Breed comparison
Yorkshire Terrier vs Chihuahua
Yorkies and Chihuahuas are the two most-recognized toy breeds — and they have very different temperaments, grooming needs, and quirks.
Yorkshire Terrier
Full breed guide →Chihuahua
Comparison breed
Quick answer
Both are bold toy breeds with strong opinions and a tendency to bark. Yorkies have a silky long coat needing regular grooming; smooth-coat Chihuahuas need almost none. Chihuahuas typically bond intensely to one person; Yorkies are more openly sociable. Both live 12-16 years. Pick a Yorkie for the iconic coat and slightly more open temperament; pick a Chihuahua for minimal grooming and the smallest possible companion.
If you've decided on a tiny dog, the Yorkie and Chihuahua are both serious contenders — they're the two most-recognized toy breeds in the US, both portable, both long-lived, both fiercely loyal. The differences come down to coat, voice, and the famous Chihuahua attitude. The Yorkie is a 19th-century English ratter; the Chihuahua is one of the oldest breeds in the Americas, descended from the Techichi dogs of pre-Columbian Mexico. Each has its champions and its critics.
Snapshot comparison
Trait
Yorkshire Terrier
Chihuahua
Size
7–8 inches at the shoulder
5–8 inches at the shoulder
Weight
4–7 lbs
Under 6 lbs
Lifespan
11–15 years
14–16 years
Energy
Moderate
Moderate
Grooming
High — daily brushing if in show coat
Low (smooth) to moderate (long)
Best for
Excellent with adults, careful with toddlers
Best with adults and older children
Temperament
Yorkshire Terrier
Confident, bold, opinionated. Yorkies bark a lot, attach to one or two favorite humans, and are friendly enough with everyone else.
Chihuahua
Even more confident — the classic Chihuahua attitude is real. Chis bond intensely with one person, are often suspicious of strangers, and have outsized personalities.
The verdict: Both are bold. Chihuahuas tend to be more one-person focused; Yorkies more sociable.
Exercise
Yorkshire Terrier
20–30 minutes daily. Yorkies have short-burst energy.
Chihuahua
20–30 minutes daily. Chihuahuas have surprising stamina but tire quickly; indoor play covers most needs.
The verdict: Similar — both happy in any size dwelling with daily walks.
Grooming
Yorkshire Terrier
Moderate to high. Coat is hair, needs brushing every 2–3 days at minimum.
Chihuahua
Very low (smooth-coat) to moderate (long-coat). Smooth-coat Chihuahuas need just weekly brushing.
The verdict: Chihuahuas (smooth) are dramatically easier to groom. Yorkies require regular coat care.
Training
Yorkshire Terrier
Smart, food-motivated, stubborn. Housetraining is the famous Yorkie challenge.
Chihuahua
Smart but very stubborn — Chihuahuas may also resist training simply because they don't feel like it. Housetraining is also famously difficult.
The verdict: Both can be challenging to housetrain. Treat-motivated short sessions work for both.
Health
Yorkshire Terrier
Luxating patella, tracheal collapse (always use a harness), dental disease, portosystemic shunt.
Chihuahua
Luxating patella, tracheal collapse, dental disease, hydrocephalus (especially in apple-head Chis), heart murmurs.
The verdict: Similar issue profiles. Dental care is critical in both — tiny mouths, crowded teeth.
Family fit
Yorkshire Terrier
Best with adults and respectful older children. Fragile and easily injured.
Chihuahua
Best with adults; Chihuahuas tolerate children even less than Yorkies and are quicker to nip if handled roughly.
The verdict: Yorkies are typically slightly more child-tolerant. Neither is ideal with toddlers.
Which one should you pick?
Pick the Yorkshire Terrier
Pick a Yorkshire Terrier if you want a small dog with terrier confidence and silky long coat, are okay with regular grooming, and want a dog that's a bit more open to strangers.
Pick the Chihuahua
Pick a Chihuahua if you want minimal grooming (smooth-coat), an even smaller travel companion, and don't mind a dog that's intensely bonded to you specifically — sometimes to the exclusion of everyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Which is smaller, a Yorkie or a Chihuahua?
Chihuahuas are typically smaller — most adults weigh under 6 lbs, while Yorkies range 4-7 lbs (with show breed standard under 7 lbs). The smallest individual dogs of each breed are often Chihuahuas.
Which barks more, Yorkie or Chihuahua?
Both are notably vocal small breeds. Chihuahuas usually edge out Yorkies in alert-barking volume and frequency; Yorkies bark more situationally (at squirrels, other dogs, strangers) but slightly less continuously.
Which is better with kids?
Yorkies on average — they're slightly more tolerant of normal kid energy. Neither breed is a good fit for households with toddlers or rough handling; both are physically fragile and can injure easily.
Which is healthier?
Comparable. Both are generally long-lived (12-15+ years) and share similar small-dog health concerns: dental disease, luxating patella, tracheal collapse. Chihuahuas have higher rates of hydrocephalus (especially apple-head types); Yorkies have higher rates of liver shunt.
Which is easier to train?
Yorkies are typically slightly easier — they're more food-motivated and slightly more biddable. Both require patience and consistency, especially for housetraining.