Chihuahua puppies are some of the most adorable dogs out there, and many of them find their forever homes in a wonderful family environment every year. So, how much does it cost to purchase and maintain Chihuahuas as pets?
Our extensive guide on Chihuahua prices and maintenance will give you a better idea of what it means financially to give one of these animals a new home.
The price of Chihuahuas can vary based on your location and the specific colouring and coat type of your puppy. The average Chihuahua can cost anywhere from about $ 1,300 to sometimes up to $ 2,500.
The price of buying a Chihuahua in Australia ranges from $2,000 to $5,500 when using a registered breeder, depending on things like their coat type and lineage. If you’re looking to rescue a Chihuahua from a shelter, you can expect to pay much less, usually between $300 and $1,000 in adoption fees.
You might find listings from breeders for cheaper than the average detailed above, but these should be avoided as they are likely from unregistered breeders who often operate without following ethical breeding practices, which can impact both the health and behaviour of the Chihuahua puppies. Registered breeders or adoption shelters are the only way to go.
If you want a purebred Chihuahua puppy with documented lineage and proper healthy clearances from a registered breeder, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000. Puppies from certain bloodlines, like those bred for show, will usually sit at the higher end of this price range, as will long haired Chihuahuas and puppies with rare coat colours.
Adopting is a much more affordable option, but you do need to keep in mind that there’s not always a way of tracing the Chihuahua’s lineage when taking this route. In terms of money, the adoption fees range from $300 to $1,000, and this price usually includes vaccinations, microchipping, and desexing. However, because they’re a good breed for small homes and apartments, Chihuahuas tend to get snapped up quite quickly at adoption centres, particularly in urban areas. So, if you know this is the breed for you but you’ve had no luck in your local shelters, it’s worth reaching out to a Chihuahua specific rescue group like Chihuahua Rescue Queensland.
There are many factors that influence the cost of a Chihuahua, whether you’re buying from a breeder or adopting. These include:
If a Chihuahua comes from a champion bloodline or has ancestors that have won show competitions, the price can skyrocket, and they’ll be far more likely to be priced towards the $5,000 mark. This is because they’ll meet the breed standards (both long-haired and smooth-coated) outlined by the Australian National Kennel Council and have specific traits that make them highly valued and sought-after in the breeding and showing community.
It isn’t just the Chihuahua’s lineage that adds to the price. The reputation of the breeder also plays a big part, and reputable breeders who follow ethical breeding guidelines charge more because they’ll invest in genetic testing, health screenings, and responsible breeding. The costs of these things are reflected in the price of the puppies, and puppies with a proven bill of good health will be priced higher than those without (touching on the unregistered breeder advice we gave earlier). The location of the puppies will also add to the price, and puppies in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne will usually be priced higher than those in regional areas.
Puppies from high-quality breeders will have undergone health screening for common genetic issues Chihuahuas can suffer from, such as patellar luxation or heart issues. Likewise, they may also have been vaccinated, wormed, and microchipped before you pick them up, and all of these, along with the genetic health tests, add to the cost.
Chihuahuas come in both smooth-coated and long-haired varieties, and the long-haired ones are usually more expensive because they’re rarer. Similarly, coat colour plays a role, and rare colours like merle, blue, and lilac will push the price up.
The ideal age to bring a Chihuahua puppy home is between 8-12 weeks, but this is also when they are most expensive. Older puppies (6 months+) or adult Chihuahuas usually come with a lower price tag, especially if they have been returned to a breeder or are being rehomed from a shelter.
There’s more to bringing a Chihuahua home than the initial purchase price, and you’ll also need to buy some essential items, including:
Dog crate: $80 – $200 for a small, cosy crate your Chihuahua can use for sleeping and training.
Dog bed: $40 – $150 for a small, plush bed with extra padding for joint support.
Dog collar/lead: $20 – $60 for a lightweight collar and lead set that won’t weigh down too much on a Chihuahua’s delicate neck.
Feeding bowl: $10 – $40 for a small, shallow bowl that can accommodate a Chihuahua’s tiny snout.
Dog toothbrush: $10 – $30 for a doggy toothbrush and enzymatic toothbrush formulated to prevent dental disease.
Dog car harness: $30 – $80 for a properly fitting and adjustable harness to keep your Chihuahua safe during car trips.
Puppy treats: $10 – $50 for all-natural treats that are small and easy to chew and swallow.
Puppy training pads: $15 – $40 for reusable puppy pads that can be used for extended house training, given that Chihuahuas are stubborn learners.
Dog shampoo & conditioner: $15 – $40 for a gentle, hypoallergenic formula that can deep clean without causing skin irritation.
Dog nail clippers, brushes & combs: $15 – $80 for brushes (important for long-haired chihuahuas) and a set of nail clippers.
Because of their size, an adult Chihuahua only needs 50g – 80g of food each day, depending on their weight (which can range from 1.5kg – 3kg). This means, following the daily breakdown of different diets below, your monthly dog food bill could be between $30 – $240.
You do need to keep in mind these costs are only averages, and the actual cost will depend on the brand of food, the ingredients, and the portion size offered. It’s best to speak to your vet for diet advice before settling on a feeding plan.
Owning a Chihuahua comes with ongoing veterinary expenses, and these aren’t only for common health concerns but to help prevent certain issues. Here’s a breakdown of the average costs of this preventative care.
Annual vet checkups: $80 – $120 per visit for a general health exam, weight check, and discussion of any concerns.
Vaccinations: $100 – $250 per year for core vaccinations that include protection against distemper, parvovirus, and canine hepatitis, as well as optional annual boosters.
Worming and parasite protection: $15 – $25 for protection against fleas, worms, and other parasites that has been specially formulated for toy breeds.
Dental cleaning (every 1-2 years): $300 – $600 for examination, cleaning, and extraction under anaesthesia.
Pet insurance: $40 – $100 per month to cover unexpected accidents, illnesses, and breed-specific conditions like patellar luxation.
Smooth-coated Chihuahuas have low-maintenance grooming needs, but long-haired varieties will need regular professional grooming to prevent matting and keep their coats looking shiny and healthy. Here are a few average costs to add to your budget:
Hydrobath prices: $20 – $50 for a quick wash and blow-dry to keep the coat looking and smelling fresh.
Full groom prices: $60 – $120 for a wash, condition, dry, trim, ear cleaning, and nail trimming.
Face, feet & tail groom prices: $30 – $70 for a light tidy-up to keep the face and paws neat, which is especially important for long-haired Chihuahuas.
Chihuahua are smart but very stubborn, so they’ll need some training to prevent behavioural issues from occurring. These training options include:
Basic obedience training prices: $150 – $400 for basic command training, including sit, stay, and recall.
Puppy training class prices: $150 – $300 for a group class that helps with early training and socialisation.
Specialised training prices (i.e. anxiety, aggression): $200 – $400 for one-on-one training sessions designed to address specific behavioural concerns.
Not only does the initial cost of owning a Chihuahua range from $300 up to $5,000, depending on where you buy your dog from but there are also ongoing expenses ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 annually. And, given they have a long lifespan of 15 – 20 years, you’ll need to be confident you can foot the bill for a long time. If you feel you’ve got what it takes, you’ll have a tiny companion with a big personality who will bring years of joy to your life.
Colouring is a factor in meeting a breed standard and thus influencing the price of a true purebred puppy. Smooth coat Chihuahuas, as well as having long coats, can be slightly more expensive than other dogs, though.
Because Chihuahuas come in many different colours and patterns, this does not affect prices as much. But you should be on the lookout for extremely cheap Chihuahuas if they have been bred with merle colour, as these dogs can be prone to more genetic diseases and might be sold at a lower price for that reason.
If the parents of your puppy have been real show dogs and have been used for breeding specific successful Chihuahua puppies, the price might be significantly higher than those of an average litter.
If the litter is relatively small, your puppies might also be more expensive than usual. The same goes for a year where the request for this particular dog breed, and therefore, this dog might be specifically high, thus driving Chihuahua prices in Australia up.
But, you can always opt for adoption, as this is much cheaper and, in some cases, even completely free if you agree to give a Chihuahua a new forever home.
It is easy to spot a good breeder if you know what to look out for. Reputable breeders will, for instance, never sell you a puppy that is under 12 weeks old, as they require the attention of their mother until this age and can have behavioural problems if they get separated from their mother too early.
Your registered breeder should also provide you with documentation of your puppies getting health tests, vet checked, and necessary vaccinations and have their puppies microchipped and de-wormed before selling them.
Bad breeders might not want you to see the puppies and their parents before selling them to you or not be making much of a fuss about reputations and official documentation.
Even though they have a small size, these dogs will still require quite some money to maintain their health, feed them, pay the vet bills, etc., throughout their life.
In the first year of owning a Chihuahua, you can expect to pay about $350 on initial purchases such as a dog bed, crate, toys, treats, etc.
You can expect to spend about $90 for high-quality dog food for your Chihuahua, as they eat very small portions, and a big bag will go a long way with these tiny dogs.
The first year of your Chihuahua puppy will take anything between $300 to $650 for health checkups and getting it vaccinated and microchipped.
Afterwards, your annual costs will probably drop down to anything between $100 and $300, depending on your dog’s health and needs.
As your little one does not necessarily require professional grooming (especially those with a smooth coat), you will be able to save a lot of money by just clipping its nails and trimming its coat (if you have a long-haired Chihuahua) by yourself.
Chihuahua puppies are not cheap and will cost you some money throughout their lifetime. Still, they are playful, fiercely loyal to their owners, have a quirky temperament, can learn lots of cute tricks and commands and will thrive to become a valuable family member if raised in loving homes.
The interest in Chihuahua pups has been high worldwide for a long time, as these dogs are easily one of the most popular breeds out there.
Owning a dog comes with responsibilities and quite a hefty price tag sometimes; therefore, you should do your research and be sure it is financially viable to bring a pup into your house or whether other pets might be a better option.
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