Chihuahua: Breed Facts, Experience and Tips from 9K+ Owners

Discover the Chihuahua, a toy breed celebrated for its loyal, alert, and intelligent nature. Considered a small dog, Chihuahuas were originally bred in Mexico for companionship beginning in the 1850s.

In this post, we share insights from almost 10,000 Sniffspot users, offering practical advice for new and prospective Chihuahua owners. Whether you’re considering owning or rescuing a Chihuahua yourself or already have one, you'll find valuable tips on how to care for and enjoy life with a loyal Chihuahua.

As Sniffspot user Abi says, "I love that they are loyal and fierce and just so loving to their owners. I also like that he’s protective of me."

Source: Sniffspot Community Breed Survey 2024

Chihuahua Quick Characteristics

• Breed Type: Companion
• Size: Small
• Life Expectancy: 12 - 20 years
• Healthy Weight Range: 2 to 6 lbs
• Height Range: 6 - 9 in
• Temperament: Loyal, Alert, Intelligent
• Coat Type: Short or long
• Color: Various, including fawn, black, white, brown, and combinations

About the Chihuahua

According to almost 10,000 Sniffspot community users who shared real-world data about their Chihuahua, we learned these dogs are loyal and alert. The Chihuahua is cautious around children and very friendly with other pets.

When living with a toy breed like a Chi, 56% of our owners said a large house with a fenced yard is ideal for these small pups. Additionally, 41% of owners said an apartment or condominium with regular walks is also acceptable. This dog is somewhat trainable, usually needing professional guidance and owners say the Chihuahua learns best with positive reinforcement, consistent routines, and socialization.

When it comes to exercise, 38% of Sniffspot owners say their Chihuahua benefits from low exercise every day, including around 30 minutes of walks and playtime a day. The Sniffspot Chi community would recommend this dog for first-time owners. Considered a relatively robust dog, Chi's don't face too many health problems compared to other toy breeds. This makes them a good fit for first-time owners and ideal additions to family households.

History and Origin of Chihuahua

Chihuahuas, often misunderstood, are more than just tiny lap dogs. Contrary to the stereotype of being frail or overly "yappy," Chihuahuas are stable, friendly, and surprisingly active breed, fitting into family life and even taking on agility challenges. Their origins are debated, with theories suggesting they hail from Mexico, were brought by Spanish traders from Malta, or might even have roots in China. Early writings even made wild claims about them being related to chipmunks!

Historically, Chihuahuas were affectionate family dogs cherished by the Toltecs and Aztecs in Mexico, where they were not only pets but also played a role in spiritual rituals. The breed was eventually recognized in the U.S. in the early 1900s, with notable figures like James Watson and Owen Wister contributing to its popularity as proud additions to family households.

By 1923, the Chihuahua Club of America was founded, and the breed gained further recognition with annual specialty shows. Over time, Chihuahuas have earned a place in both show rings and homes across the country, with celebrities like Billie Holiday adding to their charm.

Chihuahua Traits and Characteristics

• Temperament: Loyal, Alert, Intelligent
• Energy Level: Low
• Trainability: Somewhat trainable - Learns commands, but requires extra patience and repetition.
• Grooming needs: Low maintenance - Requires minimal grooming, such as occasional brushing and baths.
• Good with Kids: Cautious around children
• Good with Other Pets: Very friendly with other pets

What to Expect as a Chihuahua Dog Owner

As a Chihuahua owner, it's important to know the best dog breed tips as well as expectations from current Chihuahua owners. Affectionate family dogs, these toy breeds benefit from enrichment activities and regular activity levels.

Source: Sniffspot Community Breed Research 2024

Grooming Needs

Chihuahua dogs require low-maintenance grooming. This means Chihuahua owners should expect minimal grooming, like occasional brushing and baths. Chihuahua dogs have either a short or long coat depending on the specific type, bred for its appearance. Both their short and long coats are considered low shed.

To keep your Chihuahua's coat healthy and up to breed standards, brush weekly (or more frequently for long-haired). Of the coat types for pups in the companion group, the coat grooming needs for Chihuahua are low maintenance.

Exercise Needs

Chihuahuas require low activity each day. Though one of the most popular dog breeds, Chis are considered a very athletic, high-energy breed. Chis make great pets, and they thrive with around 30 minutes of walks and playtime a day. Owners of Chis report their dogs especially love playing with squeaky toys, tug-of-war, and chasing/playing with a ball or frisbee.

When small breeds like Chis don't get sufficient exercise, they're more likely to act out on undesirable behaviors like becoming prone to excessive barking and fearfulness. They need consistent training, mental activity, and regular low exercise to avoid excess energy.

Diet and Nutrition

What should you feed your Chihuahua to keep him healthy? As a low-energy breed, what you feed them is important. A reported 49% of our community feed their Chi commercial dry kibble, with the remainder opting for a specialty or homemade diet.

With low exercise, Chis should eat 0.5 to 1 cup of vet-recommended food to maintain a healthy weight of around 2 to 6 lbs. However, your Chihuahua's ideal weight and food depend on your pet's sex, activity level, and age.

Breed Health Concerns

The Chihuahua breed is most prone to dental problems and dental disease (e.g., periodontal disease, tooth decay) and skin conditions (e.g., allergies, dermatitis). A reported 49% of our Chihuahua owners reported dental problems like periodontal disease, dental calculous, tooth loss, bad breath, or an oral infection. Chi's risk for these challenges increase as they age.

Similarly, 24% reported skin conditions like allergies, yeast infections, impetigo, ringworm, alopecia, and folliculitis. Lastly, 23% of Chihuahua owners claim their dog struggles with joint problems like arthritis, elbow dysplasia, degenerative issues, and osteosarcoma — a common Chi health concern. If you're worried about any of these health issues above, talk to your Chi's vet.

How Friendly Are Chihuahuas?

Another important thing to consider when adopting a Chi is whether or not they fit with your current family. How friendly are Chihuahuas compared to other small-sized breeds?

Source: Sniffspot Community Breed Survey 2024

With ongoing training, you can hone your Chi's alert instincts into a loving and friendly family dog. Introducing your pet to positive reinforcement (treats, praise, rewards) and consistent daily training routines early helps them avoid undesirable behaviors like becoming prone to excessive barking and fearfulness. Our community Chihuahua owners comment on their pet's friendliness:

• Big personality in a tiny body, very loyal, low maintenance. (Nina)
• Not for families with small children -- they are very fragile. Mine is 6 pounds. (Rhonda)
• Socialization with other dogs and people so that they don’t get territorial, protective, or fearfully aggressive. Also potty training (lol). (Valerie)

How to Train a Chihuahua

Whether you're adopting a Chi puppy or a grown Chihuahua adult, training is a large part of owning a small breed. When you fail to train your Chi properly, they're more likely to display undesirable behaviors like becoming prone to excessive barking and fearfulness, and so on. Providing stimulating activities is a great first step, but this needs to be paired with the right training for your Chi.

As a companion breed, Chihuahuas benefit from praise and positive reinforcement. Here's what our Chi community recommended based on their experience with their own dog:

• Positive Reinforcement (90%): This includes treats, praise, rewards, and so on for positive behavior
• Consistent Routines (37%): A consistent training routine allows your pet to get comfortable with expectations
• Socialization (26%): Socializing your dog with other pets, dogs, and people prepares them to interact with the world

As dogs bred for companionship, Chis are considered somewhat trainable, usually needing professional guidance.

Jairo Alzate on Unsplash

What Do Owners Love About Chihuahuas?

We asked Sniffspot Chi owners what they love the most about their Chihuahua pups, and here's what they had to say:

• I’ve become a chi fanatic after a decade in LA fostering and rescuing. They’re so loyal, affectionate, cuddly and smart. Great companions for city living! (Valerie)
• No shedding, easy to maintain, really inexpensive to feed due to small size, loving. (Shey)
• They are tiny but have huge personalities! And they live a long time. Mine is 16 and still in excellent health! (Laura)

What Are the Biggest Challenges for Chihuahua Owners?

Similarly, Chi owners shared some of the biggest challenges of living with Chihuahua:

• They are often misunderstood as being mean dogs because people do not understand how to treat them. They need to be treated like any other dog and not treated like an accessory or a toy. They need to be given boundaries to understand that aggression towards others is not okay, but also need to have others respect THEIR boundaries and not touch or handle them in ways that they aren’t okay with just because they are small and “can’t really hurt you.". (Miranda)
• They can be stubborn, and bossy when meeting new dogs. They are apprehensive towards strangers. (Melissa )
• People perceive chihuahuas as ankle-biters, and my dog happens to bark when saying hi. So it’s hard for people not to be scared of her, even when she’s wagging her tail while barking. It makes training difficult. (Claire)

Is a Chihuahua Right for a First-Time Dog Owner?

Source: Sniffspot 2024 Community Dog Breed Survey

According to 78% of our Sniffspot community, Chihuahuas are a great first-time dog. This comes from their loyal nature and low exercise needs. Chihuahua owners say it best:

• They are SO loving. Always wagging their tail when you kiss or hug them, and always willing to snuggle! (Claire)
• So loyal and sweet! Will love you so hard if you treat them well. So much personality (Victoria )
• They've got big personalities and make amazing companions when trained with patience and intention. (AK)

Advice for Chihuahua Owners

Luckily, our Sniffspot community is full of experienced, trustworthy Chi owners. These Chihuahua breed owners share the most essential dog breed tips and advice for prospective or new dog owners:

Treat them like a big dog.

• Train small dogs as you would a big dog, little dogs need training too! Good manners are important even when they are small. A small dog is still a dog, teach them. (Claire)
• Respect their space and body language. (Nina)
• Even though Chis are small, give them plenty of physical activity and enrichment activities like you would any large dog. Physical activity early on is so good for their joint health! (Mina)

Respect their space and body language.

• Respect their body language! Many smaller dogs get disrespected because they're small and cute but their feelings matter. (Victoria )
• If you have children make sure that they can respect the dog's personal space or the dog could become very aggressive due to it not feeling safe in the home. (Angel Galarza)

Socialize early and often.

• Training and socialization from the start, chihuahuas are not traditionally good with other animals, kids, or strangers so the earlier you introduce them the better. (LL)
• Socialize as a puppy and start commands as a puppy. (JB)

Give your pup regular playtime.

• Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they don’t need exercise or playtime. (Shelbey)
• Very loving, small but needs lots of activities and exercise. (Jessica)

Take care of their teeth.

• Chis are so prone to dental disease. Proper care must include brushing their teeth at least once a week -- more if you can! (M)
• My dog has struggled with dental disease even though I take so much time to clean her teeth. Be vigilant with their teeth early on and ask your vet about proper care for their little teeth. (Dee)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Chihuahua

What is the average lifespan of a Chihuahua?

The average lifespan of a Chihuahua is typically between 12 - 20 years years.

What is the size of a Chihuahua?

An adult Chihuahua weighs between 2 to 6 lbs pounds and stands between 6 - 9 in tall.

How much grooming does a Chihuahua need?

Chihuahua dogs require low-maintenance grooming. Regular grooming helps to keep their coat healthy and manageable. Chihuahua dogs have a short or long coat, which has been bred for its appearance and style. They are considered low shedders. Long-haired Chihuahuas require more grooming to keep their coats clean. Groomers recommend brushing your long-haired chihuahuas coat daily.

To maintain your Chihuahua's coat, it's important to brush them regularly, even more so for the long-haired version. Among companion breeds, Chihuahua grooming is categorized as relatively easy.

How much exercise does a Chihuahua need?

Chihuahuas require low activity each day. Though one of the most popular dog breeds, Chis are classified as a minimally athletic, low-energy breed.

Chis are excellent companions. Unlike high-energy breeds, they flourish with around 30 minutes of walks and playtime a day. Owners of Chis note that their dogs particularly enjoy playing with squeaky toys, tug-of-war, and chasing/playing with a ball or frisbee.

If small breeds like Chis don't receive enough exercise as part of their proper care, they may develop unwanted behaviors. These dogs need ongoing training, mental stimulation, and consistent exercise to channel their energy effectively.

How friendly are Chihuahuas with children?

According to our data, Chihuahuas are cautious around children.

How well do Chihuahuas get along with other pets?

Our research indicates that Chihuahuas are very friendly with other pets with other pets.

What should you feed your Chihuahua to keep him healthy?

As a low-energy breed, the diet of your Chi is crucial. A significant 49% of our community feeds their Chi commercial dry food like kibble.

For optimal health, Chis should consume 0.5 to 1 cup of vet-recommended dry food to maintain a healthy weight of around 2 to 6 lbs pounds. The exact amount and type of dry food will depend on your Chihuahua's sex, activity level, and age.

What health concerns are common for Chihuahuas?

The Chihuahua breed is particularly prone to dental problems like periodontal disease, dental calculous, tooth loss, bad breath, or an oral infection and skin conditions like allergies, yeast infections, impetigo, ringworm, alopecia, and folliculitis. Our data shows that 49% of Chihuahua owners reported dental problems like periodontal disease, dental calculous, tooth loss, bad breath, or an oral infection. Chi's risk for these health issues increases as they age.

Additionally, 24% reported skin conditions like allergies, yeast infections, impetigo, ringworm, alopecia, and folliculitis. Finally, 23% of Chihuahua owners indicated their dog struggles with joint problems like arthritis, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, degenerative issues, and osteosarcoma, which are common Chi health concerns.

It's important to keep up with your Chi's physical activity and enrichment activities to keep their joints healthy and strong. Aerobic exercise is also a great way to keep this active breed healthy as they age. If you have concerns about any of these health issues, consult your Chi's veterinarian.

Resources for Chihuahua Owners

Whether you're a current Chihuahua dog owner or you're considering adopting a Chi, Sniffspot is here to lend a helping hand. Here are some of the most relevant resources for Chihuahua owners.

• Best Chihuahua Dog Rescues & Shelters
• Most Popular Chihuahua Dog Names
• The Chihuahua Club of America
• ASPCA Facts About Chihuahuas

Sources:

• Chihuahua History: From Aztec Treasure to Popular Companion. (American Kennel Club)
• Chihuahua Dog Breed Information. (Dog Time)