If you’re trying to find the best purse dog, here’s Gino, ready to bark out all the secrets of the Chihuahua dog breed:
Wooofy-woofee-wooof-wooof-wooof! I’m Gino, the great Chihuahua! I’m the smallest dog in the world, but I’ve got a big heart and ego! As long as your purse fits my size, you can take me anywhere! Surprise me with treats and I’ll be your best shopping buddy!
🐕 Gino, the great Chihuahua
Stay tuned for more info about this petite dog breed that will cheer your day!
Temperament & Personality
A big temper comes in a small package when it comes to Chihuahuas. This small dog may exhibit a volcanic temper, triggered by about anything that it may find peculiar.
On the other hand, Chihuahuas who aren’t properly socialized become very shy and avoid having contact as much as they can with other humans except their owners. Some can even become extremely aggressive.
But, these little mini-wonders of the canine world are loving and affectionate creatures, that cherish being around their favorite human companion.
The Chihuahua requires a lot of attention, but will always reward its family with loyalty. It doesn’t stand being left alone at home, even for shorter periods. It may develop anxiety disorders that translate into destructive behavior, unexplained bursts of aggression, and even depression.
And, because the Chihuahua is a very vocal breed, that compensates for the tiny package, it may express its dissatisfaction by howling concerts.
Compatibility with Kids & Other Pets
The Chihuahua’s feisty nature doesn’t make it an appropriate dog for families, especially those with children. Its restless and anxious nature makes it react unwell and it may even become aggressive if bothered.
It may learn to tolerate other pets if these were adopted previously. Otherwise, socializing a Chihuahua with other dogs and cats may seem a little… impossible, because of its stubbornness and frequent jealousy displays.
Physical Characteristics
The Chihuahua is a small dog, weighing between 1 and 6 pounds (~ 0.5 – 2.5 kg). It has an apple-shaped head, a short muzzle, big, round eyes, and medium-sized ears. Many Chihuahuas have erect ears, pointed forward.
Its body is athletic, short, squared, with short legs, and a medium-wide torso.
The Chihuahua coat comes in two varieties: short or long. In both varieties, the coat is smooth, and glossy and comes in many colors and patterns, like fawn, liver, copper, red, cream, chocolate, black, blue, gold, and even silver.
The long-haired Chihuahua’s coat is longer on the ears, the neck and chest area, and the legs and tail have featherings.
Obedience, Trainability & Intelligence
The Chihuahua isn’t one of the most obedient dogs, because of its feisty and stubborn nature. But, it’s eager to please, so there’s hope.
Basic training must begin as early as possible, using positive reinforcement and consistency. Every family member must treat the dog in the same manner, because the Chihuahua may tend to hide behind the only person that doesn’t push its limits and create confusion.
Many Chihuahuas don’t achieve proper training their entire lifetime, because of their cuteness, which makes people bend their rules when it comes to correcting unwanted behaviors.
Although a stubborn creature, the Chihuahua is intelligent. It thoroughly observes the surroundings, before making any decision. It has an adaptive intelligence and can learn from experience.
The Chihuahua is also a great alarm dog; its alert nature makes it curious, yet skeptical about anything around it. This, together with its vocal nature, means it will bark at anything or anyone that makes it feel scared.
Energy Level & Exercise Needs
This little chunk of fun has tons of energy, but it will appreciate a comfy couch any moment of the day.
The Chihuahua enjoys short walks and, although energic, it doesn’t require much exercise. Its energy can be spent playing fetch, chasing balls, or chewing toys.
Walking twice a day is perfect for this lovely apartment-suitable dog.
Chihuahua Puppies
The Chihuahua makes a good apartment dog and is proper for a first dog owner.
These pint-sized pups come with a lot of personality. From the early days, these living toys need to know their surroundings, what’s off-limits, and how it’s supposed to act in different situations.
They need early socialization with different people, animals, and life situations, so they don’t become anxious adult dogs. This anxiousness may trigger aggressivity and all sorts of unwanted behaviors like chewing, peeing around the house, etc.
If you’re interested in buying such a puppy, always look for a renowned owner with good breeding practices and clean genetic lines. They can also provide papers for their litter.
It may not come cheap, but you wouldn’t want to buy a sick or genetically challenged puppy.
These bundles of joy need three daily meals and quality dog food. Don’t forget about doggy treats, that will help you train this little fella’ easier.
Lifespan, Health Issues & Nutrition
The Chihuahua’s lifespan is among the greatest in the canine world. Some Chihuahuas can live up to 20 years, with an average of 14-16 years.
The most common diseases in these small dogs are dental problems, which can occur early in life, without proper care. Many tend to keep their baby teeth, which don’t allow the permanent ones to grow. This condition is called retained deciduous teeth.
This particular breed is predisposed to hydrocephalus, or fluid buildup in the brain, because of the shape of its skull. Puppies are most susceptible to developing such a condition, although we’ve noticed two adult dogs that developed it.
Many Chihuahuas suffer from joint problems, which become a problem once the dog reaches full maturity. It can lead to pain and impaired walking.
During our practice years, we observed tracheal collapse in some Chihuahua dogs. This means the cartilages that form the trachea become weak and ineffective, leading to respiratory distress.
Like many other toy breeds, the Chihuahua tends to have low blood sugar, so it may become greedy. It’s also prone to obesity, so mind the daily number of meals and treats it receives.
An adult dog needs only two meals and, if you think you’ve stepped over the line with treats, add another walk to your daily schedule.
Grooming Needs
The Chihuahua’s grooming needs vary, depending on the hair length. The short-haired Chihuahua requires less grooming than the long-haired one.
To remove dead hair, manage the undercoat, and distribute the skin’s natural oils, brushing it once or twice a week is recommended.
The long-haired Chihuahua should be brushed two or three times a week, to prevent matting. A de-shedding tool might come in handy, because its longer hair is prone to tangling.
Please remember that no matter the coat length, the Chihuahua is a shedder.
Apartment Chihuahuas can be bathed every 2-3 months. Dogs that spend most of their time outside and long-haired Chihuahuas can be bathed monthly, to remove debris and dirt efficiently.
A specially designed dog shampoo must be used every time.
Ear cleaning must be performed at least monthly, preferably after bathing occurs. At this time, the ear wax is softer and can be removed easier.
Monthly nail trimming is mandatory because the Chihuahua isn’t exactly a lover of walking and its nails don’t go dull. They keep growing and can cause discomfort.
Adoption & Rescue Options
If you want to do a good deed and adopt or foster a stray Chihuahua, many rescue organizations put up dogs for adoption that were abused, abandoned, or neglected.
They also cover costs like neutering, microchipping, and vaccination, and most of them only require a small donation. You can find a purebred dog or a Chihuahua mix in almost all shelters and there’s a Chihuahua rescue organization in almost every US state:
We’re sure you can also find a local rescue organization for your area.
Cost of Ownership
You may wrongfully believe that a small dog comes with a small price, but a purebred Chihuahua puppy can cost between $800-$4500, depending on breeding lines, colors, and patterns. The rarer the color, the more expensive the puppy gets.
An adult Chihuahua dog will need quality dog food, which can cost around $40 per month. Add treats, another $20-$30. Another monthly cost is spot-on parasite control solutions, about $15-$30, depending on the product.
Accessories, like dog beds, a fancy dog carrier, leashes, harnesses, and toys can cost around $250-$300.
For one-time costs like neutering and microchipping, if not provided by the breeder, add $200.
Annual costs include vaccination and check-ups, around $100-$150.
Interesting Facts & Quirks
The Chihuahua is considered the smallest dog in the world. Purebred Chihuahuas weigh 6 pounds (2.7 kg) tops.
This dog breed was named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Chihuahuas have the so-called “Napoleon Complex”. They’ve got a big heart trapped inside of a small body. Did you ever see a Chihuahua bark at another dog, ten times bigger? Well, that’s it. Their courage and appetite to bark at almost everything are limitless.
Chihuahuas tremble all the time, for no reason, either because they’re cold, anxious, or angry; the constant trembling can be quite funny.
Have you ever heard about the world’s pickiest eater? Well, the Chihuahua is probably it. Unlike most dogs, that follow your hand while you eat, hoping you’ll drop your food so they can have it, Chihuahuas are the opposite. They won’t eat anything, even if they’ve had it (and quite enjoyed it) before.
Chihuahuas come in almost any color and pattern you’ll find in the doggy world. Brown ones resemble miniature Dobermans.
Billie Holliday, the famous singer, was a Chihuahua lover.
Chihuahua Names
Finding a name for your Chihuahua can be challenging, but fun. Try giving it a name that underlines its stature, like Napoleon, Goliath, Hercules or Kong.
If you have a female Chihuahua, Hera, Xena, Trinity, Asteria, or Phoebe, like the Amazons, make good choices.
More common choices are Peanut, which works for both males and females, Princess, Stella, Bitsy, Lulu, Daisy or Glenda. Great male suggestions are Rocky, Toby, Whisper, Milo or Robbie.
Chihuahua History
The Chihuahua has a funny history. Thought to be derived from the Mexican Techichi dog, which was, in fact, mute. Toltecs from Mexico bred this dog starting from the 9th century CE.
Later on, in Aztec culture, during the 11th century, Chihuahuas were cremated or buried along human bodies. They could guide the dead man’s soul through the afterlife, apparently.
People’s interest in these funny-looking dogs grew in the 1800’s. But they fancied long-coated Chihuahuas, not the smooth (eg. short-hair) ones. The official breed recognition happened in 1904, with the first registered Chihuahua, called Midget, property of H. Raynor of Texas.
In 1923, the breed got its official club. These dogs were allowed late to dog shows and it wasn’t until the 1950s that Chihuahuas were divided into two distinct varieties: the long and the short-haired.
