Chihuahua Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

Should you adopt or buy a Chihuahua?

For many people, adopting is the place to start. Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses are among the toy dogs that come through Australian rescues most often, so if you are happy with an adult dog or a cross, you have a real chance of finding one without a breeder. If you want a purebred puppy of a particular coat, a registered breeder is the realistic route.

Whichever way you go, ask about health before you fall for a face. A large Royal Veterinary College study found gum disease was the most common specific problem recorded in Chihuahuas, and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) names the breed among the small dogs commonly affected by slipping kneecaps and tracheal collapse. A breeder should be able to talk about all three. A rescue can tell you what its vet found.

Reference figures read on 9 November 2026 on the rescue fee pages linked below. Not quotes: breeders and rescues set their own prices and change them.

What does a Chihuahua puppy cost from a registered breeder?

There is no published figure to point you to. We looked for a Chihuahua price on Dogs Australia's pages and Australian Chihuahua club pages on 9 November 2026 and found none, so we do not quote a range here. Prices in ads are whatever that seller has chosen, and breeder directories mix registered breeders with everyone else.

Compare what each price includes instead. A puppy from a breeder registered with Dogs Australia through its state body comes with pedigree papers, and most companion puppies are sold on the limited register, with an agreement that the dog will not be bred from. Ask what health checks the parents have had, whether the puppy will be vet checked, vaccinated and microchipped before it leaves, and whether the breeder will take the dog back if your circumstances change.

Smooth coat or long coat?

Dogs Australia keeps two standards, Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) and Chihuahua (Long Coat), and they are identical apart from the coat. The smooth coat is soft, close and glossy, with an undercoat and ruff allowed. The long coat is soft, flat or slightly wavy, never tight and curly, with feathering on the ears, feet and legs and a tail like a plume. Neither is a low-shedding dog; the long coat simply needs more brushing.

“Teacup” and merle: two words to question

The standard sets a weight of up to 2.7 kg, with 1.8 to 2.7 kg preferred. There is no teacup, micro or mini Chihuahua in it, so a teacup premium is a premium for a word. The same standard allows any colour or mixture of colours, but never merle (dapple). A merle puppy sold as a purebred Chihuahua does not match the breed standard, and that is worth asking the seller about directly.

Which health checks should a Chihuahua breeder talk about?

Ask about each item below for both parents, and ask to see written results. We could not find an Australian Chihuahua club that publishes a required test list, and Dogs Australia notes there is no mandatory health testing imposed nationwide for all breeders. Dogs Australia says a good breeder will answer questions about hereditary conditions, show test results and let your own vet check the puppy.

Evidence from the Royal Veterinary College and the ACVS, read 9 November 2026. This is a buying checklist, not veterinary advice.

The teeth: the Chihuahua's most common problem

The VetCompass study of Chihuahuas, led by the Royal Veterinary College and published in BMC Veterinary Research in 2020, looked at 11,647 Chihuahuas under UK vet care. Periodontal disease was the most common specific disorder, followed by obesity, retained baby teeth, anal sac impaction and aggression. A separate RVC study of dental disease found dogs under 10 kg had about three times the risk of dogs weighing 30 to 40 kg, and recommends daily tooth brushing with a dog toothpaste. For a dog this small, plan dental care from the first year and ask your vet to check the teeth at every visit.

The knees and the windpipe

Patellar luxation means the kneecap slips outside its groove when the knee bends. The ACVS says most affected dogs suddenly carry a back leg for a few steps, then use it normally again. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals only certifies knees in dogs 12 months and over, so the useful answer is about the parents. Tracheal collapse is a progressive disease of the windpipe; the ACVS lists a harsh, dry cough that sounds like a goose honking, often when the dog is excited or pulling on its collar, and says affected dogs are often middle-aged or older. If you see either sign, see your vet. Our Chihuahua health guide covers these conditions in more depth.

What do Chihuahuas in rescue look like?

Mostly adults, and a mix of purebreds and crosses. Across the rescues we aggregate, Chihuahua listings include smooth coat purebreds alongside crosses with Jack Russells, Fox Terriers and Pomeranians, across a wide range of ages from young adults to seniors. Puppies do appear, but less often than adults. An adult Chihuahua comes with something no puppy can offer: a known temperament with people, children and other dogs, written up by the rescue or foster carer.

That matters for this breed. The RVC study found aggression among the five most commonly recorded issues in Chihuahuas, while the breed standard asks for a dog that is neither snappy nor withdrawn. A rescue that has watched a dog for weeks can tell you which kind of Chihuahua it is. We did not find a Chihuahua-specific rescue in Australia that we could verify, so watch the general rescues and RSPCA shelters we list.

What does a rescue Chihuahua cost?

Fees as published by each rescue on the date shown. A reference, not a quote: fees change, and some dogs are priced individually. Adoption fees normally include desexing, microchipping and vaccinations.

Book your own vet visit in the first week after adopting, ask for a dental and knee check, and look at pet insurance before anything is recorded as a pre-existing condition.

How do Chihuahua puppy scams work?

A tiny, popular breed that is easy to photograph is what scammers advertise. Scamwatch says scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for popular breeds that do not exist, and that a very cheap pet is likely a scam. Its advice is to view the puppy in person, ask for a video call if you cannot visit, check that the breeder is legitimate, and compare prices.

The breed-specific traps are the ones above: a premium for “teacup” size, or for a merle coat the breed standard does not allow. Neither proves a scam, but both are a reason to slow down.

• Check the registration yourself. Enter the breeder's prefix or membership number in the Dogs Australia registered breeder check, not a certificate the seller emails you.
• Check the state number. NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT each require sellers to show an identifying number. Our puppies for sale guide lists each state's scheme and where to look it up.
• Meet the mother. Her size and temperament are the best preview of the puppy you will get.
• Expect questions. Dogs Australia says a good breeder will show you the dogs on the premises, answer questions about hereditary conditions and let your vet check the puppy.

Is a Chihuahua the right dog for you?

The Dogs Australia breed standard describes the Chihuahua as an alert little dog, swift moving with a saucy expression, with a temperament that is gay, spirited and intelligent. At no more than 2.7 kg it fits small homes and travels easily, and its exercise needs are modest.

The trade-offs are size and care. A dog this small is easy to injure, so it tends to suit adults and calm older children best. Teeth need daily attention, and a spirited small dog still needs training and socialisation like any other. Run the first year's costs with the dog cost calculator, and if you are still choosing, try the what dog breed am I quiz and the adoption readiness check. Our Chihuahua behaviour and socialisation guide covers training, and the best apartment dogs guide compares the Chihuahua with other small breeds.

Find a Chihuahua near you

Each page below shows Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses listed right now by rescues in that city, and each listing links to the rescue where you apply directly.

• Chihuahuas for adoption in Sydney
• Chihuahuas for adoption in Melbourne
• Chihuahuas for adoption in Brisbane
• Chihuahuas for adoption in Perth
• Chihuahuas for adoption in Adelaide

Open to any small dog? Browse small dogs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide.

For local rescues, fees and what to expect in your city, read the Chihuahua adoption guide for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or Newcastle.

Related guides: Pomeranian puppies: adopt or buy?, Maltese puppies: adopt or buy? and adopting a senior dog, worth reading for a breed that often reaches rescue as an older adult.