Yo quiero Deer Head Chihuahua!
For those us us old enough to remember, the Deer Head Chihuahua burst into the public consciousness when he told us how much he really wanted a taco from Taco Bell. A couple of decades later and they have just grown in popularity.
So, what is the difference between a Chihuahua and a Deer Head Chihuahua?
IN THIS ARTICLE
What Is A Deer Head Chihuahua?
Apple Head Chihuahua Versus Deer Head Chihuahua
Deer Head Chihuahua Features
What is Their Temperament?
Health & Care
Diet
Puppy Care
Some Frequently Asked Questions!
Conclusion
What Is A Deer Head Chihuahua?
A Deer Head Chihuahua is a way of describing a specific trait in a Chihuahua. So while all Deer Head Chihuahuas are Chihuahuas, not all Chihuahuas are Deer Head Chihuahuas.
Confused? Don’t worry, you won’t be for long.
Apple Head Chihuahua Versus Deer Head Chihuahua
You may have heard of both Deer Head and Apple Head Chihuahuas. The major difference between the two is, you guessed it, their heads.
Deer Head Chihuahuas have a longer, more angular, slender face and snout. From their face to the end of their nose is about a 45 degree angle. Their head is quite literally shaped like a deer head, hence the name.
Apple Head Chihuahuas have a smaller, rounder head, with a short snout. Their head and snouts almost make a 90 degree angle. They get their name because their head is smaller and shaped similarly to an apple.
What is the Difference Between Deer Head and Apple Head Chihuahuas?
Here are a few more differences between the two.
| Apple Head | Trait | Deer Head |
| large | Eyes | average |
| short, 90 degrees | Snout | long and narrow |
| long | Ears | really long |
| soft spot | Skull | rarely has soft spot |
| short | Neck | long |
| stout and stocky | Body | long and slender |
| can be territorial of their human | Temperament | less aggressive* (this may be heresay) |
| breed standard | AKC | can register, cannot show |
Deer Head Chihuahua Features
As we stated above, the Deer Head is really a trait rather than a specific breed. So, they really can possess many features that you would already associate with a Chihuahua.
For example, you can have a Deer Head Chihuahua with either long hair or a smooth coat. The long hair may even have an undercoat to it.
Unfortunately, they do tend to shed quite a bit and they are not a hypoallergenic breed. But, if allergies are not an issue for you, that won’t be a problem.
Deer Heads tend to be a little larger than Apple Heads. They will typically weigh somewhere in the 7 to 10 lb range. They will also have an average height of around 8″ to 12″.
What is Their Temperament?
Chihuahuas are fun loving, loyal, affectionate, and playful…for the most part. When they find their human, they will have an undying attachment to them…and in some cases, only them.
For this reason, Deer Head Chihuahuas don’t make great pets for children or family pets. They are perfect for apartment life or a couple with a small home.
As we said, they love to play and have a lot of energy. They do not like to be away from their human and will likely be in your lap or by your side most of the day.
Like a lot of small dogs, they suffer from the “small dog syndrome”. If they hear a noise they will bark…a lot. It’s a good idea to start some form of obedience training from an early age to temper this behavior.
Obedience training will also help with keeping them calm when around visitors, especially visitors with kids. You will also want to socialize them from an early age to keep them from developing too many bad, territorial habits.
Chihuahuas are intelligent and can pick up on training pretty easily. However, they can be pretty stubborn and will take consistency for their training to really take hold.
Diet, Health & Care
The diet, health, and care of your Chihuahua’s all kind of intermingle together. So we included them in one section together.
Diet
Chihuahuas are pretty sensitive to changes in their diets and are most often best suited to specialty blends. They are also notoriously picky eaters so you may need to try out a few different brands until they find one they like.
Chihuahuas should eat around 400 calories a day of dry, small kibble dog food. They do best with foods that are dense in both protein and healthy fats. Your vet will be able to give you much more specific feeding advice for your pet if you have any questions.
Care
Deer Head Chihuahuas follow the same coat rules as any other Chihuahua. Meaning that they can have either a long coat or a smooth coat.
With a smooth coat you should try brushing them at least once a week to remove dirt, debris, and any excess hair that has not been shed. A long coat should be brushed at least 3 times a week. They may also have an undercoat. Regular grooming will make sure they do not become matted and suffer any health effect from that.
Exercise
Chihuahua’s have a very high metabolism. That just means they burn the energy they get from their food very quickly. That means they do not need a ton of exercise.
It’s best to walk them once a day for about 30 minutes but you can probably get away with a few times a week. Just monitor their weight as an under exercised Chihuahua can become obese.
Potential Health Issues
The good news is that Deer Head Chihuahuas are often times healthier than their Apple Head counterparts. That is primarily because Apple Head Chihuahuas are bred to be extremely small.
When a dog is intentionally bred for a specific trait, they will sometimes suffer from short comings in other areas.
As mentioned above, obesity can become a problem with a Chihuahua. Since they are so small, any fluctuations in weight can make a drastic difference to them.
For example. If your dog usually weighs 8 lbs and gains 2 lbs, that is a total weight increase of 20%. It’s not an exact comparison but is similar to a 200 lb person suddenly gaining an extra 50 lbs. The stress on their joints and bones, as well as their cardiovascular system can be extreme.
Somewhat related, but not always weight related, is patella luxation. This is a phenomenon that occurs in many smaller breed dogs, like Yorkies and Chihuahuas. Essentially, their knee cap can become inflamed and slips out of place, or dislocates.
It is not necessarily very painful but can be pretty uncomfortable. If your dog starts limping or favoring one of their back legs for seemingly no reason, that is a potential sign.
Chihuahuas can sometimes get gum disease. This is when the gums around the teeth become inflamed and potentially become infected. You can help avert this with regular checkups, brushings, and even an oral spray.
Another way to help prevent this is by only feeding them dry food. Wet food can stick to their teeth which can accelerate tooth decay.
Many small breed dogs also can experience hypoglycemia. That just means they can have low blood sugar. This can be avoided by making sure that they are either fed on a regular schedule or always have access to food if they prefer to graze.
You also want to avoid giving them human food, especially sweets. Dog food is specially formulated to take their sugar levels into account. So when we give them something that we like, it may not work well with their system.
Puppies are even more sensitive to dietary changes. It is best to keep them on a puppy specific blend of food until they reach maturity.
Puppy Care
Puppies, in general, are a big responsibility. Chihuahuas are no different. In fact, they may take a bit more attention and care because they are so small. Here are a few things to take note of when you buy a Deer Head Chihuahua puppy.
Breeder
This may be the most important part of the selection process. All other considerations will filter through the quality of the breeder.
You will want to make sure that your breeder is breeding responsibly. Many puppy mills will hide behind the guise of a home breeder. If possible, tour their breeding facility. Make sure the parents are in good health.
You can ask if they have testimonials from previous customers. You can also do your own independent research online to find out if they have a good reputation.
Age
A responsible breeder will not let you take a puppy home too early. Most times this means the earliest is at 8 weeks of age but should really be in the 10-12 week age range.
This gives the breeder time to get a health check, a round of vaccines, and ensures the puppy has had time to be weened from their mother.
If you find a breeder who is not waiting long enough to let their puppies go to their new homes, that is a big red flag.
Price
Most often you can find Deer head Chihuahuas for sale in the $400 to $1,200 range. This will, of course, depend on location and the specific puppy’s progeny.
While the Deer Head shape is not an AKC accepted standard, the puppies are still considered to be pure bred and are thus priced accordingly.
Some Frequently Asked Questions!
Here are some of the more common questions we were asked about Deer Head Chihuahuas.
Q1. Are Deer Head Chihuahuas Purebred?
A Deer Head Chihuahua can be a pure bred Chihuahua. It is considered a trait and not a separate breed. So, while they can be registered with the AKC they do not meet the breed standard and thus are unable to compete in competitive dog shows.
There is a campaign to have Deer Head Chihuahuas considered for competition as well. But as of the time of this writing, they do not meet the breed standards set forth by the AKC.
Q2. Can You Breed Deer Head With Apple Head Chihuahuas?
Yes. Since they are a variance of a breed and not a specific breed themselves, you can breed them together. Due to the way that genetics work, you may end up with a split of Apple Head and Deer Head puppies.
Q3. How Long Do They Live?
15 – 20 years
Often times, small breed dogs live longer lives than large, or even medium, breed dogs. That is one of the reasons they make such great companions.
Q4. Are They Rare?
Deer Head Chihuahuas are considered a trait and not a specific breed. They are not particularly rare. The more rare occurrences of Deer Head Chihuahuas are more centered on colors, with black and pure white being the least common.
Q5. Why Do Chihuahuas Shake?
Being such a small breed of dog with such a high energy level, they also have a really high metabolism. This can often lead to them finding their environment to be cooler than they would prefer. This, along with a bit more of a high strung personality leads to them shaking more than other dog breeds.
Q6. Do Chihuahuas Make Good Family Dogs?
Chihuahuas can be very sweet and loving pets. However, they almost always bond with a single family member as opposed to the entire family.
Due to their size and the phenomenon known as small dog syndrome, they can tend to be territorial and sometimes aggressive toward anyone other than their chosen human.
Because of these reasons, they are not usually considered good family pets and are better suited to singles or couples living in smaller spaces, like an apartment.
Q7. Do Chihuahuas Like The Cold?
No. In fact, one of the reasons they shake so much is because they are more sensitive to the cold than some other breeds. They are definitely more comfortable in warmer regions. That doesn’t mean they can’t like in colder places, but they prefer the warmth.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article to be informative. The Deer Head Chihuahua truly is a fantastic breed and can make a perfect pet and/or companion for the right home.
Do you have a Deer Head Chihuahua? Thinking of getting one? Let us know about your experiences in the comment section below.
