Chihuahua Color Variations

A distinctive feature of this breed of dogs, like Chihuahua, lies in the fact that these cute pets sometimes even amaze professionals with the diversity of their color. Surely no other dog breed has such an extensive and saturated palette of colors, like a mischievous chihuahua, which, by the way, guarantees a high uniqueness and sometimes even the uniqueness of any dog.

Few of the inhabitants know that Chihuahuas are one of the most ancient known breeds. She was actively withdrawn for her own protection by many Eastern emperors. These small animals were always worn by rulers in the wide sleeves of their clothes and, relying entirely on their small “guards”, were absolutely not afraid for their safety. As soon as the threat appeared, they threw the dog out of their wide sleeves. This kind of surprise effect confused the enemy, which made it possible to quickly grab him.

There are different types of markings for this popular breed. All the colors described below can be found both in dogs with long hair, and in individuals with short hair. Marking itself is a characteristic combination of color, which gives a certain pattern on the dog's coat.

• Pure or solid color. The color of the wool here will not be of particular importance, since the dog can be 100% snow-white and completely brown, as well as entirely chocolate or black. Not very large white spots on the breast or fingers of the paws are allowed. However, the main colors should be at least 95% of the body of the pet.

• Two-color coloring (spotty). This kind of color can consist of two different pure shades. This tone combination can look like this: black color with snow-white color, bright chocolate with white, whitish with brownish-red, black with rich golden. In this case, the title color will occupy a large area of ​​the body of your pet, or will be evenly distributed along with other colors.

• Tricolor. In this case, the dog's coat consists of three colors, while the third coloring will most often act like any tone that is fairly close to the main thing - this is called “tanned”. But sometimes you can meet and clearly expressed color. The most common colors of tricolor dogs are black and white with visible burns, but other exotic variants can also be found. For example, chocolate tan with white coloring.

To determine the coloring of chihuahuas, it is necessary to know that in this matter the nose color, ear color, tone of pads and legs, eyelids, eyes, and even claws, and besides, the percentage distribution of the main pigment along the length of hair will be of great importance. In many cases, the background color of the dog's fur will be white.

We give a list of the most common colors of the breed.

In the natural environment, a purely reddish-golden color is extremely rare in the Chihuahua breed. In this case, breeders allow the color of wool from faded red to rich dark orange. Very often there is a combination of red with a whitish color, with white patches often seen on the chest, head and legs, as well as the tail of the dog. Red color is considered one of the most popular among the owners of the breed.

And also it is possible to meet other options: sable coloring with whitish color, red-black coloring, red-sable color and red-brown color are in great demand.

Quite difficult today to meet the 100% black color in the Chihuahua breed. Color inserts appear on the breast, often visible on the pet's head, its paws and tail. The black color with a reddish tan, as well as tan points of a reddish or light tone, looks very spectacular. This kind of color is often called differently, but it is recognized by experts as a black and tan color. On the torso of the dog (on the breast most often) there are also milk spots. But the snow-white golfiki of the same color can also be, but much less. Such a shade is absolutely not like the culled Merle.

The main color here will be black. And in the role of the tan will be reddish or red. You can meet and tricolor: catchy black, with it one of the types of beautiful tan and whitish spots.

You can find a much more unusual options: a beautiful black and brindle color, bright blackish-brown color, a unique black fawn color, elegant black and red, classic black and white.

It is also not very common. The color of wool varies from ivory, which is almost invisible to the eye, to a light beige tone. This color is quite gentle and completely without contrast. Sometimes along with it, white color is noticeable on the breast, as well as on the paws and tail. Such coloring is often confused with pale yellow, but in the latter a small darkened mask on a dog's face must be present, sometimes poorly expressed, sometimes noticeable right away.

The fairly rare colors of Chihuahua can, without doubt, include a chocolate shade, whitish color and the rarest brindle, purple (almost lilac) and blue colors. At the same time, all of them, as well as the above-mentioned colors, can have an unimaginably large number of combinations.

Consider the most famous of them.

Fully snow-white coloring is very rarely found in Chihuahuas. Simply stunningly beautiful white color will look with colors of contrasting type: black or reddish, tiger or chocolate, golden or brown. But it will also be in perfect harmony with the cream tone or blue, sable or fawn.

Completely chocolate color is simply impossible to meet. Externally, it is very similar to brown, but with a special soft reddish undertone of the wool, which is best seen in excellent lighting. In addition, the shade of the pads and pads should match the main coloring - rich chocolate. Eyes will have a brown undertone.

Chocolate color can often be accompanied by small whitish patches on the breast and legs. And sometimes you can notice and tan. In a special way will look stylish chocolate with blue color.

If you carefully look at this dog, then her coat will most likely have a silvery grayish tint. But with the light of the sun, wool begins to visually cast a smoky blue tone. In this case, the gradient of wool can be from the darkest gray to smoky colors. This kind of color is due to the presence of a blue gene in the blood of an individual.

Occurring species: whitish with blue, blue fawn, blue and tan, blue sable, blue and brindle. All of them are considered extremely rare.

One of the rarest and most sought after colors for many Chihuahua breed fans. Tiger color is a striking pattern of different spots and stripes, which contrast with the basic tone of the coat, which ultimately resembles a bright tiger skin. Such dogs look very impressive.

Available types of this coloring: brindle with white and brindle with blue, brownish-brindle color and black-brindle color, brindle-fawn and chocolate brindle color.

A very beautiful species of Chihuahua. Most effectively this color looks on pets with long hair. The saturation of the coat color can be from the lightest lilac to dark lilac. This color is most often supplemented with whitish spots on the chest and on the toes. But the presence of white spots on the back and sides of the body is excluded. Sometimes you can find lilac tricolor.

Color Merle (it is also called Marble) looks quite impressive and catchy, but it is strictly forbidden to chihuahua breeders. The color is expressed by not very uniform pigmentation of wool, on which there are patches of dark gray or, in general, a beige shade. Eyes are usually light blue or dark blue. Such deviations are caused by the predominance of the gene "M".

Quite often there is a change in the saturation of the color of wool in a breed such as Chihuahua. Usually such a phenomenon can be observed in puppies up to 1 year old, when they only begin to show hair pigmentation, and this pigment begins to be distributed evenly along the hairs. Color saturation sometimes decreases or increases - that is, it changes with age. For example, a fawn coloring can be lightened to faded beige or, on the contrary, to intensify to a bright golden-red.

There may be significant deviations in the color of wool and in adult pets - if they have a significant damage to the central nervous system, if any organs have been damaged, sometimes everything happens for an unknown reason. Many experts claim that the change of color can occur even from the change of food. And at the age of 8-10 years old it is possible to observe a slight appearance of gray hair on the body and face of the pet, which will be especially noticeable in bright sunlight.

The acquisition of a puppy of any color (only to avoid Merle) is produced until he is three more months old. A huge role will be played by the place of purchase. If it is a specialized nursery, be sure to check all the documents that a puppy should have, the presence of all vaccinations, it is better to immediately find out the pedigree of his parents. True, in this case, the price of puppies will be quite high.

It is also possible in principle to buy a purebred puppy from one's acquaintances or to take it from unfamiliar hands, but again, with all the documents. Just ask the seller to show you the veterinary passport of your future pet's parents (all the diseases that the female or male have suffered will be listed there). Remember that all diseases in a Chihuahua will be inherited.

Even if you really like a Merle color puppy - refuse such a dubious purchase. But do not confuse the usual spots with colors Merle, for this, in advance, familiarize yourself with the possible colors of the breed. Inclusions of whitish or black color will not be a pathology or defect.

For the different colors of the Chihuahua, see the video below.