Chihuahuas: Frequently asked questions

Chihuahuas are one of the small breeds that has remained a firm favourite with people and families the world over. Their adorable looks and feisty personalities are just two of the reasons why dog lovers fall for Chis whenever they meet them. With this said, they are highly adaptable characters being just as happy living in an apartment in town as they would be living in a grand country house. Chihuahuas may be small in stature, but they are big on personality and they make wonderful watchdogs too.

What does a Chihuahua look like?

Chihuahuas with their large eyes and ears and cute little noses win a person over every time. As puppies they are incredibly sweet and as mature, adult dogs they retain their sweet looks well into their golden years. Chis have compact, well-muscled and nicely balanced bodies with fine, elegant legs. Some dogs have short coats, whereas others have longer hair on their bodies, around their necks and faces. Chihuahuas come in all sorts of colours whether solid or a combination of colours which can be from a light fawn right through to deep black.

Do Chihuahuas have tails?

Yes, Chihuahuas have tails which taper to the tip being a little thicker at the base which they carry upright and slightly arched when excited or eager to do something.

Are Chihuahuas healthy?

Unfortunately, Chis do suffer from quite a few health issues which are detailed in the health section of their breed profile. The main health concerns for the breed is patellar luxation and epilepsy, but as previously mentioned they are prone to suffer from other disorders too.

Are Chihuahuas barkers?

Chihuahuas can be taught not to bark for the sake of it and being so intelligent, they quickly learn what pleases an owner which means they will only voice an opinion when necessary.

Do Chihuahuas shed a lot?

Chihuahuas do shed although some Chis shed more hair than others. Interestingly, long-haired Chihuahuas tend to shed less than their short-hair counterparts. The key to staying on top of things is to brush a Chi regularly to remove any shed or loose hair from their coats before it gets left around the home.

Are Chihuahuas easy maintenance?

Chis are easy maintenance and their coats only need brushing a few times a week to keep things tidy and to remove any loose hair caught in their coats. However, they can often suffer from dental issues which means frequent visits to the vet might be necessary to make sure any teeth that are causing a problem are treated sooner rather than later.

What is the life expectancy of a Chihuahua?

Chihuahuas being small in stature can live anything from 10 to 18 years and even longer providing they are well cared for, fed an appropriate diet to suit the different stages of their lives and given enough daily physical exercise.

How much does a full grown Chihuahua weigh?

The ideal weight for a Chihuahua is anything between 1.8 and 2.7 kgs.

How many hours a day do Chihuahuas sleep?

Like all puppies, a young Chi needs to sleep a lot to develop and grow but once they are mature, most dogs need less sleep which could be anything from 12 to 14 hours a day, bearing in mind that older Chis generally need more in the way of rest time.

Are Chihuahuas aggressive?

Chihuahuas are small, but they think they are much larger than they really are and will happily take on a larger dog often with dire results. Like many other small and toy breeds, Chis can often from what is known as “small dog syndrome” which sees them becoming snappier and less tolerant of things they don’t like. However, some Chis are more reserved than others and generally like to keep their distance from people they don’t know, but once they do get to know someone, they can’t wait to say hello. With this said, they are not particularly good around children although there is always the exception to the rule.

Are Chihuahuas fussy eaters?

Some Chis can be picky eaters, but it is important not to spoil them by only feeding them food they will eat when they are young which could make the situation even worse making it harder to find anything they like.

Do Chihuahuas snore?

Younger Chis don’t generally snore, but as they reach their golden years, like many other breeds, a Chihuahua might start to snuffle and snort a little when they are sleeping.

Can Chihuahuas swim?

Chihuahuas do like to get their feet wet providing they were introduced to swimming when young. However, some Chis get frightened at the prospect of being in the water and they should never be forced to go in. It is also a very good idea to make sure a Chi has a life vest on when they go swimming just to be on the safe side.

Are Chihuahuas easy to house-train

Chihuahuas can be hard to house-train which takes time and a lot of patience to achieve and even then, there are not guarantees that a Chi won’t have many “accidents” around the home over the course of their lifetimes.

Do Chihuahuas get on with cats and other animals?

Chihuahuas love to give chase and will happily take after anything they spot in the distance or which tries to run away from them. Care also needs to be take when they are around larger dogs because some Chis have no idea just how small they are.

How much is a Chihuahua?

Chihuahuas are one of the top dog breeds in the UK when it comes to “popularity” which can affect how much they cost. But other factors contribute to their price too and this includes a dog’s size, their coat colour, their ancestry and lines, their intelligence and personality as well as their sex and whether they are registered with the Kennel Club. As such, if you are looking to buy a Chihuahua puppy for sale, the average price you would expect to pay for a healthy well-bred Chihuahua would be between £400 to over £1,200. According to our statistics on Pets4Homes, the average price of a KC registered Chihuahua is£764 and a non KC registered Chihuahua is£545.

Looking for further information on Chihuahuas?

To find out more about Chihuahuas, check out our Chihuahuabreed profile here.