Breed comparison

German Spitz or Chihuahua: Which breed should you choose?

German Spitz and Chihuahua are two dog breeds often compared by prospective owners. Here’s a point-by-point comparison to help you decide: size, temperament, purchase price, monthly budget, and compatibility with your lifestyle.

German Spitz

Medium2–20 kg€1,500 – €2,000

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Chihuahua

Small1–3 kg€1,500 – €2,500

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Key takeaways

German Spitz is larger: 2–20 kg compared with 1–3 kg for Chihuahua.
German Spitz costs less to buy: €1,500 – €2,000 compared with €1,500 – €2,500 for Chihuahua.
Chihuahua costs less day to day: about €86 per month compared with €119 for German Spitz.
Both breeds need a similar level of daily activity (3/5).
For “Families and children,” both breeds are tied (4/5).
Chihuahua scores higher for “Apartment living”: 5/5 compared with 4/5 for German Spitz.
For “First-time owners,” both breeds are tied (4/5).
Chihuahua lives longer on average: 14–18 years compared with 12–16 years for German Spitz.

Our verdict

Choose German Spitz if you’re looking for…

Families often at home: The German Spitz enjoys sharing the daily life of an available and interactive household.
Apartment living: It adapts well to it if outings, play and training are ensured.
Motivated first-time adopters: Its training is often accessible provided that one is consistent and manages barking.

Choose Chihuahua if you’re looking for…

Attentive urban life: It is very well suited to an apartment household that offers it presence, outings and a stable environment.
Careful adults: Its small size requires owners capable of handling and protecting a delicate dog.
Active seniors: Its practical size and moderate exercise needs can suit a calm but present lifestyle.
Families with calm children: It can fit in provided that the children are respectful and understand its fragility.

Detailed comparison

	German Spitz	Chihuahua
General information
Origin	Germany	Mexico
FCI group	5	9
Build	Medium	Small
Height at the withers	18–55 cm	16–21 cm
Weight	2–20 kg	1–3 kg
Coat	Long, double	Short or long, smooth to slightly wavy
Life expectancy	12–16 years	14–18 years
Average price	€1,500 – €2,000	€1,500 – €2,500
Monthly budget	≈ €119	≈ €86
Compatibility
Families and children	Very good	Very good
Daily exercise needs	Moderate	Moderate
Apartment living	Very good	Excellent
First-time owners	Very good	Very good
Other pets	Good	Good
Tolerance of being alone	Fair	Fair
Guarding instinct	Good	Limited
Strengths and weaknesses
	Obedient Low risk of running away Highly adaptable Not very destructive Robust health Rarely drools High exercise needs Barks a lot High-maintenance coat Sheds a lot	Low risk of running away Highly adaptable Robust health Easy to care for Sheds very little Rarely drools Not very obedient High exercise needs Prone to destructive behavior Barks a lot

Add a third breed Which dog should you choose?

German Spitz or Chihuahua: Which breed should you choose?

German Spitz

Chihuahua

Key takeaways

Our verdict

Detailed comparison

German Spitz

Chihuahua

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