The Premier Non-Working Group

Premier Breed Name: Chihuahua

Purpose: Companion & watchdog

At First Glance
The Chihuahua is graceful, small, dainty, compact, and slightly longer than it is tall. Alert with saucy expression and with terrier-like qualities of
temperament.
In motion the gait is swift-moving with a good reach and drive. The Chihuahua's coat is either smooth or long.

Premier Breed Standard and Physical Description
Weight
Healthy and active. Proportionate to the dogs length, width and height.

Height
Height should be proportioned to the size and weight of the dog.

Coat
Smooth coats should be of soft texture, close and glossy. While Long coats also have soft texture that is soft straight or wavy and slightly curly.

Color
Any color or mixture of colors.

Head
With or without molera the head should have a well rounded "apple dome" skull with ears that flare up. Ears - Large and erect the ears should sit at
about an angle of about 45°. Eyes - Should be balanced, full and set well apart with luminosity in dark, ruby or light colored eyes. Muzzle -
Moderately short, slightly pointed. Cheeks and jaws lean. Teeth should be straight, white, full and strong in appearance. Molars, Premolars, and
Canines should all be intact. Bite - Level or scissors where top front teeth meet slightly over the front bottom teeth. Nose - has normal sized nostrils
with any self-color acceptable.

Neck
Should have a slight arch with a graceful slope into lean shoulders.

Shoulders
The shoulders should be strong and muscular with blades wide and sloping.

Back or Topline
Very level.

Body
Ribs rounded and well sprung complementing the dog's body size.

Tail
Moderately long, carried sickle either up or out, or in a loop over the back, with tip just touching the back.

Legs
Forequarters - Shoulders are nice and lean, that slope into a slightly broadening support above straight forelegs that set well under, giving free
play at the elbows. Shoulders should be well up, giving balance and soundness, sloping into a level back, giving an appearance of chestiness, and
strength in the forequarters. Hindquarters - Muscular, with hocks well apart, neither out nor in, well let down, firm and sturdy. Feet - Small,
compact and well arched, dainty foot with toes well split up but not spread, pads cushioned with fine, short and strong pasterns.

Gait
The Chihuahua has a firm, swift movement with sturdy action. The reach is good as the front is equal to the rear drive. During movement in view of
the rear, the hocks remain parallel to each other, as the rear leg foot fall follows directly behind that of the forelegs. Front and rear legs converging
slightly as speed increases to a central line of gravity. Side view displays a good, strong drive in the rear and plenty of reach in the front, with head
carried high. The topline should remain firm and the backline level as the dog moves.

Approved to Premier Breed standards June 2, 2008
Effective July 23, 2008