The Advantages & Disadvantages to Owning a Long-Haired Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are classified as toy dogs by the American Kennel Club. According to the AKC, the chihuahua likely descended from the Toltec techichi, a small but sturdy dog native to Mexico. The small size of the modern chihuahua may be due to crossing with a small hairless dog that originated in Asia. Chihuahuas can be long-haired or short-haired, recognized as varieties of the same breed.

  1. Chihuahua Advantages

    • The small size of both the long-hair and short-hair chihuahua means they can live in a small house or apartment. They both need less exercise than a large dog. Chihuahuas are good watch dogs.They tend to live a long time. Chihuahuas are affectionate and intelligent. They like to stay with their owners, so chihuahuas make good travelers. Both the long-hair and short-hair chihuahua can be difficult to housebreak, especially if you live in a cold area.

    Disadvantages

    • Because they are so small, the long-hair and the short-hair chihuahuas are fragile and can be easily injured by roughhousing or carelessness. This means they aren't recommended for households with young children. They don't like cold weather, and will have to wear warm clothes if you live in an area with cold winters. They become attached to one person and can be wary of other people and animals unless they are well-trained to be sociable. They may bark a lot unless they are well-socialized from a young age.

    Differences

    • Long-hair and short-hair chihuahuas are the same as far as size, shape and personality are concerned. The only difference is in the length of the hair. Short-hair chihuahuas require less grooming than long-hair chihuahuas. Both need regular brushing, ear cleaning and nail trimming. Long-hair chihuahuas need extra attention to the hair in their ears, on their feet and around the tail, which can become matted and tangled unless groomed every day. Both dogs shed hair.

    Grooming and Shedding

    • According to Your Purebred Puppy website, chihuahuas come with four different kinds of coats. The short single coat is the sleekest and sheds the least. The short double coat has a warm undercoat that gives more insulation. The long single coat generally has shorter hair on the body with longer hair, called feathering, on the ears, lower body, legs and tail. This is easier to groom than the long double coat, which consists of long hair plus a warm undercoat. This kind requires more grooming and sheds the most of the chihuahuas.