Hey everyone, sorry if this is has been answered before, but I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for when searching the forums. I don't own a chihuahua yet but I'm seriously considering adopting one from a local shelter. I've done a lot of research on various dog breeds and I think a chihuahua suits my lifestyle best, but there's one possible deterrent: shedding. I'm not interested in adopting a dog that will shed a ton (i.e. so much that I'd have to use a lint roller on my clothes every time I go out). A few hairs here and there is fine, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer on how much chihuahuas shed! I've read that they are low shedders, I've read that they shed just as much as any other dog, and I've read that they don't shed at all. I heard long-haired ones shed less; is this true? I want to make sure I adopt the right kind of dog, and I thought this would be a good place to get some answers. Thank you all so much for your help! x

I also heard that long-haired one sheds less. BUT giving any chihuahua (or any dog) a great diet/food makes them shed less also. I own a short hair chi and I give her the best diet that I can afford and she barely sheds (I only see like 4 dog hairs on my body now). The only time she lost a lot of hair was switching her to a better diet and seasonal. Hope this helps.

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I kind of feel like any dog breed would have some shedding that would require a lint roller at some point. The amount of shedding would also depend on genetics and how well taken care of they are (food and overall health). My mom also wanted a low shedder but I'm definitely left with a lap full of fur sometimes. I have a chi mix though so hopefully purebred chi owners can help you out more.

I hope you come back often if you get a chi! You'll learn a lot here.

I've had my pure bred short hair chi for 6.5 months now and have gone from winter to summer with her and have hardly had any shedding at all. With coming into the warmer months I did start to notice hair was left where she had been, but that only lasted for at most a week.


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I can confirm that my long coats shed less than my short coat did.
the hair texture is very different.

I'm sure others will weigh in on this.
I find the short coats to have more bristly hair that tends to stick to things more?

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All dogs shed, for sure! Even humans shed, but I guess I don't mind a bit of shedding as long as it is not all over my clothes after holding/cuddling with a dog. My mom's dog is a jack russell mix and he sheds so much it's ridiculous. You pet him and a huge cloud of fur comes off, and if he sits on your lap, you will spend at least a few minutes with the lint roller if you want to go out and not look like a furball. He's the best dog ever but I couldn't deal with it in my own home.

So I guess I'm more curious about the LEVEL of shedding in chihuahuas, in general. I realize all dogs are going to leave hair around the house, which is fine and unavoidable, but I just wanted to get a better idea of the volume of hair that is shed, I guess!

Sorry if this is an impossible question to answer -- I understand if it is! x

If you own a dog type that sheds (As in not a non shedding breed like a poodle) then you will need a lint roller when you leave the house if you don't want dog hair on you. Dogs have hair, dogs shed. Chihuahuas are small so they don't shed as much as a bigger dog but it is still there. If you feed a good diet they shed less, some dogs are just not big shedders and certain times of the year it is worse. You can do things like brush them and groom regularly to blow out dead hair but you will never have no hair. Remember chis are lap dogs too- so they usually want to be on you and they will leave some hair behind. What is so bad about a lint brush anyway?

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Thank you, that's a good point. Maybe a chi just isn't the right dog for me and I'd be better off with a breed with hair, not fur, like a poodle.