What Is a Blue Chihuahua?
No, a blue chihuahua isn't a cute lap dog with emotional issues. The term "blue" is often used by animal breeders to denote gray fur color. Chihuahua's come in many different colors and coat textures. Blue chihuahuas are not seen in the population as often as other coat colors, because their gray color is caused by a recessive gene. But don't be fooled by the term "blue." Blue chihuahuas do actually exist.
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Blue Color Variations
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Blue chihuahuas can be all blue or have two-color combinations such as blue and white. The gray color in their coats can be patterned or a component of a multicolored coat.
Coat Length
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Blue chihuahuas come in many different coat textures and lengths. According to the Official American Kennel Club Breed Standard, chihuahuas come in two varieties based on their coat types: the long coat and the smooth coat.
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Parents of Blues
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Blue chihuahuas are the offspring of two parents who each carry the recessive trait for gray fur. The parents of blue chihuahuas don't necessarily have to have blue coats themselves.
Breed Standards
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The official American Kennel Club Breed Standard for chihuahuas allows them to be almost any color combination. Blues have to have self-colored (gray-colored) noses. This standard is important to keep in mind if you are the owner of a blue chihuahua that you would like to present at an AKC-associated dog show.
Health Problems
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According to the Chihuahua Club of America, there are often genes for birth defects and undesirable traits on the gene that is linked to the coat color in chihuahuas. For instance, the genes that are linked to blue coat color and the merle pattern often come linked with serious health problems. For this reason, reputable dog breeders never breed a merle chihuahua with another merle chihuahua or a blue chihuahua with another blue chihuahua. Pet owners who are considering breeding their chihuahuas can have them tested for color inheritance-linked traits.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ken Bosma
