domed skulled dogs typically

live out full lives without consequence. Many of the

moleras close as the dog matures. The molera is not a fault

but rather, it is manifested in the Chihuahua -- unique to

our breed.

THE CHIHUAHUA MUZZLE

The muzzle should be moderately short as specified in

the breed standard. A well defined stop is deep andexact.

It forms a near 90 degree angle.3 This angle begins at the

depth of the inner eye down and straight out to the point of

the nose. The muzzle is slightly pointed (not so much to

resemble a fox) and roughly ¼ the size of the square of the

head according to Colleen T. Mitchell in her “Chihuahua

Text Book”. 4

While one will

see a variety of

3 Muzzle photo by G. Sette

4 Chihuahua Text Book -Information for Breeders, Judges & Owners, 1st Ed “The Head at a Glance” 20044

muzzles in the show ring but the correct muzzle is neither

too long nor too short. It is fact that either will spoil the

lovely balance of the head. In a too short muzzle, a

Japanese Chin look, it can exasperate poor respiratory

issues. Much of the muzzle proportion and eye set depend

wholly on the correctly angled stop. The muzzle is roughly

1/3 length of the head.5 When this proportion is seen, the

head is most pleasing. A muzzle that is to narrow destroys

the ‘saucy’ expression.

The use of negative photo images eliminates the eye’s misjudgment of

measurements, caused by variation in color or asymmetrical markings. Above

muzzle is ¼ size of head and 1/3 length of head, approximately.

THE CHIHUAHUA NOSE

The nose is black or self colored in blondes; pink noses

are also allowed in blonde types. In dilutes such as

5 The Chihuahua, Anna Katherine Nicholas, Interpretation of the Standard 19885

chocolate, blue or mole (fleshy peach) they should be self-

colored. Nostrils should be open and nose glistening.

THE CHIHUAHUA EYES

The windows of the soul, the eyes, are described as full

and round, not slanted. They never protrude, but they are

large and soulful. They are also luminous, reflective of

light, dark or ruby. Lighter eye color in blond or white

dogs is acceptable. Blue eyes, however, or two different

colors within one iris is a serious fault. A difference in

color between each iris is another serious fault.

These eyes are set apart and very well balanced.

Imagine an inverted triangle between them

connecting the center of the eyes across the bridge of the

muzzle and then each side meeting at the center top of the

nose.6 Eyes that are too small or too close cannot convey

the alert expression so commonly associated with this

breed.

6 Sketch by Lynne MacLellan/Minegold6

THE CHIHUAHUA EARS

The ears are large and upright when alert; they flare in

repose at 45 degree angle. Unfortunately we are seeing

many smaller ears than we should, on the otherhand, large

‘bat’ ears are also incorrect. The Chihuahua’s ears are not,

as suggested in the past, ’10 to 2’ on the face of a clock,

but more like ten minutes before or ten minutes after the

hour.7 When relaxed the ears are distanced, giving breadth

between them. The indentation where the ‘stop’ meets the

skull and the corner of the eyes, should be parallel. The

ears should not tip forward or backward (with the exception

of puppy ears) and should be large and erect. They should

not be so large as to resemble those of a Papillion.

You may see that some dogs have ‘butterfly’ or ‘tulip’

ears, but if they do not tip and stand erect they are proper.

In long coats, ears must have fringing, all else is the same,

7 Chihuahua Text Book -Information for Breeders, Judges & Owners, 1st Ed “The Head at a Glance”7

fringe being the only difference in ears between the two

coats. See ‘clock’ and ‘tulip’ photos opposite this page.

EAR CLOCK DIAGRAM

TULIP EARS

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A broken or cropped ear is always a disqualification.

You will find that ears may be in an up and back position

when the dog is moving. They will be held closer together

when the dog is alert. Ears go back sometimes in play,

more so in fear. Please refer to the photo collage opposite

this page. The ears do far more than listening. They are

there to communicate much of what goes on in this little

dog’s mind!

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*Notice self colored nose in this

blue dog!

THE CHIHUAHUA NECK

The neck should flatter the headpiece and is arched

somewhat, sloping elegantly onto the shoulders. A long

coat is expected to have enough ruff on its neck to

distinguish it as just that! Seasonal coat shedding will

result in a thinner or thicker ruff. 10

A short neck will ruin the proportion of the dog and

erase the sense of balance. The neck, medium in size,

should support the head, carrying it frontward. What is

important to note is that insufficient neck upsets the

physical balance of the dog and its movement will be

compensated.

According to the BCC Standard, Laurence Fitt-Savage’s

“A Closer Look at the Chihuahua”8, an approximation of the

neck length from the skull base to the shoulder should be

nearly one third the length of the back. Swan or ewe necks

are faulty and also damaging to proper movement, such as

the dog’s reach.

THE CHIHUAHUA BITE

8 A Closer Look at the Chihuahua- Laurence Fitt-Savage, the-british-chihuahua-club.org.uk/11

The Chihuahua’s bite is either a level or a scissor one.

Note that the early standard called only for teeth that were

level. According to the CCA standard, one or two teeth may

be missing and of no consequence. Many other countries

require the dog to have 6 X 6 incisors. In our breed, some

puppies are born with teeth that have no adult

replacements or lose permanent teeth early. This happens

often enough, unfortunately, because today’s jaws have

been downsized from those of their long ago ancestors.

Regardless, any distortion of the jaw (malocclusion) such

as underbites (prognathism) or overbites (retrognathism)

are serious faults!

Distortions include but are not limited to open bite, wry

bite, crossbite and are caused many times by misaligned

teeth due to crowding in smaller mouths as stated

previously. Throw back to ‘bad’ recessive genes, extra

teeth or even adult teeth which never materialize to replace

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puppy teeth, etc., are other causes9 Many times these

distortions are minor and an untrained eye will not notice

anything amiss without opening the dog’s mouth. Faults in

the bite are best bred out rather than enabling the

perpetuation of this serious fault!

Examples below of some puppy bites are here for review:

CORRECT SCISSOR BITE WRY BITE

SLIGHTLY OPEN - REVERSE SCISSOR UNDER BITE

If one can imagine a straight line going down the front

of the nose and through the lips, one can better visualize

how to look for bite faults from the outside.10 When a bite

9 Photo collage by G. Sette

10 See photos of naso labial line13

is undershot, our standard considers this a serious fault.

This goes for most breeds, but not for all breeds, just

picture a Bulldog for instance! Although a serious fault is

not a disqualification and a dog should not be judged on

faults, a jaw that is misaligned must be considered for what

it is. Although todays dogs are judged on attributes,

nevertheless, a mean and pouty or a simply unpleasing look

must be considered for what it is, and in our breed it is a

defect.

Take the time to study photos of some current

Chihuahua champions. You will find some variation in their

individual headpieces, but the standard is always present!

Just consider this little dog is far more than its head!

>>> Grace M. Sette together with Lynne MacLellan

(3) Muzzle - 90 degree angle

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(8) Naso Labial Line

All photos by G. Sette

Chihuahua Club of America Breed Standard, Effective 10-1-2008

Head - A well rounded "apple dome" skull, with or without molera.

Expression – Saucy.

Eyes - Full, round, but not protruding, balanced, set well apart-luminous dark or

luminous ruby. Light eyes in blond or white-colored dogs permissible. Blue eyes or a

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difference in the color of the iris in the two eyes, or two different colors within one iris

should be considered a serious fault.

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. Stop – Well defined.

When viewed in profile, it forms a near 90 degree angle where muzzle joins skull.

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 noses permissible.

Bite – Level or scissors. Overshot or undershot, or any distortion of the bite or jaw,

should be penalized as a serious fault. A missing tooth or two is permissible.

Disqualifications – Broken down or cropped ears.

Neck – Slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders.

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