Curious about where the apple head Chihuahua got such a name from? Interested in knowing more about this little dog? Here is a compilation of interesting facts about this dog.

Apple Head Chihuahua: Description and Interesting Facts

The AKC describes a Chihuahua as a dog that has a round, apple-shaped head, upright ears, and large eyes that are luminous and very expressive. The organization ranks this dog as the 33^rd most popular breed out of 195. Its physical specifications are 5-8 inch height, weight less than 6 pounds, and a life expectancy of maximum 16 years.

Based on the AKC’s description, the apple head Chihuahua gets its name and bragging rights for meeting breed standards. It is the golden standard for the Chihuahua dog breed, and most dog lovers often assume that other variations, like the deer headed one, are not original Chihuahuas.

Apple Head Chihuahua Features

The most distinctive feature of the Chihuahua is its apple-shaped skull. It has a short muzzle that meets its forehead at a 90-degree angle. From the side view, one can see the sharp angle that gives this dog its apple-like appearance. The dog also has large expressive eyes that add to its beauty.

For the first three months of their lives, apple head Chihuahua puppies have a hole at the top of their skull. This hole, known as the Molera, is also a distinguishing feature of the breed. It is similar to the fontanel in human babies. It closes on its own after a few months as the dog’s skull enlarges and develops more cartilage.

The Chihuahua apple head dog has a short and stout body. It has a short neck and short feet, which enhance its miniature appearance. As a result of these features, many refer to the dog as a “pocket-size” or “teacup” Chihuahua. It is important to note that these are just nicknames, and they do not refer to a specific Chihuahua breed.

This Chihuahua either has a coat with short or long fur. The coat can come in many colors, including white, brown, fawn, and black. The black apple head Chihuahua is particularly common in some areas. The coat may be plain, speckled, or have any other pattern. For this dog breed, coat color and pattern are not a major concern for most buyers.

The price of an apple head Chihuahua puppy ranges from $300 to $800. Ethical breeders do not inflate prices because they understand that the apple head is just a standard Chihuahua. However, some unethical breeders might try to use the names “apple head” “teacup” and so on to convince buyers that these are special dog breeds and hike their prices.

Apple Head versus Deer Head Chihuahua

The deer Chihuahua has features that vary from those of the apple head. These features do not conform to the AKC’s standards. However, the deer head is an original Chihuahua. It gained popularity in the 90s, although its origins are not well-known.

The apple head deer head Chihuahua comparison below shows the difference between the two types:

Apple head	Deer head
Short snout	Long snout
Short, erect ears	Long, erect ears
Round, apple-like skull	Narrow skull shaped like a deer’s
Short jaws	Long jaws
Born with molera	Born without molera
Muzzle meets forehead at 90 degrees, creating a sharp “stop”	Muzzle meets forehead at a sloping angle, creating a less pronounced “stop”
Weighs less than 6lbs	Can weigh more than 6lbs
Prone to respiratory illnesses due to the shape and size of its skull	Less prone to illnesses
Short, stout features	Long neck, legs, and other features
Can compete in dog shows	Cannot compete in dog shows because its features do not meet AKC’s standards

 

7 Interesting Apple Head Chihuahua Facts

This Chihuahua may be tiny and cute, but that is not all there is to it. There are so many interesting things about this popular pocket-sized dog:

·         It is named after a state in Mexico – although the specific origin of the dog is not known, one fact is that it has a lineage that goes back to pre-Columbian times. It was discovered in 1850 in Mexico and shares a name with one of the country’s states

·         It can share some physical features with a deer head – it is not uncommon to find a Chihuahua with deer-like features, and vice versa. An apple head can have larger ears or less pronounced eyes that match those of the deer head.

·         An apple head pup can show up in a deer head litter – surprisingly, two deer heads can give birth to an apple-headed Chihuahua. It enhances the mystery of this dog’s origins. It is also common for two apple heads to have a deer head pup.

·         The price of an apple-headed Chihuahua can go significantly higher based on its lineage – this may come as a surprise to some, but most dog lovers know that lineage matters. If you intend to buy one with a championship lineage, be ready to pay almost double the price of an ordinary one. The price of such a dog can be more than $1500.

·         Paris Hilton’s Tinkerbell was an apple-headed Chihuahua – the celebrity carried this cute little dog in her purse and modeled with her in photoshoots. Tinkerbell became one of the most famous dogs in the 2000s due to multiple appearances on TV shows. Unfortunately, she died of natural causes in 2015.

An apple-headed Chihuahua might be tiny, but it has a big-dog attitude. It is very protective and feisty. Depending on whether it is trained and nurtured, it can be so feisty that it cannot live with kids in the same household. Due to its small size, it does better in households with fewer people. It also loves warm climates, lots of attention, and praise. Other than that, it is not a high maintenance dog breed. If you are a dog lover with lots of time and love to give, this dog might just be the right fit for you.

 

  

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