Your guide to finding and caring for a Chihuahua in Concord
Chihuahuas suit Concord's smaller homes and short, easy walks. A loop on the half-mile paved Afton Run Greenway out of Dorton Park is plenty for a dog this size, and a stroll around Afton Village's walkable center gives a curious Chihuahua a lot to watch. They'll bark at passersby, though, which is worth remembering if you share walls with neighbors. If you're thinking of adopting one in Concord, expect a small, loyal shadow who wants your lap by evening.
Find your Chihuahua
F, 0-6 mo., 434 miles
Chihuahua, Standard Schnauzer
M, 7 y., 434 miles
Chihuahua
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 434 miles
Chihuahua
F, 3-7 y., 434 miles
Chihuahua, Jack Russell Terrier
F, 3-7 y., 434 miles
Chihuahua
M, 6 mo.-2 y., 434 miles
Chihuahua, Dachshund
M, 1 y., 435 miles
Chihuahua
F, 9 mo., 435 miles
Chihuahua, Jack Russell Terrier
F, 1 y., 435 miles
Chihuahua
F, 4 y., 435 miles
Pit Bull Terrier, Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are named for the Mexican state of Chihuahua, and the AKC registered its first one in 1904. The show standard caps weight at six pounds, but pet Chihuahuas often run heavier, commonly up to about nine pounds. They come in smooth or long coats and almost any color, with a rounded head and big upright ears.
The personality is large for the size: alert, confident and often devoted to one or two people, with some wariness toward strangers. Smooth coats need little brushing, while long coats need a few sessions a week. Chihuahuas can live 12 to 16 years, so adopting one is a long commitment, and adult dogs of many ages and temperaments are common.
Having a Chihuahua in Concord
A Chihuahua is small, sturdy in spirit and easily chilled, and those traits shape daily life in Concord more than size alone suggests. Needs for exercise, health care and housing are modest but specific, and each dog will differ from the breed's general pattern.
Chihuahuas are often devoted to one or two people and can be reserved with strangers, though every dog differs. Many bark at doorbells and passing neighbors, a point to weigh in Concord's townhomes and apartment communities. Gentle handling and reward-based training help, and a Chihuahua may snap if grabbed or handled roughly.
Two or three short walks plus indoor play usually cover it. In Concord, the paved Afton Run Greenway or a loop around a neighborhood park suits short legs, and Weddington Road Bark Park has a separate small-dog lot, away from bigger dogs. Puzzle toys and scent games fill in on days that are too hot or cold.
Dental disease, slipping kneecaps, heart valve disease and tracheal collapse are the common concerns, so a harness is kinder than a collar. Brush teeth often and keep weight lean. Heartworm and tick prevention matters in North Carolina's humid climate, and a veterinarian can set the schedule. Young puppies can develop low blood sugar.
Chihuahuas fit Concord's apartments, townhomes and smaller houses easily, since they need little room. The hazards are jumping off furniture, being stepped on, and hawks or coyotes outdoors. Use ramps, supervise yard time and keep a short leash on outings. A fenced yard is a bonus, not a requirement.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $15 to $35 per month | $180 to $420 |
| Pet insurance | $30 to $60 per month | $360 to $720 |
| Routine vet care | $200 to $400 per year | $200 to $400 |
| Other* | $540 to $1,540 per year | $540 to $1,540 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,280 to $3,080 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, yearly dental cleanings, toys and bedding, light coat care, and a sweater or coat for cold weather.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Concord.
Concord's shelter and rescue community helps many small dogs, Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes among them, find homes. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Concord area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether a Chihuahua is coming in.
Yes. No breed restrictions are known in Concord, and North Carolina's dangerous-dog rules look at a dog's behavior, not its breed. Day to day, that means a rabies vaccine, a leash outside the home, and keeping barking from becoming a neighbor complaint. A Chihuahua's small size also makes most rentals easier to find.
Often, yes, for people who can offer short daily walks and plenty of lap time. Concord's greenways and small-dog park lot give a Chihuahua easy outings, and a car makes errands simple. The trade-offs are barking in shared buildings, chilly winter nights and outdoor hazards like coyotes, so supervise outings closely.
Start with Weddington Road Bark Park's small-dog lot, then walk the paved Riverwalk greenway from its parking area. Les Myers Park and McGee Park connect to the flat McEachern Greenway, and Afton Run Greenway near Dorton Park is a short paved option. Keep a Chihuahua leashed on greenways and away from big dogs.
Yes, with some help. Concord winters are milder than northern ones, but about 74 nights a year hit freezing and snow averages roughly three inches. A Chihuahua chills quickly, so use a sweater or coat outdoors, keep potty trips brief, and give the dog warm bedding indoors. Icy days are occasional, so a few cozy indoor games cover them.
Not on Rider buses, which serve Concord and Kannapolis. Rider lists animals other than service animals as prohibited on board, and no carrier exception is listed. Concord has no subway or rail, so plan on driving, walking or biking with a dog bag, and save bus trips for days the Chihuahua stays home.
Sometimes, on patios. North Carolina lets restaurants allow leashed dogs in outdoor dining areas as long as they don't pass through indoor space, but each restaurant decides. Ask a server before sitting down, keep the dog leashed or on your lap, and watch for chair legs and foot traffic around a tiny dog.
Not much. Brush a smooth coat weekly and a long coat two or three times a week, bathe every month or two, trim nails monthly and brush teeth often. Humid summers mean drying skin and ears well after baths, while winter calls for a moisturizing check. Professional grooming, if you use it, fits within the Other costs shown above.
A Chihuahua is a tiny toy breed from Mexico and the smallest recognized dog breed, usually weighing under six pounds. It has a rounded apple-shaped head, large upright ears and big expressive eyes, with either a smooth or long coat. Many Chihuahuas are bold, alert and deeply loyal to their favorite people, with plenty of attitude for their size.
A Chihuahua is a very small, slightly longer-than-tall dog with a rounded apple-dome skull, a short, slightly pointed muzzle and large ears that stand upright. Its eyes are full, round and dark. The coat can be smooth and glossy or long and soft with fringed ears and a plumed tail, in almost any color or pattern.
Expect roughly $15–$35 a month for food, $30–$60 a month for pet insurance and $200–$400 a year for routine vet care. Other yearly costs, such as prevention, dental care, supplies and a sweater, run about $540–$1,540. Together that is roughly $1,280–$3,080 a year, not counting emergencies or illness.
Expand your search to find Chihuahuas available for adoption near Concord.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Concord.
