Chihuahua
Chihuahua
- Sizevery small (toy)
- Weightup to 2.7 kg
- Lives14–18 years
- Popularity in Mexico★★★★★
Character
Chihuahua temperament
A very small (toy) dog from the companion (toy) group, in twelve traits from 1 to 5:
- Energymarathoner
- Affection with familyglued to you
- With kidsbetter without kids
- With other dogsmiddle of the road
- With strangerswary
- Playfulnessplayful for life
- Guarding instinctborn guardian
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Trainabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingreports everything
- Mental stimulation it needsmiddle of the road
- Prey driveno data yet
Distinguishing features
Chihuahua characteristics
- Ears
- erect
- Height
- 15–23 cm
- Weight
- up to 2.7 kg
- Muzzle
- medium
- Coat
- smooth, long
- Coat length
- short, long
- Colors
- any color
- Life expectancy
- 14–18 years
- Sheddingbarely sheds
- Coat carea brush a month
Life expectancy
How long does a Chihuahua live?
14–18 years
The breed sets the range; how long each dog lives depends on its weight, its exercise, its teeth and its check-ups with the vet.
The long profile
Long profile, in Spanish for now
The long version of this breed — character, care and origins, in Lord Chucho's voice — exists in Spanish and hasn't been translated yet. The hard data on this page (traits, features, lifespan) is the same in both languages.
Buying guides
What to buy for a Chihuahua
What to buy, by what it needs:
What we'd give Choco
For a dog like this one
Affiliate links: it costs you the same. How they work (in Spanish)
AI image: the real product may vary KONG Classic
The classic that survives teenage-Labrador jaws. Stuff it with frozen treats and you just bought an hour of peace.
AI image: the real product may vary Chuckit! Ultra Ball
A ball that bounces evenly, floats and doesn't fall apart on day three. If your dog lives for the ball, this is THE ball.
AI image: the real product may vary Rubber brush for short coats
Short coats don't need an arsenal: a rubber brush in the tub and done — massage and de-shedding in one.
AI image: the real product may vary Front-clip (no-pull) harness
If the walk looks like water skiing, the chest clip redirects without hurting. It doesn't replace training, but it gives you control while training arrives.
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about the Chihuahua
How big does a Chihuahua get?
An adult Chihuahua stands 15–23 cm at the withers and weighs up to 2.7 kg.
Does the Chihuahua need a lot of exercise?
The Chihuahua scores 4 out of 5 on “Energy”: marathoner. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Is the Chihuahua good with kids?
The Chihuahua scores 1 out of 5 on “With kids”: better without kids. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Does the Chihuahua get along with other dogs?
The Chihuahua scores 3 out of 5 on “With other dogs”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “lone wolf” and 5 is “life of the dog park”.
Is the Chihuahua easy to train?
The Chihuahua scores 3 out of 5 on “Trainability”: right in the middle of the scale. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Does the Chihuahua bark a lot?
The Chihuahua scores 5 out of 5 on “Barking”: reports everything. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Is the Chihuahua a good guard dog?
The Chihuahua scores 4 out of 5 on “Guarding instinct”: born guardian. On that scale, 1 is “not a guardian” and 5 is “born guardian”.
Does the Chihuahua shed a lot?
The Chihuahua scores 2 out of 5 on “Shedding”: barely sheds. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
Can a Chihuahua live in an apartment?
The Chihuahua scores 4 out of 5 on “Adaptability”: settles anywhere. On that scale, 1 is “needs its space and routine” and 5 is “settles anywhere”. An apartment is fine, being shut in is not: every dog needs to get out every day.
Health
We only publish each breed's health topics after reviewing them carefully. We guide you, but we're not your vet: if something about your dog worries you, the internet doesn't replace a visit to the vet.