Pudelpointer vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison

The short haired Chihuahua is such a recognizable dog breed, probably because of his tiny size, but did you know that you also get a long haired variety?

Looking quite a bit like a Pomeranian, the only difference between the two types of Chihuahua is the length of the coat.

This small dog dates back to Mayan times and while it may well have originated in Mexico, its popularity saw it becoming a sought after pet in other countries too.

To get the long haired Chihuahua, breeding programs were established and the short-haired variety was mated with other long haired toy sized dogs such as the Pomeranian and the Yorkshire Terrier.

The Pudelpointer is cross between the Poodle and the English Pointer. The first Pudelpointer was bred in 1881 by Baron Von Zedlitz in Germany.

The idea was to bring about a gun dog highly skilled in tracking and retrieving. The Pudelpointer was introduced to North America in 1956, and in 1977 the Pudelpointer Club of North America was established.

Because breeders have avoided recognition by the American Kennel Club, the Pudelpointer never became a well known breed in the United States.

Your long haired Chihuahua will have a coat that is soft and slightly wavy. He weighs between 1 and 3kg and stands at about 15 – 23cm. He generally sheds throughout the year with a couple of heavier shedding periods during the year.

Don’t be fooled by the long, thick hair on the long haired Chihuahua as it doesn’t protect him from the cold – in fact he doesn’t tolerate the cold well at all, and is essentially an indoor dog. The ears are erect and feathery and the tail is full and plumed, lying over the back. He has a ruff on the neck, which is often described as a mane.

Temperament:

Chihuahuas are such bright-as-a-button little dogs and they’re intelligent too.

It’s difficult to say how a dog’s temperament will turn out, because breed, lifestyle and the type of owners can all make a dog a certain way.

Socialization and training can sometimes help with a dog that has bad genes. There are some people who say the Long haired Chihuahua is a nasty, aggressive little dog who’ll easily give you a nip but they’ve got a good reputation with many other dog lovers.

They love their own human family but may take quite a while to chill towards other people and other dogs too. They’re more ‘birds of a feather flock together’ type of dogs, preferring to get on with other Chihuahua dogs.

The Pudelpointer stands at between 55 and 68cm in height and weighs between 20 and 30kg. He is a medium sized dog with a weather resistant, double-layered coat. The coat doesn’t shed much and is usually a brown, chestnut, liver or black color.

The coat is usually dense, harsh and wiry. They have floppy ears with quite a unique feature - the mustache on the muzzle. The tail is docked, with about 30% being removed, giving the dog an attractive, distinctive look.

Temperament:

Full of energy, the lively Pudelpointer will love to find himself in a family where they are active, outdoorsy types. He loves water too, and when out on a hike, if there’s water around, he’ll be the first to jump right in.

He’s an intelligent dog too, eager to please and ready to learn. He can easily be trained and socialized. He is loyal, calm and loving and will get on well around children and other animals in the home. He is also protective and makes a good watchdog.

The Chihuahua is such a feisty, courageous, confident little dog who also believes that he is part- lion. He is loving, sweet and gentle and just loves being picked up and petted non-stop. He looks up at you, moving his front paws up and down to tell you that he wants to be picked up.

He is in 7th heaven when he can be cuddled up in your lap. You just have to teach your children to be very careful with him and not enter into games with him that are too rough and tumble. Tiny he may be but he makes a great watchdog too, barking and alerting you to strangers.

His small size makes him perfect for life in the city or in the countryside. Just be careful when in the countryside lest an Eagle or Owl scoop him up and carry him off to some faraway nest.

He doesn’t need a great deal of exercise either and you can actually keep him happily busy with some games indoors. He’ll always welcome walks with you though.

This small dog is full of life and confidence and he is ready to be your constant, loving companion.

The Pudelpointer may well be a gun dog but when it comes to his human family he is a social, loving companion.

He is intelligent too and can be easily trained. When at home with his human family, he is calm and content. He will however need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. In exchange for your love and care, he will be a good watchdog, protector, pet and friend.

With good care, you’ll have your long haired Chihuahua with you for a long time – 15 years and longer.

Parasites:

Make sure to de-worm your Chihuahua. Worms and other parasites can be deadly for your pet and the vet will do preventative deworming on a regular basis.

You Chihuahua will need to be vaccinated when he is a puppy and even when he is an adult, although less often. These vaccines will protect your Chihuahua from the likes of parvo, distemper and rabies. Have your chihuahua spayed or neutered.

There are so many puppies in the world who can’t find homes. Desexing your Chihuahua is a responsible way to ensure your pet doesn’t have puppies. Spaying and neutering can actually be beneficial for your dog’s health.

The Pudelpointer is active and healthy and can live up to 14 years and maybe even longer with good care.

Owners will do well to know about a couple of the common dog illnesses that can strike at any time -

Bloat:

Some dogs are more at risk for bloating. Larger dogs with deep chests are at greater risk. To help with preventing this deadly ailment, feed your dog a couple of smaller meals a day instead of one big meal that he gobbles up quickly.

Bloat is a medical condition which comes about with a rapid accumulation of gas in the stomach. Canine bloat or gastric dilatation and volvulus is a killer disease. The accumulation of gas can cause the stomach to twist and the dog can go into shock.

Your dog will be trying to vomit, he’ll be panting and pacing, drooling with a hard, swollen stomach.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common illness or condition seen in many dogs, young and old, large and small.It’s a disease which can lead to pain, arthritis and lameness.

Ear Infections:

The Pudelpointer has floppy ears and loves swimming. The floppy ears are at risk for developing ear infections. Check inside the ears that they aren’t red or have a discharge. Your dog will be scratching his ears a lot.

Grooming:

The pint-sized long-haired Chihuahua isn’t going to take up too much of your time in terms of grooming. Make sure you brush him at least twice a week to ensure his long hair doesn’t tangle. Small dogs are prone to dental problems, so try and brush his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week with special doggy toothbrush- and toothpaste.

General Care:

Take your puppy Chihuahua to the vet for his regular vaccinations to prevent him getting dangerous illnesses.

Feed him a high quality dog food. He is a high energy dog so buy high quality food that caters for small, lively dogs. Try and feed him such home made food from time to time. Remember that with small dogs, high-salt diets can contribute to kidney problems.

Never overfeed your Chihuahua as obesity opens up major health problems in Chihuahuas.

Brush your PudelPointer twice a week to get rid of loose hairs.

Grooming can be an awesome bonding experience for you and your dog. While you’re brushing him, check him over for any unusual lumps.

Trim the nails if they don’t wear down naturally themselves.

Check inside the mouth for rotting teeth which can be a source of pain and lot of diseases in the body.

Exercise is very important and can come in the form of a walk every day or hikes, swimming as well as ball- and rope games and hide-and-seek.

Provide your dog with a nice warm, comfortable place to sleep.

Your PudelPointer can get to 14 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to be sure your pet gets some nutritious home-made food too.

Make sure that the kibble is the high quality ones with lots of vitamins and minerals. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet – plain and simply just like dogs love it. Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.

Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.