The Chihuahua is considered the smallest dog.

The AKC claims the dog to be graceful, alert, swift-moving with a saucy expression. The dog is compact, and had many terrier-like qualities in regard to temperament.

The breed comes in a variety of colors to include fawn, red, cream, chocolate, black, and blue. But Chihuahuas, also, come in a variety of color patterns, as well, such as sable, Irish spotting, piebald spotting, extreme white spotting, brindle, masks, merle, and tan points.

Other names for a Chihuahua may include the Teacup Chihuahua, Pocket Chihuahua, Tiny Toy Chihuahua, Miniature Chihuahua, Micro Chihuahua, and the Standard Chihuahua. But, as per the Chihuahua Club of America there is no such thing as these being a separate breed than than Chihuahua. So, don't fall for paying more for a smaller sized Chihuahua pup, as that Teacup Chihuahua, is nothing more than a just small Chihuahua, not a breed in its own.

Most people have heard the term "teacup Chihuahua," believing this is a special type of this breed. In truth, there is no such thing as a teacup Chihuahua, although many breeders will use this terminology to make a sale. The word itself conjures up thoughts of an even smaller dog, which is what many people want. Now, considering the average Chihuahua puppy weighs less than three ounces at birth and will only grow to about six pounds at maturity as it is, achieving "teacup" would impossible.

Typically, the reference to a "teacup Chihuahua" is more slang than fact. Sadly, this misconception has the potential to lead to problems. For example, if someone were to want a teacup Chihuahua, only to find it ends up weighing seven pounds once full grown, chances are that person is not going to be happy. Therefore, the dog could be on the receiving end of the disappointment, a very bad position to be in, unless the owner simply loved the dog regardless and did not care.

Remember that the size of the Chihuahua will be determined partly by genetics as well as overall health. Now, someone could ask a breeder for a teacup size, rather than a teacup breed, but the problem is that no one can tell if a six or ten-week old Chihuahua puppy will grow to be a teacup size. Since the puppies will not reach full growth until around the age of two, the person would have to wait and see.

Another more serious problem when it comes to buying a "teacup Chihuahua" is that sadly, some commercial breeders as well as puppy mills will provide false birth dates to make a buck. In this case, the puppy may be just six weeks old but the person is selling it as a ten-week old. The buyer, completely unaware, thinks they have found a very small Chihuahua, thus the teacup as advertised. Of course, as the puppy grows, the truth does come out.