If you’re researching a Chihuaha to bring home, or if you have a Chihuaha and need answers to questions like what size dog crate you should buy or whether your dog is too heavy, you’ll want to know how big they get at different stages of life (particularly how much they’ll weigh and how tall they’ll be when they’re full grown).
To help with that, our veterinary advisor, Dr. Jennifer Coates, we created a puppy weight calculator and a series of growth charts (including a Chihuaha growth chart). In this post we’ll use that data to answer a variety of questions:
How Much Does a Chihuaha Weigh?
A fully grown Chihuahua weights between 2 and 6 pounds, and is 5-8 inches tall.
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Text Transcript of the Chihuahua Growth Chart
| Chihuahua – Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks 10 weeks 12 weeks 14 weeks 16 weeks 20 weeks 24 weeks 26 weeks 36 weeks One year |
11 – 33 oz 13 – 38 oz 15 – 45 oz 17 – 52 oz 19 – 59 oz 23 – 70 oz 26 – 78 oz 27 – 80 oz 32 – 96 oz 32 – 96 oz |
| Chihuahua – Age | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Fully grown | 2 – 6 pounds (32 – 96 oz) | 5 – 8 inches |
Though the Chihuahua is the tiniest breed of dog, they’re big in heart and soul. Great for the city, apartment life, or a comfy lap, the Chihuahua is fiercely loyal and protective. Whether you’re considering adopting a Chihuahua puppy or already have one, it helps to know all about your little one so you can provide the best life possible. Our Chihuahua growth chart shows you the multiple stages of your puppy’s growth, for both males and females. From 8 weeks old to a fully grown adult, the chart tracks an average Chihuahua puppy’s weight in ounces.
For instance, a healthy 3-month-old puppy weighs between 15 and 45 ounces. The weight is roughly the same for males and females. At this point, most Chihuahua puppies are half of their adult size. A fully grown Chihuahua weighs between 2 and 6 pounds, or 32 and 96 ounces, and stands about 5 to 8 inches high at the withers, the highest point of the shoulders. You can also get a better sense of the best weight for other breeds with our dog breed weight chart.
What Age do Chihuahuas Stop Growing?
Chihuahuas go through a puppy, adolescent, and young adult phase, like all dogs, but tend to reach their full adult size faster than most breeds. By the time they’re 6 months old, they’ve reached about 75 percent or more of their adult size.1 Measured in ounces from the beginning of life, the Chihuahua doesn’t typically weigh more than 6 pounds in adulthood.2 However, adult Chihuahuas may weigh anywhere from 2 to 6 pounds.3 So how do you know when your Chihuahua stops growing?
Our Chihuahua weight chart shows you an average Chihuahua’s growth timeline, but veterinarian, Dr. Jennifer Coates warns, “There certainly will be individuals who fall outside of the ranges due to being overweight or because of ‘unorthodox’ breeding decisions.” These numbers are a helpful tool, however, as you work with your veterinarian to determine your Chihuahua’s appropriate size for his age. The Waltham Petcare Science Institute offers you fill-in puppy growth charts to record your puppy’s age and weight, noted by date. 4 In reference to the accompanying puppy growth curve chart, Dr. Coates explains, “Moving higher can indicate unhealthy weight gain and moving lower can be associated with unhealthy weight loss.”
A number of factors may affect your growing Chihuahua puppy. Though Chihuahuas are a healthy breed with a long life expectancy, there are some things that might affect their development. Issues to be aware of include genetics, nutrition, activity levels, hormones, and underlying health conditions.5 Chihuahuas are sensitive to chilly temperatures and are also quick to become obese.6 Other concerns to watch out for include:78
- Mitral valve disease
- Patent ductus arteriosus
- Patellar luxation
- Eye disease, injuries, and infections
- Epilepsy
- Toy dog hypoglycemia
- Molera (soft spots on the head)
What is the Smallest Chihuahua?
The smallest Chihuahua ever recorded was honored in The Guinness Book of World Records. The female Chihuahua who holds the title weighs in at about 20 ounces, or 1.25 pounds, and measures 3.8 inches tall. Previous winners of the record weighed roughly 23 ounces, or 1.4 pounds, and 24 ounces, or 1.5 pounds.9 However, this isn’t typical for a small Chihuahua. Nor is there a type of Chihuahua that is specifically small. Those who are smaller than what’s considered normal might be called a Teacup Chihuahua, but this is an identifying marker, rather than an actual breed.10
Still the smallest breed of dog, the Chihuahua lives longer than most other breeds. Though experts are still scratching their heads trying to figure out why, size seems to be an important factor contributing to why small dogs live longer.11 Small dogs age slower while aging appears to accelerate at a faster rate in large dogs. Of course, this is an average, and proper nutrition, exercise, and body condition play a big role in a dog’s ultimate life span.
What is the Maximum Size of a Chihuahua?
If you’re wondering how big your Chihuahua will get or how much your Chihuahua should weigh, consider consulting our Chihuahua puppy growth chart. This will give you an average size for certain age ranges. A healthy Chihuahua probably won’t weigh more than 6 pounds at full size.12 Since Chihuahuas are prone to obesity, it’s important to pay close attention to food intake and exercise levels to help your pooch maintain a healthy weight.13
Chihuahua Weight Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the world’s largest Chihuahua was as big as 28 pounds. A fully grown Chihuahua shouldn’t be more than 6 pounds, but they are prone to obesity.
Yes, the world’s largest Chihuahua was as big as 28 pounds. A fully grown Chihuahua shouldn’t be more than 6 pounds, but they are prone to obesity.
15-45 ounces.
19-59 ounces.
26-78 ounces.
Article Sources
Pet News Daily uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Paretts S. Puppy Growth Chart: When Does My Puppy Finish Growing? Akc.org. Published August 10, 2021. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- Chihuahua. Akc.org. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- Chihuahua Dog Breed Information and Personality Traits. Hillspet.com. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- Waltham Puppy Growth Charts. Waltham.com. Accessed December 23, 2021
- Reisen J. A Puppy Growth Timeline: Transitions in Puppyhood. Akc.org. Published March 30, 2021. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- H M. Facts About Chihuahuas. Aspcapetinsurance.com. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- H M. Facts About Chihuahuas. Aspcapetinsurance.com. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- Chihuahua. Akc.org. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- Shortest Dog Living. Guinessworldrecords.com. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- H M. Facts About Chihuahuas. Aspcapetinsurance.com. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- Meyers H. Why Do Small Dogs Live Longer Than Large Dogs? Akc.org. Published September 30, 2021. Accessed December 26, 2021.
- Chihuahua. Akc.org. Accessed December 23, 2021.
- H M. Facts About Chihuahuas. Aspcapetinsurance.com. Accessed December 23, 2021.
Tom is a managing partner with Pet News Daily. He has been writing and researching on the web for over 10 years. He owns 3 dogs, 3 cats, and is a huge animal lover. His current obsession is working on training his (currently very good but very poorly behaved) 87 pound, 1 year old Bernedoodle named Pinecone.
