Cutest Dogs in the World: Chihuahua Vs. Boston Terrier

Ok, so don’t tell us all dogs are cute. They’re not. Some are beautiful, some are stately and majestic, some are big ‘ol derpy goofballs, and some are ugly enough to scare full grown adults. “Cute” is not a universal dog characteristic, although as a species, they tend to have more of it than most other animals (people included). No, “cute” is a trait some dogs have more than others. And it’s something we can measure, thanks to our careful scientific research. In this article, we measure two different breed‘s level of cute. Who will win the Chihuahua vs. Boston terrier cuteness battle? We’ll settle the matter once and for all with indisputable science.

Measuring Cuteness

We want to be exact when measuring canine cuteness. If we get this wrong, just think of all the thousands of dog owners we will disappoint. So, we did our homework and carefully gathered cuteness criteria from a single teenage girl living in the middle of the United States. Clearly, such a person is the foremost authority on what is cute. In this formal study, our two breeds will be measured for the following criteria:

• Pretty and sweet (you can’t resist cuddling them and kissing them on the face)
• Goofy (boop-able noses, fat little bellies, heads too big for their bodies, big eyes, silly personalities)
• Get into trouble (falling down, getting stuck, pieces of food in their fur)

So, now that we have the sciencey stuff worked out, how do the Chihuahua and Boston terrier measure up?

Oh, Aren’t You a Pretty Little Thing!

Is the Chihuahua pretty and sweet? Well, that depends. Imagine a little purse-sized animal just 5-8 inches tall and weighing just 2.5-4.5 pounds. Imagine it looks like a miniature deer, with big eyes and pointy ears. This adorable mutt could have long-hair or short-hair, in black, brown, cream, fawn, or red. The little guy might shiver a lot, practically begging you to put a sweater on him. And what if he wanted to sit in your lap all the time? Well, that’s a Chihuahua for you: pretty darn cute/sweet.

Not so fast though, check out the Boston terrier. They come in three sizes: under 15 pounds, 15-20 pounds, and 20-25 pounds. On average, they are about 15-17 inches tall. But get this – their coat looks like a tuxedo! They have white underneath, around their neck, and in a stripe up the middle of their face. The “coat” of their tuxedo comes in black, brindle, or seal (dark brown). They have boxy square heads, short muzzles, and big ol’ round eyes. Because they look so neat and formal, this pup has been called “the American gentleman.”

So, who wins this round? We give this one to the Boston terrier. These guys are just as cute as Chihuahuas and their fancy coats put them over the edge. (But don’t fret, tiny Chihuahua friends: you’re still our favorite purse-sized pals.)

What a Goofball!

We’ll start with the Boston terrier this time. That little nose is very boopable. And you just want to play with those jowls, pull them back and reveal a toothy grin. And that stubby tail is adorable! These little guys love to chase balls and play. They love canine agility, obedience, flyball, and rally. They explode with energy and will gladly learn all kinds of tricks. However, most often they are described as being polite, well-mannered, and even dignified. Maybe they’re all too aware their coat looks like a tuxedo, and they like to play the part. Once you start roughhousing with this pup though, your face is going to hurt from laughing!

What about the Chihuahua, though? No doubts about the goofball factor here! This dog has funny proportions: big bulging goldfish eyes, itty bitty nose and mouth, and tiny little teeth. And they are little dynamos! They have a super high energy level, but they’re so little that just running around your apartment can give them most of the exercise they need. It’s hilarious to see their short legs pumping, taking 30 steps to keep up with just one human stride! It tires them out fast, so if you go on a long walk, be prepared to carry your tuckered-out little friend home. Because these little babies don’t weigh much, they sometimes shiver a lot and like to wear clothes!

So, hands down, you win the goofball round, dear little Chihuahua! Even when you try to be serious, we can’t hide our smile. But Boston terrier, don’t be sad. We definitely feel more comfortable taking you to formal gatherings.

You Little Rascal!

Now we come to our final round, the “getting-into-trouble” category. Chihuahuas bark a lot, for absolutely no other reason than to hear themselves make a big sound. That is obviously a really rascally thing to do. Additionally, they look at big dogs and think they’re the same size. They know how adorable they are, and they use this as a superpower to wrap you around their little paw. After they’ve chewed up your shoe, they apologize with those big eyes and a head tilt. If you want a little dog with a big attitude to be your boss, then the Chihuahua is happy to oblige. If you want to pretend you are in charge, you’ll have to be consistent and patient in training them to play the role of an obedient dog, at least while you’re watching.

Terriers have a reputation for being barky little things, too, but the Boston terrier barks far less than most. Unlike other terriers, Boston terriers were not bred as herding dogs, so they don’t have as much of an instinct to bark at every little thing. They love being with people, but that means if you open the door to let them run around the backyard, don’t be surprised if they just sit and scratch at the door to ask you to go out with them. If you don’t give them attention, be prepared for them to redecorate your house by chewing on furniture, dumpster-diving in your trashcans, pulling books from your lower shelves to devour, and creating ventilation holes in all your shoes with their sharp little chompers. These guys can really be troublemakers!

And the Winner Is . . .

We have to be honest here. When we started this research, we really thought the Chihuahua was going to win this battle. And they definitely won the awkward, goofy category hands down. However, our careful scientific analysis showed that the Boston terrier is the cuter of the two. The “pretty” category was a close call, but in the end, it was their swanky, black-tie look that swayed us toward the Boston terrier. And as far as getting into trouble, both breeds are little messes, but that Boston terrier can do far more damage. So, to our surprise, our scientific analysis concluded that the Boston terrier is cuter than the Chihuahua. Do you agree? Not that it matters, because science is science, not opinion. Now that you know the truth, feel free to share it with all the Chihuahua and Boston terrier owners you know. They will surely thank you for sharing a bit of science with them.

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