Dog Breed Guide

Chihuahua

Profile

Size

Extra Small

Country of origin

Mexico

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Companion

Height

15 - 23cm (6 - 9in)

Weight

1.5 - 3kg (3 - 7lb)

Life span

12 - 16 years

The smallest dog breed in the world. An apple-shaped head, large flaring ears and big round eyes are its hallmarks. There are two coat types, a smooth short coat and a fluffy long coat, and every color is accepted.

Tiny as it is, the Chihuahua is feisty, brave and self-confident. It pours its love into its family, especially one person, and always wants to be by their side. It is very alert and barks readily at strangers and noises.

Because it is so small and fine-boned, take care that it does not fall from your arms or get hurt jumping down from high places. It feels the cold, so a coat in winter is a good idea. Some Chihuahuas are born with a soft spot (molera) on top of the skull that never fully closes, so protect its head from bumps.

Good to know

The breed is named after the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico. A leading theory holds that its ancestor was the Techichi, a small dog kept by the Toltecs of ancient Mexico. The Techichi was larger than today's Chihuahua and is thought to have been bred smaller and lighter later, during the Aztec era. Another theory says its ancestors were dogs brought from Europe by the Spanish conquistadors, so its origins remain unclear.

Many of the dogs recognized by Guinness World Records as "the world's smallest dog" have been Chihuahuas. In 2023 Pearl, a Chihuahua in Florida, was recognized as the smallest living dog in the world, at just 9.14cm (3.6in) tall.

In the United States, a Chihuahua became a pop culture icon in the late 1990s as the talking mascot of Taco Bell's TV ads, and Bruiser, the Chihuahua carried everywhere by Elle Woods in the 2001 film Legally Blonde, made the breed a fashion accessory of the 2000s.