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title: "Chihuahua - temperament, price, health, breeders | Pedibase"
description: "Everything to know about the Chihuahua (Mexico): temperament, size, health, lifespan of 14-18 years, feeding, price, and verified breeders."
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+11
Dogs
# The Chihuahua: temperament, price, health, and breeders
Mexico
The smallest purebred dog in the world, lively, affectionate and very attached to its home.
Size SmallLife expectancy 14–18 yearsBudget ≈ €70/monthPuppy €1,500 – €2,500
[Find a breeder 358](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=chihuahua)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs Moderate
Apartment living Excellent
First-time owners Very good
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Guarding instinct Limited
Strengths and weaknesses
- Very compact format: It takes up little space and adapts easily to life in an apartment or in the city.
- Strong bond with its household: It readily seeks human closeness and often becomes a very attached companion to its family.
- Alert and expressive: Its lively temperament makes it a very lively little dog and attentive to its environment.
- Moderate exercise needs: Short regular outings and play are often enough for its daily balance.
- High physical fragility: Its very small size exposes it more to impacts, falls and clumsy handling.
- Tendency to vocalize: Without a clear framework and good socialization, it can easily become a barker.
- Sensitivity to cold: It tolerates low temperatures and bad weather less well than many other breeds.
- Demanding dental hygiene: Prevention of tartar and oral diseases must be followed consistently.
Who is it for?
Ideal 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.
Not recommended for
- Households with boisterous toddlers: Rough handling and household accidents are riskier there for such a small dog.
- People who are often absent: Its strong attachment to the household is poorly suited to repeated long days without anyone present.
- Inconsistent owners: Letting it do anything because it is small quickly encourages barking, anxiety and bad habits.
- Life very exposed to the cold: It is not the best choice for daily life outdoors or in a harsh climate without constant precautions.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
19 cmChihuahua
- Height at the withers
- 16–21 cm
- Weight
- 1–3 kg
- Coat
- Short or long, smooth to slightly wavy
- FCI group
- 9
- Origin
- Mexico
- Grooming
- Easy to care for
## Photos and videos
See the Chihuahua in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Chihuahua is a very ancient dog breed originating from Mexico, whose name comes from the State of Chihuahua. It is said to have first lived in the wild before being domesticated in the time of the Toltecs, then is said to have become a companion dog appreciated even by Aztec princesses, to whom it was attributed mystical powers. Massively exported to the United States at the end of the 19th century and then spread in Europe, it is sometimes presented as resulting from a cross between the Mexican Hairless Dog and the Techichi. The breed was officially recognized by the FCI in 1959.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world, with a compact, light and well-proportioned body. It is recognized by its rounded apple-shaped head, its large expressive eyes, its wide erect ears and its tail carried in a plume or in a half-circle. The breed exists in short coat and in long coat, always with a lively and elegant silhouette despite a very small size.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
The Chihuahua is an alert, affectionate dog and very close to its humans, often braver than its size might suggest. It readily forms a strong bond with one or two people and likes to stay in close contact with its household. Behind its delicate appearance lies an alert temperament, sometimes wary of strangers, and a real tendency to speak up when something catches its attention.
Affectionate Playful Intelligent Sociable
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
On a daily basis, the Chihuahua enjoys indoor life, small regular walks, calm games and human closeness. It generally copes well with apartment living if its needs for outings, stimulation and socialization are met. On the other hand, it tolerates rough handling, pronounced cold and long periods of solitude poorly, which can encourage nervousness, barking or excessive attachment.
Training
## Training and socialization
The education of the Chihuahua must start early, with clear rules, consistency and real socialization. Despite its small size, it is a dog with an assertive temperament, sometimes stubborn, that needs a firm framework but without brutality so as not to pick up bad habits. It learns well when you remain consistent and patient, and early socialization helps it feel more at ease with strangers and other animals.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Chihuahua
The purchase price of the Chihuahua varies mainly depending on the quality of the lineage, the reputation of the breeding kennel, conformity to the desired type, the screenings carried out on the breeding dogs, and the puppy’s socialization. Its small size does not necessarily mean a small purchase budget, because demand remains high for well-selected dogs. Beyond the initial price, you must anticipate dental care, veterinary follow-up, and basic equipment.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/chihuahua/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Chihuahua is often long-lived, but its very small size requires particular vigilance regarding the mouth, kneecaps, trachea, eyes and maintaining a correct weight. The quality of selection matters enormously, because certain fragilities are more frequent in lines that are not rigorously monitored. Well raised, well fed and protected from shocks as well as from the cold, it can nevertheless live a long time in good shape.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/chihuahua/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Chihuahua needs a complete, highly digestible diet adapted to very small sizes, with a consistent energy density but strictly controlled quantities. Its low weight must not make one forget that it has real nutritional needs, especially in the puppy and in the active adult. The goal is to support its muscle mass, vitality and dental health without promoting overweight.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/chihuahua/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The Chihuahua is often nicknamed Chiwawa and remains the smallest recognized dog breed. It has also left its mark on popular culture with several famous representatives such as Poppy in Mars Attacks!, Ren in Ren and Stimpy, Chloé in Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Hipop in Scènes de ménages. The breed exists in two coat varieties, short and long, without losing its typical silhouette or its lively and attentive expression.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Chihuahua
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Chihuahua suitable for apartment living?
Yes, it is even one of the breeds that adapts best to it if it goes out every day and receives enough attention. Its small size makes indoor life easier, but it must not be deprived of walks, encounters and stimulation.
### Is the Chihuahua fragile?
Its health can be good, but its very small size makes it more vulnerable to knocks, falls, cold and rough handling. It is therefore better suited to a careful household than to a hectic or inattentive environment.
### Does the Chihuahua bark a lot?
It can be quite vocal, especially if it lacks socialization, if it is carried too much or if it is easily alerted. Consistent training and good work on calmness clearly reduce this tendency.
### Can the Chihuahua live with children?
Yes, but rather with calm, respectful children who are old enough to understand its fragility. In a household with very young children, the risk of clumsy handling must be taken seriously.
### Do you need to walk it a lot?
The Chihuahua does not need an amount of exercise comparable to that of a sporting dog, but it still must go out every day. Short regular walks, play and a bit of mental stimulation are often enough for it.
## Find a Chihuahua breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Chihuahua breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Chihuahua breeders in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes45](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/auvergne-rhone-alpes) [Chihuahua breeders in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur43](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/provence-alpes-cote-dazur) [Chihuahua breeders in Occitanie43](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/occitanie) [Chihuahua breeders in Grand Est36](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/grand-est) [Chihuahua breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine35](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/nouvelle-aquitaine) [Chihuahua breeders in Hauts-de-France34](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/hauts-de-france) [Chihuahua breeders in Brittany27](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/brittany) [Chihuahua breeders in Pays de la Loire25](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/pays-de-la-loire)
### Chihuahua breeders by country
[358 breeders of Chihuahua in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua) [358 breeders of Chihuahua in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/italy) [236 breeders of Chihuahua in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/germany) [68 breeders of Chihuahua in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/austria) [64 breeders of Chihuahua in Spain](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/spain) [63 breeders of Chihuahua in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/netherlands) [52 breeders of Chihuahua in Finland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/finland) [47 breeders of Chihuahua in the United Kingdom](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/united-kingdom) [22 breeders of Chihuahua in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/denmark) [10 breeders of Chihuahua in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua/belgium)
[All breeders of Chihuahua in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua)
## Ready to welcome a Chihuahua?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-chihuahua)
## Compare Chihuahua with other breeds
- [Chihuahua vs. Yorkshire Terrier](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/chihuahua-vs-yorkshire-terrier)
- [German Spitz vs. Chihuahua](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare/german-spitz-vs-chihuahua)
## Discover other breeds
[Pug
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/pug)
[Pekingese
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/pekingese)
[Shih Tzu
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/shih-tzu)
[Yorkshire Terrier
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/yorkshire-terrier)
[Bichon Frise
](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/bichon-frise)
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