Chilean Terrier Dog Breed - Facts and Information

Appearance

The Chilean Terrier is a small to medium sized dog breed with athletic body and long slender legs. Their height should be between 28-38 cm which is 11-15 inch and weight is typically between 4-8 kg, which is 9-18 pounds. The females are typically little bit smaller than males.

The Chilean Terrier has a very short coat which is predominantly white with black and tan spots on their head and body.

This breed has a triangular head with high set, v shaped and forward leaning ears. They also have pretty long neck, well developed teeth and bite, narrow pointed muzzle, tight fitting lips, black nose with large nostrils and large round and brown eyes.

Interesting fact is, that Chilean Terriers are often times born without a tail, but the tail can grow a little bit as the dog grows.

Personality
The Chilean Terrier has a temperament that is very similar to that found in other Terrier breeds, which means that they have higher prey drive and they tend to be very lively, alert, loyal, little bit mischevious and independent.

On the other hand, many people agree that Chilean Terrier are not that sharp as other terriers. They are pretty gentle, which is why they are also good playful partners for children, but the child should be old enough to know how to treat dogs gently and with respect.

Just like majority of Terriers, even the Chilean Terrier is reserved with strangers until they properly meet them, which can makes them excellent watchdogs. They will definitely let you know by barking is something suspicious is going on around your home. But this is not an agressive breed, so they are not the best for protection purposes.

Because of their strong prey drive, they should not be trusted around other smaller household pets. It is very likely, that they might try to hunt them down. They can live with other dogs in the family, especially if they are socialized together from the puppyhood.

When the Chilean Terrier is hunting, they are extremely agile and fast, which is needed when hunting rats. They are also very courageous and determined and they do have amazing sense of smell and hearing.

This is pretty social dog who loves its owner and family. They tend to be very affectionate and playful when they are at home. They are perfect for active families who like outdoors, because even though this is a small dog, the Chilean Terrier is always ready for outdoor adventure. They definitely need few daily longer walks where they can sniff around.
Interesting fact
Probably the most famous Chilean Terrier is from Chilean comic book Condorito and his name is Washington.

History

When European immigrants came to South America, they brought Smooth Fox Terriers with them, so they can help them to hunt down rats and other rodents. And the Smooth Fox Terrier is the main ancestor of the Chilean Terrier and you can see many similarities in their appearance and personality. But the Chilean Terrier is slightly smaller in size and their face is little bit smaller as well,

The Smooth Fox Terrier was crossed with some local Chilean dogs. It is believed that the first Chilean Terriers were developed in the beggining of 19th century. At first, those dogs were mostly found in major Chilean sea ports, but thanks to their great hunting abilities they quickly spread all over the Chile.


Health and grooming
There is not enough scientific studies about the Chilean Terriers health, but it is said, that this a very healthy breed with only ocassional health issues. Those can include patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts. The average lifespan is around 14 or 15 years.

Thanks to the short coat, the grooming is very simple. Even without any grooming, the coat will stay in good shape. You can brush them from time to time to remove dirt and dead hair. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.