10 Things You Didn’t know about the Deer Head Chihuahua
The Deer Head Chihuahua isn’t a particular breed of Chihuahua. Instead, it is one of two kinds of Chihuahua that can exist, with the other being the Apple Head Chihuahua. It is interesting to note that the Deer Head Chihuahua used to be more popular in the past, but in the present, the situation has reversed, so much so that the present standards for the breed are based on its apple-headed counterpart. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Deer Head Chihuahua:
1. No One Is Certain of the Chihuahua’s Origins
No one is sure about how the Chihuahua came into existence. Generally speaking, people speculate about there being a mix between Mesoamerican breeds and European breeds. Something that has been spurred on by the seeming resemblance between the Chihuahua and various breeds shown on the remnants of various Mesoamerican cultures.
2. Genetic Studies Show Little Mesoamerican Influence
With that said, there is a fair amount of interest in how the Chihuahua came into existence, so it should come as no surprise to learn that genetic studies have been conducted. Unfortunately, said studies revealed that the modern Chihuahua has less than 2 percent genetics from pre-European sources, which suggest that the breed might have come into existence through using European breeds while retaining the general appearance of its Mesoamerican predecessors.
3. Smallest Breed
The Chihuahua is the smallest breed recognized by a lot of kennel clubs. In fact, the breed is famous for its small size, so much so that a lot of breeders will sell Chihuahuas under the name of “Teacup Chihuahuas.” Unfortunately, this isn’t a breed but rather a marketing term for a particularly small Chihuahua meant to raise the amount for which it can be sold.
4. Some Kennel Clubs Recognize Two Breeds
There are some kennel clubs that recognize not one but rather two breeds of Chihuahuas. However, these are not the Deer Head Chihuahua and the Apple Head Chihuahua. Instead, these two breeds refer to the Smooth-Coat Chihuahua and the Long-Coat Chihuahua.
5. Deer Head Chihuahua Might Not Be Recognized
The Deer Head Chihuahua might not be recognized by some kennel clubs. In part, this is because some people seem to think that their appearance is a sign of cross-breeding at some point in their family trees. Whatever the case, when people say Chihuahua, they sometimes mean just Apple Head Chihuahuas rather than both Deer Head Chihuahuas and Apple Head Chihuahuas.
6. Longer Muzzle
In most cases, interested individuals can distinguish between Deer Head Chihuahuas and their apple-headed counterparts by looking at their heads. The Deer Head Chihuahua has a longer muzzle, which is why its head can look like that of a fawn. In contrast, the Apple Head Chihuahua has a very rounded head, which is why earned it its name.
7. Other Differences
There can be other differences between the two kinds of Chihuahuas as well. For example, the Deer Head Chihuahua tends to have wider-set eyes as well as bigger ears. Moreover, it tends to have longer, more slender legs than its apple-headed counterpart.
8. Tends to Be a Bit Healthier
Some sources claim that the Deer Head Chihuahua tends to be a bit healthier than the Apple Head Chihuahua. This is because an enormous amount of effort has been put into ensuring the right look for the Apple Head Chihuahua, meaning that it tends to have more health issues because it tends to be more inbred. In contrast, Deer Head Chihuahuas benefit from looser restrictions, particularly if they have been crossbred with other breeds.
9. Can Be Clannish
Despite their small size, Chihuahuas are famous for being protective. In fact, Chihuahuas can be over-protective of a single person, which can make for a fair amount of trouble in multi-person and multi-animal households. Fortunately, this is a problem that can be mitigated to some extent with proper training.
10. Needs Training
Speaking of which, there is a common perception that small dogs don’t need to be trained. As a result, smaller breeds such as Chihuahuas don’t get as much training as their bigger counterparts, which is a huge mistake because they can benefit just as much from obedience training as well as proper socialization to get them accustomed to other dogs, other humans, and other animals.
