Dog breed guide
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is a tiny, spirited and intelligent dog. The smooth coat needs only a weekly brush, and exercise needs are light. The AKC says it is easy to train but is too small for rough handling, so it is not recommended for homes with children, and it suits city living well.
Chihuahua at a glance
- Adult weight, male
- 1 to 3 kg
- Adult weight, female
- 1 to 3 kg
- Size
- Small, under 10 kg
- Coat
- smooth (smooth coat variety): soft texture, close and glossy
Ratings
Petboost editorial ratings from 1 to 5, drawn from the breed standard text under Sources. A breed with no basis in the sources for a rating shows none.
- Grooming effort
- Energy
- Trainability
- Good with children
- Suits an apartment
5 means it needs the most grooming
5 means it needs a lot of exercise
5 means it learns quickly and eagerly
5 means it suits a family best
5 means it copes best in a small home
Next steps
- Find a local groomer or daycarePet businesses near you that take bookings online.
- Check a Chihuahua puppy's weightWhere a puppy sits against the breed's adult range.
- Dog age in human yearsFrom a formula, not the seven-to-one rule.
Sources
- Petboost breed reference data, adult weight ranges (breed list snapshot).
- Dogs Australia, Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) Breed Standard, https://dogsaustralia.org.au/members/breeds/breed-standards/Chihuahua-(Smooth-Coat), read 2026-10-05
- Dogs NSW, Chihuahua (Smooth Coat), https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/breeds/browse-all-breeds/chihuahua-smooth-coat/, read 2026-10-05
- American Kennel Club, Is the Chihuahua the Right Breed for Your Lifestyle?, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/chihuahua-right-for-you/, read 2026-10-05
- The Royal Kennel Club, Chihuahua (Smooth Coat), https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/toy/chihuahua-smooth-coat/, read 2026-10-05
General information about the breed, not veterinary advice. Speak with your vet about your own pet.