Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Chihuahua Versus Whippet: Introduction
- Chihuahua versus Whippet: Overview
- Chihuahua versus Whippet: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Whippet
- The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Whippet
- Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Whippet
- Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Whippet
- Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Whippet
- Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Whippet
- The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Whippet
- The Popularity of Chihuahua versus Popularity of Whippet
- Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Whippet
- Do Chihuahuas shed more than Whippets?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Whippet?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Whippet?
- Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Whippets?
- Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Whippet?
- Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Whippet
- How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Whippets?
- Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Whippet?
- Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Whippets?
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Whippets Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Whippet
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Whippets Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Whippet. Which One is a Better Pet?
Chihuahua Versus Whippet: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the Whippet? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Chihuahua and the Whippet better suits you.We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Chihuahua and the Whippet.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the Whippet is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Chihuahua and for the Whippet. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Chihuahua and the Whippet.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chihuahua or the Whippet.
Read on.
Chihuahua versus Whippet: Overview
A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the Whippet is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the Whippet is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Chihuahua belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
On the other hand, the Whippet belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.
Chihuahua versus Whippet: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Chihuahua to the Whippet based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Chihuahua and the Whippet
| Factor | Chihuahua | Whippet |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 18 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 3 to 6 pounds | 18 to 48 pounds |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder | 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Average Lifespan | 14.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $1820 | $2120 |
| Price Range | $850 – $2500 | $1625 – $2600 |
| Temperament Score | 69.6 percent | 86.2 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 30 | 58 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 67 | 51 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Whippet. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Whippet is 86 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Whippet, we still believe that the Chihuahua is a better pet than the Whippet.
This is because Chihuahuas are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Chihuahua will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Chihuahua :-). We are for the Chihuahua. So get a Chihuahua!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Whippet
Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the Whippet are most different:
The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the Whippet
The Chihuahua and the Whippet are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the Whippet are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Whippet
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the Whippet.
Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, Whippets weigh 18 to 48 pounds when fully grown. Whippets are 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Lifespan of Chihuahua versus Whippet
The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.
The lifespan of Whippets is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Whippets is 13.5 years.
Chihuahuas live longer than Whippets.
Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.
Temperament of the Chihuahua Versus the Whippet
The Whippet has a better temperament than the Chihuahua.
This is because the temperament score for the Whippet is 86.2 percent while the temperament score for the Chihuahua is 69.6 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 69.6 percent, the Chihuahua has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 86.2 percent, the Whippet has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chihuahua and the Whippet by measuring the temperaments of 46 Chihuahuas and 203 Whippets.
Price of Chihuahua versus Price of Whippet
The average price of the Chihuahua puppy is $1820. The price of the Chihuahua typically ranges from $850 – $2500. However, the price of a Chihuahua can be as low as $100 and as high as $15500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1980 Chihuahua puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Whippet puppy is $2120. The price of the Whippet typically ranges from $1625 – $2600. However, the price of the Whippet can be as low as $400 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 171 Whippet puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Whippet is more expensive than the Chihuahua.
`| Chihuahua | Whippet | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1820 | $2120 |
| Price Range | $850 to $2500 | $1625 to $2600 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and Whippet. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many Whippet puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Chihuahuas. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Whippets
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the Whippet puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua cost and price.
Check out our list of best Chihuahua breeders here
The Intelligence of the Chihuahua versus the Intelligence of the Whippet
`| Chihuahua | Whippet | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 67 out of 130 dog breeds | 51 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.Prof. Coren found that the Chihuahua has an obedience intelligence rank of 67 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chihuahua belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chihuahuas tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
The Whippet has an obedience intelligence rank of 51 out of 130 dog breeds. The Whippet belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Whippets tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Whippet is more intelligent than the Chihuahua.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Chihuahua versus Popularity of Whippet
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chihuahua and the Whippet over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Whippet. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chihuahua is 30 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Whippet is 58 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Chihuahua
Popularity of Whippet
| Year | Chihuahua Popularity Rank | Whippet Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 22 | 59 |
| 2014 | 24 | 56 |
| 2015 | 28 | 57 |
| 2016 | 30 | 60 |
| 2017 | 32 | 61 |
| 2018 | 33 | 61 |
| 2019 | 35 | 57 |
| 2020 | 34 | 59 |
| 2021 | 37 | 57 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Whippet
Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.
Whippets do not like to be left alone.
Do Chihuahuas shed more than Whippets?
Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua
Whippets do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the Whippet?
Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.
To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.
Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.
Whippets are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the Whippet?
Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.
Whippets get along very well with other dogs.
Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Whippets?
Chihuahuas are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.
Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.
Whippets are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Whippet?
Chihuahuas are very easy to train.
Whippets are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Whippet
Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.
Whippets do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Whippets?
Chihuahuas get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Whippets get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Whippet?
Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Whippets have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Whippets?
Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.
Whippets are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Whippets Tolerate Cold Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Whippets cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Whippet
Chihuahuas do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Whippets have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Whippets Tolerate Hot Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Whippets can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the Whippet?
Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.
Whippets adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the Whippet?
Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.
Whippets are OK for new dog owners.
Conclusion: Chihuahua versus Whippet. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Chihuahua and the Whippet better suits you and your family.