Chihuahua vs Miniature Pinscher
Compare the Chihuahua to the Miniature Pinscher. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Chihuahua is better suited for new owners.
- Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Chihuahua is the most friendly between the breeds.
- Grooming - Both the Chihuahua and Miniature Pinscher are very low maintenance and easy to groom.
- Barking - The Chihuahua has an above-average tendency to bark, while the Miniature Pinscher has a low tendency to bark.
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| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Miniature Pinscher |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | No |
| Lifespan | 15-20 yrs. | 10-14 yrs. |
| Height | 6-9 in. | 10-12 in. |
| Weight | 3-6 lb | 8-11 lb |
| Intelligence | High | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Mexico | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1850 AD | Unknown |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| |
| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | No | No |
| Medium Yard | No | No |
| Large Yard | No | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 50°F to 80°F | 60°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High-Very High |
| Exercise Required | Medium | Medium |
| Top Running Speed | 18 mph | 16 mph |
| Strength | Low | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | Low |
| Shedding | Medium | Low |
| Dander | Low | Low |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Miniature Pinscher |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | Yes |
| Family/Pack | Yes | No |
| Independent | No | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | No |
| Average | Yes | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Very Low |
| Chasing | Below Average | Average |
| Follow Commands | Below Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Very Low |
| Guarding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Herding | Very Low | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | Very Low |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | High | High |
| Sledding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Watch | High | Average |
| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Miniature Pinscher |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 15-20 yrs. | 10-14 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Collapsed Trachea | Yes | No |
| Epilepsy | No | Yes |
| Heart Murmurs | Yes | No |
| Hydrocephalus | Yes | No |
| Hypoglycemia | Yes | No |
| Hypothyroidism | No | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Open Fontanel | Yes | No |
| Patellar Luxation | Yes | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Pulmonic Stenosis | Yes | No |
| Shivering | Yes | No |
| Breed Name | Chihuahua | Miniature Pinscher |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Single Coat | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Silky | Yes | No |
| Straight | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Short | Yes | Yes |
| Long | Yes | No |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | No |
| Black & Red | Yes | No |
| Black & Silver | Yes | No |
| Black & Tan | Yes | Yes |
| Black & White | Yes | No |
| Black Sabled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Black Sabled Silver | Yes | No |
| Blue | Yes | No |
| Blue & White | Yes | No |
| Blue Brindled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Blue Fawn | Yes | No |
| Chocolate | Yes | No |
| Chocolate & Tan | Yes | Yes |
| Chocolate & White | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Blue | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Brindled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Chocolate Sabled Fawn | Yes | No |
| Cream | Yes | No |
| Cream & White | Yes | No |
| Fawn | Yes | No |
| Fawn & White | Yes | No |
| Fawn Brindled Black | Yes | No |
| Gold | Yes | No |
| Gold & White | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | Yes |
| Red & White | Yes | No |
| Silver | Yes | No |
| Silver & White | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | No |
| Black & Rust | No | Yes |
| Blue & Rust | No | Yes |
| Blue & Tan | No | Yes |
| Blue Stag Red | No | Yes |
| Chocolate & Rust | No | Yes |
| Chocolate Stag Red | No | Yes |
| Fawn & Rust | No | Yes |
| Isabella & Stag Red | No | Yes |
| Isabella & Tan | No | Yes |
| Stag Red | No | Yes |