The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog with a very, disputed origin. Regardless, most will weigh between four and six pounds and if cared for properly, can easily live to 18 years or more. Although the Chihuahua is not necessarily a good guard dog, simply due to size, they do have a keen sense of awareness, protection, and loyalty to the owner, which makes it one of the best watch dogs you could get. They will alert you to activity with a powerful bark that for such a little dog can be surprising.

This breed of dog is very alert, graceful, and swift moving. They have a huge heart but with a saucy attitude. The eyes are full and set wide apart with a somewhat buggy appearance, the ears large and erect, and the coat is shiny, which can be long or short. The head of the Chihuahua is one of this breed’s distinguishing marks. First, the Chihuahua has what is called a natural molera. Like a human, the skull has three sections and a soft pad at the top of the skull. For dogs, this is extremely rare.

Because the head is so round, many people refer to it as an “apple” head or “apple dome.” Now, when a Chihuahua has a different shaped head due to a much narrower skull, it is referred to as a deer head Chihuahua, resembling a deer. For example, the Chihuahua you see in the Taco Bell commercial is a deer head Chihuahua. Most people prefer the apple dome but with the deer head Chihuahua becoming so popular, in part due to the commercials, some breeders are deliberately breeding deer head Chihuahuas as a means of making money.

The problem is that while this does not affect the quality of the Chihuahua’s life, a deer head Chihuahua would not be show quality nor do they make good breeders since this trait would likely be passed on to other generations. In fact, in the world of Chihuahuas, this is considered a defect. Because some people think this is natural and how the dog should look, they will unsuspectingly purchase a deer head from a greedy breeder, only to discover the head is disproportional.

Sadly, because of the irresponsibility of some breeders, you will find many deer head Chihuahuas winding up in rescue situations. In this case, a person will buy the dog and once they discover the dog is “defected,” they want to get rid of it. Again, there is nothing wrong with the dog, just that it is missing the natural apple shaped head. In fact, some deer head Chihuahuas are abused simply because of a dissatisfied owner.

Therefore, if you are looking for a Chihuahua to breed or show, it is imperative that you work with a reputable breeder, one that will ensure you buy an apple head from quality stock. Now, if you are simply in the market for a sweet, loving Chihuahua, one that will remain devoted to you for life, check into Chihuahua rescues, looking at some of the deer head dogs that desperately need good homes.

Author’s Bio: Renee Dietz says she has “been blessed with the ability to write.” Over the past 25 years, she has written more than 150 ebooks, well over 18,000 articles, and web content. Renee has written on various subjects that range from teaching a parrot to talk to stock commodities to weddings and everything in between. Her style is creative, informative, and always reader-friendly. Renee goes on to say that “writing is my passion, something I take to heart. For this reason, I work diligently to ensure every client is a happy client.” One of Renee’s favorites quotes comes from Douglas Adams - “To give real service you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.”

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