Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are usually a better fit for a home with older kids or grown-ups. Expect a toy-sized dog that is moderately active, sheds a normal amount and needs very little grooming. Fine alone for a few hours.

Source: American Kennel Club breed standard.

The Chihuahua is named for the Mexican state where it was identified in the 1850s, and it descends from the Techichi, a small companion dog kept by the Toltec civilisation. It is the smallest recognised breed, and the temperament is the opposite of the size: bold, alert and typically devoted to one particular person while remaining deeply suspicious of everyone else. That combination is why so many are described as snappy — a Chihuahua that has not been properly socialised is a frightened dog with the only defence it has. They are long-lived, cheap to feed and genuinely suited to flats. They are also fragile and cold-sensitive, and the pairing of small size with a low tolerance for grabbing makes them a poor choice for toddlers.

Day to day. Moderately active — a proper daily walk plus some play in the garden or the hallway keeps this breed happy. On noise, it is very vocal, so thin walls and close neighbours are worth thinking about.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds a normal amount and needs very little grooming. A brush a few times a week and the occasional tidy-up keeps it in good order.

Being left alone. Fine alone for a few hours. A few hours is fine; a full working day, every day, is asking a lot.

Training. Needs an experienced handler. That does not mean badly behaved — it means this breed thinks for itself, and it will not do something just because you asked. First-time owners often find it frustrating.

• You want a dog whose coat looks after itself
• You are short on space and want a dog that fits your home
• You are watching the budget and want one of the cheaper dogs to run

• You share walls with neighbours who need quiet
• You have toddlers, or children still learning to be gentle
• You want a dog that does as it is told the first time

Rough running cost: $ (one of the cheaper ones) — because it eats very little, which keeps food costs down.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Rescues do have Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.