When you think of a small dog breed, the Chihuahua is one of the first that comes to your mind.

The Chihuahua is a cute and adorable small dog breed that will almost instantly make you fall in love.

According to studies by American Kennel Club, the Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds and does not weigh over 6 pounds even as an adult.

You may therefore be wondering how big will my Chihuahua grow or when will my Chihuahua puppy stop growing?

You need to be aware of the fact that a Chihuahua like most small dog breeds do grow pretty faster than the larger dogs. A Chihuahua will be close to being an adult dog when she is about 6 months old.

What are the growth stages of a Chihuahua?

Almost every Chihuahua owner would want to know what the growth stages of their dog are.

What should be my Chihuahua’s ideal weight? When do Chihuahua puppies stop growing? These are just some of the many questions that Chihuahua owners struggle with.

You need to know that the growth of the Chihuahua puppy can be a bit staggered compared to other dog breeds.

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The surest way that you can be able to determine the growth rate of the Chihuahua would be to look at his pedigree. Other physical attributes like size are mainly hereditary. The genes that your puppy inherits from his parents will greatly determine his size.

The following are the growth stages of a Chihuahua.

1. New-born Chihuahua:

A newly born Chihuahua puppy is usually born weighing only a few ounces.

This however does not mean that your puppy will have stunted growth. You need not to worry about how big your Chihuahua will get. A new-born Chihuahua is able to double up in size in just a few days.

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2. Puppy stage:

A Chihuahua puppy during his first year will only grow just about his full adult size. You need to be prepared psychologically of the series of weight gains and losses as well.

I would advise that you do a weight gain check at least once a month for your Chihuahua puppy. This is just to monitor his growth rate and weight gain if any.

Once you notice that your Chihuahua does not grow in size, both the height and weight in the first few weeks, it is important to take him to your vet for check-up.

3. Between 1 year to 18 months:

In case you were wondering when Chihuahua puppies stop growing, this is definitely it. This breed finishes growing when it reaches between 1 year to 18 months.

Although, when your Chihuahua becomes an adult at 1 year, his chest will widen up. This marks part of the changes that your little furry friend will go through to mark the beginning of his adulthood.

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What is the ideal weight of a Chihuahua?

A normal Chihuahua puppy will be heavier than an adult Chihuahua. The reason being Chihuahua puppies tend to be round and have extra fat on their bodies to give them enough warmth.

Being a small dog breed, Chihuahua puppies do not have very thick fur coats. They also tend to be very hyper and you therefore need not to worry about your dog gaining weight. They will rarely have any health complications related to excess weight.

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Are there any body changes that occur?

The answer is yes! Just like any other ordinary dog, your Chihuahua is no exception. There are body changes that will occur during the different stages of his growth which will tell you that he is growing.

In the course of your puppy’s first year up to when he is about 6 months old, your Chihuahua’s body will lean out. As he continues to mature into the puberty stage going to be an adult, your dog will acquire a sleek and lean body.

You may also notice that the excess fat your Chihuahua had as a puppy is gradually reducing and he gets a slimmer tummy. It is recommended that you give your Chihuahua plenty of exercise to keep him from gaining unhealthy weight. This is likely to cause serious health issues in the long run.

Be mindful of the calorie intake of your Chihuahua. If he takes more calories than the activity he does, it will definitely result in an unhealthy weight gain and may cause serious health issues.

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What are some of the factors that will affect the growth of your Chihuahua?

The most obvious factor is definitely genes. The genetic combination of your Chihuahua will largely contribute to how big your puppy gets. There are also early environmental factors that may affect the growth of your Chihuahua.

Research shows that puppies who nurse often during their first weeks of life tend to be healthier than those who don’t. These puppies get better nutrition and also grow quickly compared to those who don’t nurse.

The other most obvious factor is your dog’s diet. A healthy diet is required if you want your Chihuahua to grow into a healthy and strong dog.

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Chihuahua puppies who do not get enough food or get dog food that is of low quality end up having a much slower growth rate. This however does not mean that you should overfeed your dog.

Overfeeding might lead to obesity which is likely to cause serious health issues to your dog.

Chihuahuas who tend to be sickly in their first few weeks of life also tend to be smaller and experience a slower growth rate as well.

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, in order to raise a healthy Chihuahua, you need to take proper care of your furry friend.

A good, healthy diet is mandatory if you want your Chihuahua puppy to grow normally. Proper nutrition and care is a must for your dog to develop as he should.

A Chihuahua is considered to be fully grown and an adult once he is at least one year. Give your dog plenty of exercise and high quality dog food for him to grow healthy and disease-free.

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