Breed profile
Chihuahua
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseLow
GroomingLow
ChildrenLimited
BarkingVery high
HealthHigh
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight1.8 to 2.7 kg
Exercise needLow
Energy levelHigh
BarkingVery high
Grooming effortLow
Health burdenHigh
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Good fit
- Alone tolerance
- Very low
- Energy level
- High
- First-time owner fit
- Limited fit
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 30 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- Moderate
- Trainability
- Good
- Grooming effort
- Low
- Professional grooming
- Low maintenance
- Shedding
- Moderate
Household fit
- Children
- Limited
- Dogs
- Good
- Cats
- Moderate
- Prey drive
- Low
- Visitors
- Limited
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- High
- Heat tolerance
- Good
- Cold tolerance
- Very poor
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Luxating patella
- Hip dysplasia
- Hydrocephalus
- Dry eye, entropion and lens luxation
- Heart disease
- Tracheal collapse
- Legg-Perthes disease
- Dental disease
- Dystocia
- Cryptorchidism
- Chiari malformation and syringomyelia
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Flat-faced conformation can affect breathing and heat regulation.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.