Toy Chihuahua: Your Complete Guide

Toy Chihuahuas are commonly referred to as teacup Chihuahuas, and these small dogs pack a lot of personality into their tiny bodies. Toy Chihuahuas are lovable, loyal to their owners, affectionate, and brave, and their small size makes them highly desirable for apartment lifestyles or other small homes.

If you’re thinking of adding a toy Chihuahua to your home, it’s important to understand how to properly care for this dog. Our complete guide gives you essential information about the toy Chihuahua breed, their care needs, and what it takes to help this small dog thrive in your home.

Quick Look at the Toy Chihuahua

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Toy Chihuahuas?

The toy Chihuahua is a smaller-sized version of the Chihuahua, which is already a small dog. Also known as a teacup Chihuahua, the toy Chihuahua was created by breeding the smallest dogs of a Chihuahua litter together to create a tiny dog that stands between 5 and 8 inches tall at the shoulder.

These dogs typically weigh around 6 pounds, and they do have a somewhat controversial background surrounding breeding practices.

It’s important to find an ethical and reputable breeder or rescue when looking to adopt a toy Chihuahua, as many breeders will purposefully breed the runts of a litter together to create the smallest dog possible – breeding dogs with health issues and purposefully creating micro-dogs is frowned upon due to the health issues that arise within the dogs.

There isn’t an exact date for when the toy Chihuahua was created, though the standard Chihuahua was accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1904 after gaining popularity in the United States throughout the 1800s.

In recent years, small standard Chihuahuas and toy Chihuahuas are becoming increasingly more popular due to their feisty personalities, charming natures, and the ease of bringing one of these small dogs into a smaller living space like an apartment.

What Do Toy Chihuahuas Look Like?

Toy Chihuahuas look like standard Chihuahuas, except smaller. They will have long legs and a slender body, round head, and large eyes. They will have pointed triangular ears, alert expressions, and a straight tail. Toy Chihuahuas may have short to long coats, and their fur can be straight, smooth, or silky.

Toy Chihuahuas typically appear in solid colors, with brown or fawn being the most common, but bi-color and tri-color toy Chihuahuas are also available.

What Size Is a Toy Chihuahua?

The toy Chihuahua is very small, and they will stand between 5 and 8 inches tall at the shoulder. These dogs don’t typically weigh more than 6 pounds. Any teacup or toy Chihuahua that is smaller than this is likely not coming from a reputable breeder, as breeding micro-dogs is generally considered an unethical breeding practice.

What Is a Toy Chihuahua’s Coat Type and Length?

Toy Chihuahuas have a range of coat types and lengths. This breed is commonly seen with a short, smooth coat, but medium or long-haired varieties are also available. If a toy Chihuahua has short hair, it is generally straight and smooth, while medium or long-haired toy Chihuahuas have silkier and softer coats.

What Is a Toy Chihuahua’s Temperament?

Like the standard-sized Chihuahua, the toy Chihuahua is full of playful energy, sass, and affection.

These dogs typically form strong bonds with one or two of their family members and love to spend most of their time with them. They are energetic, and they need lots of toys and dedicated playtime to ensure that they are receiving both mental and physical stimulation throughout the day.

Toy Chihuahuas are brave, and they may feel protective over their families, though they can’t do much more than bark at a perceived threat due to their smaller size.

Proper training and socialization for your dog will help curb any unwanted behaviors that arise when your toy Chihuahua feels intimidated or like they are the boss of your home, which can easily happen with this small dog.

Overall, toy Chihuahuas are loving and enjoy spending time outdoors with their owner followed by an evening cuddling on the couch. These dogs are sassy and unique, and they manage to pack a lot of personality into a small body.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Good With Kids?

Toy Chihuahuas may be good with children as long as the children are old enough to know how to properly interact with this dog. Because of their small size, toy Chihuahuas may easily be injured by rough play, and they tend to do well with gentle or quieter playtimes. Older children and those who know how to be careful with such a small dog are the best fit for this breed.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Good With Other Animals?

Your toy Chihuahua might be good with other animals, as long as they are socialized properly and interactions with other animals are monitored. This dog is quite small, so playtime with larger dogs might not be the best fit. Toy Chihuahuas generally tolerate cats, and introductions will need to be made properly between animals in your home to ensure they all get along well.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Aggressive?

The toy Chihuahua is often particular about their preferences and their people, and this might lead to barking or growling if they deem that they aren’t getting their way.

It’s important to train your toy Chihuahua and ensure that they understand they aren’t in charge of the household, as this is typically what leads to behavioral issues and problems with barking, snapping, growling, and other unpleasant behaviors.

Do Toy Chihuahuas Bark?

The toy Chihuahua is one of the more vocal dog breeds out there, and you can expect this dog to inform you of everything that passes by your windows, in addition to sharing their feelings through barks. These dogs can be trained to curb excessive barking behavior, but keep in mind that they are a more vocal dog in general.

Apartment living might not be the best fit unless you are dedicated to training your dog to keep them on the quieter side.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Affectionate?

Toy Chihuahuas are affectionate, but they tend to be affectionate mostly to their favorite people. Still, these dogs will enjoy spending as much time together as possible with their families. They love to cuddle up on the couch after a long day just as much as they love playing outdoors or going on a walk with their owners.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Intelligent?

Many individuals think that Chihuahuas are not that intelligent, but these dogs are fairly smart. Your toy Chihuahua is likely to be alert and observant, and they will learn your routines quickly.

This breed might have a strong streak of stubbornness in them that generally encourages them to go their own way and may make it difficult to train them without lots of patience and a consistent effort.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Energetic?

Chihuahuas in general are an energetic, active breed, but their small size ensures that their exercise needs are not too lengthy or extensive. You will need to walk your toy Chihuahua at least twice and day in addition to giving them 30 minutes to an hour of dedicated playtime each day.

This dog will love visiting small dog parks with you so they can run around with other dogs, and they will need toys to play with when they are home alone to ensure their energy is expended each day.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Easy to Train?

The toy Chihuahua is not the easiest dog to train due to their feisty nature. These dogs are smart, but they can be stubborn and independent. It may take patience and consistency, in addition to high-value rewards, to get your toy Chihuahua focused on training with you each day.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Good Watchdogs?

Toy Chihuahuas are alert, protective, and brave, and they have no problem alerting their owners to potential threats outside. These dogs are vocal and always keep an eye on their homes, so while they don’t really have the right size to be intimidating, they are courageous enough to bark and growl in an attempt to protect their homes.

Are Toy Chihuahuas Good Service Dogs?

Toy Chihuahuas aren’t the best choice for service dogs as they are too small to complete most service dog tasks. These tiny dogs don’t have the size and strength for common actions like mobility support, guidance, or item retrieval. They are also not the best suited for deep pressure therapy, and they may find it more difficult than other dog breeds to learn complex tasks.

Toy Chihuahuas can be good candidates for emotional support animals, as they do form very strong bonds with their owners and their care needs are not as intensive as many other dog breeds.

How to Care for a Toy Chihuahua?

The toy Chihuahua doesn’t have the most intensive care needs. Like most dogs, they will need to be taken on a walk two to three times per day, and they will need dedicated exercise time.

This dog is fairly active and playful, so they will benefit from between 30 minutes and an hour of playtime with their families per day. You can also take your toy Chihuahua to dog parks and let them run around openly to meet their exercise needs.

Toy Chihuahuas generally don’t do well with being left alone for long hours. These dogs can develop separation anxiety and become destructive when they feel lonely or bored – proper training and ample time spent with your dog, plus lots of exercise will prevent these problems.

Make sure your toy Chihuahua has their own space in your home and provide them with a bed and toys. You will need to feed them meals of dry or wet food, or both, two to three times a day, and your toy Chihuahua will benefit from training to curb any unwanted behaviors, such as excessive barking.

Bring your toy Chihuahua to the vet regularly to make sure they stay in top condition throughout their lives.

Do You Need to Groom a Toy Chihuahua?

Toy Chihuahuas don’t have particularly high grooming needs, and Chihuahuas with longer coats will generally need more brushing and professional trims than those with short coats. Aim to brush your toy Chihuahua once or twice a week, bathe them as needed, and clip their nails when necessary.

Do Toy Chihuahuas Shed?

This breed is considered an average shedder, and you might notice that both short and long coat varieties of this dog shed throughout the year. Regular brushing and baths will help to stop shed fur from collecting around your home and keep your toy Chihuahua’s coat looking its best.

What Health Problems Do Toy Chihuahuas Have?

Many dogs are prone to certain health issues due to their genetics, and toy Chihuahuas are no different. It’s important to look out for health conditions such as heart diseases, bladder issues, hypoglycemia due to their small stomachs, bone fractures, eye problems, and dental disease.

Because toy Chihuahuas are so small, it can be easy for them to get injured, and it’s important to stay diligent about monitoring your dog’s behavior and taking them for regular veterinary visits.

How Long Do Toy Chihuahuas Live?

Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and toy Chihuahuas have an average age range of between 14 and 16 years. You can ensure your dog lives their longest, healthiest life by providing them with proper care and regular vet visits.

What Should a Toy Chihuahua Eat?

How much your toy Chihuahua eats depends on their exact size and the caloric content of the food you are giving them. You can give this dog dry food, wet food, or a combination of both foods, and their meals should be split up into two to four feedings a day to make sure this dog stays full and healthy.

Speak with a veterinarian if you have any questions about feeding your toy Chihuahua.

Is a Toy Chihuahua the Right Dog for Me?

The toy Chihuahua is a small dog with a lot of personality, and these dogs are known to be feisty, brave, and loyal. Toy Chihuahuas need a lot of time spent with their owners, and they should be treated carefully as their small size often leads to a higher risk of injuries.

The toy Chihuahua might be the right dog for you if you live in an apartment and need a smaller dog, if you’re dedicated to training excessively vocal habits out of your toy Chihuahua, or if you want a sassy companion that will brighten each day with their playful antics.