coat size for a Chihuahua
| Adult weight4.5 lb midpoint | 3–6lb |
|---|---|
| Size class | toy |
| Cratesize XS | 18–19" |
| Chest girth (harness)behind the front legs, at the widest point | 12–16" |
| Neck girth (collar)two fingers should slide under | 8–12" |
| Back length (coat)withers to base of tail | 8–12" |
- Breed
- Chihuahua
- Item
- coat
The Chihuahua in numbers
An adult Chihuahua weighs 3–6 lb, which puts it in the toy size class. That gives a 18–19" crate, a chest girth around 12–16" and a neck around 8–12".
One of those numbers you can trust, three you cannot
Crate size really does follow weight, because it is set by the dog lying stretched out — the mapping from weight to the standard 18/24/30/36/42/48 inch sizes is the same at every manufacturer.
Girth is different. Two Chihuahuas at the same weight can differ by three or four inches around the chest, depending on build, age and how much coat they carry. The range above tells you which size bracket to look in. It does not tell you your dog's measurement.
How to measure
Chest: around the deepest part, just behind the front legs, with the tape snug against the skin rather than the coat. Neck: where the collar sits, with two fingers underneath. Back: from the withers — the bump between the shoulder blades — to the base of the tail.
Measure standing, not sitting, and take it twice.
Notes
- Chihuahua: Trachea is fragile — a harness, never a collar, for walking.
- Girth and neck figures are the range this size class falls in, not a measurement of your dog. Two Chihuahuas at the same weight can differ by three or four inches around the chest — put a tape on the dog before you order.
- Crate size is the one number that does follow weight reliably, because it is set by the dog lying down stretched out. The dog should be able to stand without ducking and turn around without touching the sides.