Chihuahuas are tiny, weighing typically between three and six pounds, and they may be short-haired with a smooth coat or long-haired. Most Chihuahuas are fawn, cream, or red in color, but this unique breed also sports some very neat (and rare) colors and patterns that are particularly eye-catching.
Some Chihuahuas will be solid white, solid black, merle or even sport a brindle coat! Each of these colors and/or patterns are considered the most rare among purebred Chihuahuas. Some Chihuahuas may also have facial color patterns that resemble a blue or black mask.
Overall, the American Kennel Club recognizes thirty possible coat colors as “acceptable” Chihuahua coats; it also accepts up to eleven different coat patterns in the Chihuahua breed.
The black or blue mask in a purebred Chihuahua is highly rare
A Chihuahua with a black mask is truly a rare presentation. It is the result of a genetic variant called the black mask allele. The “mask” will appear from the pup’s muzzle to the eyes of the dog, and it does look as if the dog is wearing a mask.
The black mask marking is often present in dogs with lighter coats; however, it can appear in dogs with all-over black coloring. It will not be any darker or stand out in a dog with a darker coat.
A blue mask feature in a Chihuahua is caused by the same genetic presence as the black mask. There is a “dilution” gene which makes this appear as a “blue” mask on the face rather than a solid black one. Again, a blue mask is more pronounced in dog’s with a lighter colored coat.
These “mask” patterns can be very difficult to find, and when sellers offer these dogs, they may up the asking price of a Chihuahua from the average $800 – $3,000 to a whopping $10,000.
The All-Black Chihuahua – How rare are they and are they more costly?
Take note, black is a common coat color for Chihuahuas; however, finding an all-black Chihuahua that has no other markings can be very difficult. It is common for a mostly-black Chihuahua to be produced, but a truly all-black Chihuahua has a different genetic makeup.
The all-black Chihuahua carries a Dominant Black (K) gene and will also exhibit the Eumelanin pigment over the entirety of the body. The muzzle and eyes of this dog will also be black.
This is an extremely rare color in a purebred Chihuahua. However, and surprisingly, the all-black Chihuahua is not as expensive as its “masked” counterparts. The all-black Chihuahua can cost approximately $2,000.
Isn’t the black and tan Chihuahua more common? Why is it considered a “rare” coloring?
The black and tan Chihuahua often possesses a white mark on its chest, which actually makes it a “tricolor” coat. However, the black and tan coloring is quite rare (it is rare in any breed of dog) because of the genetics that must be present for the black and tan pattern to occur.
Dogs with a black and tan coat carry a double non-black allele and have at least one tan-point allele.
This is a highly sought after color combination, so breeders may charge a higher price for the black and tan Chihuahua.
Isn’t the black and red color pattern rather common? It seems to be in other breeds.
Black and red are the two most common coat colors; however, when they are both present in a dog, this constitutes a “rare” color combo. Eumelanin and Pheomelanin are the dominent genes in play when a black and red Chihuahua is born; the reddish tint occurs because the Dominant black has interacted with the red allele.
Pricing for this rare color will depend upon the breeder. Although this is considered a rare coloring, because many other breeds carry a black and red coat, some breeders will not charge extra for the “rare” coloring in a Chihuahua.
What constitutes a dog possessing a black and silver coat?
A Chihuahua with a black and silver coat is considered highly rare. This is because the silver color is a dilution of the black or Eumelanin pigment. The “silver” will often be so light that it appears to be “gray,” and it appears on the chest, belly, ears, and the muzzle of the dog.
Pricing for the black and silver coated Chihuahua is much like the price of a Chihuahua with a blue or black mask. This is one of the most rare color combinations for the Chihuahua, and some breeders will price the puppy as such.
Is there such a thing as a “blue” Chihuahua?
The “blue” Chihuahua is truly a rarity; a Chihuahua with a “blue” coat is the result of a dilution in the black coat. A “true” blue Chihuahua will also sport blue paws, eyes, and a blue nose. These may first appear as black, but an up-close examination will show that this is truly blue.
When it comes to the price of a blue Chihuahua, the price ranks right up there with the masked pups and the black and silver Chihuahua.
What about rare color patterns?
Tricolor Chihuahuas are rare, and often highly sought after, so they may fetch a higher price than a “normal” color or coat pattern in a Chihuahua. In fact, the tricolor Chihuahua is so rare that in a United Kingdom study, out of 11,647 dogs participating, only 140 were truly tricolored!
A brindle coat in the Chihuahua can only happen when certain genes are present. A brindle-coated pup must possess a double brindle allele. When the brindle gene is present but is paired with a Dominant black allele, the dog will not be brindle in appearance, but it can produce brindle puppies later on.
A merle coat pattern is extremely rare in the Chihuahua breed. For every Chihuahua that actually carries the genetic tools to present a merle Chihuahua, only twenty-five percent of them will produce a merle-patterned pup. This rare coat is often frowned upon by organizations such as the Chihuahua Club of America and the World Chihuahua Organization because the merle pattern is associated with some genetically-passed health issues.
What causes these rare variations of color?
Simply speaking, it is the presence of certain genetic makeups that cause a Chihuahua to be born with one of these rare patterns. Most of the genetic variations do not affect the overall health of the Chihuahua, but some, like the merle color, are associated with health problems.
Why are some coat colors rarer than others?
Again, we can look to genetics for this. The merle coat color that is associated with so many health issues is rare because most ethical breeders will not attempt to produce a merle pup due to possible health issues and a lower quality of life.
Many of the “rare” color patterns are carried by recessive genes, which accounts for another reason some patterns are rare.
Recommendations for those who want to find a rare Chihuahua
First, find a reputable breeder. You can find breeders online, but one way to know you are dealing with a breeder who truly loves Chihuahuas and is not simply raising them for the money is to visit the breeder’s facilities.
If the pups are overall healthy and well-cared for, and the facility is clean, you can bet this is a breeder who truly cares for the pups. Another clue is to ask if the parents are on-site. Happy parents often equal happy, healthy pups.