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The Chihuahua dog breed is rapidly becoming one of the most popular and is often depicted as the glamourous companion of celebrities. But there’s more than meets the eye beyond just cute looks, as the Chihuahua is highly intelligent and boasts a big personality. Plus, the Chihuahua lifespan extends to 18 years, one of the longest lifespans among dogs.
Lifespan
10–18 years
Weight
1.8–2.7kg
Height
15–23cm
Colours
The Chihuahua has two coat types: short-haired and long-haired and comes in a variety of colours including solid colours such as: black; white; fawn; chocolate; grey or silver and tricolours such as: chocolate, black or blue with tan and white. They may also be spotted; brindle; merle as well as other markings
Size
Small
Kennel Club Group
Toy
The need-to-know
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Basic training required
- Need to be aware of potential health issues
- Enjoys active walks
- Needs under an hour of walking a day
- Small dog
- Minimum drool
- Requires grooming once a week
- Chatty and vocal dog
- Barks, alerts and may be physically protective/suspicious of visitors
- Could have issues with unknown dogs but gets along with known dogs
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Needs a small garden
- Can happily live in the city
- Can be left occasionally with training
This breed may encounter health problems
As with many small breeds, the Chihuahua can suffer from:
- Patellar luxation
- Legg-Perthes disease
- Tracheal collapse
- Hydrocephalus which is a condition where fluid builds up around the brain and can cause damage.
- Patent ductus arteriosus which is where dogs are built with an extra vessel which can cause problem.
- Mitral valve disease which is where the heart valves become diseased and don't work properly.
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) which is a painful condition where the tear gland stops working properly.
- Dental problems including decay and tooth loss.
Priority Kennel Club health schemes and testing:
None but there are several recommended schemes that the Kennel Club recommends which can be found here.
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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.
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Chihuahua Personality
The Chihuahua tends to bond closely with one or two people, with whom they will be curious, lively and intelligent, as well as deeply and constantly affectionate. However, without adequate socialisation, the breed will not take kindly to strangers and can appear nervous, yappy, and even snappy. Chihuahuas must be socialised as early as possible, or they will become anxious in new environments and will not get along with strangers, children, and other household pets.
The Chihuahua dog breed will suit an owner who may have little space in their homes, but still want a lively, affectionate companion who will be able to come everywhere with them, as this is not a dog who is easily able to tolerate owner absences.
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 1/5 |
| Easy to train: | 4/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 1/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 2/5 |
| Energy level: | 3/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 2/5 |
| Shedding: | 2/5 |
A small dog, called a Techichi, was an important part of Toltec and Aztec cultures. Techichi were the pets of the wealthy and were cremated with the dead in order to take on the deceased's sins so that the person could enter the next world without angering the gods. The dogs were also supposed to guide the deceased through the underworld and fight off evil spirits. Some believe that the Chihuahua dog breed is the product of breeding between the Techichi and a small, hairless dog from Asia.
The Chihuahua is a state in Mexico, and it’s from this state that the modern Chihuahua dog breed was first exported to America. Theory has it that the modern breed developed from the ancient strains of the Techichi, mixed with small dogs of Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.
For the reasonably fit and active owner (small dogs mean a lot of bending!) the Chi can live almost anywhere, as long as you’re home most of the time and can walk twice a day and provide some training. Small dogs are at risk from many things so you’ll need to be able to keep them safely away from boisterous children, larger dogs, busy pavements etc, and a solid fenced garden is necessary as they can wiggle through the tiniest of gaps!
The Chihuahua dog breed can adapt to however much exercise you would like to give, within reason. Chihuahuas tend to have bursts of energy where they play excitedly, but do not need a lot of walking — half an hour daily should suffice. It’s recommended that Chihuahuas wear a harness instead of a collar due to their fragile tracheas (windpipes).
Chihuahuas are the perfect dogs for a small urban space, although they do need to have access to the outdoors for exercise and very frequent toileting.
Toy dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn energy at a high rate, although their small stomachs mean that they must eat little and often. Small-breed foods are specifically designed with appropriate levels of key nutrients, and smaller kibble sizes, to suit smaller mouths. This also encourages chewing and improves digestion.
Grooming is not a demanding chore with the Chihuahua as the Chihuahua size is very tiny. The smooth-coated variety can be groomed using a rubber grooming comb/brush now and again, while the long-haired dogs need to be groomed with a comb. Chihuahuas do shed, but, being small, there isn't that much hair to lose. It’s a good idea to brush a Chihuahua's teeth daily as, similarly to all small breeds, they are prone to a heavy tartar build-up. This may be because owners don’t give them a chance to gnaw on things that will naturally clean their teeth.
Chihuahuas are surprisingly smart and when it comes to training, the Chihuahua should very definitely be treated as a ‘real dog’, as they really enjoy working with their owners. Chihuahuas have even been seen in the main ring at Crufts competing in Heelwork to Music!
Just remember when you are training your Chihuahua to use the tiniest of treats as rewards.
Like many toy dogs, Chihuahuas often find toilet training difficult and this may well be that owners are unaware of just how tiny their digestive systems are and they need to go out far more often than they expect. They will be quite mature before they can go through the night.
Are Chihuahuas Good Family Dogs?
While the Chihuahua can get on with everyone in the family, they are generally too small for young children and not able to cope with boisterous games.
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
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Chihuahua Fun Facts
- The Chihuahua is famous for being the smallest dog in the world.
Their popularity has soared recently as the preferred and pampered pet of celebrities, and this has led to irresponsible breeding.
Chihuahuas shiver a lot, but that doesn’t always mean they’re cold, they also do it when they’re excited or scared too!
The current smallest dog living is a Chihuahua called Milly, standing at just 9.65cm tall!
In terms of brain size in comparison to body, the Chihuahua has the biggest brain of all dog breeds.
FAQs
How long do Chihuahuas live?
You'll be happy to know that these little guys usually have long lives ahead of them. The average Chihuahua lifespan is between 12-18 years. Many Chihuahuas live to see their 18th birthday, and some of them even get to the age of 20. Although their impressive longevity doesn't mean they won't develop health issues, owners can look forward to many years spent together with their loyal companion.
Do Chihuahuas shed?
Yes, Chihuahuas do shed their fur throughout the year, but in moderation. Shedding allows for a new, more protective fur to replace the old one, so it's an important part of a Chihuahua's health and wellbeing. Given their small size, shedding in Chihuahuas is unlikely to create extra demanding chores for their owners. But regular brushing is important in keeping their fur under control.
Why do Chihuahuas bark so much?
Chihuahuas are little balls of energy that need to be kept constantly busy. If boredom starts to take over, these dogs are not shy to let their owners know. So, if you're wondering why is your dog barking so much, it might just be their way of telling you they've got nothing on their schedule and are ready for that game of catch.
How many Chihuahua types are there?
Some Chihuahuas have lovely smooth coats. But there are also long-haired Chihuahuas boasting either a flat or a wavy coat. Both types are amazing companions, but prepare to spend a little extra time on dog grooming if your best friend belongs to the latter type of Chihuahua breeds.
Similar breeds:
Shih Tzu
Pomeranian
French Bulldog
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