The Chihuahua dog breed comes in many different sizes and shapes, but the thing that shows the variety of dogs is the different markings of Chihuahua breeds. It is quite remarkable how a small cute dog like Chihuahua and Teacup Chihuahua can have so many colors and marking variations.
Classifying and categorizing the different kinds of Chihuahua markings and Chihuahua colors do have a practical purpose. Dog organizations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) organize the Chihuahua markings and Chihuahua colors to identify which colors and markings bear official recognition by said organizations and which are not unofficial.
For the average person who wants to own a Chihuahua or a Teacup Chihuahua, knowing about the dog breed’s colors and pattern varieties can be used for eye candy purposes. Each potential owner of a Chihuahua dog has his/her preference for what kind of color or pattern he/she likes.
Below is a listing of the different types of Chihuahua markings and Chihuahua colors. All these colors and markings can be found in either a long-haired or short-haired Chihuahua. Some of the colors and markings are not officially acknowledged as the breed’s standard by dog organizations. make sure to read our guide about different types of chihuahua dog breeds
Markings of Chihuahua Breeds
Tri-Colored
This refers to Chihuahua’s coat that is a combination of three kinds of colors. The primary colors you can find in this marking are variations of brown and black with a tan shade. These colors are present in the dog’s ears, belly, eyes, legs, and the tip of the tail. Its underside is white as well as having spots of white or blaze on its face.
Marked
This particular marking on the dog’s solid-color body is uncommon or not unique to have a name marking. At first glance, it looks as if the dog has only two colors.
Piebald
Also known as Pied to some people. A Chihuahua with this marking has color only on its head, tail base, and a small part of its back. The rest of the dog’s coat is white. The white coloring of the dog is due to the lack of pigments in the dog’s hair. The Black Mask Piebald is another version of this marking.
Splashed
Compared to other Chihuahua markings, this particular marking has lots of colors and looks like it has been “splashed” all over the dog’s solid-colored coat. Though there are a lot of colors in a Splashed marking, the standard colors are white or tan. Some examples are Blue & Tan, Black & Red, and Fawn & White.
Irish Marked
A Chihuahua or Teacup Chihuahua has this kind of marking possesses a coat with a darker color combined with a chest, neck ring, legs, and a blaze that is colored white. Note that the neck ring pattern of the dog is either a full ring or a half ring.
Merle
Some people often mistake this marking as a color. It is just a pattern that has colors looking marbled or mottled in the dog’s coat. A Merle Chihuahua dog has eyes that are unique in color or is blue.
Brindle
A Brindle coat’s markings look like streaks and stripes that tend to be darker than the dog’s base coat. Any person looking at a Brindle Chihuahua might think that the dog looks like a tiger. Hence, its other name, “tiger-striped.”
Sable
Sable patterns can be found in any Chihuahua breed, though it is more prevalent with long-haired coat Chihuahuas. The hair on the dog’s topcoat is darker, unlike the bottom part of the coat. In some cases, the hair is darker at the top shaft while the bottom is lighter in color. The top coat’s color is blue, black, brown, or chocolate though Black is the standard color.
There are other Chihuahua markings and patterns, but since most of these markings and patterns are similar or redundant, they are not essential to list here.
Chihuahua Colors
There are many Chihuahua color examples, but the list of colors below has the well-known and prevalent color samples.
- Cream – To the casual observer, it almost looks like White. There are also actual White color markings on the cream-colored coat sometimes.
- Fawn – This is the typical color that one would usually see in the dog’s coat. Additionally, this color is trendy, and when one mentions the word “Chihuahua,” this color is the one that comes to mind for most people.
- Red – This color often varies from one Chihuahua to another. Some Red colors may look almost like Orange, while some tend to be darker than cream, and there is also a dark red color.
- Sable Fawn – A variation of the Fawn color. When the dog’s undercoat is lighter in color compared to the top layers of its hair, sable fawn color is the result. The Sable color is Blue, Brown, Chocolate, and Black, which is the most common.
- Gold – The actual color doesn’t look like Gold. It’s more like a dark amber color or honey color.
- Fawn & White – The head, neck, chest, and feet of the dog has White markings while the rest of the coat is Cream color.
- Chocolate and Tan with White – An excellent example of several colors mixed in a Tri-colored pattern. The primary color is Chocolate with Tan on the cheeks, eyes, legs with a combination of white on the dog’s face, chest, and legs.
- Black & Tan – The Chihuahua’s coat is all black except for the cheeks, chest, legs, the area above the eyes, and the tail’s underside.
- Chocolate and Tan – Same as Black & Tan with the Chocolate color replacing Black.
- Chocolate and White – Depending on each dog, the Chocolate color is either solid or is mixed with White markings around the dog’s face, chest, and legs.
- Black and White – As the name suggests, the Chihuahua has only two colors. Black is the predominant color while the face, chest, and legs are White.
- Blue and Tan with White – Another example of the Tri-colored pattern. The dog’s coat is Blue all over except for the eyes, back, and legs, which are tan while the face and the underside of the tail are White. Chest and legs are either Tan or White.
- Black Spotted on White – The dog is white in color with splashes or marking in Black. Sometimes a Tan color becomes a Tri-color pattern due to a mix of other colors.
- Blue – Not an actual Blue color despite the name. The color is actually a diluted Black mixed with other color markings. A real Blue Chihuahua has noses, nails, feet pads, and Blue eye rims.
- Blue and White – Expect for the face, chest, legs, and tail, which is White; the rest of the coat is mostly Blue.
What Is The Rarest Of Chihuahua Colors?
White is the rarest color or, to be more specific, a pure white Chihuahua. An actual White Chihuahua should have no trace of Cream or Fawn on their coat. The only colored parts are the nose and toenails, Black, while the eyes and nose are either Pink or Beige.
The color variety of the color and markings on a Chihuahua gives it an aesthetic look. Still, no matter what the color and markings, the Chihuahua is a fun, cute, and loving dog pet. It doesn’t matter as to what does the Chihuahua looks like. The important thing to remember is to give it the love, care, and companionship that every pet needs.
Source: teacupdogdaily
