10 Dog Breeds Similar to the Chihuahua
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Chihuahuas have their fair share of upsides. For instance, they are compact companions that don’t need a great deal of maintenance, thus making them well-suited for people in apartments and other small living spaces. Still, not everyone who wants a small dog likes Chihuahuas. Fortunately, that is a non-issue because they can choose from another small dog breed.
What Are 10 Dog Breeds Similar to the Chihuahua?
According to the AKC, and other sources, here are 10 small dog breeds similar to the Chihuahua:
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1. French Bulldog
Bloodsports used to be very popular in England. For instance, Britannica describes bull baiting. People would chain a bull to a stake in the ground. Subsequently, they would set dogs on the bull one by one. Sometimes, the goal was immobilizing the bull. Other times, the dog was supposed to “pin” the bull by fastening its jaws around the bull’s snout before hanging on. The dogs used for bull baiting became bulldogs, the ancestors of the modern dog breeds that bear the same name.
Of course, modern bulldogs are very different from their ancestors. Nothing illustrates this better than the French Bulldog. They descend from the smallest bulldogs that were already popular pets in the early 19th century. We know this because English lace makers went to France with their pets when the Industrial Revolution destroyed their livelihoods in their home country. In France, those smallest bulldogs became popular, so much so that the French started importing more and more of them. Over time, this produced the French Bulldog.
As a rule, French Bulldogs are good-natured dogs that get along well with humans. They are very trainable, though they are held back in this regard by their tendencies toward stubbornness. Besides this, French Bulldogs crave their owners’ attention to the extent that they are susceptible to separation anxiety.
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2. Italian Greyhound
The reason for the Italian Greyhound’s name is no mystery. After all, people brought the dog breed to England from Italy, so it makes sense for the dog breed’s English name to reference that. Some people believe the Italian Greyhound goes much further back. That is both reasonable and unreasonable. Supposedly, ancient depictions from the Mediterranean Basin show similar-looking dogs, which might be the ancestors of the modern dog breed. Still, it is hard to argue that dogs can be Italian Greyhounds when Italian Greyhounds weren’t a thing. Never mind the changes that have happened over time.
Regardless, the Italian Greyhound’s original role seems to have been a mix of things. There is evidence of them serving as sighthounds for hunting hares and rabbits. Simultaneously, there is evidence of them serving as personal companions to the societal elite. Whatever the case, the Italian Greyhound is a gentle, good-natured dog with a playful side. Sadly, it has a couple of potential issues. One, it needs daily exercise. Two, it needs human attention. The Italian Greyhound becomes agitated without either one of these two things.
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3. Miniature Schnauzer
Schnauzer comes from the German for “snout.” It makes sense because one of these dogs’ most distinctive characteristics would be the bearded snout. Cuteness says the AKC recognizes three kinds of Schnauzers. The original is the Standard Schnauzer. Meanwhile, the Giant Schnauzer is its bigger version, while the Miniature Schnauzer is its smaller version. Interested individuals should be cautious when they hear about dogs marketed as Toy Schnauzers or Teacup Schnauzers. Serious health issues might be responsible for the latter being so under-sized.
Miniature Schnauzers are very popular. Their size makes them more convenient than their larger counterparts. Furthermore, Miniature Schnauzers have likable personalities. These dogs have their potential issues. For example, they are ratters with high prey drives. Likewise, they are energetic animals that will come up with new ways to amuse themselves if they don’t get enough activity. Despite these potential issues, Miniature Schnauzers are bold, spirited, but surprisingly teachable dogs with much to offer interested individuals.
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4. Papillon
The Papillon bears a name meaning “butterfly.” That is because these dogs have erect ears with long, fringed hair, which have a rough resemblance to butterflies. A Papillon without erect ears isn’t a Papillon. Instead, it is a Phalene, which would be the drop-eared counterpart. Otherwise, there is no real difference between these two dog breeds. Dogster outright states these two dog breeds can come from the same litter.
In any case, both of these dog breeds make excellent companions. Generally speaking, they are intelligent, affectionate creatures that get along with both active and not-so-active families so long as their owners satisfy their need for regular exercise. The Papillon can become distrustful around strange humans and non-humans, so much so that it can become aggressive from that distrust. The thing is – that issue isn’t unique to either this dog breed or its counterpart. If anything, small dog owners should be extra-attentive about providing their canine companions with the proper training and socialization because of the sheer indifference some people show in this regard.
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5. Pomeranian
Pomeranians are one of those dog breeds that look bigger than they are. They are very fluffy-looking because of their double coat. Without that fur, Pomeranians are much smaller-looking. Indeed, some sources call these dogs Dwarf Spitzes, a name that says much about their lack of size compared to their closest relatives.
Personality-wise, Pomeranians are similar to other dog breeds on this list. That means they are friendly dogs that are relatively smart and relatively easygoing. Simultaneously, that also means they have big personalities crammed into little bodies. One can argue this is a good thing that provides Pomeranians with much of their charming liveliness. The issue is that some of these dogs choose to challenge their bigger counterparts because of this. Size matters a lot in dog fights, meaning interested individuals should keep a watchful eye on their Pomeranians. Furthermore, these dogs are small enough to be attractive targets for human thieves and non-human predators, thus making that watchfulness even more necessary.
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6. Schipperke
The Schipperke is a Belgian dog breed. These dogs look like spitzes. However, interested individuals should know there is a bit of a debate over the matter. Vetstreet says the Schipperke is a smaller version of a Belgian sheepdog. That seems to be the common opinion on the matter. Still, the idea of the Schipperke also being related to spitzes isn’t that ridiculous because the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Certainly, some sources are still willing to argue a genetic relationship between these dogs and European spitzes.
Moving on, these are active dogs with a strong sense of curiosity. Due to this, people need to be capable of establishing themselves as leaders. Otherwise, they could run into issues with these dogs. Providing these dogs with both physical and mental stimulation is also necessary for keeping them happy. Furthermore, the Schipperke is prone to separation anxiety, though it isn’t as bad about this as some of the more attention-seeking dog breeds in existence.
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7. Toy Fox Terrier
Fox Terrier tends to refer to two dog breeds called the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier. They are named thus because the former has a smooth-haired coat, while the latter has a wire-haired coat. Besides these, several dog breeds have diverged from these Fox Terriers. One excellent example is the Toy Fox Terrier, an American counterpart to Australia’s Miniature Fox Terrier.
The Toy Fox Terrier is a loving companion. Reputedly, it is better suited for older people than the more energetic terriers, though it isn’t exactly lethargic by general dog standards. As a bonus, the Toy Fox Terrier doesn’t have much need for grooming because its hair is so short. Some minimal combing and brushing should suffice.
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8. Toy Poodle
Poodles are another dog breed so popular that people have expanded it into different varieties with different sizes. Toy Poodles are the smallest of these varieties. With that said, Miniature Poodles are also much smaller than their standard-sized counterparts, thus making them another option for people looking for a small dog.
There isn’t much that needs to be said about Toy Poodles because they are so well-known. Essentially, these dogs have a lot of smarts but not a lot of independence. Put together, that makes them highly trainable, particularly since they are also keen on pleasing their owners. Of course, Poodles are also adorable-looking with their distinctively curly coats. Interested individuals should know that reduced shedding doesn’t make these dogs hypoallergenic. Healthline points out there isn’t a truly hypoallergenic dog, though not everyone will react to the same allergen in the same way.
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9. Toy Xoloitzcuintle
The Native Americans didn’t have a lot of domesticated animals before the Columbian Exchange. We don’t know why that was the case. It is possible that the Native Americans just had access to fewer domesticable animals. That matters because some species are much harder to domesticate than others for one reason or another. For instance, people have been taming cheetahs since ancient times, but people never managed to domesticate them because of the difficulties of getting them to breed in captivity. Similarly, people have been taming elephants since ancient times, but people never bothered to domesticate them because elephants give birth to more elephants at slow rates. Whatever the case, the Native Americans didn’t have a lot of domesticated animals before the Columbian Exchange.
Of course, the dog was a notable exception to this rule. We know this because dogs showed up everywhere in Native American culture. For instance, the Mexica believed in Xolotl, a dog god who guided the dead. He wasn’t a wholly positive figure. After all, Xolotl was the lowly, ominous twin to the noble, cultured Quetzalcoatl because the Mexica loved their dualism. Still, Mexico Lore makes it clear that he wasn’t wicked.
Few dog breeds can claim descent from Native American dog breeds. It is well-known that most modern dogs in the Americas descend from Eurasian ancestors. The Xoloitzcuintle is a rare exception to this rule because it descends from the hairless dogs of the Mexica. Even its name’s resemblance to Xolotl is no coincidence because it translates to something similar to “Xolotl dog.”
In modern times, the Xoloitzcuintle comes in several sizes. Unsurprisingly, the Toy Xoloitzcuintle would be the smallest of them, thus making it a suitable choice for people looking for a Chihuahua substitute. Generally speaking, these dogs won’t calm down until they are adults. After this, they tend to remain close to their family members while being more reserved towards strangers. Please note the Toy Xoloitzcuintle isn’t suitable for solo living and outdoor living. It does its best when it can interact with humans and other dogs. Furthermore, it fares poorly in certain climates because its hairlessness makes it more exposed to the cruelty of the elements.
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10. Yorkshire Terrier
Chances are good interested individuals can guess Yorkshire Terriers came into existence in Yorkshire. As the story goes, Scottish workers headed to the region for work during the mid-19th century. They brought their terriers with them, so they proceeded to create a new kind of terrier. Amusingly, while the Yorkshire Terrier might seem like a pet more than anything else in modern times, it started as a creature of the mills and mines. In other words, these dogs were working dogs belonging to working people rather than purely playthings for the societal elite.
Later, people settled on a single standard for the Yorkshire Terrier before breeding these dogs towards it. The result is a small dog with plenty of smarts and spirit. So long as Yorkshire Terriers are trained and socialized, they make excellent companions for a wide range of households, particularly since they are so adaptable and easygoing. Interested individuals should remember they descend from working dogs though. Thanks to that, Yorkshire Terriers need both physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy.
