Chihuahua: Know Your Dog Breeds - Dog Lover Facts and Pet Names
What should you know before rescuing or buying a Chihuahua? These tiny dogs with big personalities make wonderful companions and apartment pets. Here are our favourite facts about Chihuahuas.
A Short History of Chihuahuas
Recognised by their apple-shaped head and large eyes, the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world. Whilst their origin is still debated today, the most widely accepted theory is that they emerged from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, South America.
Descended from an ancient, mute dog from the Toltec Empire - the Techichi dog. Dogs that resemble Chihuahuas can be seen in the paintings of many lost civilisations. They were formally recognised as a breed in 1904.
Read on below for details about their size, life span and exercise requirements...
Chihuahua Temperament
What are the personality traits of a Chihuahua?
Confident, intelligent and loyal. A very small dog with a huge personality. The Chihuahua is certainly one sassy customer and will rule the roost given half the chance. Like many toy or teacup dogs, they can exhibit aggression towards strangers and other dogs ('feisty' springs to mind). Perhaps they're compensating for their small size.
However, with appropriate training, the Chihuahua really does make an excellent companion dog; comfortable snuggling up on your lap but energetic and playful, too. An incredibly devoted breed; they love nothing more than being with their owner. Everywhere. All of the time.
The quick stats...
Height - 8 - 23 cm (3 - 9 inches)
Weight - 1 to 3 kg (2 - 7 pounds)
Coat Type - Short and smooth or long
Colour - Any: tan, chocolate, sable, red, fawn, black, blue and more.
Life Span - 12 to 15 years
Grooming - Low shedding. Brush once a week.
Exercise - 30 minutes per day
Scroll down for our fantastic pet name recommendations and other interesting Chihuahua facts.
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Chihuahua Pet Name Ideas
If you're bringing your new puppy home soon, you might be searching for name ideas for a Chihuahua. Naturally, something that alludes to their Hispanic origins might be a good fit. Or something to do with their small size (or a name to fit their enormous, sassy personality). Food items also seem to be a popular choice for these adorable little dogs.
25 unique Chihuahua dog names for male and female dogs with a few unisex ones thrown in there, too.
Bean
Biscuit
Bonnie
Bruno
Coco
Crumpet
Diego
Dory
Gigi
Hugo
Lola
Lou
Minnie
Nugget
Olive
Oscar
Peanut
Pixie
Rex
Rudy
Stella
Teddy
Tiny
Toby
Waffle
Has a Chihuahua ever won 'Best in Show' at Crufts?
Sadly not. A Chihuahua has never won overall 'Best in Show' at Crufts yet. However, in 2022, a charming Chihuahua named Joya stole the show and went viral with a mesmerising Swan Lake ballet dance routine. You can watch it here.
5 Interesting Facts About Chihuahuas
The Spanish name for this breed is 'Chihuaheuño'.
Chihuahuas experienced a popularity surge in the 1960s and Marilyn Monroe had a pet Chihuahua named 'Choo-Choo'.
Chihuahuas are born with a Molera (a soft spot in their skulls where the bones aren't fused together) similar to human babies. They tend to close up at around 6 months old but some dogs have this for the rest of their lives. Which means they're not suited to rough play.
In the dog world, they have the biggest brain in comparison to body size.
The adorable pooch carried around by Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) in the Legally Blonde movies was a Chihuahua.
Chihuahua Crossbreeds
So-called 'designer' dog breeds can be a controversial talking point for various reasons. But if you've ever wondered, what do you call a Chihuahua crossed with a....? Then, now you know.
Pomchi - Pomeranian x Chihuahua
Chiwhip - Whippet x Chihuahua
Chug - Pug x Chihuahua
Chiweenie - Dachshund x Chihuahua
Chorkie - Yorkshire Terrier x Chihuahua
How popular are Chihuahuas in the UK or USA?
The Chihuahua was incredibly popular in the mid-2000s. In 2022, 2454 Chihuahuas were registered within the UK. They are the 8th most popular breed globally.
