Chihuahua: Your Complete Guide
Chihuahuas are known for their tiny size and the large personalities their small bodies contain, making them somewhat polarizing as a family dog. That being said, Chihuahuas tend to love hard and form strong bonds with their families, and these pups are generally affectionate, playful, and courageous.
If you are interested in adding a Chihuahua into your life, it’s important to know the basics about this dog and how to care for them properly. With tailored care and a loving family, this dog will thrive, and you will have a loving, goofy, and loyal companion by your side for as long as possible. Read on to learn more about the Chihuahua dog breed.
Quick Look at the Chihuahua
Take a look at the table below for a quick overview of the Chihuahua dog breed including their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.
| Weight/Height | 5 to 8 inches tall, 3 to 6 pounds |
| Coat Type | Short or long, straight to wavy, soft |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding | |
| Temperament | Loyal, courageous, sassy, loving |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence |  |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level | |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 12 to 18 years |
What Is the History of Chihuahuas?
Chihuahuas are believed to have originated in Mexico, with ancestors of the Chihuahua being roughly traced back to the ancient Techichi dog kept by the Aztec Empire. These dogs appear fairly similar to the Chihuahua and were a staple of Aztec culture.
Around the 19th century, Chihuahuas began to grow in popularity around the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, with breeders being dedicated to this pet and their reach growing.
The popularity of this dog kept increasing as the breed was brought to the United States, and many individuals found that Chihuahuas were the perfect size for an apartment pet during the 20th century. The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially registered this breed in 1904.
The Chihuahua breed continued to find popularity as it was featured in movies such as Legally Blonde and utilized in commercials. Celebrities became fan-favorites of this dog, though such a surge in popularity led to Chihuahuas being overbred and many members of this breed ending up in shelters.
Today, the Chihuahua remains a popular dog due to their small and cute appearance, their bold personalities, and their feistiness. These dogs make loyal companions, and they are considered more of a lapdog and family companion than anything else.
What Do Chihuahuas Look Like?
Chihuahuas have distinctive pointed ears that sit atop their head in a triangle shape, along with a round head and slightly elongated snout. There are two main varieties of head shapes for Chihuahuas – the apple head and the deer head – and the head shape influences their exact facial appearance.
In general, deer head Chihuahuas tend to be bigger, and they have a longer slope between their forehead and snout in addition to a longer snout. Apple head Chihuahuas have a round apple-shaped head with a shorter snout closer to their face and a smaller overall appearance.
Chihuahuas are most commonly found in solid black, cream, and fawn colors, though blacks and whites are possible, as are bi-color and tri-color dogs.
What Size Is a Chihuahua?
Chihuahuas are notoriously small dogs, typically only standing between 5 and 8 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between three and six pounds. Sometimes, a Chihuahua mix might be larger than this, but purebred standard Chihuahuas will rarely weigh more than a total of six pounds.
What Is a Chihuahua’s Coat Type and Length?
Chihuahuas can be either short or long-haired, and their coat type ranges from straighter and more wiry in texture to silky and wavy. Short-haired versions of this breed are more likely to have straight and wiry hair, while long-haired versions have silky smooth straight or wiry coat types.
What Is a Chihuahua’s Temperament?
The Chihuahua’s temperament is notorious, and this dog has a reputation for being feisty. While Chihuahuas can be very affectionate and loving, they tend to have one or two favorite people that they spend all of their time with, and they can be slightly aloof to others.
Chihuahuas can be stubborn, and they need plenty of socialization and training to help them stay happy and ensure that any bad behaviors are curbed, including territorial behavior over their favorite people and toys.
Overall, the Chihuahua is very loyal, and they can be playful and energetic. These dogs love to accompany their owners wherever possible, though they also love cuddling up on the couch or in bed after a long day.
Are Chihuahuas Good With Kids?
Chihuahuas are not recommended for families with children, especially young children. It’s no secret that the Chihuahua dog breed can be temperamental, and these small pups may also be territorial over their favorite person.
A Chihuahua can easily be injured during playtime with children who don’t yet know how to interact properly with dogs, and they may bark, growl, or nip at children they deem annoying or in their way.
Families without children or those with older children are generally recommended for Chihuahua ownership.
Are Chihuahuas Good With Other Animals?
Chihuahuas may be good with other animals, as long as they receive plenty of socialization and they are also given their own space in a home. These dogs typically don’t chase other animals, nor are they known for being overly vicious.
However, Chihuahuas can be territorial and bark or growl at other animals, and they must be trained properly and usually monitored when sharing a home with other animals to stop them from being injured during play or injuring another animal.
In general, your Chihuahua is more likely to thrive in a home where they are the star of the show and they don’t have to contend with rambunctious other dogs throughout the day.
Are Chihuahuas Aggressive?
Chihuahuas are not necessarily an aggressive breed, though they can be territorial and possessive over their favorite people. Proper socialization and training are necessary to ensure your Chihuahua stays happy, and you will want to start socialization as early as possible.
Small dog syndrome is often noted when it comes to Chihuahuas, but the unwanted behaviors from this are nothing a loving and supportive home cannot fix.
Do Chihuahuas Bark?
Chihuahuas tend to bark quite frequently, as they love to alert their owners to anything they see going on outdoors. Your dog may bark if they detect a threat, when playing, or just because they enjoy the sound of their own voice.
You can curb unwanted barking habits with training, though this dog is naturally vocal for the most part. If you will be living in a small space or somewhere with noise restrictions, you may want to dedicate lots of extra training time for your Chihuahua or soundproof your space.
Are Chihuahuas Affectionate?
Chihuahuas can be affectionate, but typically only with their favorite person or people. These dogs will love to sit on their favorite person’s lap, cuddle up with their owner, and receive as much attention as possible. They are generally lap dogs for their favorite people, and they might have favorite spots around your home that they dislike sharing.
Chihuahuas are not usually the quickest dog breed to warm up to strangers, and they may be a little aloof or standoffish when meeting new people. However, they do love attention and to play, which is how you can win this little dog over.
Are Chihuahuas Intelligent?
Chihuahuas are about average intelligence, with this breed being curious and alert, but not necessarily suited for learning complex tasks or specialized training. That being said, these dogs are definitely smart enough to figure out how to get their own way, and you might need to ensure your Chihuahua has proper training to avoid any major mischief incidents.
Are Chihuahuas Energetic?
Chihuahuas are fairly energetic, though their small size means that their exercise needs aren’t too extensive. You should take your Chihuahua on two to three walks per day, and they will need between 30 minutes and an hour of dedicated playtime each day. You can also take them to small dog parks to allow them to run around off-leash and get their energy out.
Are Chihuahuas Easy to Train?
Chihuahuas are not the easiest dogs to train due to their somewhat stubborn natures, but these dogs can learn tricks and tasks as long as you take your time and ensure you are consistent with training.
Chihuahuas love to spend time with their favorite person, and they are generally well-motivated by food and treats. These dogs will happily spend some time training with you each day, though you might need to ensure the treats you are using make it worth their time.
Are Chihuahuas Good Watchdogs?
Chihuahuas, despite their small size, are decent watchdogs. This breed is alert and very protective, and they make it their job to keep an eye out for threats to their home. These dogs are known to bark to alert their owner to a threat, and they are fearless in many situations when they suspect that they or their owners are at risk.
Are Chihuahuas Good Service Dogs?
Chihuahuas do not make good service dogs for several reasons, the most notable being that they are too small to complete the majority of service dog tasks out there.
Additionally, these dogs don’t typically have the personality for acting as service dogs, as they can be somewhat stubborn and temperamental, in addition to needing lots of training and socialization to ensure they are well-behaved.
That being said, your Chihuahua may bond strongly with you and be a great emotional support animal, as they can provide comfort through their presence and not through any tasks they have been trained to perform.
How to Care for a Chihuahua?
Chihuahuas don’t have the most in-depth care needs, though, like most dogs, they will need to be given their own space in your home.
Provide your Chihuahua with a bed, toys, and access to indoor or fenced-in outdoor areas to ensure they have lots of places to play, sit and sleep. Give your Chihuahua several walks a day and dedicate some playtime and training time to them each day.
You will need to feed your Chihuahua a diet of high-quality dog food split up into several small meals throughout the day, and you can supplement your Chihuahua’s diet with healthy treats.
If you notice any anxious or territorial behaviors developing in your Chihuahua, make sure you consult with a veterinarian to rule out any health issues before crafting a training plan to help put a stop to unwanted behaviors.
Do You Need to Groom a Chihuahua?
Chihuahuas should be groomed an average amount, meaning a few brushes per week and baths when necessary. If you have a long-haired Chihuahua, they will likely need brushing and bathing more often, and you might need to take them to a professional groomer for trims from time to time.
Make sure to also keep up with the other aspects of keeping your Chihuahua healthy such as clipping their nails, cleaning their ears, and dental care.
Do Chihuahuas Shed?
Chihuahuas shed an average amount, and they are not considered hypoallergenic dogs. You may deal with more shedding if you adopt the long-haired variety of this dog, as they need more grooming and generally have more fur to lose.
What Health Problems Do Chihuahuas Have?
Chihuahuas are prone to certain health issues due to genetic reasons and because of their small size. Health problems to look out for in your Chihuahua include:
- Luxating patella
- Heart issues
- Hypoglycemia
- Cataracts
- Dental diseases
- Glaucoma
- Obesity
This breed may also have problems keeping themselves warm or cold due to their smaller size and low body mass, and you may need to provide them with warm clothing or cooling help depending on the climate where you live.
You should monitor your dog’s behavior and keep an eye out for any health warning signs plus take your Chihuahua for regular visits to the vet to ensure they stay happy and healthy throughout their lives.
How Long Do Chihuahuas Live?
Like many other small dogs, Chihuahuas have a fairly long lifespan. This breed will live between 12 and 18 years on average, and a healthy diet with lots of exercise and proper care will generally allow them to live as long as possible.
What Should a Chihuahua Eat?
Chihuahuas don’t need to eat a huge amount of food each day due to their smaller size, but they do need a high-quality diet that is spaced out into a few small meals. This helps to control their weight and blood sugar, both items that Chihuahuas need extra monitoring due to their size.
You can feed your Chihuahua wet food, dry food, or a combination of both. Make sure that the caloric content of the food meets your dog’s needs, which is between a quarter cup and half of a cup of food a day depending on your Chihuahua’s size and energy levels.
Is a Chihuahua the Right Dog for Me?
Chihuahuas are unique pups who fit well into homes where they are able to be the center of attention and are doted on by loving family members.
These dogs don’t do the best with lots of other animals around, and they are not recommended for households with small children. However, Chihuahuas are loyal and affectionate companions, and they make a great choice for individuals who want a small companion with lots of personality and playfulness to spice up their lives.