we have all heard the term teacup chihuahua, but what do the terms apple head and deerhead mean when it comes to describing characteristics of the chihuahua breed and what exactly makes an apple head chihuahua different from a deerhead chihuahua?
the term apple head is used to describe any chihuahua with a round or ‘dome-like’ head similar to the shape of an apple. the upper part of the chihuahua’s skull is wider than the lower part in the jaw area.
if you look close at the top of the skull of most chihuahuas, you will notice that it is slightly sunken in just like the top of an apple. this area is called molera, a spanish word for ‘fontanel’, or any membranous gap between the bones of the cranium in an infant or fetus and it is similar to the ‘soft spot’ that human babies have on their heads upon birth.
according to chihuahua breed standards, the term apple head is required in the description of the ‘head’ of a chihuahua that includes an apple domed skull with either the presence or absence of molera. it is also used when referencing chihuahua puppies at an age where it is noticeable.
the term deer head is used to describe any chihuahua that does not have the characteristic apple shaped head. deer head chihuahuas tend to have a longer noses and a head shape similar to that of a miniature young deer. they also tend to have less chihuahua health problems.
in this picture of teaka the famous chihuahua you can see deer-like features, but she is an apple head chihuahua, so it can be confusing at times. at birth she was given the temporary name of fawn, which means a young deer under a year old.
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related: what is a blue chihuahua?
apple head and deer head chihuahua names
clothing for apple head and deerhead chihuahuas
article source: chihuahuadogcare.com/applehead-chihuahuas
skull photo source: skullsunlimited.com/chihuahua-skull.html
Comments 183
Not to sound “snobby” about it, but I believe that the Deerhead Chihuahuas are the original type! They were wild, land dogs in Mexico, descended from a dog called Techichi which lived with the Toltec Indians in the 9th century. The Appleheads have been selectively bred by mankind from their Deerhead ancestors over relatively recent years to have that Applehead appearance.
I had a long hair male applehead chihuahua for 16 years and he died I miss him so much he was my baby and would love to have another one I live in O’Fallon Illinois and can not find one if anyone knows where I can get a puppy let me know please I have a Shih Tzu and he really misses him I think he is depressed now so I would really like to find him a playmate
I had an miniature apple head and she fought parvo and won I prayed for her so much to come out of it and I cried just as much. I had her for 20 yrs. she passed away on December 8, 2013 the day after I had a nasty massive heart attack, My husband told me the next day that she had passed thank God I was already in the hospital because I had another heart attack. I felt I had nothing left when I lost her. My other chihuahua was never a lap dog like Missy was but when I went home from the hospital she came and sat in my lap all day and she has been there ever since. I now own 3 boy chihuahua’s. I love them more then anything they are my babies.
I love my Bella. I adopted her from humane society. It was rough at first with her. She was very aggressive, barked all the time at me, and tried to bite me few times.Bella took to my husband right away. The previous owner couldn’t keep her for reasons unknown. Then she was adopted out but returned to humane society. She was aggressive and didn’t like cats. We took a chance on her. It took Bella 6 weeks to adjust to me where she wasn’t crazy and out of control. We’ve been together for 4 months and I wouldn’t trade her in for the world. She was just misunderstood chi.
I have an Applehead Chihuahua, but he has longer legs. Does that means he’s not an Applehead like I was told?
It was interesting reading everyone’s comments about their chihuahuas…My little Miguel passed 3 yrs ago.. I could not think of getting another dog…I miss him so much…he was my baby…I now feel I am ready to love another chi…he was a deer head and I do prefer them. I liver near Pittsburgh and have been looking…if anyone knows where I can find one please let me know. Thank you!
My deer head chi is a long hair red sable and she is very loving but also independent not clingy she loves to play inside and out chases snowballs in the winter and loves long walks in the summer . I would love some recipes for her dinners . I really hate dog food from the stores . She greets me at the door when I come home from work and sleeps at the foot of my bed such a blessing Just saying.
My female is an Deerhead/Applehead she has a longer snout than my male Applehead,and her neck is slimmer she also has longer leg’s but not that much loner and her ears are bigger,she is 1yr her name is Chiquita. My male is 2yrs his name is Chico and their pup’s name is Scrappy so far ge look’s more like an Applehead and he has a bit of black on the roof of his mouth eere niether of his parent’s have any black he was born Oct 14th 2016 at 7:32pm he wieght 4.4oz now he already wieghs 1.5Lbs
My bridle deerhead(12 years old)and white applehead(5 years)got naughty after years of no interest in eachother But still safe separation during heat somehow produced but beautiful puppies. I kept the long hair runt and the identical to the dad brindle, fixed them all after that and carefully found free good homes. I must say the deerhead in my experience seems more clingy and tends to be a one person dog doesn’t like anyone else. Is it just me?? Lol the apples are more passive.
I have a four month old fawn colour very tiny gorgeous boy weighing only 1.2 kilo …he is amazing and I have never felt the love I feel for animals until I got him. Im sure he has the apple head with deer face and snout?? Whatever face and head I wouldn’t change him for the world! He seems to have a small pinkish patch on his forehead which looks as if his hair has thinned? Does anyone have an idea what this could be? My husband thought he had banged his head!!! But it doesn’t look like a bruise to me.. Thankyou
Hello I have a apple head first time having a Dog. So small but very active. Name is Tyson. only 2 months just so much fun already
I just lost my Deer Head Chi. I’m looking for another one but I can’t pay a lot. I’m Shreveport, La if anyone has any I could see! I’m lost without my baby, please help!
Hi, ive just bought a chihuahua boy puppy dad was deer head and mum was apple head. He has a big over bite his bottom jaw is way smaller than his top where his nose is.. Is this normal and will i have issues. He still eats soft hard doggy biscuits and eats wet food no problems
Regards Lisa
I have a Deer Head Chihuahuas his left side leg looks and is longer he is having some trouble getting up
I am a woman who has had animals literally, without missing a day since I was born. Animals are my passion.
I had to retire at 55 as I developed a health problem; but that has never interfered with my being able to care for my pets. My last pet was a deer head, pure white, smooth coat, female named Cassie. I train dogs and briefly I use few words, never tell an animal they are bad. My tone stays the same for good and bad behaviour. I feel animals know by vibs they get from us, what they have done. Also no matter what the breed, big or small I train a ” no bark”. My reason for that is they do a lot of unnecessary barking and humans end up abusing the dog. I cannot tolerate that. Of course they still do guarding. They use their ears and nose and if they are totally convinced of trouble instinct takes over and they will bark to warn you. If you have an animal that barks excessively how are you ever going to know there is trouble!
I won’t go on but I would like to know if there are any reputable breeders of the deer head Chi’s in Alberta, Canada? I find all the breeders that I am close to on Face book all breed the Apple head. Now these are gorgeous pups being bread, for sure. I just have not found anyone who breeds deer heads. I am lost not having one. My Cassie died a few years ago and I so miss her.
Please if you are as mentioned above, would you consider going on Face book? That way we get to see the whole family. It would be nice to see that it would stimulate some more teaching opportunity to people who really don’t understand differences and that there is no special Chi called a teacup.
Thank you for people’s time. Hope to see you on F.T.
This is Princess Gertrude Stein. She lived to be 14 yrs old before she tragically passed. She was a true teacup applehead chihuahua. She weighed a documented 2lbs 8oz. got up to 3lbs once (When grandma watched her).
Love & Miss her dearly.
https://scontent.fphx1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/419456_3486878491927_827260278_n.jpg?oh=b6734eba2b23cde2f7637b1b7bf17006&oe=55EA07C4
I am blessed with a little guy we call “chicken”. and he is anything but. he has the apple shaped head and long, very long legs. his eyes are circled with a white ish color short hair that continues down to he top of his little pink snout, which is also a bit longer than most that ive seen. he weighs in at an even 4.5 lbs and loves my lap. unless he can get to the top of my head! he will sit there for ever if I let him. his the cutest and by far the smallest dog I have ever had. I love him dearly
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i have a teacup chi, I don’t know if she is Apple or dear and I don’t care. My bulldog picked her and then he passed over to rainbow bridge and I don’t care what she is. She weighed less than2lb and she is my rock. Her name is Valentine and I salute her no matter what her head shape is.
I have a deer head chihuahua. He’s tall and longer than any apple head chihuahua. I think the deer headed chihuahuas are direct decedents of the Techichi.
I have sibling pups from the same litter. One is a deer head (boy) and the other is an apple head (girl). How the heck does that happen?
had adeerhead chihuahuashe was 5year old she got cancel had to put her down on christmes eve
I have 3 chi 2 apple heads and the that is half in half but more of a deer head my 1st is almost 6years old weights 2 pounds the 2nd is 4 years old and the 3rd is 6 pounds she’s the biggest one cause she’s more like a deer I love them with all my heart and soul I have had beast cancer in 2005 by the time I was done I thought u know I want what I want and I’m getting it than I wanted another than I had ovainary cancer sage 3b got thru that and said it again.
The deer head more closely resembles the archaic, indigenous forms of northern mexico. they were taller (longer legged) and had a medium coat but there is a definite resemblance in the head. there is a lot of archeological evidence of the dog in pre-columbia america. some were apparently personal pets but most would have had to survive with minimal care which would limit them from becoming too small. the apple head seems to have been the result of intentional breeding from after the 1870s and in the introduction of kennel club breeds. since all dogs are descended from wolves the narrow skull would have been the ancestral form.
@mary Kribbs
some owners cook for their dogs instead of feeding store bought food. if that’s what they fed him for the first 2yrs of his life then that’s what he is use to. you can go online and look up dog food recipes and you’ll find some that will satisfy him.(I cook for Chida my min-pin-chi). she has the little deer head with the big ears and min-pin body. you should see her .