Chihuahua color variations

A distinctive feature of such a dog breed, as the Chihuahua, lies in the fact that these cute pets sometimes even amaze specialists with the diversity of their color. Surely no other dog breed has such a vast and rich palette of colors as the naughty chihuahua, which, by the way, guarantees the high uniqueness and sometimes even uniqueness of any dog.

Few people know that Chihuahua is one of the oldest known breeds. It was actively withdrawn for its own protection by many eastern emperors. The rulers always wore these little animals in the wide sleeves of their clothes and, completely relying on their small "guards", were completely not afraid for their safety. As soon as the threat arose, they threw the dog out of their wide sleeve. This kind of surprise effect confused the enemy, which made it possible to quickly capture it.

There are different types of color marking of this popular breed. All the colors described below can be found both in dogs with long hair and in individuals with a short hairline. Marking itself is a characteristic combination of color that gives a specific pattern to the dog’s coat.

• Clean or plain color. The color of the coat here will not have much significance, since the dog can be 100% snow-white and completely brown, as well as entirely chocolate or black. Small white spots on the breast or toes are allowed. However, the main color should be at least 95% of the body of the pet.

• Two-tone color (spotted). This kind of coloring can consist of two different pure shades. This tone combination may look like this: black with a snow-white color, catchy 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 it will be evenly distributed along with another color.

• Tricolor. In this case, the dog’s coat consists of three colors, while the third color will most often appear as some kind of tone that is quite close to the main one - this is called a “tan”. But sometimes you can find a pronounced flavor. The most common coloring of tricolor dogs is black and white with noticeable tan marks, but other exotic variations can also be found. For example, chocolate tan with white coloring.

To determine the color of a Chihuahua, you need to know that in this matter the color of the nose, the color of the ears, the tone of the pads and the legs themselves, eyelids, eyes, and even claws will be of great importance, and in addition, the percentage distribution of the main pigment along the length of the hair of the coat. In many cases, the background color of the dog's coat will be white.

Here is a list of the most common colors of the breed.

In the natural environment of the Chihuahua breed, an absolutely pure reddish-golden color is extremely rare. At the same time, breeders allow the coloring of hair from faded red to saturated darkish orange. A combination of redhead and whitish color is very common, while white blotches are most often seen on the chest, on the head and legs, and also on the tail of the dog. The red color is considered one of the most popular among the owners of the breed.

And you can also meet other options: sable color with a whitish color, red-black color, a red-sable color and a reddish-brown color are in great demand.

It is quite difficult today to meet a 100% black color in the Chihuahua breed. Colored inserts appear on the breast, often visible on the head of the pet, its legs and tail. The black color with a reddish tan, as well as with tints 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. Milky spots are also present on the dog’s body (most often on the breast). But snow-white golfiki of the same color can also be, but much less often. Such a shade is absolutely not like a rejected Merle.

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

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

It is also not very common. The color of the coat varies from ivory, which is almost invisible to the eye, to a light beige tone. This color is quite delicate and completely without contrast. Sometimes with it white color is noticeable on the breast, as well as on the legs and tail. This color is often confused with a fawn, but in the latter it must necessarily be present a small darkened mask on the dog's face, sometimes poorly expressed, sometimes noticeable immediately.

The rather rare colors of the chihuahua include, without a doubt, a chocolate shade, a whitish color and a rare tiger, purple (almost lilac) and blue colors. Moreover, all of them, as well as the above-mentioned colors that often catch the eye, can have an unimaginably large number of combinations.

Consider the most famous of them.

Completely snow-white colors are very rarely seen in Chihuahuas. Simply amazingly beautiful white color will look with a contrasting type of color: black or reddish, tiger or chocolate, golden or brown. But it will also be in perfect harmony with a creamy tone or blue, sable color or fawn.

Completely chocolate coloring is simply impossible to meet. Outwardly, it is very similar to brown, but with a special soft reddish shade of wool, which is better striking in excellent lighting. In addition, the shade of the pads of the legs and nose should coincide with the main color - rich chocolate. Eyes will have a brown tint.

Chocolate color can often be accompanied by small whitish patches on the breast and legs. And also sometimes tanning can be noticed. Chocolate with a blue color will look especially stylish.

If you look closely at this dog, then its coat will most likely have a silver-grayish tint. But in the light of the sun, the wool begins to visually cast a smoky blue tone. In this case, the gradient of the coat itself can be from the darkest gray to smoky colors. This kind of color feature is explained by the presence of the blue gene in the blood of an individual.

There are varieties: whitish with blue, blue fawn, blue-tan, blue sable, blue-tiger. All of them are considered extremely rare.

One of the rarest and most sought after colors for many fans of the Chihuahua breed. Tiger color is a catchy pattern of different spots and stripes that contrast with the main tone of the coat, which in the end is very reminiscent of a bright tiger skin. These dogs look very impressive.

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

A very beautiful variety of chihuahua. This color looks most spectacular on pets with long hair. The color saturation of the coat can be from the lightest purple to dark purple. A similar 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 purple tricolor.

The color of Merle (it is also called Marble) looks quite expressive and catchy, but it is strictly forbidden by the Chihuahua breeders. The color is expressed by not very uniform pigmentation of the wool, on which there are spots of a dark gray or, in general, beige shade. The eyes are usually light blue or dark blue. Deviations of this kind are caused by the predominance of the M gene.

Quite often, a change in the color saturation of the coat occurs in a breed such as Chihuahua. Usually this kind of phenomenon can be observed in puppies up to 1 year old, when they are just beginning to show pigmentation, and this pigment begins to be distributed evenly through the hairs. Color saturation sometimes decreases or intensifies - that is, it changes with age. For example, a fawn color can lighten to a faded beige or, conversely, intensify to a catchy golden-red.

There may be significant deviations in the color of the coat and in adult pets - if they have a significant lesion of the central nervous system, if any organs are damaged, sometimes everything happens for an unknown reason. Many experts claim that the change of color can occur even from a change in feed. And at the age of 8-10 years, you can observe an insignificant appearance on the body and muzzle of a pet of gray hair, which will be especially noticeable in bright sunlight.

The acquisition of a puppy of any color (only Merle should be avoided) is made until he is three more months old. The place of purchase will play a huge role. If this is a specialized nursery, be sure to check all the documents that the 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 thoroughbred puppy from your acquaintances or to take from unfamiliar hands, but again - if you have all the documents. Just ask the seller to show you the veterinary passport of the parents of your future pet (there will be indicated all the diseases that the female or male suffered). Remember that all diseases in Chihuahuas will be inherited.

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

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