Animal register · DogIn the app
Chihuahua
Chi, Chihuahueño, Smooth Coat Chihuahua
The Chihuahua comes from Mexico. The Kennel Club standard describes a small, dainty, compact dog with a saucy expression and a gay, spirited and intelligent temperament, a well-rounded "apple dome" skull, a moderately short, slightly pointed muzzle, large round eyes that do not protrude, large ears and a sickle tail; any colour or mixture of colours is allowed, but never merle, and the preferred weight is 1.8–2.7 kg. The Royal Kennel Club lists the smooth-coated and the long-coated Chihuahua as two breeds; PetPrep draws the smooth coat in fawn, with a moderate head.
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to 30 minutes of exercise a day and grooming once a week, suits it to a flat or apartment and gives its lifespan as over 12 years. The PDSA says Chihuahuas are so small and light that children are tempted to pick them up, which they are unlikely to enjoy, so they are better suited to families with slightly older children. The PDSA adds that, as companion dogs, they love company and need someone around the home all the time, and that they should be socialised from a young age with lots of different people, experiences and places.
Available in the 12-week PetPrep Challenge (paid breed).
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- small — The Royal Kennel Club S275
- Adult weight
- males 1.8–2.7 kg, females 1.8–2.7 kg — The Kennel Club S274
- Daily exercise
- up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S275
- Brushing
- once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S275
- Shedding
- sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S275
- Lifespan
- more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S275
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Exercise
- Daily exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S275
Coat and grooming
Meals
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Lifespan
- Lifespan: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S275
Life stages
- Reaches adult size at: about 8–12 months (guidance for its size class) — PetMD S10
General guidance for dogs (not breed-specific):
Size and weight
Training
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does a Chihuahua need?
According to our sources, the Chihuahua needs this much exercise: up to 30 minutes a day — The Royal Kennel Club S275.
How long does a Chihuahua live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Chihuahua is: more than 12 years — The Royal Kennel Club S275.
How big does a Chihuahua get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Chihuahua, according to our sources: Size: small — The Royal Kennel Club S275; Adult weight: males 1.8–2.7 kg, females 1.8–2.7 kg — The Kennel Club S274.
How much grooming does a Chihuahua need?
Coat and grooming of the Chihuahua, according to our sources: Brushing: once a week — The Royal Kennel Club S275; Shedding: sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S275; Coat: short — The Royal Kennel Club S275.
Who is the Chihuahua a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Chihuahua as a good fit for: apartment living — The Royal Kennel Club S275; homes with other pets — PDSA S277. Keep in mind: small dog — better with older children — PDSA S277; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PDSA S277; sheds — The Royal Kennel Club S275.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 3,000 from month 3 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 3,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 3,000 steps |
| Senior | month 108 (9 years) | 2 | 2,300 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 30 minutes, so 3,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands more slowly than the mixed breed of the free plan (0.7× its speed).
- Becomes a senior in month 108 (9 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing once a week.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S275
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Luxating patellas, where the kneecap temporarily slips out of place, occur in the breed. — PDSA S277
- Hip dysplasia, a loose, poorly developed hip joint, occurs in the breed and can eventually lead to arthritis. — PDSA S277
- Legg-Perthes disease, a painful condition in which the hip joint dies and crumbles, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S277
- Hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid around the brain, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S277
- Eye problems occur in the breed, such as dry eye, eyelids that roll inwards (entropion) and a dislocated lens (lens luxation); eye testing is available. — PDSA S277
- Heart disease can occur in the breed; heart scans can check the parents for heart valve problems before breeding. — PDSA S277
- Tracheal collapse, where the rings of the windpipe collapse and make breathing difficult, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S277
- Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia, a painful condition with fluid-filled cavities in the spinal cord near the brain, can occur in the breed; breeders are advised to screen the parents (UK: BVA/KC scheme). — The Royal Kennel Club S275
- A large UK study names dental disease and being overweight as particularly common problems in the breed — problems owners can help prevent; crowded teeth and puppy teeth that do not fall out also occur. — RVC VetCompass S280
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Further tests for best practice
Other screening schemes for this breed
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S272FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — CHIHUAHUEÑO (218)https://www.fci.be/EN/nomenclature/CHIHUAHUA-218.html
- S274The Kennel Club (UK) breed standard, hosted by KUSA — Chihuahua (2 varieties) — KC [01-2015] (PDF)https://www.kusa.co.za/images/Breed%20Standards%202024/Chihuahua%20(2%20varieties
- S275The Royal Kennel Club — Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) — Breeds A to Zhttps://thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/chihuahua-smooth-coat
- S277PDSA — Chihuahua breed informationhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/small-dogs/chihuahua
- S280RVC VetCompass — Chihuahua infographic (2020) (PDF)https://rvc-web-app01.live01.azure.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/VetCompass/200214%20Chihuahua%20infographic-1.pdf
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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