I’m a buff about toy dog breeds. And one of the things I have learned from owning two beautiful Chihuahua dogs is that they are equal in many traits and unique in several others, like their coat type. In fact, my female Chihuahua is a short coat while my male Chihuahua is long haired. Since I got both from the same litter of two short coat parents, I often wonder where the long hair came from. Which explains why I went looking for details about long haired Chihuahuas.
So, what is a long haired Chihuahua mix? A Chihuahua with a long coat, as opposed to a short coat, is described as a long haired Chihuahua. These furry dogs are different from their short and smooth coat counterparts because they have inherited a recessive gene variant (allele) for a long coat from their parents.
Because of their long coat, long haired Chihuahuas may require a little more grooming attention. In most of the other traits, however, long and short coat Chihuahuas have the same standard traits of the breed. They will manifest the same physical and temperament characteristics, save for a few minor differences, which we will be telling you about in this article.
What Makes A Long Haired Chihuahua?
If you’ve seen both the long and short coat Chihuahuas, you’ve probably wondered where the long coat Chihuahuas came from and why they grow a long coat. Here’s the answer to your two questions.
Long Haired Chihuahuas Have A Mexican Origin
It is widely accepted that Chihuahuas can be traced back to Mexico’s largest state that bears the same name. Remains of the earliest Chihuahuas from the mid-19th century support this theory.
Towards the end of the century, Mexican merchants sold Chihuahuas to border tourists for pets, spreading them to the United States and other countries.
But more remote origins of Chihuahuas are linked to Techichi, a farm dog among the Native North American tribes and pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations. This dog was a little heavier than today’s Chihuahua and only had long-coat dogs, unlike today’s short and long coat Chihuahuas.
Chihuahuas have previously been known as Texas dog, Arizona dog, and Mexico dog. Today, a long haired Chihuahuas will also be called long coat Chihuahua or fondly long haired Chi.
Long Haired Chihuahuas Are Recessive
The difference in physical or character traits is determined by gene variants known as alleles. Alleles can be either dominant or recessive.
In the science of dog breeding, a trait that is less common among two varying ones is considered the result of a recessive gene. Among Chihuahuas, the allele for the short coat is more common (dominant), while the long coat is less common (recessive).
To produce a long coat Chihuahua, both parents must carry the recessive allele for the long coat.
Are Long Haired Chihuahuas Good Pets? Temperaments Of A Long Haired Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are extremely good pets. They have many positive temperament traits and a few character minuses.
The Positive Temperament Traits
Like their smooth-coat counterparts, long haired Chihuahuas are a vivacious type and are often described as loving, bubbly, playful, graceful, and sassy, among many other qualities that Chihuahuas fancy to describe their pleasant company.
Chihuahuas also love to cuddle. They will sit on your lap tacked in your furry winter coat to keep warm, especially in winter.
Chis are easy to teach commands and tricks, which explains why they are regularly involved in competitions and often win prestigious awards. For example, this year (2020) a Chihuahua finally won the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The Character Minuses
Chihuahuas are often ‘blamed’ for their tendency to be emotionally attached to a single person. Other traits that give them a minus vote include their tendency to be unfriendly with other dog breeds and pets, as well as children. Nonetheless, early socialization can bring positive outcomes.
Chihuahuas are also excessive barkers, which makes them good watchdogs. Their barking can be controlled by paying attention to the things that ignite their barking (the doorbell or people going close to their cage). Teaching your puppy to take it easy when these things happen will eventually bear fruit.
If allowed to, Chihuahuas can ‘wear the pants’ in the home and have their way with their owner. Owners with a ‘poor little thing’ attitude will encourage the ‘small dog syndrome’ in their furry friend, which should instead be corrected with proper training.
How Long Does A Long Haired Chihuahua Live? Health Problems Of A Long Haired Chihuahua
Chihuahua’s 6-lb weight matters in their life expectancy. Generally, tiny-bodied dogs live longer than large-sized ones. Scientists suggest that every 4.4 lbs of body mass shorten a dog’s life expectancy by around a month.
This explains the Chihuahua’s lifespan of between 15 to 20 years and the reason why it is often ranked first among the longest-living dog breeds. The longest-living Chihuahua, Megabyte, is listed 15th on the list of longest-living dogs in history.
But the Chihuahua may not go its full lifespan if care is not taken to keep it in perfect health. The breed is susceptible to some health conditions, especially the two explained below.
Luxating Patella
Luxating Patella is a condition that causes the kneecaps of a dog to pop in and out when they walk or make any movement. This can be handicapping and lead to osteoarthritis.
Using NeoAlly Dog Leg Brace can offer preventative support to your pet’s kneecaps and help ease your pet’s discomfort after surgical intervention is done to remedy serious cases.
Hypoglycemia
Because of their tiny body, Chihuahuas do not have as much storage for fats. This causes them to rely on the sugar supply from their daily diet for energy. Note that this does not mean they are free from obesity problems.
If the level of blood glucose is not consistent, Chihuahua can have a deficit between the sugar generated and that which is utilized. This condition is known as hypoglycemia and can lead to symptoms like panting and shaking.
It should be prevented by a healthy, consistent diet or vet-recommended supplements.
Other health conditions that the Chihuahua is prone to include eye and dental problems, hydrocephalus, and heart problems.
Do Long Haired Chihuahuas Need Haircuts? Grooming Tips For Long Haired Chihuahua
Given its tiny body, grooming a Chihuahua is easy but should, nonetheless, not be overlooked. Grooming should include the following.
Hair Brushing
A long coat Chihuahua will shed minimally and, therefore, requires a little more attention to hair grooming than their short-coat counterparts.
Brushing your Chi’s hair once every week is enough. But daily brushing will keep your puppy neat and get rid of any ready-to-shed hair, which preempts matting.
A Pet Neat Grooming Brush will make the grooming session more pleasant for both you and your pup. Also, brushing should focus on the areas that tend to be extra-furry, like the ears and the legs.
Hair Trimming
It is important to trim your long coat Chihuahua’s hair when needed (the hair has grown excessively in particular areas). The areas around the eyes, ears, urinary tract, and anus should be given particular attention.
The Chihuahua’s hair takes longer to grow and stops growing when it has reached its full length. It is recommended not to cut your pet’s hair fully.
Teeth Brushing
Since Chihuahuas can be prone to dental issues like periodontitis, keeping a regular rhythm of teeth brushing is important. Be sure to use a toy-size canine toothbrush and a non-rinse canine toothpaste.
Bathing
An occasional bath is enough for your furry friend (every three months or once a month if they are really dirty). Pay attention to any lumps or grazes on the skin as well as fleas or tick bites. All these are better noticed when the fur is wet.
How Much Is A Purebred Long Haired Chihuahua?
Most people will give you a price between $500 and $1,500 for a purebred Chihuahua. But a run through a few long haired Chihuahua breeders reveals that prices can vary depending on several factors. Let’s take five examples.
Las Vegas Tiny Chihuahua
This breeder in Las Vegas has champion bloodline long coat Chihuahuas whose price varies depending on color, coat, size, and gender. Here are their listed prices:
- Males – $2,000 to $3,200
- Females – $2,000 to $4,500
- Partial AKC registration – $375
- Full AKC registration – $2,000 and above
Daisy (on PuppyFind.com)
The long haired Chihuahua is indicated as a non-champion bloodline and is listed for $1,750.
Bayberry Chihuahuas
This breeder in Richmond, Virginia, has purebred champion bloodlines from both America and Russia. Dogs listed on their ‘available’ page go for a price between $1,100 and $1,800. Note that prices can change when puppies are bought.
Salem’s finest AKC Chihuahuas
This breeder in Salem, Oregon, has purebred long coat Chihuahuas. On the breeder’s ‘puppies available’ page, you will find puppies with prices ranging from $2,350 to $3,350. Note that the prices change with puppy availability.
DEMANDABULLZ Kennels (on preloved.co.uk)
This breeder in Mirfield, West Yorkshire in the UK has a long haired Chihuahua listed for £2,200 ($2,744).
From these examples, it is obvious that long haired Chihuahua prices can vary depending on whether they are purebred, champion bloodlines, male or female, and location, among other factors. Champion bloodlines tend to cost more.
Related Questions
How Can I Tell If My Chihuahua Is Full Blooded? A full blooded Chihuahua is a purebred dog with both parents that are pure Chihuahuas. You can tell a purebred Chihuahua from a documented pedigree in a studbook of a breed club like the AKC. People will simply say a Chihuahua with ‘papers.’ A DNA test can also be done.
How Do I Know If My Chihuahua Is Happy? A happy Chihuahua will be excited to see you and enjoys leaning onto your body or sitting on your lap. It will readily play, eat normally, and will not be destructive. A partially open mouth that seems to be smiling, a raised head, relaxed ears, and a wagging tail are other signs of a happy Chihuahua.
When Does Long Haired Chihuahua Hair Grow To Its Full Length? When a litter is born, it is hard to tell which of them will be long haired because their coats look alike. The long coat may appear soon in some puppies, but it may not appear immediately in others, sometimes taking up to 14-24 months before the long coat grows to its full length.
