Chihuahua vs Jack Russell Terrier

Photo: Joselodos

Photo: Արարատ Թրվանց

Side by side

Chihuahua

Jack Russell Terrier

Adult weight

1–3 kg (2.2–6.6 lb) (breed club figure)1

5–6 kg (11–13 lb)2

Height

Males 12.7–20.3 cm; females 12.7–20.3 cm (breed club figure)1

No sourced figure

Lifespan

Median 11.8 years3

Median 13.3 years3

Fully grown

10 months, both sexes4

Group

Companion & toy5

Terriers2

Coat

Short coat or long coat5

Short coat or wire or harsh coat2

Shedding

Sheds through the year

No sourced figure

Exercise

A modest amount

A moderate amount

Health

Kneecap slipping out of place (much more likely); Corneal ulcers (more likely)6,7

Cushing's syndrome (slightly more likely); Torn cruciate ligament in one knee (slightly more likely)8,9

Class

Lap dog

Sport

Which suits you

Size

The Chihuahua comes in a wide range of sizes, 1–3 kg (2.2–6.6 lb) as an adult, against 5–6 kg (11–13 lb) for the Jack Russell Terrier.

Lifespan

In UK vet records the Jack Russell Terrier lives longer: a median of 13.3 years, against 11.8 for the Chihuahua.

Exercise

Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Jack Russell Terrier, and a modest amount with the Chihuahua.

Temperament

They differ most on prey drive (Chihuahua: usually fine with small pets; Jack Russell Terrier: likely to chase small pets) and on affection (Chihuahua: a lap or leaning dog; Jack Russell Terrier: affectionate on its own terms).

Alike

Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.

Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.

Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Chihuahua

Companion & toy · Toy

The Chihuahua is alert and bold, and quick to bark at unfamiliar sounds or people.

Jack Russell Terrier

Terriers · Small

In temperament it is lively, alert and bold, quick to learn and persistent once interested in something. It has a strong urge to chase and dig, and can be forthright with other dogs.

The Chihuahua page →The Jack Russell Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day

Chihuahua

Jack Russell Terrier

Activity

Differs

Happy with modest walks

Needs lots of exercise

Intelligence

Differs

Learns readily, likes games

Needs daily brain work

Handler demand

Differs

Needs steady training

Needs an experienced owner

With people

Chihuahua

Jack Russell Terrier

Affection

Differs

A lap or leaning dog

Affectionate on its own terms

Loyalty

Differs

Sticks close to its people

Bonded to its family

Independence

Decides for itself

Around the home

Chihuahua

Jack Russell Terrier

Sensitivity

Differs

Needs a calm, predictable home

Average

Voice

Very vocal

Prey drive

Differs

Usually fine with small pets

Likely to chase small pets

Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes

Summary

Detail

The Jack Russell Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 5.5 kg against the Chihuahua's 2 kg.

Chihuahua

Jack Russell Terrier

More comparisons

Compare the Chihuahua with

Jack Russell Terrier vs Parson Russell Terrier Beagle vs Jack Russell Terrier Jack Russell Terrier vs Rat Terrier Chihuahua vs Pomeranian Dachshund vs Jack Russell Terrier Chihuahua vs Papillon All breed comparisons →

Sources

1
American Kennel Club. Chihuahua breed page. ↑
2
FCI. Breed standard no. 345. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/345g03-en.pdf
3
McMillan et al., 2024. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports 14, 531 (VetCompass). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
4
Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.8.2027S
5
FCI. Breed standard no. 218. Fédération Cynologique Internationale. © FCI. ↑
www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/218g09-en.pdf
6
O'Neill et al., 2016. The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1186/s40575-016-0034-0
7
O'Neill et al., 2017. Corneal ulcerative disease in dogs under primary veterinary care in England: epidemiology and clinical management. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1186/s40575-017-0045-5
8
Schofield et al., 2022. Frequency and risk factors for naturally occurring Cushing's syndrome in dogs attending UK primary‐care practices. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1111/jsap.13450
9
Pegram et al., 2023. Risk factors for unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture diagnosis and for clinical management in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105952
10
Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
doi.org/10.1126/science.abk0639
11
Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/getting-dog/choosing-dog/finding-a-breeder
12
American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/screening-puppy-buyers-how-top-breeders-find-the-best-homes/
13
Salt et al., 2017. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in dogs of different sizes. PLoS ONE 12(9): e0182064 (WALTHAM). CC BY 4.0. ↑
doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0182064

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