Discover the Largest Chihuahua Ever

When you think of Chihuahuas, you probably think of small, tiny dogs. But there had to be a Chihuahua larger than any other Chihuahua! The largest chihuahua ever does not even compare to the largest dog. The heaviest dog ever was Zorba, an Old English Mastiff that weighed 343 pounds. He also was the longest dog at the time, measuring 8 feet from his nose to the tip of his tail.

Zorba lived in London, England, with his owner, Chris Eraclides. He’s held the title of the biggest dog ever since 1987. Similarly, the tallest dog is a Great Dane named Atlas.

The latest record-breaker, Atlas, was originally from Georgia but now lives with his family in Florida. The Seay family had him officially measured by the Guinness World Records on April 3, 2021. On that date, he was officially declared the tallest living dog at 3 feet 4.5 inches (from paw to shoulder).

Now back to the largest chihuahua ever. Can you imagine a 3-foot-tall Chihuahua? No, probably not. In the following article, we’ll look at what a “normal” chihuahua size is. In addition, we’ll explore the smallest Chihuahua and, finally, learn about the largest Chihuahua recorded.

Average Size

Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed. They can have long or short hair and come in various colors. They typically have an apple-shaped head with pointed ears and big eyes. Time and time again, they are described as “little dogs with big personalities.” They can be sassy and seem to rule the house. But, they are loyal and love to be where their owners are.

It is unclear where these dogs originated, but their popularity stems from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. In the 1930s and ’40s, a popular Latin music bandleader named Xavier Cugat started a trend of owning these small dogs. Since then, they have been popularized by celebrities and appearances in movies and shows.

According to the American Kennel Club, these tiny dogs are intelligent and although a bit willful, can be trained for agility and obedience competitions. They also make amazing lap pets since they love to be wherever their owner/family is. As the smallest dog breed, they only get to be around 5-8 inches tall and officially should not weigh more than 6 lbs.

Small dogs tend to have longer life expectancies than larger dogs. The average Chihuahua lives to be 14-16 years old. The oldest Chihuahua ever on record is a pooch named “Megabyte.” Not much info is available on him, but he was said to be 20 years old when he passed away.

Smallest Chihuahuas Ever

Before we get to the largest Chihuahua, let’s look at some of the smallest. You may have heard of Teacup Chihuahuas, named because they are so small they fit in a teacup! These tiny dogs result from breeders taking the smallest ones and breeding them together. There is some controversy around this practice. Be sure to work with a reputable breeder when you choose a puppy.

There is no way to guarantee how big your Chihuahua will be when they become adults. The Chihuahuas that do end up on the small side of the scale can be as small as a dollar bill! Heaven Sent Brandy from Florida is the pup that holds the record for the shortest dog by length. From her nose to her tail, she was only 6 inches long.

Miracle Milly

The smallest living dog goes to a Chihuahua from Puerto Rico named Miracle Milly. She is only 3.8 inches tall at the shoulder. The Guinness World Record website shows her standing next to a Coke can! Another remarkable Guinness photo highlights a visit between the tallest dog, a Great Dane named Gibson, who was 42.2 inches at the shoulder, and the smallest dog at the time, a Chihuahua named BooBoo, who was only 4 inches tall. That puts things in perspective!

Largest Chihuahuas Ever

Now onto the largest Chihuahua ever. There are no Guinness records for the largest Chihuahua, nor are there any official records on the topic. Still, there are a few resources that cite the same few Chihuahuas as being the largest Chihuahuas. In 2017 there was a television show that helped pet owners get their overweight pets back to a healthy weight.

Gracie

The show showcased a Chihuahua mix named Gracie that weighed 41.5 lbs! The trainer, Travis Brorsen, worked with Gracie and her owners and helped her lose 30% of her body weight and keep it off. Gracie’s owner, Lisa, admitted that she allowed Gracie to eat whenever she wanted and rarely provided any exercise for her. One of Brorsen’s goals is “finding a way to help owners find new ways to connect with their pets and add years onto their lives and help them get healthy.” This story has a happy ending, with Gracie losing weight and Lisa learning new ways to spend time with her dog and show her how much she loves her.

Another large Chihuahua had a medical condition that made him keep growing. A Chihuahua named Cleatus from Florida was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. Similarly to humans, this caused unexplained weight gain and a hormone imbalance. Cleatus reached 33.5 lbs before the vet was able to get the condition under control with medication.

The third largest Chihuahua mentioned in an article by a Texas news site (Midland Reporter-Telegram) has a story about Age is taking its toll on the world’s largest Chihuahua. It may be referring to an analogy, but the size of the dog described is newsworthy. Milo is a Chihuahua that weighs in at 28 lbs and is 1 foot tall. That is remarkable compared to an average Chihuahua of 5-8 inches and under 6 lbs. The author explained the trials of having a pup that was so big for his breed.

Maybe Guinness will create a category for “Largest Chihuahua Ever,” and maybe trainer Travis Brorsen will be able to work with them as well. I think we can agree that a chihuahua is most healthy at a normal Chihuahua size and weight.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © otsphoto/Shutterstock.com