Long Haired Chihuahua [2022] Health, History, Temperament

I have a long haired chihuahua. He is a happy and adorable dog. The one I have has won multiple champion titles. But he doesn’t care. He’s still happy and fun.

Millions of people around the world have the desire to own a pet or two. The animals that are most commonly chosen by people to have as pets are cats and dogs. Both are very lovable creatures that can bring so much joy to their owner’s lives, though the animals couldn’t be more different.

While often seen as aloof and uncaring, Cats are loving animals that can be pretty self-sufficient. Dogs need a lot more hands-on approach to their care and attention. While cats typically only seek attention when they desire it, most dogs will look for any opportunity for love and won’t shy away from their owner’s attention.

But what should you do if you want a small, furry animal the size of a cat but with the personality of a dog? Well, there are plenty of dog breeds to choose from if you’re wanting something similar to the size of a cat or even smaller. But one very popular dog breed that many people choose to own is the long-haired chihuahua.

We have two Chihuahuas the long-haired Chihuahua called Donatello or Don and a short-haired Chihuahua named Aleeke. Here’s Don with his lion cut exploring the forest floor.

Long-haired chihuahuas are very popular among people wanting to own small dogs, and they’re very adorable too! These pretty pups can come packed with a larger-than-life personality and many different coat colors to help you decide which long-haired chihuahua is going to be the best match for you! But before you dive headfirst into the idea of owning one of these beautiful dogs, you should learn a bit of what makes the long-haired chihuahua so unique and even some of the challenges that come with owning one.

History of the Long-Haired Chihuahua

Contrary to what you may believe about long-haired chihuahuas, they are the same breed as short-haired chihuahuas. The two dogs come from the same place, have the same common health problems, and can even have the same temperaments. The only difference between a long-haired chihuahua and a short-haired chihuahua is the length of their fur.

According to the American Kennel Club, the chihuahua breed originated in Mexico and has been around for quite some time. These fun pups were even around before Columbus sailed the ocean! The breed gets its name from one of the largest states in Mexico- Chihuahua, Mexico! But how did chihuahua’s, long-haired or short, emerge in the United States and become so popular?

A post on the ChihuahuaWardrobe website states that in the late 1800s, people in Mexico started selling long-haired chihuahuas and short-haired chihuahuas to people visiting the country from the United States. These tourists would bring their new four-legged friends home, starting the craze that led to these dogs becoming such a sought-after breed.

On top of all of that, some chihuahuas are being used in pop culture, adding to the desire that people already had about wanting these dogs. One of the most famous chihuahuas that people in the United States would either recognize or remember would have to be the Taco Bell dog. Yes, Taco Bell had a chihuahua as their mascot for some time.

Some chihuahuas have been in movies such as Beverly Hills Chihuahuas, a movie dedicated to telling the lives of the chihuahuas that are in it, and Legally Blonde. Prominent media personality Paris Hilton even owned a chihuahua that she dressed and carried around with her, sparking the fad of people bringing their small dogs with them everywhere and dressing them in outfits that mimicked the peaks of fashion! While none of these famous chihuahuas were long-haired, the long-haired chihuahuas were still highly sought after.

The Temperament of the Long-Haired Chihuahua

When it comes to what types of personalities short-haired and long-haired chihuahua puppies are born with, there are a lot! Just like any other dog, chihuahuas can be energetic, excitable, loving, or laidback dogs. Just know that no matter what color or gender chihuahua you choose to bring into your home, it is going to have a personality that is larger than life!

Long-haired chihuahuas and short-haired chihuahuas alike can have many different temperaments and personalities. Still, many people look at chihuahuas and think of them as aggressive and angry dog breed. As this article from Chipets states, aggressiveness in long-haired chihuahuas is a learned behavior, not a trait that chihuahua puppies are born with. Therefore, this is a potential habit that people can train their dog from having.

Something really important for owners of long-haired chihuahuas to understand is that socialization is key for chihuahua puppies. When you socialize your long-haired chihuahua, you are decreasing the chance of your puppy becoming aggressive and allowing your puppy’s true personality and temperament to shine through.

If you consider buying a long-haired chihuahua, you should do your best to interact with any potential dog before deciding exactly which pup you want.

Whether you are looking to adopt an adult or purchase a long-haired chihuahua puppy, you need to be positive that your new pet’s temperament will be a match for your personality. The best way to do this, if adopting, is to schedule at least one visit with the chihuahua you are considering adding to your family along with reaching out to the people adopting it out so you can discuss what the dog is like. Suppose you are looking into purchasing a long-haired chihuahua puppy. In that case, one of the best things you can do is interact with the puppies’ parents, as temperament can be passed down genetically. You can also speak with the owners of the puppies to see if they will allow you to make a visit or two so that you can decide which puppy fits your family best.

Long-haired chihuahuas make some of the best dogs for seniors.

What is chihuahua bite force?

Chihuahua bit force is 100 PSI. All other numbers that are somewhere around four thousand PSI are misquoted and possibly converted from newtons to PSI one to one.

I have experienced chihuahua bite force firsthand.

I have two chihuahuas one long haired and the other regular short haired version. Once, when one of them had peed in the room he evaded my attempts to get him to the other room and hid.

I wanted to get him out from under the bed. I put on my very thick snowboarding gloves and tried to grab the dog. He decided to bite down on my finger. It hurt. I was truly amazed how strong the bite was. However, I still have all my fingers and the glove is fine.

If chihuahua bite force psi would be in the thousands range, I would be typing this with nine fingers. The bite force of a chihuahua is really estimated to be somewhere around 100 PSI. Chihuahuas tend to bite more often than average.

After the incident, it took a day or two to become best friends again.

Common Health Problems of the Long-Haired Chihuahua

Whether you are thinking about adding a long-haired chihuahua into your home or any other animal, something that is very important to consider is health problems common for your new pet.

How long do chihuahuas live?

People are usually surprised about how long do chihuahuas live. You see, long-haired chihuahuas can live up to 20 years old. Some even more. And unfortunately, the older an animal gets, the more health concerns that animal may face. Usually, the long-haired chihuahua lifespan ranges from 15 to 20 years.

Long Haired Chihuahua Health

Like most dogs, chihuahuas could face health concerns, including ear infections, viruses, broken bones, fleas, ticks, and many more. You can avoid or treat most of the health issues by following veterinary advice and taking preventative action.

There are, however, some very common health concerns, specifically for chihuahuas. If you have a long-haired chihuahua or are thinking of owning one in the future, you should be prepared that these little guys can come down with some serious and life-threatening health concerns. Some of these can include obesity, dental issues, heart problems, and even dislocating kneecaps.

While some of these may seem pretty easy to fix, that isn’t the case, and they all can play a large role in making the life of a long-haired chihuahua miserable. It is very easy to overfeed a small dog and just as easy to forget to clean your chihuahua’s teeth. It is even more difficult to get your dog’s health back on the right track if either of these things happens.

Regardless if you decide to bring a short-haired chihuahua or a long-haired chihuahua into your home, you must be aware and prepared for any of these health concerns to affect your pet in the future. The best way to be ready to face any of these conditions head-on is to find a local vet experienced with chihuahuas. It also doesn’t hurt to research emergency vets in case something pops up unexpectedly.

Feeding Long Haired Chihuahua

When you get a long-haired chihuahua as your new pet, there will be a lot of questions about feeding them. How often do you feed your new puppy? What do you feed them? What should you not feed them?

Don’t worry!

We help you figure out exactly what the best feeding practices are for your long-haired chihuahua.

What do I feed my long-hair chihuahua?

If you have a puppy, regardless of breed, it will need a different ratio of protein, carbs, and other nutrients than a fully grown dog of the same breed will need. This being said, if you get your long-haired chihuahua as a puppy, it is important to get food that is designed to be fed to puppies. As your pup grows older, you can start switching to a food that has been created for adult dogs. When you start this transition from puppy to adult food, you should go slowly, as a sudden change in diet can greatly upset a dog’s stomach. No matter how old your long-haired chihuahua is, you should consult your vet and do a lot of research to decide what the best dog food on the market is for your new pup.

The chihuahua dog food is similar to other breeds like dachshunds.

How often should I feed my long-haired chihuahua?

This answer also changes as your dog ages. At the start of their life, a long-haired chihuahua will need a lot of food so they can grow strong, so 3-4 meals a day is a good start. As your pup ages, you can start weening back the number of feedings a day to 2-3 times a day. Once your long-haired chihuahua is fully grown, you can cut back to a morning meal and an evening meal.

What foods should I never feed my long-haired chihuahua?

A long-haired chihuahua is just like any other dog, meaning that there is a huge list of things that you should refrain from feeding them. According to Animal Health Foundation, some foods that can be dangerous for dogs to eat can include alcohol, chocolate, avocado, onion, garlic, and many more. If you ever have questions about a specific food, be sure to contact your vet to make sure you aren’t putting your dog in danger by accident.

Grooming the Long-Haired Chihuahua

If you think about getting a dog, it can be easy to focus on what the dog will look like and forget about what you’re going to need to do to take care of their fur. It is very important to care for a dog’s fur as it can become matted and tangled, which is very painful for a dog. There is no exception to this statement when it comes to long-haired chihuahuas.

If you have never owned a long-haired chihuahua (you can call it fluffy chihuahua 🙂 or any long-haired animal, you might be starting to get overwhelmed with the idea of dealing with all that fur. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you might be thinking. Besides having the contact information for a dog groomer that is experienced in handling long-haired chihuahuas, there are things that you need to have and do at home. Below are some items that you will need to be stocked up on if you will have a long-haired chihuahua puppy.

When we got our long haired chihuahua, Don, he had a lion cut. We have since kept it this way for that you would need dog clippers for grooming and some patience.

A dog brush

When you have a long-haired chihuahua, the most important thing you can do for your pup is to brush its fur daily. This will not only keep your chihuahua’s fur coat from becoming uncomfortably matted, but it will also help grow the bond the two of you share.

Puppy shampoo

Whether your chihuahua has long hair or short hair, it is always a good idea to have some tear-free shampoo ready to be used. When deciding what puppy shampoo to get for your long-haired chihuahua, you should consult your veterinarian. There are some puppy shampoos on the market that can lead to dangerous health conditions.

Bath wipes

Sometimes dogs can get messy when they are playing outside or even when they are eating their dinner. When this happens, you might not necessarily see the need to bathe your dog but will still want to clean your dog up. Since this situation might occur for people that have long-haired chihuahuas, it is recommended to pick up some high-quality pet-safe bath wipes to have on hand.

Nail clippers

If you’re thinking about bringing a long-haired chihuahua home to be a part of your family, you are going to need to have some nail clippers in your grooming kit. When a dog’s nails get too long, the dog can start slipping and falling more often. Nails can also start curling back up into the bottom of the dog’s paw if they get too long. Once you bring home your long-haired chihuahua, you may be unsure of how to trim your new pup’s nails. If this is the case, address your questions and concerns with your vet.

It is also important to note that many dogs, especially dogs prone to anxiety, such as long-haired chihuahuas, can be nervous when their nails are being trimmed. That being said, try training your new pup to associated nail trimming as a positive experience by giving your long-haired chihuahua treats, toys, and love when he lets you trim his nails.

Training the Long-Haired Chihuahua

When it comes to owning any dog, training is essential. This is even more true if you own a long-haired chihuahua. You see, long-haired chihuahuas have a reputation for being an angry and anxious breed. As mentioned above when we discussed temperament, this is not an innate trait for this breed, rather a response to being under socialized and undertrained. Training your long-haired chihuahua will not only make sure that your pup is an acceptable member of society, but it will also make your chihuahua pup more confident while creating a strong bond between the two of you.

If you are considering adding a long-haired chihuahua to your home or already have one, you probably already think about how you will train your pup. There are plenty of different types of training that you need to think about, including leash training, crate training, obedience training, and socialization.

The best way to start training a stubborn breed like chihuahuas is to find a local trainer. Once you have a few options, look into reviews from other people and find out of the trainer has experience with chihuahuas. Your obedience trainer will help you train your dog on the most basic and important commands a dog will need to learn, such as sit, lay down, stay, come, and may even help you start leash training your dog. After your new long-haired chihuahua is doing well in his training classes, leash training and socializing your pup is the next step.

When you start thinking of socializing and training your new pup, you may get overwhelmed with deciding if it’s worth it to go through all the work. At the end of the day, training and socializing your dog will turn him into a happier puppy. Doing these things can also help reduce the chances of your dog developing a new fear. For a breed that is already anxious and susceptible to phobias like the long-haired chihuahua, training and socializing should not be overlooked.

Where to find Long-Haired Chihuahuas?

You’ve done your research. You know everything that you possibly could need about long-haired chihuahuas and what it takes to own them. Maybe you even bought all the supplies needed and found a local veterinarian experienced with the breed. That’s amazing! But where can you find a long-haired chihuahua to bring home to your family? Well, there are two options when it comes to looking for any breed of dog to have as your own, and they are adopting or buying.

Fortunately, there are many shelters and rescues that have plenty of dogs up for adoption. Now you may be thinking, I don’t just want any dog. I want a long-haired chihuahua. Don’t worry. Most shelters and rescues have websites with what animals are available to be adopted.

Our Don was a breeding dog in the kennel. He has made hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sadly before we got him. When his work making babies at the kennel was done they gave him to us to live out his life.

There are even websites that scour the Internet and local shelters for you to find dogs that match the criteria you put in. There are benefits to waiting to adopt a dog instead of buying, too, including known health problems that the dog already has. Not having to worry about spaying or neutering your new pet as shelters often will do this before adopting a dog out to a new home.

If you are set on wanting to purchase your new long-haired chihuahua as a puppy, you can do this too. When you go this route, you can interact with all the puppies in the litter to see which pup has the temperament you think will fit best in your home. If this is how you want to get your long-haired chihuahua, it is important to do your research on breeders. Some backyard breeders or puppy mills out there don’t do the necessary health testing on the dogs they are breeding, and they tend to keep their dogs in horrible conditions.

There are, however, good breeders out there that will keep their breeding dogs in great living space. These kinds of breeders will also do testing on the breeding dogs to make sure that they are healthy and will, in turn, produce healthy puppies. When you’re searching for a great long-haired chihuahua breeder, remember that your breeder should be able to answer any and every question that you ask about the breed and the puppies.

Now you know all about long-haired chihuahuas

You know if one of these small, spunky, and stylish dogs is right for you! Just remember that it is important to have everything ready at your house before you bring a new puppy home and to have an appointment with a local vet experienced with long-haired chihuahuas set up during the first week that you have your pup.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below.