Chihuahua puppy weight chart by week

Basics of the standard

The main parameters included in the breed standard:

• general form;
• proportions;
• character;
• head;
• frame;
• limbs;
• movements;
• wool cover;
• color;
• dimensions;
• flaws;
• vices.

How many months do these mini dogs grow is of interest to many potential buyers. Basic skeletal development continues for up to six months, after which the dog's growth slows down. Until twelve months, mainly the skull and chest begin to develop. Thus, the height of an adult animal can be determined already at the age of six months.

What determines height and weight

Chihuahua puppies grow until the teeth change, and this usually happens at 7-9 months. Weight gain is clearly visible by week in the Chihuahua height and weight table. Then, until 9-10 months of age, the final formation of the dog’s skeleton will take place, including the expansion and strengthening of the body, especially in the chest and head area. Already in six months you can specifically determine the final growth of your pet.

Future owners are very concerned about the forecast of the puppy's final growth, but this is rarely guessed with an accuracy of grams.

See in which litter your future pet appeared. If there are many puppies, the baby will be very small, but then he will definitely gain the required weight. A newborn Chihuahua usually weighs about 5% of its mother's total weight.

A 3-month-old puppy already weighs half the weight of an adult dog. Growth stops after 5 months from birth, subject to health and a properly balanced diet.

It's very common for standard parents to have mini babies, so don't rely too much on the size chart when choosing a puppy. If you definitely want a small Chihuahua, then wait until he grows up.

General form

The Chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world. This mini breed has an elegant appearance and a compact body structure: the height at the withers is proportional to the weight of the animal. She always proudly and high holds her medium-length tail, curled into a half ring. The tail should always be directed towards the straight line of the lower back.

The structure of the mini dog’s skull has a striking distinctive feature that is not inherent in other breeds: a small gap is formed between its bones, called a fontanel, which almost never closes.

Comparison of Chihuahua sizes with other dwarf breeds

The Chihuahua is truly the smallest dog in the world. For comparison, other dwarf breeds both in weight and size greatly exceed this small, almost pocket dog.

Yorkies are the second most popular after Chihuahuas.

• Yorkshire Terrier. Weighs up to 3 kg, at the withers reaches a height of 23 cm. This almost corresponds to the standard size of a Chihuahua.
• Pomeranian Spitz. An adult weighs up to 3.2 kg with a height of 18 to 30 cm at the withers.
• Maltese. A dwarf dog of this breed can weigh 3-4 kg with a height of no more than 25 cm.
• Brussels Griffon. Weighs up to 6 kg with a height of only 25-30 cm.
• King Charles Spaniel. Weighs more than 6 kg with a height of just over 30 cm at the withers.
• Pug. A small dog that sometimes weighs over 8 kg. Her height is 25-35 cm.

Chihuahuas are closest in parameters to the Yorkshire Terrier and Pomeranian Spitz.

Dog breeders all over the world happily breed Chihuahuas. This small dog thrives in limited living space, weighs and takes up very little space, is cheerful and friendly. When choosing a pet, pay special attention to the weight and size of the puppy. If the future owner does not know what parameters a purebred dog must meet, it is better to check the weight and size table, and also make a deal to purchase a puppy after examining it by a veterinarian. The specialist will tell you how much a Chihuahua weighs at a certain age, what to feed and how to care for the dog.

Head

The Chihuahua's skull is very large, apple-shaped, the width and height of which are equal. The voluminous forehead has pronounced eyebrows.

Due to the convexity of the forehead, the transition to the muzzle is clearly visible.

The mini dog's muzzle, wide towards the base, tapers towards the nose. A short muzzle with poorly defined cheekbones has rounded, tightly fitting lips, the dry and tense structure of which should completely cover the teeth.

The small nose may be slightly turned up. The standard allows any color of the nose that matches the coat color.

The large, round eyes of the Chihuahua have an expressive, slightly sly look. Widely spaced ocelli suggest the presence of a deep furrow between them. They should not be too convex. The eye color is dark, matching the coat color, although the standard allows for a light color.

If you look at a Chihuahua from the front, then according to the standard, the eyes and nose of a mini dog form an equilateral triangle.

The standard allows for both scissor and level bites. But an undershot or vice versa - an undershot is already considered a defect. The set of teeth may not be complete - they do not attach much importance to this.

The animal's large ears are set high, wider at the base, tapering to a rounded tip. When the dog is calm, they hang at an angle of forty-five degrees, and when excited they take a vertical position and become closer to each other.

The neck is set high and has a slight bend at the top, without dewlap. In males it is more powerful.

Frame

The strong, harmoniously built body is slightly elongated, since the height of the almost unpronounced withers is slightly less than its length. The flat, strong back has a muscular lower back. The wide croup has a slight slope.

The deep chest of wide volume has round ribs and is rounded to the elbow joint of the forelegs. A barrel chest is a flaw. The abdomen is noticeably tucked.

Males have an almost square body, while females have a slightly longer body.

Chihuahuas have two body structures:

• cobby – dense and heavy;
• dir – “deer-like”, elegant.

The straight, medium-length tail is set high. It is thick and gradually tapers towards the tip. When excited, the dog's tail is held either high with a slight bend, or along the back without touching it. If the tail has a crescent-shaped structure, then contact with the back or thigh is allowed.

Limbs

Steady and strong front legs form a straight line with the elbows and are parallel to each other. When viewed from the side, you can see that the pastern is elastic and slightly oblique. The elbows are tightly pressed to the body.

Well developed hind legs are set vertically and are also parallel to each other, with a good angle of the hock joints. Narrow posture or weakness in the limbs are considered a defect.

The limbs have soft paw pads and long fingers with slightly elongated claws. Pay attention to how many fingers the puppy has. Dewclaws need to be removed.

Types of breed

Since Chihuahuas can differ from each other, they are divided into categories by which dogs can be assessed:

• The supermini has a minimum weight of 1.5 kg.
• Mini dogs reach 1.5-1.8 kg.
• Small dogs have a maximum weight of 1.8-2.3 kg.
• Chihuahua standard 2.3-3 kilograms.

When buying a puppy, it is worth looking at the size of the head, the thickness of the paws and the appearance of course, it is also worth looking at the bones. If the puppy has thin bones, then it will weigh very little, so the owner must decide whether the pet’s weight or height will be more important to him.

Coat

There are two types of Chihuahua fur:

• short;
• long.

The short-haired coat fits tightly to the dog's body and has smooth and soft hairs of a straight structure. If there is undercoat, the length of his hair will be slightly longer, as well as on the neck and tail. On the head and ears the hair is the shortest, in the throat area it is practically absent.

The long-haired coat has thin and soft hairs of an even structure. Light waves are allowed, but not curly hair. Longer hair is found in the following places: ears, neck, paws, tail, chest. The dog's body should not be covered with too long and thick hair.

Chihuahua clothing size

Before buying clothes for a dog, measure:

• length of the back from the base of the tail to the withers;
• neck girth;
• chest girth.

Most often, Chihuahuas choose clothes in the following sizes:

• XS. This is the smallest size, suitable for dogs with a back length of 15 to 20 cm, a chest girth of up to 28 cm, and a neck girth of 12 to 20 cm. Clothes of this size are sewn for puppies and mini Chihuahuas that weigh up to 1.2 kg;
• S. If a dog has a back length of 21-24 cm, a chest of no more than 35 cm in girth, and a neck of no more than 23 cm, then clothes marked S are suitable for it. Various overalls and blouses of this size are sewn on mini Chihuahuas weighing on average up to 2.3 kg;
• M. Clothes of this size are worn by standard individuals with a back length of up to 28 cm, chest girth of up to 46 cm and neck girth of up to 31 cm.

Note! Some dogs buy clothes in size L. This is necessary if the dog weighs more than 3 kg and has a back length of up to 33 cm. To determine the size, use the Chihuahua growth chart.

Dimensions

Small dogs are fully grown until they are twelve months old. The breed standard does not indicate the exact height of the dog, but with proper development, adult Chihuahuas are 15-23 centimeters tall at the withers. Short height is preferred. By six months the dog's growth stops, and then it only gains weight.

The Chihuahua weight chart below will show you the approximate size of a mini dog as it gets older.

According to the standard, ideally the weight of adult males should be 1.3-2.7 kilograms, females - 1.5-2.7 kilograms.

How puppies grow

From birth to 10 months, a Chihuahua gains 30-60 g of weight every week. Closer to a year, the puppy begins to grow more actively, he eats more, so he can gain 120-150 g weekly. Sometimes dramatic changes in weight are observed already in six-month-old individuals.

Important! The puppy's weight and body size increase sharply. Up to 1.5 years this is not a deviation. The dog is still growing. If after the specified time the dog continues to change, becoming higher at the withers, then most likely he is not a purebred Chihuahua.

The weight of the Chihuahua is determined after weighing, be sure to compare the data obtained with a table of basic parameters. If the puppy was born very small, but is viable, eats well and is growing in size, there is no cause for concern. In the first four weeks of life, a Chihuahua weighs from 200 to 450 g, this difference is considered normal.

When determining the weight of six-month and one-year-old dogs, the availability of nutritious food and an active lifestyle are taken into account. If your dog eats frequently and doesn't look thin, but is very small, smaller than other toy breeds, you can take him to the vet. But there are dogs that weigh no more than 1 kg per year, while the weight of adult Chihuahuas of the same breed reaches 2.5 and 3 kg.

Flaws

Any deviation from the standard parameters is considered a serious deficiency. These include the following points:

• narrow skull;
• flat skull;
• small eye size;
• large protrusion of the eyes;
• long muzzle length;
• pointed ears;
• completely drooping ears;
• small neck;
• curved or concave spine;
• strongly sloping croup;
• long body length;
• barrel-shaped ribs;
• narrow set of front paws;
• elbows extending far away from the body;
• short or crooked legs;
• small breasts;
• displacement of the cup in the knees;
• jaw displacement;
• a short or completely curled ponytail with an incorrect fit;
• completely thin hairline;
• extra teeth;
• unexpressed stop.

Vices

The following defects are considered defects for which you can get disqualified:

• too light build;
• heavy weight, more than three kilograms;
• lack of a ponytail;
• parts of the tail or ears have been removed;
• bald patches on the skin;
• body too long;
• in males - absence of testicles, undeveloped or not fully descended testes into the scrotum.

Tell me, does your Chihuahua fit the standard parameters? How old is your little dog?