🐶 Chihuahua
Temperament
Bold, alert, devoted, vocal. Chihuahuas attach intensely to one person and can be wary or even snappy with strangers and other dogs without socialisation. They generally tolerate other Chihuahuas and small calm dogs better than large boisterous ones.
Exercise
20–30 minutes of gentle daily walking plus indoor play. Easy to over-exercise — joints are tiny.
Grooming
Smooth-coat: weekly brush. Long-coat: 2–3× weekly. Bathe every 6–8 weeks. Prone to dental tartar — daily brushing helps.
Health
Patellar luxation. Hydrocephalus (puppies — domed skull). Tracheal collapse (use a harness). Dental disease (small mouths). Hypoglycaemia in young/very small dogs. Heart murmurs.
Full Chihuahua profile →
🐶 Yorkshire Terrier
Temperament
Confident, brave, affectionate, sometimes feisty. Yorkies often think they're the size of a German Shepherd and will challenge larger dogs. Bond very closely with one person. Can be yappy without training.
Exercise
30–45 minutes a day plus indoor play. Two short walks plus mental work is enough. Yorkies are easy to over-exercise — their joints are tiny.
Grooming
Daily brushing if kept in a long coat. Most owners opt for a "puppy cut" every 6–8 weeks. Hair grows continuously and doesn't shed (good for allergies). Tear staining around eyes is common — wipe daily.
Health
Tracheal collapse (use a harness, never a collar). Patellar luxation. Liver shunts (puppy screen test). Dental disease (small mouths, crowded teeth — daily brushing essential). Hypoglycaemia in young puppies.
Full Yorkshire Terrier profile →
