All About
Applehead
Chihuahua Dogs
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Applehead Chihuahua
By Stephanie Hetu
The term applehead Chihuahua refers to the shape of a baby
Chihuahua's head. The dome of the skull is broader than the jaw,
giving rise to the description "applehead". It takes into account
that the top of the head has a slight depression. This depression
is called a molera (Spanish for fontanel) and corresponds to the
"soft spot" on a baby's head. Some Chis have it--some don't.
There was disagreement for a while over whether the presence of a
molera on an applehead Chihuahua was a bad thing and should be
considered a demerit for lineage assessment. Recently, this has
been seen as totally discountable. The presence or absence of a
molera has NO bearing on a Chihuahua's pedigree.
On October 30, 1990, the American Kennel Club adopted a set of
standards for the Chihuahua as a breed. It did not differ from
the prior April 14, 1943, standard. Listed under "Head" is the
following description: "A well rounded "apple dome" skull, with
or without molera." So although the official description of the
applehead Chihuahua is "apple dome", there's no disputing the AKC
Official Breed Standard for "Expression": Saucy!
The AKC Breed Standard weight limit for a Chi is 6 pounds. If
your young applehead Chihuahua gains too much weight, the
"appleheaded-ness" will disappear earlier than through simple
aging. As in humans, too much weight puts a strain on all
systems, especially the heart. Be nice to your pet and don't feed
it huge meals or table scraps.
Additionally, the tiny legs of an applehead Chihuahua cannot
easily support gross extra weight. They will develop a condition
called slipped stifles, which is an injury of the knee caused by
patella fracturing. It can be fixed with an operation, but that
is an expense and pain that you do not need to incur. Be sure to
get your applehead Chihuahua from a breeder that has carefully
checked its breeding stock for inheritable weaknesses. And for
sure, don't let your Chi jump down from your arms or other high
places. Their joints just cannot take the stress.
You'll keep your applehead Chihuahua healthy for as much of the
15 year lifespan as possible if you limit its food and correctly
provide the exercise it--and YOU--demand!
Stephanie Hetu
Chihuahua Chic
Exquisite designer chihuahua products. 'Cause your Chi deserves
the best, just like you.
http://www.chihuahua-chic.com/
Reprinted with permission
Copyright © 2005
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