FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Looking for a unique canine that has a great personality? Then, the Deer Head Chihuahua is just what the doc ordered for you. These small canines are part of the two types of Chihuahuas with the other being the Apple Head Chihuahuas. Unlike the Apple Head Chihuahua, the Deer Head Chihuahua is not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) or any other kennel clubs. As a result, there isn't any official breed standard for the Deer Head Chihuahuas. This has led to many owners of the deer-shaped variant advocating for its inclusion as an official breed of Chihuahua. While you can register them with the American Kennel Club (AKC), this breed is not allowed to participate in any type of dog sports.
Scroll down to read more about the Deer Head Chihuahua. Take a look at the Papillon Chihuahua and Long-Haired Chihuahua for more info on other canines.
As the name suggests, this dog is a type of Chihuahua whose head closely resembles a deer head.
The Deer Head Chihuahuas, along with the Apple Head Chihuahuas, belong to the class of Mammalia or mammals. Like all breeds, both the Apple Head and Deer Head Chihuahuas have the scientific name Canis lupus familiaris.
While Chihuahuas are quite popular amongst dog lovers, the ones that the AKC ranks are the Apple Head Chihuahuas which are the 37th most popular amongst 197 dog breeds. There is no such record for the Deer Head Chihuahuas. As a result of this, there aren't official records for this breed but that shouldn't be a cause for concern. This is because both the Apple Head and Deer Head Chihuahuas are found all over the world and their population is nowhere close to being in decline.
Domesticated dog breeds are not found in the wild and the Deer Head Chi breed is no exception to that. Although primarily found in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America, they have their distribution spread all over the world in tandem with their cousins, the Apple Heads. They are found in the houses and apartments of their owners. Deer Head Chihuahuas tend to be suitable for living in the apartment as they aren't that active as a breed of dogs.
These canines are most comfortable living in the houses and apartments of their owners. This is due to the simple fact that these little dogs love their families. Deer Heads have the reputation of being sassy and fiery. While they are not mean, that reputation is not misplaced. Yet, this aggressiveness comes down to the training that they receive from their owners. If they are well trained with early socialization practices, the Deer Head Chi will be very well behaved. However, once their nervous energy is misdirected, these dogs are prone to biting and fiercely barking at people. This can be said for the Apple Heads as well. Yet, there are reports that say that these Chihuahuas are less aggressive than Apple Head Chihuahuas.
Exercise-wise, these small dogs do not have any specific needs and if you are searching for dogs that are less active physically, then this breed should easily be your first choice. Yet, these dogs do not do well in cold temperatures, as their body heat is used up due to a high rate of metabolism. If you own a short-haired Deer Head Chihuahua, the dog will need your assistance in staying warm throughout the winter months.
While Deer Head and Apple Head Chihuahuas like to be cuddled and petted by their owners, this dog breed will be terribly uncomfortable and, in some cases, violent when at the receiving end of the same behavior from strangers.
This canine breed can be the perfect fun-loving companion dog for you and your family. This small dog leaves with its owners and is suitable for households with older children who know how to handle themselves around this breed. The Apple Heads and the Deer Heads are, however, prone to separation anxiety. When trained, they might do well for themselves when left alone. Yet, there have been cases where these small dogs have shown severe anxiety and destructive behaviors when left alone. Surprisingly, Deer Head and Apple Head Chihuahuas get along well with cats. They might not do so with other breeds of dogs, but they do well with other dogs of the Chihuahua breed, including their cousin the Apple Head Chihuahua.
Chihuahuas, in general, are dogs, that enjoy a longer life than most other breeds. This variant of the Chihuahuas generally lives between 12-15 years. However, with proper care and no underlying health issues, this dog shows a lifespan that can reach up to 20 years. This is the same for Apple Head Chihuahuas as well.
The one problem that owners of Deer Head Chihuahuas face is that you might miss the first heat cycle of this dog breed. This is caused as a result of the cleanliness on the part of the Chihuahuas. Before you realize that they are in heat, female Chihuahuas will clean away any sign of their heat cycle. Mating and breeding for the Chihuahuas are the same as any other dog. The gestation period may vary between 58-66 days, with some cases being observed where the Deer Head Chi gives birth at around 68 days. If your dog shows no sign of giving birth even after 68 days, you should immediately contact the vet. The litter size of the Chihuahuas consists of one to four Deer Head Chihuahua puppies, although the size may rise up to six in the case of older Chihuahuas. Young Deer Head Chihuahuas usually have a smaller litter.
The breed of Deer Head Chihuahuas has not been listed in any of the conservation lists maintained by various organizations. The AKC tells us that the Apple Head Chi is quite popular as pets, however, they do not consider the Deer Head Chi to be a part of the breed. As a result, even though they are quite popular, no official records have been kept for them.
Deer Head Chihuahuas can be distinguished from Apple Head Chihuahuas by their distinct body structure and physical appearance. This dog has a smooth coat that can be both short-haired and long-haired. The color of this long coat and short coat varies from black, tan, and fawn. While the black Chihuahua is becoming quite popular, completely white Deer Head Chihuahuas are rare.
Now, the most recognizable feature of this Chihuahua type is the head shape. They are quite similar in appearance to that of a deer's head and hence the name. The muzzle of this Chihuahua variant is also unique. They have a long muzzle in their deer-shaped head which is quite sloping. This dog also has large ears. Interestingly, Deer Head Chihuahuas are slightly bigger than apple-shaped Chihuahuas, which is best characterized by the longer legs the Deer Head Chihuahuas possess.
With their sloping heads and overall appearance, the deer head version of the Chihuahua is quite cute. However, do not let their appearance fool you as these dogs can have fiery and sassy temperaments. Both the long coat and the short coat Chihuahuas are beautiful dogs. You might spend your entire day looking after the shenanigans of your Chihuahua.
Both the Chihuahua breeds are very communicative. They are always up for fun activities with their owners. If they want something, they will let you know through physical and auditory cues. These dogs have loud barks and they are always ready to defend you from any kind of dangers. Despite being small, Chihuahuas have no problem going up against larger canines or animals.
Deer Head Chihuahuas are generally bigger than their apple head counterparts. As there are no official breed standards, the height of these Chihuahuas can differ. Generally, these canines have a height at their shoulder which varies from 8-12 in (20.3-30.5 cm). In comparison, they are almost twice the size of the apple head teacup Chihuahuas.
Chihuahuas have a running speed that can vary between the range of 8-21 mph (12.9-33.8 kph). This holds true for this variant of Chihuahuas as well. While you cannot give these Chihuahuas training to run faster, you can give them the training to be stronger and healthy.
As we have mentioned before, Deer Head Chihuahuas are larger than Apple Head Chihuahuas. Again, as there are no breed standards set by the AKC or others, there is no specified weight range for them. However, most Deer Head Chihuahuas weigh around 10 lb (4.5 kg), which is around 4 lb (1.8 kg) more than the apple-headed variant. Be careful not to have your Chihuahua overweight or obese as this will lead to a plethora of health problems.
Like most other canines, male and female Chihuahuas are simply known as dogs and bitches respectively.
A baby Chihuahua can be simply referred to as a puppy or a pup.
Being a small-sized dog, the metabolism rate of the Deer Head Chi is quite high. As a result, they need a high amount of calorie-rich food. Based on their body weight, you may feed them anywhere between 300-400 cal of food. Due to their size, Chihuahuas are known to picky eaters.
No, Deer Head Chihuahuas are not slobbery in nature. They are hardly ever seen drooling.
Of course, these canines would make for great pets. They are good dogs to have if you are a novice pet owner and they are also quite easy to care for. They come at a price range that varies between $400-$1200 US dollars; however, most can get them at an even lower price as this breed is not recognized by the AKC. Grooming them can be tricky especially for the long-haired one as more debris gets attached to the coat. Regular care can solve this problem and lead to your dog having a smooth coat.
These canines are also great with children and family members, while early socialization and training can help them curb their hostility towards other pets and strangers.
There was a Deer Head Chi named Gidget who became famous in the 1990s after appearing in Taco Bell commercials.
Deer-headed variants of the Chihuahua are not hypoallergic as they are known for shedding.
A Deer-Head Chi called Moonie starred as Bruiser Woods in the Legally Blonde film franchise.
While they have the predisposition for being aggressive, the deer heads are not mean in any way. They are loving and loyal animals that will always defend their owners. They may be hostile towards strangers and other canine pets, but that can be controlled through proper training.
The Deer Head vs Apple Head Chihuahua debate has been raging for a long time. While Apple Heads are considered true Chihuahuas by the AKC, deer-headed ones are not. Apple-headed ones have a head that is quite obviously shaped like a rounded apple with the skull joining the snout at a perfect 90-degree angle. They also have a soft spot called molera on their heads which are seen less frequently on deer-headed ones. For their muzzle, deer-headed variants have a longer muzzle. The ears too are a distinguishing factor with deer-headed ones having larger ears. Physically, apple-shaped Chihuahuas are smaller as well.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our African palm civet facts and red pandas fun facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Deer Head Chihuahua coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.