A well bred Chihuahua should be spirited, intelligent and alert, but not agressive.A sensitive dog, The Chihuahua can be long or short coat, and color is permitted.The skull s large and rounded, often refered to as apple head variety, breed standard for size is 2-6 lbs however 3-5 1/2 lbs. is prefered.
6-9 inches tall. ANY color is permitted.

A well socialized chihuahua will get along with anyone, other pets,big or small and children.
Chihuahuas are not big barkers like terriers, it is all in the training, any dog will bark if not trained properly, it's their job!
Chihuahuas have a low activity level, and can usually get enough exercise just running around in the house. Chi's make an exellent family dog, and are comfotable, and adjust well to apartment life or suburban home. They love to be adored, carried, dressed, and be any where that their human is. They are usually very easily trained. Chihuahuas are very fast learners.

Possible health concerns for a chihuahua are, Collapsed trachea, (chis should never wear a collar because of sensitive trachea, only harnesses), heart problems, hypoglycemia, ( a chi can get low blood sugar in hot weather, never leave them in a car in summer or from to much exursion of energy, they are not a lab and don't like 5 km. runs)
and Luxating patellas.

I still have people ask me for a "Tea-cup" chihuahua, there is no such thing as a "Tea-cup " or "Miniture" chihuahua! If a breeder has used these words to you ~ RUN!!!~ The chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world! it's standard size ranges, there may be some smaller or some bigger, but they are all chihuahuas! Don't be fooled by someone trying to make an extra buck by claiming these things. They obviously don't know the breed that they are breeding very well. Our chis usually range between 3- 5 1/2 lbs. However from my experience, and the experiences of some of my very close chi breeder friends, the larger chi's usually have less health issues, even later in life, a longer life span, and a hardier dog. It also matters how a chihuahua carries thier weight, I have seen 5 lb.coby bodied chis that are tiny looking, and 5 lb. longer body chis that look like they weigh 6lbs! Or thier size can be misjudged by their height. I only breed the "Apple head" type chihuahuas, with cobby bodies and short legs. There is another type , refered to as the "Deer type" wich have very long legs, and not a well rounded skull, it is more sloping from the top of the forhead to the nose.These are not the breed standard for a chihuahua.

 

The following story is not to upset, but rather to leave you with a thought and realization that this does happen and there are bad puppy people out there, please don't contribute to bad breeders.

 

I WAS BORN TODAY.ONE OF 4. MY DADDY WAS VERY FAMOUS.HE WAS A CHAMPION. I HAVE LOTS OF HALF BROTHERS AND SISTERS. MY MOTHER IS VERY FAMOUS TOO. SINCE SHE GOT FAMOUS, SHE HAS ONLY HAD PUPPIES. NO MORE LOVING HANDS, NO MORE FUN TRIPS....JUST PUPPIES. SHE IS ALWAYS SAD WHEN THEY LEAVE HER.

I LEFT HOME TODAY. I DIDN'T WANT TO GO, SO I HID BEHIND MY MAMA AND MY THREE LITTER MATES THAT WERE LEFT. I DIDN'T LIKE YOU. BUT ONE DAY THEY SAID I WOULD BE FAMOUS. I WONDER: IS FAMOUS THE SAME AS FUN AND GOOD TIMES? SO YOU PICKED ME UP AND CARRIED ME AWAY. EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE CONCERNED ABOUT ME HI HIDING FROM YOU. I DON'T THINK YOU LIKED ME.

MY NEW HOME IS FAR AWAY. I AM SCARED AND AFRAID. MY HEART SAYS BE BRAVE. MY ANCESTORS WERE.DID THEY GO TO GOOD HOMES LIKE MINE? I'M HUNGRY BECAUSE I CAN'T EAT TOO MUCH BECAUSE IT WILL BE BAD FOR MY BONES. I CAN'T BITE OR SNAP WHEN THE CHILDREN ARE MEAN TO ME. I JUST RUN AND PLAY AND PRETEND I AM IN A BIG GREEN FIELD WITH BUTTERFLIES AND ROBINS AND FROGS.I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY KICK ME. IAM QUIET, BUT THE MAN HITS AND SAYS LOUD THINGS. THE LADY DOESN'T FEED ME GOOD THINGS LIKE I HAD WITH MY MOTHER. SHE JUST THROWS DRY FOOD ON THE GROUND, THEN GOES AWAY BEFORE I CAN GET TOO CLOSE FOR TOUCHING AND PETTING. SOMETIMES MY FOOD SMELLS BAD BUT I EAT IT ANYWAY.

TODAY I HAD 4 PUPPIES. THEY ARE SO WONDERFUL AND WARM. AM I FAMOUS NOW? I WISH I COULD PLAY WITH THEM, BUT THEY ARE SO TINY. I AM SO YOUNG AND PLAYFUL THAT IT IS HARD TO LAY HERE IN THIS HOLE UNDER THE HOUSE NURSING MY PUPPIES...THEY ARE CRYING NOW. I AM SO HUNGRY. I SCRATCH AND WORRY MY FUR. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD THROW ME SOME FOOD. I AM ALSO VERY THIRSTY. I NOW HAVE TWO. TWO GOT COLD DURING THE NIGHT AND I COULDN'T MAKE THEM WARM AGAIN. THEY ARE GONE. WE ARE ALL VERY WEAK. MAYBE IF I TAKE THEM OUT ON THE PORCH WE CAN GET SOME FOOD.

TODAY THEY TOOK US AWAY. IT WAS TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO FEED US. SOMEONE GRABBED MY PUPPIES, THEY WERE CRYING AND WHIMPERING. WE WERE PUT IN A TRUCK WITH BOXES IN IT.ARE MY BABIES FAMOUS NOW? I HOPE SO. BECAUSE I MISS THEM.THEY ARE GONE.

THE PLACE SMELLED OF URINE, FEAR AND SICKNESS. WHY WAS I HERE? I WAS BEAUTIFUL, LIKE MY ANCESTORS. NOW I AM HUNGRY, DIRTY, IN PAIN AND UNWANTED. MAYBE THE WORST IS UNWANTED. NO ONE CAME THOUGH I TRIED TO BE GOOD.

TODAY SOMEONE CAME. THEY PUT A ROPE ON MY NECK AND LED ME TO A ROOM THAT WAS VERY CLEAN AND HAD A SHINY TABLE. THEY PUT ME ON THE TABLE.

SOMEONE HELD ME AND HUGGED ME IT FELT SO GOOD!!!!!

THEN I FELT TIRED AND LAID OVER THE LAST ONE WHO CARED. I AM FAMOUS NOW.

Today someone cared..................
~author unknown