How old do Chihuahuas grow?

How big will your Chihuahua be when it grows up? At what age do Chihuahua puppies stop growing? The owner of a dog of this breed should know the answer to all these questions.

The smallest puppy in a litter can surpass its own littermates by the time all puppies are one year old. And it makes no difference whether it is a boy or a girl. All puppies grow pretty much the same.

The best method for determining how big a Chihuahua will get is to look at the pedigree. This will be considered his standard. Size, along with other physical characteristics, is hereditary.

Newborn puppies grow most actively in the first 30 days of their life, while they double in size in about a few days.

Chihuahua puppies grow to about full size during the first 12 months. However, there will be times when puppies will start to gain weight rapidly. It is recommended to check the increase in this indicator every 30 days. If your Chihuahua is not gaining weight, has stopped growing, and is neither longer nor taller within four weeks, it is recommended that you visit a veterinarian who will examine your animal closely.

From 12-18 months, this breed stops growing and regains its full height and size. Although officially Chihuahuas can be considered adults when they reach one year old, they often become wider in the last few months of growth.

Newborn Chihuahua puppies are quite large. They have extra fat, but they need it to provide the body with warmth and energy, so there is no need to worry about being overweight. Puppies are very energetic, they rarely have problems with the thyroid gland or some other diseases that can affect the accumulation of excess weight.

In the first 12 months, just like in the first six months, the puppy's body will stretch. The Chihuahua's body will stretch until the puppy becomes an adult. Over the years, Chihuahuas will look sleeker and slimmer. There will be a gradual loss of weight in the sides as the fat layer is depleted.

The size of an adult Chihuahua depends on various factors:

• dog activity;
• getting good nutrition;
• heredity.

Newborn puppies typically weigh between 0.07 and 0.18 kg. Babies who eat their mother's milk in the first weeks of life receive better nutrition, and therefore will grow faster. A healthy diet after weaning a puppy can also affect growth.

Overfeeding, in turn, can make your dog obese.

Medical conditions can also affect growth. Chihuahuas who get sick in the first few weeks of life tend to be less sick.

Adults of the breed have a body weight of 1.3 to 2.7 kg. There are dogs that weigh less, but they are usually not very healthy.

As for the growth of a matured Chihuahua, on average, dogs grow up to 15-23 cm in height.

The body of the dog is longer in length than in height. In this small animal, the tail is constantly above the back.

The head is the most distinctive feature of this breed. The rounded skull is similar in shape to an apple. The eyes are bulging and round. The ears of this dog are quite large and always remain upright. The neck is moderately short, the muzzle is slightly elongated.

Chihuahua is one of the pocket dog breeds. By nature, they are very friendly and cheerful, so they are great for living with families with children. They are quite strong and even like terriers in temperament - full of self-confidence. Of course, each dog is different, but in general they are wonderful and even amazing animals.

Exercise seems to be one of the Chihuahua's weaknesses. This does not mean that they are not smart enough to learn. With all this, these animals are driven by strong territorial instincts. Therefore, the dog will definitely guard the area near the house and will mark its boundaries.

Taking care of such a pet is quite simple. The breed is of two types: smooth-haired and long-haired. Smooth-haired dogs are easy to bathe and dry. For dogs with long hair, this is not enough: in addition to bathing and drying, they need to be combed. Dogs can be bathed once a week.

In this breed, it is necessary to regularly check the nails and ears, since they do not spend as much time running as other breeds, without having the opportunity to grind off their nails naturally. Ears should be cleaned several times a month with a cotton swab dipped in a little alcohol.

A small dog breed like Chihuahua develops and matures faster than large breed dogs.... Puppies weighing 85 grams at birth will be approximately 1.36 kg at 18 months. A newborn Chihuahua weighing 140 grams will weigh 2.5 kg at 18 months.

Newborn puppies will gain 30-60 grams each week for about 8-10 weeks. Then the weight gain per week will increase by 60 grams or more, this will continue until 18 months. Puppies can put on weight in jerks.

Healthy puppies can gradually gain weight until they reach 90 percent of their intended weight in advanced adulthood. Weight gain slows between 4 and 6 months, with small spikes in growth... The final weight of an adult will depend not only on genetics, but also on the diet.

The Chihuahua puppy should be fed according to the instructions on the dog food packaging. The serving size will depend on the protein content of the food and whether the food is dry or not. When the Chihuahua's growth slows down, the amount of food needs to be adjusted to transition to an adult feeding regimen.

It is important to monitor the body weight and behavior of each Chihuahua puppy. A very active puppy can be thin and will need extra calories. It is helpful to chart your puppy's weight gain so you can track your puppy's weight gain consistently.

For the characteristics of the Chihuahua breed and some interesting facts, see the next video.