Chihuahua - Smooth Coat
Purebred dogs have a breed standard to maintain consistency in appearance, temperament, and function within each breed.
1. Preserve the Breed’s Purpose
Most dog breeds were originally developed for specific jobs (herding, hunting, guarding, etc.). The breed standard defines traits—like size, strength, coat type, and behaviour—that support those original purposes.
2. Ensure Predictability
Breed standards allow people to predict a dog’s behaviour, size, coat, and needs before bringing one home. This helps match dogs with suitable owners and lifestyles.
3. Guide Ethical Breeding
Responsible breeders use the standard to:
Avoid exaggerations or defects.
Maintain health and function.
Prevent inbreeding or random variation.
Standards provide a benchmark to select dogs that best represent the breed for future generations.
4. Enable Fair Competition
In dog shows, breed standards are the criteria for judging. Judges compare each dog to the ideal version of its breed—not to the other dogs in the ring.
5. Preserve Heritage
Many breeds are centuries old. Standards help maintain the historical identity and genetic integrity of a breed across generations and regions.
-
Group: Group 1 (Toys)
-
General Appearance: Small, dainty, compact.
-
Characteristics: Alert, little dog, swift moving with brisk forceful action and saucy expression.
-
Temperament: Gay, spirited and intelligent, neither snappy nor withdrawn.
-
Head And Skull: Well rounded 'Apple Dome' skull, cheeks and jaws lean, muzzle moderately short, slightly pointed. Definite stop.
-
Eyes: Large, round, but not protruding; set well apart; centre of eye is on a plane with lowest point of ear and base of stop; dark or ruby. Light eyes in light colours permissible.
-
Ears: Large, flaring, set on at an angle of approximately 45 degrees; giving breadth between ears. Tipped or broken down highly undesirable.
-
Mouth: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
-
Neck: Slightly arched, medium length.
-
Forequarters: Shoulders well laid; lean, sloping into slightly broadening support above straight forelegs, set well under chest giving freedom of movement without looseness.
-
Body: Level back. Body, from point of shoulder to rear point of croup, slightly longer than height at withers. Well sprung ribs, deep brisket.
-
Hindquarters: Muscular: hocks well let down, with good turn of stifle, well apart, turning neither in nor out.
-
Feet: Small and dainty, turning neither in nor out; toes well divided but not spread, pads cushioned, fine, strong, flexible pasterns. Neither hare nor cat-like, nails moderately short.
-
Tail: Medium length, set high, carried up and over back (sickle tail). When moving never tucked under or curled below the topline. Furry, flattish in appearance, broadening slightly in centre and tapering to point.
-
Gait/Movement: Brisk, forceful action, neither high stepping nor hackney; good reach without slackness in forequarters, good drive in hindquarters. Viewed from front and behind legs should move neither too close nor too wide, with no turning in or out of feet or pasterns. Topline should remain firm and level when moving.
-
Coat: Smooth, of soft texture, close and glossy, with undercoat and ruff permissible.
-
Colour: Any colour or mixture of colours but never Merle (dapple).
-
Sizes: Weight: up to 2.7 kg (6 lbs), with 1.8-2.7 kgs (4-6 lbs) preferred.
-
Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
-
Notes: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
A direct extract of the ANKC (Australian National Kennel Club) standard. Correct as of the 9th July 2016
