Living
Brittany or Chihuahua?
For a family with kids or other pets, the data points clearly toward the Brittany. For a quiet-space, low-exercise, budget-conscious single-person household, one that can tolerate barking, the Chihuahua fits better.
Brittany Spaniel vs Chihuahua: Which Suits Your Home?
Brittany Spaniel or Chihuahua? On paper they differ most on barking, and on the scales Brittany Spaniel is the heavier at 30–40 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Chihuahua and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on barking and good with kids, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Chihuahua rates 5/5 against 3/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.
Quick verdict
Between Brittany Spaniel and Chihuahua, barking is what separates them, and Chihuahua is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose brittany if...
Choose Brittany Spaniel if this is your first dog, there are young children at home and you already have another dog.
Choose chihuahua if...
Choose Chihuahua if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | brittany | chihuahua | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 2–6 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 6–9 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 12–20 years | chihuahua |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | chihuahua |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | chihuahua |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | brittany |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | chihuahua |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | brittany |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Short or long | Equal |
| Origin | France | Mexico | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $50–$100 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $800–$1,500 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
Few comparisons on this site have a size gap as extreme as this one: the Brittany runs 30-40 pounds and 17-20 inches, the Chihuahua just 2-6 pounds and 6-9 inches. A Brittany can outweigh a Chihuahua by ten times or more. These aren't really two versions of the same kind of dog, they're close to opposite ends of what dog can mean physically.
Energy and exercise
The Brittany needs high exercise (4/5); the Chihuahua needs low (2/5). Energy level is closer, moderate (3/5) for the Chihuahua against the Brittany's high (4/5), but in practical terms a Chihuahua's tiny frame simply can't and doesn't need to cover the ground a Brittany does on a given walk.
Grooming and shedding
Grooming ties at low (2/5) for both breeds, surprising given how different they look, but both have coats (short or long for the Chihuahua, wavy for the Brittany) that don't demand much upkeep. The Chihuahua sheds slightly less, low (2/5) against the Brittany's moderate (3/5).
Apartment living, noise and time alone
The Chihuahua is the stronger apartment fit on paper, rated very high (5/5) against the Brittany's moderate (3/5), its low exercise need and small footprint suit tight spaces well. But barking flips the story: the Chihuahua rates very high (5/5), while the Brittany rates low (2/5). A quiet building might actually be harder on a Chihuahua owner than a Brittany owner.
Training and owner experience
This is one of the widest trainability gaps in the comparison: very high (5/5) for the Brittany against low (2/5) for the Chihuahua. First-time-owner suitability follows the same pattern, high (4/5) for the Brittany, low (2/5) for the Chihuahua. Small size doesn't translate to easy handling here; Chihuahuas are notoriously willful for their size.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
The Brittany dominates this category: very high with kids and other dogs (5/5 each) against the Chihuahua's low scores on both (2/5 each), and high with strangers (4/5) against the Chihuahua's low (2/5). If you have young kids or other pets in the house, the data points clearly toward the Brittany over the Chihuahua despite the size difference suggesting otherwise.
Health and lifespan
The Chihuahua lives considerably longer, 12-20 years against the Brittany's 12-15, with a ceiling that's the highest of any breed in this comparison set. The two share almost no health risks in common; the Chihuahua's list runs toward small-breed issues like hypoglycemia, collapsing trachea, and dental disease, while the Brittany's runs toward hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and bloat. Genuinely different bodies, genuinely different failure points.
Cost to keep
The Chihuahua is the cheapest dog in this entire comparison to keep: $50-100 monthly against the Brittany's $90-180, and just $800-1,500 in year one against $1,300-2,500. Both share the same 3/5 overall cost rating despite the dollar gap, likely reflecting that the rating accounts for relative cost within each dog's size class.
Brittany Spaniel vs Chihuahua at a glance
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Chihuahua weighs 2–6 lbs and lives 12–20 years. The two diverge most on barking, good with kids and trainability and 5 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone, cost level and grooming need, so those cannot decide it. The comparison marks an easier option only where one exists. Facts like weight and country of origin are not scored. Both dogs are rated from the same dataset, which is what makes the numbers comparable with each other even though any individual dog sits somewhere inside its breed's range.
Frequently asked questions
How much bigger is a Brittany than a Chihuahua?
Enormously, a Brittany at 30-40 pounds can weigh ten times or more what a Chihuahua at 2-6 pounds does. It's one of the largest size gaps you'll find in any breed comparison.
Which sheds more?
The Brittany, rated moderate (3/5) against the Chihuahua's low (2/5). Grooming effort is tied at low for both, though, so neither coat demands much regular work.
Is a Chihuahua good for a first-time owner?
Not especially, it rates low (2/5), well behind the Brittany's high (4/5). Despite its small size, the Chihuahua is rated low for trainability too (2/5), and can be more strong-willed than its size suggests.
Which is better for an apartment?
The Chihuahua on space and exercise needs (5/5 apartment suitability), but it also barks far more (5/5 vs the Brittany's 2/5), worth weighing if noise complaints from neighbors are a concern.
Which is cheaper to own?
The Chihuahua, by a wide margin, roughly half the Brittany's monthly cost and first-year cost. It's the least expensive breed in this comparison to keep.
Do they share health risks?
Barely, there's essentially no overlap between the two lists. The Chihuahua's risks center on its tiny size (hypoglycemia, collapsing trachea, dental disease), while the Brittany's center on being an active, medium-sized sporting dog (hip dysplasia, epilepsy, bloat).
Is a Chihuahua good with kids?
Not rated highly, just 2/5, well below the Brittany's very high 5/5. Chihuahuas are often not the best match for young, rough-and-tumble play, both because of their fragility and their lower kids-compatibility rating.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
$90-180 for the Brittany versus just $50-100 for the Chihuahua, the Chihuahua is the cheapest breed in this comparison.
Living
How much exercise do they need?
The Brittany needs high exercise (4/5); the Chihuahua needs much less (2/5).
Health
Which lives longer?
The Chihuahua, often considerably, up to 20 years against the Brittany's 12-15.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- Brittany Spaniel breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of Brittany Spaniel before deciding.
- Chihuahua breed guide – The same for Chihuahua, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- Brittany Spaniel vs Beagle – Beagle is the closest breed to Brittany Spaniel on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Chihuahua vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon sits closest to Chihuahua, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- Brittany Spaniel vs Brussels Griffon – Brussels Griffon is the other breed Chihuahua is most often weighed against.
- Chihuahua health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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