|
Home 
Dog
Breeds
Chihuahuas
Chihuahua Coats: Smooth And Long Haired
Chihuahua Coats: Smooth And Long Haired
Learn about the smooth and long haired varieties of chihuahuas.
by Michael J. Warren
June 19, 2004
We all have a basic idea of what your average Chihuahua looks
like, but did you know that it is classified by the type of
coat it has? The two main types of Chihuahua coats are the
smooth coat and long coat/long haired Chihuahua.
In the smooth coat variety, the texture is smooth, glossy,
and coarser than the hair of a long coat. Some Chihuahuas
have heavier coats than others, and will have an "undercoat."
The perfect coat in this category is one that is even over
the body (sparser on the ears and head), ruff at the neck,
with furry hair on the tail. A Chihuahua with a short coat
does shed, albeit minimally.
On the other hand, a long haired Chihuahua's coat texture
is soft and can be flat or have soft curls. The ears have
a cute fringe and the tail has full hair. The Chihuahua's
feet and legs have slight feathering, the hind legs have "pants,"
and the neck should have a larger ruff.
A thin coat Chihuahua would normally be a disqualification
for show. Many breeders state that the long coat Chihuahua
has a gentler temperament than that of a short coat Chihuahua
(although some people disagree). Long coats shed, but like
the short coat, it is minimal.
Generally, a long haired Chihuahua will need to be cleaned
more often than the short coat. The front side of the coat
on the chest, called the bib, can get dirty and matted.
You also want to keep the rear end of a long coat Chihuahua
clean since fecal matter and other particles can become stuck
to the hair. For this problem, you can either clip the hair
shorter in that area or bath the entire Chihuahua (or just
that area) more often.
No matter the coat type of this loveable dog, correct grooming
techniques will make its coat shine just like new. Oh, and
one last thing -- don't forget to give your Chihuahua's coat
a bath every so often!
- Michael J. Warren
Michael J. Warren is the author of an invaluable resource
for both new and current Chihuahua owners, "The
Ultimate Chihuahua Care Handbook."
|
