Chihuahua — breed guide

At a glance

Group

toy

Size

Toy

Weight

1.5–3 kg (3–7 lb)

Life span

14–16 years

Coat

Smooth or long coat

Living with a Chihuahua

• Moderate energy — a proper walk every day.
• Almost no grooming.
• Light shedding.
• Trainable with consistency.
• Very vocal.
• Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
• Usually fine with a familiar dog; strange dogs need managing.
• Can live with a cat, with a slow introduction and an escape route for the cat.
• Suits apartment living, given its daily walks.
• A reasonable choice for a first-time owner.
• Handles warm weather well.
• Needs a coat in the cold.

Temperament

Sassy · Devoted · Alert · Big-hearted

Health to watch

• Luxating patella
• Dental disease
• Tracheal collapse
• Hydrocephalus

Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.

Did you know

The world’s smallest breed carries one of the biggest brain-to-body ratios in dogdom.

Questions people ask

Is a Chihuahua good with kids?

With care. Chihuahuas generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.

Is a Chihuahua good with cats?

It can work, with management. Introduce them gradually, feed them apart, and make sure the cat has vertical space the dog cannot reach. Plan to manage it rather than assume it.

How much exercise does a Chihuahua need?

A real walk every day, around 30–60 minutes.

Can a Chihuahua handle hot weather?

It copes well with warm days.