Chihuahua vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison

Chihuahua vs Labrador Retriever - Breed ComparisonChihuahua is originated from Mexico but Labrador Retriever is originated from Canada. Chihuahua may grow 39 cm / 15 inches shorter than Labrador Retriever. Chihuahua may weigh 32 kg / 70 pounds lesser than Labrador Retriever. Chihuahua may live 7 years more than Labrador Retriever. Chihuahua may have less litter size than Labrador Retriever. Both Chihuahua and Labrador Retriever requires Low maintenance.

History

chihuahua - historyQuite a bit of the Chihuahua’s history is shrouded in mystery, and there are different versions about its origins.

While historians speculate, most will agree that the tiny dog hails from Mexico. The UK Kennel Club considers the smooth- and long coat Chihuahuas as 2 distinct breeds.It was in 1904 that the Chihuahua became a registered breed by the American Kennel Club.

Chihuahua is actually the name of a state in Mexico, and it is amazing that Chihuahua specimens were found way back in the 1800's already. Today the Chihuahua is a very popular dog breed in several countries.

labrador retriever - historyThe Labrador Retriever has its origin from Newfoundland which is an island.Dorset Eskimos are the people who settled down first in Newfoundland. Newfoundland was discovered in 1494 by the Bristol traders from England. The people in the Newfoundland used Lab to help them during fishing.They were recognized as a kennel club breed in England.

The Lab has its special talents in fishing, it nicely holds the fish in its mouth and swims well to bring it to the fisherman who was its master. They are also used to hunt game birds and waterfowl.

Description

chihuahua puppy - descriptionThe small Chihuahua stands at about 15 – 23 cm and he weighs about 1,5 – 4kg.

You’ll notice that he shivers when he is excited or when he is cold or frightened. Some people buy him a jersey to don on cooler days. With this tiny toy dog, you get a short- and a long coated Chihuahua.

This is the smallest dog breed and his coat is available in a number of colors such as fawn, tan, white and black. It is the dog’s round apple-shaped head which is a distinctive feature. He has erect ears and huge fruit-bat type eyes.

Temperament:

The Chihuahua is such an alert, fun-loving, feisty little dog, and though he may appear to be an ideal pet for children, he actually isn’t. He is too dainty and frail, and a child, during play, could accidentally crush him.

It’s a pity though because he just loves being around his human family. He is also a highly strung dog, and given the chance, he’ll nip and even bite during games. It is why socialization and training are considered important for the Chihuahua.

Just like with children, how you raise and treat your Chihuahua will determine how he turns out. He is such a sweet little dog that training and socialization can remove these unwanted characteristics. He is very intelligent and responds well to training.

labrador retriever puppy - descriptionLab is a nice companion and also it helps in doing several works if it is trained. Lab is the America's most popular breed. They help the hunters, works with police and also serves physically challenged people. They are very friendly and it helps people so much by doing many works. They have very good sensitivity and are so affectionate with family members.

They have very high energy level in their young stage. The Lab is a muscular and athletic dog. They are sweet natured and well deserved. Lab needs physical and mental activities regularly as they are very intelligent and energetic. The pure bred Labs have black, chocolate and yellow colours. They are very interested in hunting and roaming. The young Lab should be given training to swim as a child, as they likes it very much. They takes more time to mature hence remaining as teenager for a long time when compared with other breeds.

Characteristics

chihuahua dog - characteristicsSmall and feisty, the Chihuahua’s personality isn’t set in stone, and the tiny dog can be either shy and timid or he can be social, confident and jaunty.

They're always loyal and affectionate to their human owners, but they don’t get on too well with- and are wary of small children who aren’t disciplined and who could hurt them.

With his big eyes and big ears together with his comical antics, they can be a source of entertainment for their human owners. He is easy to train too and even though he is small, he doesn’t think he is, and he is willing to use his big personality to make you a loving, loyal and devoted companion.

Adaptability

labrador retriever dog - characteristicsThe Lab has a very good adaptability, it will get adjusted with its environment.

Learning ability

Lab has a good learning ability and it can learn upto 300 human phrases. They are the 7th most intelligent dog breed.

Children friendliness

They are very much interested in playing with kids and are a very good companion for them.

Health Problems

chihuahua puppies - health problemsThe Chihuahua doesn't have any particular health issues, more so when you get him from a reputable breeder. With good care he can reach 20 years of age.

Hypoglycemia:

Known as low blood sugar, hypoglycemia is easily treatable, but if it isn’t caught early it can be fatal.Hypoglycemia makes a dog lethargic and he’ll shiver and could go into a coma. Get him to the vet immediately.

Bloat:

Gastric Dilatation or bloat is when the stomach twists, it becomes enlarged and blood supply is cut off to the stomach. Left untreated, it can be fatal.

Dental Disease:

Chihuahuas are susceptible to dental problems, so you will need to brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to prevent tartar build-up, gum disease, loss of teeth and other diseases.

labrador retriever puppies - health problemsMalformation of hips, knees and elbow, Chances for Cancer.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

chihuahua dogs - caringAlways make sure to choose a high-quality dog food for your Chihuahua as this will keep him in tip-top health. A healthy Chihuahua can live to be 20 years of age. Speak to a veterinarian for recommendations on the best type of food to feed your tiny pet.

Giving him some home-made food such as brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken for instance will be a welcome treat for him. Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water close by.

Exercise:

The Chihuahua may well be the smallest toy sized dog breed, but don’t be mistaken – he has plenty of energy and is constantly prancing around. He is more than capable of living in a small apartment, but even so he needs to be taken outside every now and then for a game or a walk.

Be careful with your small pet though, as too much exercise can lead to elbow- and hip dysplasia.

Grooming:

The Chihuahua is a moderate shedder with Spring being their heavier shedding period. Because of his small size, you won’t be bothered by too much hair. The short haired Chihuahua is easy to maintain and with a rubber brush, you can brush him gently twice a week.

You’ll also need to clip his nails and if you can’t manage this your vet can also help you.

Feeding the puppy

labrador retriever dogs - caringThe 2 month old puppy should be given 200 to 250gms of food. 3 month old puppy should be given 250 to 300gms of food and 6 months older should be given 350 to 450gms. The varieties of food which are popular is kibbles, Barf, wet food and Home cooked puppy food.

Feeding the adult

Lab can be fed by dry kibbles and also by raw meat or bones. Now-a-days most of the Lab are being fed with kibbles. Kibbles are the dried pellets of dog food that can be bought in pet shop or even online. Raw meat and bones are very much popular food among dog owners in UK.

Points for Good Health

For good health, Lab should be fed by a diet controlled food. Because overfeeding will lead to overweight of the dog as it causes weakness of bones.

Games and Exercises

Lab is a very energetic dog, so it should be given some time to play daily. It will be very happy if it is given a fenced ground to play and burn off his natural energy. Also it will be very good for lab if it is given chance to swim weekly once.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Mexico
Canada
Height Male:
15 - 23 cm
5 - 10 inches
57 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Height Female:
15 - 23 cm
5 - 10 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
2 - 4 kg
4 - 9 pounds
29 - 36 kg
63 - 80 pounds
Weight Female:
2 - 4 kg
4 - 9 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 20 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 5
5 - 10
Size:
Toy dog
Large dog
Other Names:
None
Labrador, St.John's water dog, St.John's dog, Newfoundland dog
Colors Available:
Fawn, white and black, tan
Black, Chocolate and yellow
Coat:
Short- and long haired
weather-resistant undercoat, short, thick, straight topcoat and a soft
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
No
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  3. Bull Arab vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Gordon Setter vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Magyar Agar vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  6. Eurohound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  7. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  8. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  9. Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  10. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  11. Siberian Husky vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  12. Rottweiler vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  13. American Bully vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  14. Boxer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  15. Akita vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  16. Doberman Pinscher vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  17. Samoyed vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  18. Labradoodle vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  19. Cane Corso vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  20. Alaskan Malamute vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  21. Mixed vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  22. Bullmastiff vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  23. Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  24. Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  25. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  26. Chihuahua vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Chihuahua vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Chihuahua vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  29. Chihuahua vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  30. Chihuahua vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  31. Chihuahua vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  32. Chihuahua vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  33. Chihuahua vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  34. Morkie vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  35. Havanese vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  36. Chorkie vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  37. Pekingese vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  38. Chiweenie vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  39. Chug vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  40. English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  41. Long Haired Chihuahua vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  42. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  43. Franzuskaya Bolonka vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  44. Phalene vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  45. Cockachon vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  46. Shih Tzu vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  47. Silky Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  48. Snorkie vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  49. Toy Bulldog vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  50. Toy Mi-Ki vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds