Chihuahua Grooming Tips & Styles

It is known that dynamite comes in small packages, and the Chihuahua surely doesn’t make an exception to this rule.

These little furry packages filled with love and equal amounts of fury are loved by urban-dwelling singles, grandmas, and fashionistas alike and sometimes come with the most extravagant hairstyles or, if Mother Nature did not allow for a long coat, fashionable tiny outfits.

While they are extremely loving, their feisty nature can potentially make grooming quite a mission or scare most people away. How to make your Chihuahua’s grooming session a success, how to maintain a healthy coat, and what hairstyles are the newest trends on the market are all covered in this extensive Chihuahua grooming guide!

Do Chihuahuas Need Haircuts?

If you have a short-haired Chihuahua, you will not have to worry about grooming it too much. These dogs are more on the low-maintenance side of the spectrum, and they most certainly do not require a haircut.

If you, however, own a long-haired Chihuahua, then this next section is particularly important for you.
 

How often do Chihuahuas need a haircut?

Technically, if you groom your Chihuahua well, it won’t ever require getting a haircut. Unless you want to give your dog a specific haircut style and keep it looking fresh and stylish all year round. In this case, we recommend cutting your Chi’s hair about every three months.

Chihuahua haircut styles

Can you believe it is actually possible to make your Chi look even more adorable? Here are the best looks for your dog’s next haircut:

Trimmed Cut

If you want your pup to look slick and dapper, it’s easiest to go with a trim.

Here, the focus areas are the legs and paws, as well as the tail. Many owners also decide to give the underbelly a little trim to make the whole look somewhat more uniform.

Lion’s Mane

If you want to reveal your long-haired Chihuahua’s inner lion, this trim is the way to go. Here, the hair around the body is kept short, while the hair around the head is kept longer and cut in a mane-like style.

Traditional Long Show Cut

With the emphasis on fluffing up your Chihuahua’s tail and keeping the rest of your Chihuahua’s coat relatively short with the head shaped out, this is what you will usually see a Chihuahua show dog looking like.
 

How Do You Groom A Chihuahua At Home?

Short-haired Chihuahuas should be brushed once weekly, whereas long-haired Chihuahuas require regular brushing about three times per week to avoid tangles in your Chihuahua’s fur.

Here are the steps to follow if you want to groom your Chihuahua by yourself:

Bathe

Bath time should always happen with lukewarm water and a soap that does not disrupt the pH balance of your little Chi. Place a small towel or a non-slip mat in a clean sink or the tub so your dog does not slip around and hurt itself.

Mist the coat

If you haven’t bathed your dog beforehand, mist your dog with lukewarm water or grooming spray (i.e. a leave-in conditioner) to avoid split ends.

Brush

Make sure you brush out any tangles and dead hair with a brush suited to your Chihuahua’s coat length.

Dry

After you are done brushing, use a soft towel to dry your Chi and put specific emphasis on ear cleaning while you are at it.
 

Chihuahua Additional Grooming Requirements

Apart from trimming or brushing your dog’s fur, certain other areas require special attention:

Nail clipping

Nails that are too long can cause pain and sometimes even infection in your dog’s paws; therefore, it is an important aspect of your dog’s grooming routine.

How to do it

Because paws are a sensitive part of your dog’s body, it might not be the easiest part of your grooming session, so brace yourselves. Perhaps it would be best to get a professional groomer to do it for the first few times so that you can watch and learn.

If you are comfortable and you have trained your Chihuahua from a young age to trust you with its paws, here is how to go on about nail trimming by yourself:

• Use a grinder instead of a clipper – This method is faster and less likely to injure your dog’s nail bed, which can cause some severe bleeding.
• Don’t force it. – If your Chihuahua is not up for it, you will likely have more struggle than success. Some dog owners manage to entice their dogs with treats or come up with some pretty inventive diversionary strategies to get their Chihuahua’s nails trimmed.

How often does it need to be done?

This is dependent on how much your Chihuahua wears its nails down by walking on harder surfaces such as concrete. In general, however, you should get your dog’s nails trimmed about every 3 months or so.

Express the Anal Glands

Grooming your Chihuahua also includes a few tasks that are not so pleasant to do. Expressing their anal glands is a necessary stinky job to ensure your dog remains as fresh as a daisy.

What are anal glands?

These glands are located on either side of your dog’s anus and are known as scent glands. Usually, any excessive liquid gets dispersed when your dog goes potty, but especially with small dogs, it can become an issue if there is too much fluid build-up, which can cause infections.

How to take care of them

If you see your dog is uncomfortable and frequently scooting along the ground on their butt, or if they have a strong fishy smell – it’s time to express your Chihuahua’s anal glands.

You, a groomer or your vet will have to express them manually. Best to talk to your vet to show you how to do this properly

Eye cleaning

Cleaning your Chihuahua’s eyes is vital to maintaining their eyesight and will help to prevent infections and their overall health.

What to look for

Your Chihuahua’s eyes are susceptible to infections, as they often do not produce enough liquid to keep their eyes moist, a condition known as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Eyedrops can cause relief for this issue.

If your dog has an eye infection, you will most likely see it due to some yellow puss forming on the corner of their eyes – the best option is to go see a vet and get some antibacterial eye drops or cream.

How to do it

Clean your dog’s eyes daily by using a lukewarm damp cloth and rubbing it gently over its eyes.
 

FAQs

When should you first groom a Chihuahua?

If you are planning to groom your Chihuahua regularly and with success, it’s best to introduce your tiny dog to grooming rituals before it turns 16 weeks old.

How often should I bathe my Chihuahua?

This depends on your personal preference or on how many muddy puddles your dog has played in. Generally, you can bathe your Chi as often as once a week but should not wait longer than 6 weeks between baths.

Do Chihuahuas require professional grooming?

You can actually do most of the grooming yourself when it comes to these tiny dogs. However, if you are not comfortable or creative enough to give your long-haired Chihuahua a fashionable cut, bringing it to the groomer is probably a better idea.

Should I shave my Chihuahua for summer?

Chihuahuas come from Mexico originally and are therefore used to heat. You can trim your long-haired Chihuahua a little more for summer but refrain from shaving your dog completely as their coat works as sun protection, and you could cause sunburn.
 

Final Thoughts on Chihuahua Grooming

Taking care of Chihuahua grooming can be a mission, no matter if your Chi has short hair or if you went for a long-haired Chihuahua.

Despite their small stature, they can bring great resistance to the grooming ritual if not introduced to all the necessary steps at a very young age. But it is vital for your Chihuahuas’ overall health to keep the whole body well looked after regularly as these little pets have many sensitive areas that can otherwise cause health issues.