Chihuahua Dog Breed Information (2024)

FAQs

What is the basic information about Chihuahuas? ›

The world's smallest dogs, Chihuahuas make good companions. They bond strongly with their owners, are quick-witted and easily trained – as long as you start early. They can be prickly around strangers as they like to have all of their owner's attention for themselves.

Chihuahua Appearance

The Chihuahua is a dainty, compact dog and the smallest of all dog breeds. They have a domed skull, short and pointed muzzles, and large ears that are pricked up. As for the Chihuahua colours, they range from light ones as white or fawn to darker ones as black or chocolate.

Studies conducted by the Institute of Technology in Stockholm confirm that roughly 70% of modern Chihuahua's DNA originates from the ancient South American Techichi. The remaining 30%, has been a topic of debate for decades. The evidence suggests that the unknown DNA most likely came from a dog breed outside of Mexico.

The Chihuahua dog has a life expectancy of between 14-16 years making them one of longest living breeds.

Chihuahuas possess loyalty, charm, and big-dog attitude. Even tiny dogs require training, and without it this clever scamp will rule your household like a little Napoleon. Compact and confident, Chihuahuas are ideal city pets.

Chihuahuas are a bold and energetic breed in the toy group. They're devoted to their families and make for great lap dogs. Chihuahuas are flexible pets that are willing to go with the flow — as long as that flow keeps them next to you. They're small and graceful companions, perfect for calm, comfortable homes.

White is, arguably, the rarest color of Chihuahua around. An albino Chihuahua isn't the same thing as a white one, but both are the result of a lack of pigmentation. The white Chihuahua lack melanocytes, which give the coat its pigmentation, but retain the eumelanin needed to give them black eyes, noses, and paws.

Chihuahuas are famous for being the smallest breed around, with Yorkshire Terriers coming in at a close second. Naturally, people often wonder, “How big do Chihuahuas get?” They typically weigh between 2 and 6 pounds and can be around 6 to 9 inches tall.

Which Sex Is Right for You? Chihuahuas are fantastic dogs, and you can't really go wrong with one, regardless of whether you bring home a boy or a girl. Don't try to convince yourself that the dog's sex doesn't matter, though, as it can play a huge role in how they behave at home.

Do Chihuahuas get attached to one person? ›

For all their sass, most Chihuahuas enjoy an abundance of lap time and do not enjoy spending too much time outdoors. They are widely known to gravitate toward one person and reject new people, but that may be because dogs are more inclined to like those that are more in sync with their own personality.

Yes, it's normal for Chihuahuas to shake, especially when they're feeling anxious or cold. As a toy breed, Chihuahuas have a higher metabolism and less body fat, making them more prone to feeling chilly. They also have a sensitive nervous system, which means they're more reactive to stress and anxiety.

Once a dog can handle being alone for 4 hours, it should be able to manage 8 hours on its own. The Basset Hound, French Bulldog, Chihuahua, and Pugs are some of the breeds that are best at being left alone for long periods.

Chihuahua is one of Mexico's leading producers of iron, lead, zinc, gold, silver, copper, and other minerals.