Chihuahua vs Xoloitzcuintli

A Chihuahua
Photo: Joselodos
A Xoloitzcuintli
Photo: Canarian

Side by side

Chihuahua
Xoloitzcuintli
Adult weight
1–3 kg (2.2–6.6 lb) (breed club figure)1
4.5–25 kg (10–55 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
Males 12.7–20.3 cm; females 12.7–20.3 cm (breed club figure)1
Males 25–62 cm; females 25–62 cm3
Lifespan
Median 11.8 years4
No sourced figure
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Companion & toy6
Spitz & primitive3
Coat
Short coat or long coat6
Hairless variety or short coat3
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)7,8
No sourced figure
Class
Lap dog
Companion

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 4.5–25 kg (10–55 lb) for the Xoloitzcuintli.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Xoloitzcuintli, and a modest amount with the Chihuahua.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Chihuahua: a lap or leaning dog; Xoloitzcuintli: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (Chihuahua: decides for itself; Xoloitzcuintli: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
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.

Xoloitzcuintli
Spitz & primitive · Medium

The Xolo is calm, alert and loyal. It forms close bonds with its family and is reserved with strangers, which makes it a watchful guard.

The Chihuahua page →The Xoloitzcuintli page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Chihuahua
Xoloitzcuintli
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Chihuahua
Xoloitzcuintli
Affection
Differs
A lap or leaning dog
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Chihuahua
Xoloitzcuintli
Sensitivity
Needs a calm, predictable home
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Differs
Very vocal
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Usually fine with small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Xoloitzcuintli grows to the heavier adult, about 15 kg against the Chihuahua's 2 kg.
Chihuahua
Xoloitzcuintli
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More comparisons

Compare the Chihuahua with
Peruvian Inca Orchid vs XoloitzcuintliChinese Crested vs XoloitzcuintliChihuahua vs PomeranianChihuahua vs PapillonChihuahua vs Jack Russell TerrierAmerican Hairless Terrier vs XoloitzcuintliAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·