Chihuahua Size Chart & Growth Patterns

If you’re thinking about adopting a Chihuahua, you might be wondering – how big do Chihuahuas get? When do Chihuahuas finish growing? Understanding the size of your puppy is crucial for their health and wellbeing. If you’d like to learn more about Chihuahua’s size and growth patterns, keep on reading. By the end of this article you’ll know exactly what to expect, and can welcome your new pup home with your mind at ease. Let’s dig in!

Our handy interactive puppy growth chart and calculator takes all the hard work out of predicting your puppy’s potential adult size. This helps you to know exactly what you are in for.

Chihuahua Size Predictions: How Big Do Chihuahuas Get?

Probably the tiniest and most famous toy sized breed, the Chihuahua is the perfect example of a tiny dog with a huge personality. They’re determined and never afraid to tell you what they want. Although sometimes bossy, Chihuahuas are social pups who love spending lots of quality time with their humans.

So how big do Chihuahuas get? By the American Kennel Club’s breed standards, Chihuahuas stand at 5 to 8 inches tall and weigh no more than 6 pounds. However, these are the show ring requirements, and many Chihuahuas can actually grow up to two times heavier. 

Although genetics can be tricky and we can never exactly predict how big a puppy will get, Chihuahuas will always be small dogs. In addition, your puppy’s gender, diet, how much they exercise, and how big their parents are, can all affect their growth, and as a result, your Chihuahua’s full-grown size.

It’s important we note that all puppies should be fed special puppy formulas, as puppies have different energy and nutrient requirements than full-grown dogs. Additionally, look for formulas specially made for small-sized breeds to support your Chihuahuas growth and development. 

Are There Different Sizes Of Chihuahuas?

Although the AKC states that Chihuahuas with the ‘apple head’ exhibit the breed hallmark, you might also come across a Deer Head Chihuahua. Not only do they have slightly different facial features, Deer Head Chihuahuas tend to be larger than the competing Apple Head Chihuahua. 

Here’s a Chihuahua size chart for comparison:

	Apple Head Chihuahua	Deer Head Chihuahua
Weight	Up to 6 pounds	10-12 pounds
Height	5-8 inches	10-12 inches

*A dog’s height is measured from their withers also known as shoulder blades.

If you’re after the extra small Teacup Chihuahua size, we have to disappoint you. There’s no such thing as separate Teacup Chihuahua or Toy Chihuahua size. Most commonly, when people refer to Chihuahuas as Mini, Teacup, or Toy, they just mean the regular Chihuahua who is smaller-sized.

Unfortunately, some breeders use runts to breed new, smaller Chihuahuas. Consequently, these puppies are at a higher risk of developing health issues, and their life quality can greatly suffer. If you’re keen on adopting a smaller-sized Chihuahua, do your research and choose a responsible breeder who can tell you more about the size of your puppy’s parents, and how big the puppies usually are. 

In addition, there might be a small difference between male and female Chihuahuas, if any. Male Chihuahuas can grow slightly larger than females, but they both typically fall within the same size range. 

Chihuahua Size Charts & Growth Patterns – Month Wise

Regardless of their size, all puppies follow similar growth patterns. Generally, dogs reach adulthood around their first birthday. Smaller-sized breeds will reach their full-grown size around 8-12 months, larger pups might take up to two to three years to reach their adult size. Based on that, we can expect Chihuahuas to finish growing around 9 to 12 months old. 

Here are the typical Chihuahua size predictions by age:

Age	3 months	6 months	9-12 months
Weight	3 pounds	5 pounds	6 pounds
Height	5 inches	7 inches	8 inches

* A dog’s height is measured at its shoulder blades a.k.a the withers, not from the top of its head. 

By 3 months old, your Chihuahua has most likely reached half their adult weight and more than half of their adult height. After that, your puppy’s growth will start slowing down over the next few months.

Around the time your puppy turns 6 months old, they will now most likely start to resemble a full-grown dog. By then, Chihuahuas have reached most of their adult height and weight. Even after your puppy has reached their full height, they will continue to gain some more weight and fill out their chest. However, in the final months, their growth and weight gain won’t be as noticeable anymore. 

We’ve created an interactive Chihuahua size chart and puppy growth calculator that you can use to predict and track your puppy’s size and growth! Just enter your puppy’s breed, current weight in pounds, and current age in weeks, and our calculator will estimate your Chihuahua’s full-grown weight. 

How Big Will My Chihuahua Be?

Chihuahuas usually weigh up to 6 pounds and stand at 5 to 8 inches tall at the shoulder. However, it’s not uncommon for some pups to be larger than the AKC breed standards state. A larger Chihuahua’s average size can reach up to 12 inches in height, and 12 pounds in weight.

A different formula you could use is:

1. Growth = current weight / current age in weeks
2. Adult weight = Growth x 52 (number of weeks in one year)

So, for example, if your 12-week old pup weighs 18 pounds. You simply divide the current weight by their age in weeks and multiply the result with 52:

Additionally, your puppy’s size depends on different factors like their gender, the size of their parents, their diet, and how much they exercise. If you’d like to track your Chihuahua puppy’s size and growth, make sure to check out our interactive Chihuahua size chart and weight calculator. 

What Are The Different Sizes Of Chihuahuas?

Technically, Chihuahuas come in just one size. However, some people refer to smaller-sized Chihuahuas as the Teacup Chihuahua size, or the Mini Chihuahua. 

Additionally, Chihuahuas can have two different head shapes. Those two pups are known as the Apple Head Chihuahua and Deer Head Chihuahua. Apple Head Chihuahuas typically fit within the breed standards, whereas the Deer Head Chihuahuas tend to grow up to twice as big. 

Are There Big Chihuahuas?

As with any other dog breed, some Chihuahuas are just naturally larger than others. If you’re looking for a larger Chihuahua pup, a Deer Head Chihuahua might be the perfect option for you. Generally, Deer Head Chihuahuas are heavier and slightly taller than the Apple Head Chihuahua’s standard size.  

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Hopefully our Chihuahua size guide has been a helpful resource. As a puppy owner, it’s important you know what to expect when your puppy is still growing, and what you’re up against once your dog reaches adulthood. If you’d like to predict and track your puppy’s size, make sure to try out our interactive Chihuahua size chart and weight calculator!