How long does a Chihuahua live?

The listed lifespan for a Chihuahua is 14–16 years.

How tall is a Chihuahua?

The listed height for a Chihuahua is 5–8 in.

Is a Chihuahua good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Chihuahua is 1 out of 5.

When is a Chihuahua full grown?

The growth size band for a Chihuahua is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Chihuahua

Chihuahua is a toy dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is up to 6 lb, height is 5–8 in, and the listed lifespan is 14–16 years. AKC describes the temperament as Charming, Graceful, Sassy.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Chihuahua dog — Photo: Niewiadomek · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan14–16 years

Weightup to 6 lb

SizeToy GroupToy Group

Height

5–8 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

1 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

1 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 15 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 14.1-year average.

The listed origin is Mexican State of Chihuahua. The coat is described as smooth, short, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.7 points above the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 1 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 1 out of 5. That score is a reason to supervise young children. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 24 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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