Long haired Chihuahua’s are an ancient breed of dog. They have huge hearts, and are incredibly loyal to people and the protectors of their pack. Known to be one of the smallest breeds in the world, they weigh about 3 – 6 lbs and have a life-span of 15 – 20 years. Long haired Chihuahua are known to be low-maintenance.

Chihuahuas come in many different shapes, coats, and colors, but we’re going to individually focus on the long haired Chihuahua.

Overview: Long Haired Chihuahua

The long haired Chihuahua breed is known to be the smallest in the world. It’s been stated in history that long haired Chihuahua’s date back as far as 100 AD. Chihuahua’s were bred to help hunt for rats and small animals and as a common delicacy in the 15^th Century.

Long haired Chihuahua’s are not recognized as their own dog breed and are typically grouped in with the short hair Chihuahuas.

Purebred Long Haired Chihuahua puppies can cost anywhere from $450 - $1,800 USD. Long haired Chihuahua puppies typically grow at the below rate:

These are the typical rates, but it’s normal for puppies to differ and not grow according to theses rates. Here you can find the breed standard.

Temperament of Long Haired Chihuahua

The Long Haired Chihuahua is caring, loving and loyal. They’re known to be very protective over their owners and do not like being separated from their owners laps.

The love, care, and protection they have for their owners make the Long Haired Chihuahua unstable when being left alone for long periods of time. They can potentially become destructive when left alone for too long.

Ultimately, you’ll find that Long Haired Chihuahua’s are fun, loving, caring dogs that don’t like to be left alone and want all the attention!

Children and Long Haired Chihuahua

Chihuahua’s can also have a temper, so when younger children all around you’ll need to be careful. They don’t like rough housing or aggressive behavior which can cause the Chihuahua to become more aggressive.

Long haired Chihuahua’s are known to be better in houses with teenagers and up, where supervision can be had.

Do Long Haired Chihuahua’s Suffer with Small Dog Syndrome?

Short answer is yes! They are loving, caring, and protective! This is a recipe for small dog syndrome. The symptoms of small dog syndrome are:

• Growling
• Barking
• Jumping
• Snarling
• Aggression

You must be persistent in setting boundaries for your dog and be sure to make them socialize well. Or else, this can become a problem with Long Haired Chihuahua’s

Caring for Long Haired Chihuahua

Here are some tips on feeding, exercising, grooming and training your Long Haired Chihuahua

Long Haired Chihuahua Food and Diet

It’s beneficial for Long Haired Chihuahua’s to eat 3 – 4 times a day in small portions. This allows for them to chew more often which helps keeps the jaw structure they have on their face. It’s important to get food that’s low in salt and gran free. They’ll need about 200 calories of daily food consumption.  

Dog food that is high in salt can cause dehydration in tiny dogs, which can cause your long haired Chihuahua to get sick.

Long Haired Chihuahua Exercise

The daily exercise requirement for Chihuahua’s is about 20 – 30 minutes. It’s recommended to walk your Chihuahua for a half hour each day. You can split this up into 2, 15 minutes walks or less. Make sure to use a gentle harness to avoid a case of tracheal collapse. Because long haired chihuahua’s are tiny they tend not to do well in the cold weather, so keep them warm, or avoid walking in cold weather.

Training Long Haired Chihuahua

Chihuahua’s are not just cute, and loving! They’re incredibly smart and stubborn. If you do not focus on training your long haired Chihuahua then you’ll be dealing with a riot in your home. Make sure everyone in your home is on the same page and no one gives in to the cute face. As long as you keep a consistent routine with boundaries than you should be fine, but we know how difficult this can be when a puppy face melts your heart!

Health Concerns

With the Long Haired Chihuahua breed you’ll have to be concerned about the chance of developing Patellar Luxation. This impacts the ability to move their knees and joints which can lead to other health concerns such as osteoarthritis.

There is also potential that a Long Haired Chihuahua could develop any of the following conditions:

• Pulmonic Stenosis
• Hydrocephalus
• Heart Murmur
• Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca

Long Haired Chihuahua’s are known to live long happy lives from 15 – 20 years.

Appearances of Long Haired Chihuahua

Chihuahua’s are small dogs, and weigh around 6 lbs. typically; they have triangular ears with a shot snout. Their legs and tail are proportionate to their body. The Long Haired Chihuahua is usually black, brown, tan, red, blue, white and cream. They are also known to have bi or tri colored coats.

How to Groom a Long Haired Chihuahua

Interestingly enough the long haired Chihuahua doesn’t need to have a lot of bathing. They’re tiny, with little hair and giving them a bath too often can dry out their skin. If you notice they are dirty, or flea ridden then bathing would make sense. Make sure to avoid water in their ears.

Is a Long Haired Chihuahua Right For You?

The Long Haired Chihuahua is a great breed. They’re fun, loving, caring, and playful! Although they can cause a riot because of how protective they are you can also find that this is a relieving and loving feeling. They love to be cuddled and cared for and should not be considered a lap dog, at least not until they mature. If you’re constantly away from home then you might reconsider owning a Long Haired Chihuahua.