Long Haired Chihuahua: Complete Guide

You’re probably thinking about getting a Long Haired Chihuahua or would like to learn more about them. You’ve come to the right place! We’ll share everything you need to know about this small and gorgeous dog breed. Whether you desire a Long Haired Chihuahua that’s either a deer head or an Apple Head, we believe Chihuahuas are a wonderful dog breed. 

Let’s find out why Long Haired Chihuahuas are great dogs to have.   

Long Haired Chihuahua: a brief overview

Let’s discuss what a Long Haired Chihuahua is:

What is a Long Haired Chihuahua?

Long Haired Chihuahuas have long hair around their ears, neck, body, hind legs, and tail. Due to their long hair, they will need to be groom more frequently when compared to the short hair Chihuahua. Let’s discuss the Long Haired Chihuahua grooming needs.

Long Haired Chihuahua shed less than short-haired Chihuahua

Yes, you read that right! Although Long Haired Chihuahuas may have longer coats, they actually shed less than the short hair Chihuahua. However, since long hair has a tendency to tangle easily and get matted, we highly recommend that Long Haired Chihuahua owners comb through their hair at least three times a week with a gentle small bristled comb. 

This will keep the hair free from dust and soil and help to keep the hair free from tangles or mats. Combing through their long hair also allows the oil in their hair to spread out evenly so your Long Haired Chihuahua will have shiny, smooth, and tangle-free hair! 

Not only should dog owners brush their Long Haired Chihuahua’s coat regularly, but they should bathe them as well. 

Luckily, Long Haired Chihuahuas are small dogs so grooming is easier to keep up with. It also doesn’t take long to brush through their hair and grooming is still relatively easy compared to grooming a large dog breed. 

If you’re unsure how to cut maintain your Long Haired Chihuahua, no worries. You can find a Long Haired Chihuahua groomer who knows how to give your Long Haired Chihuahua a puppy cut. 

Whether you have long haired Chihuahuas or short (smooth) hair Chihuahuas, they are both considered a Chihuahua dog breed under the American Kennel Club (AKC) standards. They may share the same type of head, same height and weight, and coat color. The only difference is that their coat is longer. 

Long Haired Chihuahua are born with short coats and the long hair doesn’t grow until months later

If you specifically want a Long Haired Chihuahua, it’s important to know that in the first few months, your Long Haired Chihuahua will have a short coat. It’s not until months later that the long coat starts growing out. In some cases, it may take as long as 18 months to two years for the long hair to come. 

Long Haired Chihuahua temperament

Never underestimate your Long Haired Chihuahua! While your Long Haired Chihuahua may be small in size, they are very expressive with big personalities. Whether you have Long Haired Chihuahuas or short haired Chihuahuas, they are both considered to be the most loyal canine companion you’ll ever find. 

In fact, a Long Haired Chihuahua will form a very strong bond with his or her owner and become very protective of them. They may even lash out at other family members in the house by biting them or barking at them if they feel threatened or feel the need to defend themselves and their owners. This really shows how loyal they are to their owners!

Due to this, many people think that Long Haired Chihuahuas or Chihuahuas, in general, are quite aggressive. This misconception may be the reason why people aren’t adopting Long Haired Chihuahuas. On the contrary, Long Haired Chihuahuas actually have a calm nice personalities. 

I can truly say this because my mom had a Chihuahua. At first, her Chihuahua Luna would growl and bark at me. She wasn’t afraid to show me her sharp teeth! Luna would also charge at me and nip at my heel. 

However, I fed her and showed her unconditional love and affection. After a few months, Luna warmed up to me and finally allowed me to pet her. Petting her was rewarding. Now, she doesn’t bark or growl at me anymore. 

As you can see, Long Haired Chihuahuas and Chihuahuas, in general, are very smart. Most of the aggressive behavior is due to their natural instinct of self-defense and defending their owner and not so much their personalities. Some of their aggressive behavior is learned because they would bark at strangers and their owners wouldn’t correct their behavior. 

If your Long Haired Chihuahua is showing aggression, there are several steps you can take before it’s too late and it starts when your Long Haired Chihuahua are puppies. 

Long Haired Chihuahua puppies

Puppyhood is a critical time for Long Haired Chihuahuas. When your Long Haired Chihuahuas are puppies, both training and socializing are important. Let’s discuss both of them and how they help our Long Haired Chihuahuas in the long run.

It’s best to train your Long Haired Chihuahua at a young age

With training, owners can minimize their Long Haired Chihuahua’s aggression. The earlier you train your Long Haired Chihuahuas the better. The reason is that Chihuahuas can get annoyed very easily and they can be a bit impatient. Be sure to keep the training sessions short and brief and always reward them with treats.

Socializing your Long Haired Chihuahua puppies is extremely helpful

The best time for dog owners to start socializing their Long Haired Chihuahuas is when they are puppies. This is when it is the most effective and easiest.

When Long Haired Chihuahuas are puppies, everything is new to them so it’s best when Chihuahua owners bring their Long Hair Chihuahua pups to the dog park to meet different people and dogs. This will help the Chihuahua puppy socialize with others and learned that seeing new and unfamiliar faces is alright.

Doing this frequently allows your Chihuahua to realize that this is normal and there is no need to be aggressive. Socializing your Long Haired Chihuahua at a young age avoids any aggression in adult Chihuahuas. 

It gets harder for Long Haired Chihuahuas to get along with other dogs and people as they grow older, but it is definitely still possible. Note that not all adult Chihuahua dogs are aggressive if they’ve been trained and socialized properly early in their lives. 

Alternatively, if you’re getting your Long Haired Chihuahua puppy from a dog breeder, you can ask the breeder if you can meet your Chihuahua’s parents. It’s helpful to see whether your Chihuahua’s parents are sociable and friendly. This is important because genetics does play a role in your Chihuahua’s personality. 

Long Haired Teacup Chihuahua

Yes, Teacup Chihuahua can have long hair too. They are called Long Haired Teacup Chihuahua. Some Chihuahua owners prefer very small Chihuahua dogs, the size of a teacup or a toy. This is why Long Haired Teacup Chihuahua is sometimes called Long Haired Toy Chihuahua. The term is used interchangeably.

Long Haired Chihuahua can have many health problems

Long Haired Chihuahuas are more prone to health problems like:

Hypoglycemia in Long Haired Chihuahua

It’s important to feed your Long Haired Chihuahua high-quality food to maintain a healthy level of blood sugar. Sometimes, Long Haired Chihuahuas may have hypoglycemia in which their bodies are not able to retain enough blood sugar.

Hydrocephalus in Long Haired Chihuahua

When there’s fluid buildup in the Chihuahua’s brain, it can enlarge the head and cause damage to the brain. 

Tracheal collapse in Long Haired Chihuahua

Unfortunately, Chihuahua is prone to tracheal collapse. This is when the Long Haired Chihuahua’s windpipe collapses and makes it harder for him or her to breathe. Symptoms of tracheal collapse include chronic cough or a honking sound when he or she tries to exhale or inhale. 

If you notice these symptoms, be sure to contact your vet right away. Early treatment is key. Luckily, tracheal collapse can be treated with medications and in severe cases, this health condition may require surgery if your Long Haired Chihuahua can’t breathe properly. 

Patellar luxation in Long Haired Chihuahua

Small dogs like Chihuahuas are at a higher risk of getting canine patellar luxation. This can be a hereditary condition in which the kneecap dislocates randomly or it can be environmental in which your Long Haired Chihuahua jump from a high surface and dislocate his or her kneecaps. 

If you notice that your Long Haired Chihuahua is walking funny, limping on his hind legs, or crying more than usual, be sure to bring him to the veterinary clinic right away.

Treatment for Long Haired Chihuahua with canine patellar luxation may include physiotherapy, dog brace, and in severe cases, this health condition may require surgery.

Dental diseases in Long Haired Chihuahua

Never underestimate your Long Haired Chihuahua’s tiny teeth. While their teeth may be small, their bite force may be stronger than you think! Long Haired Chihuahuas may look cute and small, but they are not afraid to show their sharp teeth when they have to as a way to defend themselves and their owners.

As you can see, Long Haired Chihuahua’s teeth are important and Chihuahua owners should help their tiny Long Haired Chihuahua maintain healthy and strong teeth. Long Haired Chihuahua do have very sensitive teeth and are susceptible to dental infections. 

Avoid feeding your tiny Long Haired Chihuahuas any sugary treats as the bacteria in their mouth can use the sugar to produce acid bacteria which can eat away at the enamel and cause tooth decay. 

Not only that, but the bacteria can also spread to other areas of the Long Haired Chihuahua’s body including the heart, kidneys, liver, and other internal organs. 

Cardiac issues in Long Haired Chihuahua

Heart problems are one of the most common health conditions a Chihuahua might have. If you have a long-haired Chihuahua, here are two of the most common cardiac issues you should watch out for:

Mitral Valve Disease

This disease is common to small-breed dogs like Chihuahuas. Mitral Valve Disease is a condition wherein the valves of the heart of the dog don’t properly close whenever it pumps.

Blood leaks back around these valves which strains the heart and causes a murmur. This condition is often caused by old age because the heart weakens over time.

The good thing is that veterinarians can catch this early on and prescribe the appropriate treatment for your furry friends.

Patent Ductus Arteriosis

This condition happens when a small vessel that carries blood between the two parts of the heart does not properly close. The blood will leak into the lungs and will cause a fluid buildup that’s prone to strain the heart.

One of its symptoms includes coughing, shortness of breath, and weakening of the hind legs. Surgery is often the best solution to this disease as the vessel needs to be patched up.

Osteoarthritis in Long-haired Chihuahua

Aside from the heart, the bone structure of your Chihuahua is also one you should look out for, especially the joints. There are different bone problems a Chihuahua might have, and one of them is Osteoarthritis. 

Osteoarthritis, also referred to as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), is caused when the canine’s body doesn’t produce enough body compounds to serve as a cushion between bones.

This means when your dog moves, their bone grinds against another bone which causes stiffness, inflammation, and pain.

Osteoarthritis is commonly experienced by senior or older dogs, however, there are cases of younger Chihuahuas experiencing this condition as well.

Some of the main causes of Osteoarthritis are obesity, too much strain from exercise, lack of nutrition, and genetics. 

You can help prevent your Chihuahua from developing this condition by keeping their weight normal, providing them with a balanced and nutritious meal, exercising for at least 10-20 minutes a day, and giving them vitamins or supplements that are great for the joints.

If you have Teacup or Toy Chihuahuas, then they may be more prone to these health issues in addition to:

• Liver shunts.
• Increase risk for heart diseases such as patent ductus arteriosus and mitral valve disease. 

While Chihuahuas live relatively long lives compared to larger or giant dog breeds, these health issues can cut their lives short.  

If you’re concerned or unsure, we highly recommend that you consult with your veterinarian and bring your Long Haired Chihuahua to the vet for a routine checkup. Since the diseases stated above are life-threatening, the sooner you’re aware of your Long Haired Chihuahua’s health issues, the sooner you can treat them. 

Long Haired Chihuahua can be pricey! 

Long Haired Chihuahua can be quite expensive. A Long Haired Chihuahua can be as little as $500 to as much as $2,500. 

There are many reasons why Long Haired Chihuahua are quite pricey. 

Female Chihuahuas usually have very small litters and small quantities of Long Haired Chihuahua with high demand means that Long Haired Chihuahua breeders can charge a high price. 

If you want specific Chihuahua colors such as a tri-colored Long Haired Chihuahua with merle markings, then you can expect the price of the Long Haired Chihuahua to be very high. 

Sometimes the Long Haired Chihuahua breeders can charge a higher amount because they had the Chihuahua parents undergo health tests before partnering and they want to pass a little bit of that expense onto the buyers. 

This shows that the breeder is being responsible and investing money into the health testing to make sure both Chihuahua parents are healthy in order to create healthy puppies. In this case, it’s worth paying the higher cost because you know your Long Haired Chihuahua puppy is healthy and in good condition. 

It’s important to find a responsible and well-respected breeder. Do not go with breeders that are in for just the money. Beware of breeders that are charging a lot based on the Long Haired Chihuahua’s size or color. If a breeder is purposely and intentionally producing certain or rare Chihuahua colors such as Blue Chihuahua or a certain size without regular health testing of the parents, there may be Chihuahua puppies with health problems. 

Know that health issues in Long Haired Chihuahua can also be pricey so make sure to go with a breeder that is breeding responsibly and care for the health of the Chihuahuas.

Find out if Long Haired Chihuahua is best for you and your family before getting one

Before you get a Long Haired Chihuahua, find out if it is best for you and your family. The first step is to do your research. You’re already on the right track by reading this article and becoming aware of the grooming needs, exercise requirements, training, dietary needs, food amount, as well as health issues.

Long Haired Chihuahua – Final thoughts

Before getting a Long Haired Chihuahua, it’s paramount that you are aware of their daily needs and requirements, especially when it comes to their diet, food, grooming, training, socializing, and exercise needs.

Whether you’re deciding on a Long Haired Chihuahua or a short-haired Chihuahua, we believe that any dog (big or small) is a great addition to your family. Be sure you are aware of their inherent health issues and make time for regular vet checkups, socialization, and exercise.

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)

https://www.britannica.com/animal/Chihuahua-dog