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Chihuahua Dog Breed: Info, Facts, Pictures, Lifespan & Traits

Written by: Dr. Karyn Kanowski, BVSc MRCVS (Vet)

Last Updated on March 25, 2024 by Dogster Team

Long haired Chihuahua

Chihuahua Dog Breed: Info, Facts, Pictures, Lifespan & Traits

If there was ever a creature that proves size doesn’t matter, it is the diminutive Chihuahua. These pint-sized canines are a walking contradiction; a trembling, quivering mess one minute, launching a full-scale attack at visitors the next. They are one of the most loving, affectionate, and cuddly dog breeds on the planet, but they are also one of the breeds most likely to bite your fingers and ankles. So, which is it? Fierce warrior or frightened weakling? Most Chihuahua owners will agree that it is both.

We’re going to embark on a journey to learn all there is to know about the Chihuahua—where they came from, what makes them tick, and why you should not judge these dogs by their teeny tiny size.

Breed Overview

Height:

5–8 inches

Weight:

Under 6 pounds

Lifespan:

14–16 years

Colors:

Black, black & tan, blue & tan, chocolate, chocolate & tan, cream, fawn, fawn & white, red

Suitable for:

Families with older children, apartments, people who want a constant companion

Temperament:

Protective, playful, loving, yappy.

The Chihuahua, in its myriad colors, can be either short-haired (smooth coat) or long-haired, but the smooth coat is the more commonly kept of the two. These “handbag dogs” experienced a surge of popularity in the mid-20th Century, appearing under the arms of major celebrities such as Billie Holiday, Mickey Rourke, Paris Hilton, Cesar Millan, and Madonna. Their portability and cuddly nature make them the ideal companion for frequent travelers. However, there is even more to love about these tiny but fierce dogs.

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Chihuahua Breed Characteristics

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

Chihuahua Puppies

Chihuahua puppies
Image Credit: Benevolente82, Shutterstock

If you think that a Chihuahua is small, wait until you see their puppies! At 3–4 weeks old, the average Chihuahua puppy weighs around the same as a can of beans (15 ounces), and will be around 30–50 ounces by the time they’re 4 months old. Because of this, many breeders will hold onto pups until they are around 12–14 weeks old before letting them go to their new homes so that they are a little more resilient. Vaccinations and microchipping are often done a bit later too, due to their tiny size.

It is common for Chihuahua puppies to have delayed closing of the growth plates in the skull, resulting in open fontanelles, the same as the “soft spot” often found on the back of a baby’s head. In most dog breeds, these fontanelles close between the ages of 8–12 weeks, but it is quite common for them to persist beyond 12 weeks in the Chihuahua, and some apple-head dogs can have fontanelles that never fully close, referred to as a molera.

Like almost everything else about the Chihuahua, the size of their litters tends to be fairly small, having one to three puppies on average, sometimes more. The apple-head Chihuahuas have a higher incidence of dystocia (birthing difficulties) due to the size of the puppy’s head compared to the mother’s pelvis. Despite these factors, Chihuahua pups are relatively easy to come by, likely due to the fact that breeders can easily make space to have more than one litter at a time.

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Chihuahua Breed Origin & History

Although the Mexican state of Chihuahua is generally regarded as their native land, some believe that the Chihuahua may actually have been introduced from Malta, or even China. Early depictions are of a rather rotund version of the dog we know today, known as the Techichi, which was most likely bred as a source of food, rather than companionship.

In the 11th Century, when the Aztecs conquered the Toltec people, these dogs became more than just dinner and started to feature in religious traditions. It is believed that the Chihuahua was likely created by breeding the Techichi with the Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless Dog) to produce a dog with more refined features, which gained popularity as companions for nobility. Historians also believe that it became practice to sacrifice a Chihuahua to accompany the body of deceased nobles to guide them through the afterlife.1

Unlike most dog breeds, the Chihuahua was not bred for a specific role other than companionship, which is a vital part of understanding their nature. The breed we know today started to gain the attention of North Americans in the mid-1800s, and was officially recognized as an AKC breed in 1908.2

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Temperament & Intelligence of the Chihuahua 🧠

Being bred to be a companion, not a worker, the Chihuahua’s personality and temperament tend to be an interesting blend of helpless, devoted, protective, anxious, confident, playful, and mischievous. While their bodies may be small, their personalities are huge, and there are a few characteristics for which they are most recognized, such as their “bitey behavior,” which most likely stems from their small stature, as well as their almost constant quivering, which could be due to many reasons, such as being cold, low blood sugar, and anatomy issues.

Chihuahua with chew toy
Image Credit: Karyn Kanowski

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Chihuahuas prefer to be part of a group, whether that be dogs or humans. Because they are so tiny, they may not be the ideal pet for younger kids who might be a bit too playful, but because they enjoy a good play as much as a snuggle, they are the ideal companion for families who are looking for a compact canine that will enjoy some fun and games just as much as they will love cuddling up on a lap.

The Chihuahua wasn’t bred for work; they were bred for love. The way this impacts their behavior is that they don’t have an underlying drive or urge to seek out other activities like other breeds do. They weren’t bred to hunt rats, herd sheep, or retrieve birds; they were bred to love and be loved and are not easily distracted from that particular path! Although it’s not unusual for a Chihuahua to become particularly attached to a single person, they are often quite generous with their affection and happy to cuddle up to the nearest warm body.

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

In addition to enjoying the company of humans, Chihuahuas also like to be part of a pack and often feel more secure when surrounded by other canines. It’s quite common for the smallest dog in the house to take over leadership of a group of dogs, which is partly due to their assertive nature, and partly a survival mechanism, as being tiny and submissive can put them at risk of being bullied, missing out on food, or squeezed out of the action.

Care needs to be taken when introducing a Chihuahua to new dogs, as injuries can easily occur accidentally, but it is also important to allow them to meet each other properly and establish boundaries. You would be surprised how gentle a large dog can be once they learn how to treat their tiny friend.

Chihuahuas do enjoy a game of chase, which means that pets like cats that are likely to run away can become targets of relentless pursuit. However, if you have cats that are used to the company of dogs, a Chihuahua can be quite content in feline company. We do recommend trimming your cat’s claws as a precaution, however, to keep those bulging Chihuahua eyes safe.

Chihuahuas with Labrador on the couch
Image Credit: Karyn Kanowski

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Things to Know When Owning a Chihuahua:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Most Chihuahuas only need to eat around half a cup of dry food or 6–10 ounces of wet food per day. It might not seem like much, but when you think about the size of their stomach, you’ll realize that it’s plenty.

Chihuahuas have reputations for being picky eaters, while others know them to be very greedy. Being so small, it’s not uncommon for a Chihuahua to skip a meal here or there, but if you offer them something extra tasty when they miss a meal, you had better believe that they will remember that for next time.

You should offer them food that is large enough to need a little bit of chewing to help work those teeth and gums, but not so large as to make eating too much of a challenge.

Exercise 🐕

Chihuahuas love to run, play, sleep, and relax. They are ideal for people in smaller homes or apartments, as their exercise needs can be met with a short walk each day, and being notorious for despising bad weather, they will often prefer to play indoors over getting soaked in the rain.

Chihuahua Ned running outside
Image Credit: Karyn Kanowski

Training 🦮

In the same way that the exercise needs or dental care of Chihuahuas can sometimes get overlooked because of their tiny stature, training can sometimes be seen as an optional activity, which is definitely not the case. Training and socialization are just as important for the Chihuahua as they are for a Pit Bull, but their size can make it more challenging.

It’s been said that Chihuahuas have three main settings: eating, sleeping, and up to something, and this is especially true when you have more than one! They love to chew things, bite things, play with things, and silence should always be treated with suspicion.

Being quite delicate and sensitive (when it suits them!), Chihuahuas will often refuse to go to the toilet outside if it’s windy, rainy, or snowing. Plus, tiny accidents are easy to miss, so you often miss the opportunity to interrupt them from going potty indoors and moving them outside. Using a crate can be extremely useful when it comes to toilet training a Chihuahua, but you need to use a fairly small crate. If they have lots of space overnight, they will often just walk to the other end of the crate and go there! Ideally, the crate should be the size of their bed, with some space for a small water bowl.

Grooming ✂️

When it comes to grooming, the Chihuahua is pretty low maintenance. Even the longer coats need little more than a daily brushing and perhaps a going over with a cleaning wipe. They do tend to need regular nail trims, however, so get them used to having their teeny toes played with from day one. Chihuahuas are prone to tear staining (more on that later), so it’s a good idea to get them used to having their eyes examined and wiped with a good eye cleaner as part of their daily routine, and using a lubricating gel is a great way to keep their eyes comfortable.

Obese Chihuahua
Image Credit: Karyn Kanowski

Health and Conditions ❤️

The Chihuahua is one of the longest-lived breeds, and this is largely due, once again, to their size! Although the internal organs scale down relative to the size of the dog, their hearts don’t have to work as hard to keep blood circulating around their little bodies, which is why even Chihuahuas with heart disease will often survive longer than other breeds. Despite this, there are a number of health issues that the Chihuahuas are predisposed to.

Minor Conditions
  • Dental Disease: Big or small, all dogs have the same number of teeth, and Chihuahuas can sometimes suffer from overcrowding. Another common problem is that they are often not given the right foods, treats, or toys to help keep those teeth clean and healthy. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean that they can’t chew!
  • Reverse Sneezing: Reverse sneezing happens when something, usually the soft palate, brushes against the back of the throat. This triggers a reflex to rapidly suck air in through the nose (hence, reverse sneeze) to try to shift the problem. Brachycephalic breeds are particularly predisposed to this issue, as the internal structures of their nose and mouth have been compressed, causing the soft palate to regularly irritate the back of the throat. Chihuahuas with particularly delicate features and shorter noses can also suffer from this problem. Most of the time, reverse sneezing is not a significant issue, but in some more severe cases, surgery may be needed to trim the soft palate.
  • Obesity: Chihuahuas can be greedy, and with their adorable little faces, it’s easy to give in to their begging. But it’s important to remember that tiny dogs need a tiny amount of food. Excess weight and obesity can spell trouble for any dog, but it can put extra strain on Chihuahua health conditions like syringomyelia and heart disease.
Serious Conditions
  • Syringomyelia: This condition occurs when there is a problem affecting the flow and drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between the brain and spine. In dogs, it is usually associated with a defect called chiari-like malformation, which is most commonly seen in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and also Chihuahuas.
  • Heart Disease: Chihuahuas have a relatively high incidence of heart disease, which can progress to congestive heart failure. Although not a curable condition, Chihuahuas tend to respond quite well to medical management of cardiac disease, so early detection and intervention are key. Signs of possible heart disease include coughing (especially after rest), panting or rapid breathing without physical exertion, and tiring easily.
  • Eye Problems: Chihuahuas often seem to have watery eyes, and this is often due to the fact that their eye sockets are not quite big enough for their eyes. This leads to the overflow of tears that are unable to drain properly into the sinuses. The other problem with their more protuberant eyes is that they can become dry, irritated, and damaged more easily. Again, the apple heads are worst affected here, but the deer heads can have issues too.

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Male vs. Female

There isn’t a huge difference between the male and female Chihuahua; even a fully mature, entire male isn’t significantly larger than the female. Although there will always be individual variation, male Chihuahuas are often more assertive but also more affectionate, while females can be a little more reserved.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Chihuahua

1. They Love to Burrow and dig

We’re not talking about digging holes in the garden, we are talking about beds and blankets. Chihuahuas are like heat-seeking devices when it comes to finding the warmest, most comfortable spot in the house, and that might be in bed with you, in your laundry pile, or even in the linen cupboard.


2. They Love Sunshine and Warmth

As we mentioned above, Chihuahuas will seek out warmth, and they’ll be even happier if you can provide something extra! A hot water bottle, a warming bed, or a spot in the sun will keep them very satisfied, and don’t be surprised to find yours has snuck into your bed to snuggle behind your knees.

Chihuahuas in the sun
Image Credit: Karyn Kanowski

3. They Get the Zoomies!

While the majority of a Chihuahua’s day is spent sleeping, snoozing, resting, and relaxing, they eventually need to burn off some energy! Most Chihuahuas love to play and will often start doing laps of your home at a mile a minute until their little legs just can’t go any further.

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Final Thoughts

Chihuahuas are feisty, affectionate, devoted, and mischievous dogs that are so much more than their “land shark” reputation lets on. Like any breed, intense selective breeding has led to exaggerated physical traits in some individuals that can make them susceptible to several health concerns, but they also have one of the longest life expectancies of all dog breeds.

If you want a loving companion that requires minimal space, is relatively low maintenance, and demands very little from you apart from warmth and affection, you might want to think about welcoming a Chihuahua into your life. Their quirky personalities have been known to win over the most dedicated large-dog devotees, and with the right health care, nutrition, and love, these itty-bitty canines can bring you many years of joy.


Featured Image Credit: Ratchat, Shutterstock

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