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The Chihuahua is a feisty, pint-sized dog that hails from Mexico and has gained the reputation of being the perfect purse dog. But have you ever heard of the Hairless Chihuahua?
These dogs are exactly the same as the Chihuahuas that you’re familiar with, except they don’t have any hair. Has this piqued your interest? If so, keep reading for all the details about this breed!
Breed Overview
Suitable for:
Families with older children, single people, seniors, those living in homes or apartments
Temperament:
Charming, sassy, loyal, loving, playful, protective
The Chihuahua’s ancestors go back about a thousand years to the ancient Toltec culture of Mexico. The Aztecs are thought to have refined the breed to the smaller dog that we are familiar with today.
The Hairless Chihuahua is a toy breed that weighs no more than 6 pounds and is hairless due to a genetic mutation. Otherwise, they look like a regular Chihuahua, with little legs, large erect ears, and an “apple” head.
Without hair, their coat is the color of their skin, which is pink or various shades of brown. They might have bits of hair on parts of their heads, like the chin or ears.
Hairless Chihuahua Characteristics
Hairless Chihuahua Puppies
Hairless Chihuahuas are rare, so it will be difficult to find one. You can speak to Chihuahua breeders in your area who might have an idea of where you can find a hairless puppy. Social media is another good avenue to share your interest.
If you find a breeder with an available Hairless Chihuahua, double check that they are reputable. This can be done by checking online reviews and visiting their kennels to get a feel of how well they treat their dogs.
The breeder should also present you with their dog’s medical history, and you should feel that your questions are welcome. There’s also the option to adopt, but it’s improbable that you’ll find a Hairless Chihuahua in a shelter.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Hairless Chihuahua
Hairless Chihuahuas pack a large amount of personality into their tiny bodies, including their big-dog-in-a-small-dog’s-body attitude! They love attention and want to spend as much time as possible with their beloved owners,
In addition to being yappy, they are quite loyal and protective of their people, so they can make decent watchdogs. They are standoffish with strangers and have been known to snap at unknown people or small children.
That said, they are intelligent little dogs that can be loving and affectionate, as well as territorial and stubborn.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
These dogs do best in families with older children. They are tiny dogs that can be easily hurt by young children, and if they are mishandled in any way, they will likely snap at the offender.
Still, they are playful and will be great fun for children, as long as they are taught to be respectful of all dogs.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
Since Hairless Chis are territorial, they don’t always get along with other pets. But if they are socialized, especially if they are raised alongside other pets as puppies, they should get along well with other dogs and cats.
Chihuahuas are such little dogs, small dog syndrome can be an issue, which makes them aggressive toward other dogs. But this is usually more of a show to let the other dog know not to mess with them. Regardless, training and socialization are essential with this breed.
Things to Know When Owning a Hairless Chihuahua
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
You’ll want high-quality dog food formulated for your dog’s current weight, age, and activity level. Chihuahuas need small-sized kibble in addition to food designed to support their current life stage.
You should speak to your vet about the right amount of food for your Chi, and don’t make a habit of overfeeding them. You should avoid giving them too many treats and table scraps. Chihuahuas are prone to obesity, and most human food isn’t good for dogs. Also, ensure that your dog has constant access to clean water.
Exercise 🐕
Hairless Chihuahuas are easy to take care of with respect to exercise. Since they are so tiny, their little legs only need about 30 minutes of exercise every day. They can easily fit in their daily exercise routine by running around in a small space.
Walks should be slow so they can keep up with you, and if they ever seem overtired, you should pick them up and carry them the rest of the way home.
Training 🎾
Hairless Chihuahuas are quite intelligent and eager to please and will respond well to positive training methods. Just bear in mind that Chis can be stubborn at times, so you must be firm and patient and not let them get away with bad behavior. They can learn quickly that they can manipulate you or other people with their cuteness.
Grooming ✂️
Hairless Chihuahuas don’t need brushing but they still require care. They need bathing about once a week or at the very least, every 4 weeks. Their skin tends to be dry, so find an oatmeal-based, moisturizing dog shampoo.
You’ll also want to invest in sunscreen for dogs because hairless dogs are susceptible to sunburns and prone to skin cancer. You should be checking their skin regularly for new growths or changes.
Trim your Hairless Chihuahua’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks, clean their ears on bath days, and brush their teeth two to three times a week.
Health and Conditions 🏥
The Hairless Chihuahua is generally healthy but is predisposed to specific medical conditions, especially skin cancer.
Minor Conditions
- Obesity
- Gum disease
- Tracheal collapse(commonly mild but can turn serious)
- Eye problems
Serious Conditions
- Luxating patella
- Congestive heart failure
- Hydrocephalus
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
- Hypoglycemia
Male vs. Female
Male Chihuahuas tend to be bigger than females at 5 to 9 inches tall (females are 4 to 7 inches tall). The surgery for your Chihuahua will also be different, as you’ll be either neutering the male or spaying the female. Spaying can be more expensive than neutering and takes longer to recover from. But both surgeries help prevent pregnancy and limit more aggressive behavior.
It’s said that males tend to be more affectionate and that females are easier to train and less clingy, but mostly what contributes to a dog’s personality is how well socialized they are and how they have been treated throughout their lifetime.
3 Little-Known Facts About the Hairless Chihuahua
1. Being hairless is from a recessive gene
The reason Hairless Chihuahuas are so rare is that there’s a recessive hairless gene that Chihuahuas carry. So, to be born hairless, the dog must inherit the recessive gene from both parents, which is a rare occurrence.
2. Hairless Chihuahuas get cold easily
If you’re familiar with Chihuahuas, you know that they tend to get cold fairly easily due to their small size. The Hairless Chihuahua will be even more prone to being cold, so they’ll need dog sweaters and coats much of the time.
3. They’re one of the longest-lived dog breeds
The Chihuahua is one of the longest-living dog breeds, with an average lifespan of about 14 to 16 years. Currently, the oldest living dog is a Chihuahua named Spike, and he was 23 years old on December 7, 2022.
Final Thoughts
The Hairless Chihuahua is rare, but if you find one, they will certainly be eye-catching! They can also make a great pet for allergy sufferers due to not having any hair to shed, but remember that allergies are triggered by dander, which is why keeping the skin moisturized is so important.
While you don’t have to worry about brushing these dogs, they still require a fair bit of maintenance in order to tolerate the sun and the cold. You can learn more about the Hairless Chihuahua by learning about the Chihuahua, as they are the same breed.
Featured Image Credit: Chihuahua-hairless (Paradais Sphynx, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 3.0 Unported)
