Chihuahua
The world's smallest breed: a bold, alert Mexican toy dog with a strong bond to its chosen person.
At a glance
- Size
- Toy
- Height at the withers
- 15–23 cm
- Weight
- 1.5–3 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–18 years
- Exercise
- 20–45 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, Silky, short, long
- Colours
- Most colours
- Bred for
- Companionship
- Country of origin
- Mexico
- FCI
- Group 9, no. 218 · Companion & toy dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 4/5 – High |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Suits apartment living | 5/5 – Very high |
| Adaptability | 4/5 – High |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 1/5 – Very low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a tiny, portable companion
- live in a flat
- want a dog with a long life expectancy
Think twice if you …
- have small children
- live somewhere cold without heating
- want a dog that is relaxed with every visitor
Care
Temperament
Devoted, alert and spirited, often wary of strangers. Some are bossy with other dogs if not socialised early.
Exercise
Short walks and indoor play are enough, though many enjoy more activity and even agility.
Grooming
Smooth coats need a weekly brush; long coats need brushing a couple of times a week. Daily tooth care is important.
Training
Clever and capable of learning a lot; use positive methods, early socialisation and patience with house training.
Health
Patellar luxation, heart valve disease, dental crowding, tracheal collapse and hydrocephalus occur, and many keep a soft spot on the skull. Ask the breeder for knee, heart and eye results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Kneecaps (patella)
- Heart
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Chihuahua is named after the Mexican state where it was found by American visitors in the nineteenth century. It is widely believed to descend from the Techichi, a small dog kept by the Toltec and Aztec peoples, though the exact history is uncertain.
Chihuahuas are confident, loyal and very attached to their owners, often choosing one favourite person. They are alert little watchdogs and can be suspicious of strangers and other dogs. Their tiny size makes them easy to carry and house, but it also means they can be injured by falls or rough play. They feel the cold and appreciate a coat in winter.
Did you know?
Many Chihuahuas keep a molera, a soft spot on the top of the skull similar to a baby's fontanelle.