The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog. It comes from Mexico and is named after the state of Chihuahua. It is no secret that this breed can be extremely jealous and protective, ignoring its own size when facing up to a larger dog if something bothers or disturbs it. However, if adequately trained they can become loyal and calm companions, ideal for living in a flat without any problems. We know they are small but how big does a Chihuahua get? At OneHowTo.com we will explain.
The answer to how big a Chihuahua gets is not as simple as it seems and depends on several factors. When raising this breed for competition, the most important thing is the dog's weight, which should never exceed 2.7 kilos (4lb 6.7oz). However, in terms of height there is no defined measurement. So, we're looking at a breed which can have many variations in size.
Teacup Chihuahuas such as apple head chihuahuas,can weigh as little as 3 pounds or even less.
If you want more information on weight, check our article on how much should a Chihuahua weigh.
A Chihuahua can measure between 15 cm (6 in) to a little more than 30 cm (12 in) tall in terms of its withers height. That is more than a 50% difference in height between one Chihuahua and another, and of course height will depend on what type of chihuahua we have.
A Chihuahua measures on average between 16 and 20 cm (6 in and 8 in) tall at the withers but there are some big ones whose height can exceed 30 cm.
Long haired chihuahuas can get to as tall as 9 inches.
A Chihuahua is a faithful animal that adapts perfectly to small spaces but it requires a lot of care and attention as their tiny size means they have delicate and fragile bones. Additionally this dog requires significant care to protect it from the cold, as low temperatures can affect it greatly. This is why many owners decide to put a coat on their pets during the coldest days of the year.
If you need more advice on specific Chihuahua care, at OneHowTo we recommend our article on What should a Chihuahua dog eat.
If you want to read similar articles to How Big Does A Chihuahua Get, we recommend you visit our Pets category.
Note that a correct Chihuahua puppy will not grow to its absolute full size until 18 months. However, most of its growth occurs during the first 26 weeks.
I have a 90mm x 1000mm gap at the bottom of a balcony. Would a chihauhau fall through a gap that size?
It really depends on the size of your Chihuahua, as they can vary in size. However, just for safe measure, we recommend trying to close that gap.
Is there something you need answered which we didn't cover in the article? Let us know and we'll try to help.