Boerboel vs Chihuahua: The Comparison Nobody Asked For
Short answer: This one is just for fun. A Boerboel weighs 150 to 200 lb. The AKC standard says a Chihuahua must not exceed 6 lb. That means one Boerboel weighs about as much as 25 to 33 Chihuahuas. Both breeds take guarding their people very seriously. Only one of them can be carried in a purse.
Boerboel vs Chihuahua at a glance
Trait | Boerboel vs Chihuahua |
Origin | Boerboel: South Africa Chihuahua: Mexico, with roots in pre-Columbian times |
Original job | Boerboel: Farm and homestead guardian; first line of defense against predators Chihuahua: Companion, national symbol of Mexico and self-appointed head of security |
Height | Boerboel: Males 24 to 27 in; females 22 to 25 in Chihuahua: No height in the standard; usually about 5 to 6 in (AKC) |
Weight | Boerboel: 150 to 200 lb Chihuahua: Not to exceed 6 lb |
Typical lifespan | Boerboel: 9 to 11 years Chihuahua: 15 to 17 years |
Coat | Boerboel: Short, dense and smooth; low grooming Chihuahua: Smooth or long coat |
Registry group | Boerboel: AKC Working Group Chihuahua: AKC Toy Group |
Guarding style | Boerboel: Calm, confident home and family guardian Chihuahua: Loud, fearless and convinced it is the Boerboel |
Boerboel height comes from the AKC breed standard and weight from the AKC breed weight chart. Typical lifespan reflects what we see in the breed. Chihuahua figures come from the breed standards and AKC resources listed under Sources.
Size and build
There is no gentle way to say this. A male Boerboel stands 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder, and the AKC lists the breed at 150 to 200 lb. The AKC Chihuahua standard calls for "a well balanced little dog not to exceed 6 pounds," and any dog over 6 lb is disqualified. A grown Boerboel's head can weigh more than an entire Chihuahua.
Temperament and guarding style
Here is where it gets close. The AKC describes the Chihuahua as having "big-dog attitude," and anyone who has met one knows it will announce every visitor, delivery driver and falling leaf. The Boerboel is quieter about it. The AKC Boerboel standard describes a dog that is "calm, stable and confident" and "should recognize a threat or lack thereof." The Chihuahua treats everything as a threat. The Boerboel waits to find out.
More on how Boerboels behave with family, children and visitors is in our Boerboel temperament FAQ.
Training and handling
Both breeds are smart and both have opinions. A Chihuahua that ignores a recall is an inconvenience. A 180 lb Boerboel that ignores a recall is a much bigger conversation, which is why our puppies start structure early.
Our puppies start that work early through Cold River HomeStart™, the early foundation every Cold River puppy receives, and our Boerboel training FAQ covers house training, leash work, mouthing and more.
Exercise, work and performance
A Chihuahua's workout is a lap around the living room and a strong opinion about the mail carrier. A Boerboel needs daily exercise and real work. For scale: the 22,039 lb pull set by two Boerboels is roughly the weight of 3,670 Chihuahuas at the 6 lb maximum. We do not recommend hooking up that many Chihuahuas to test it.
Performance is how we measure the breed at Cold River. Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday both pulled 22,039 lb at a UPF event on May 9, 2026, the heaviest pull in any weight-pull federation's published results. Sun competes at about 164 lb and Wednesday at about 186 lb. The full results and sources are on our world record page, and our dog weight pulling guide explains how the sport works.
Health and lifespan
This is the one category the Chihuahua wins outright. The AKC lists the Chihuahua lifespan at 15 to 17 years. Boerboels generally live 9 to 11 years, which is typical of giant breeds. For growth, lifespan and bloat prevention in Boerboels, see our Boerboel size, growth and health FAQ.
Which breed is right for you?
Choose a Boerboel if:
You want a calm, serious guardian for home and family
You want a dog that can pull a loaded sled, or a small truck
You have room for a dog that takes up the whole couch
Choose a Chihuahua if:
You live in a small apartment
You want a dog you can carry
You want a 6 lb alarm system with no off switch
Whichever breed you choose, pick a breeder who can show you health results and what their dogs actually do. Our guide on how to choose a Boerboel breeder covers what to ask.
Common questions
How many Chihuahuas equal one Boerboel?
At the 6 lb maximum in the AKC Chihuahua standard, a 150 to 200 lb Boerboel weighs about the same as 25 to 33 Chihuahuas.
Can a Boerboel and a Chihuahua live together?
They can, with careful introductions and supervision. The size gap is huge, so even friendly play from a Boerboel puppy can hurt a tiny dog. Supervise every interaction until you know how they get along.
Which breed is the better guard dog?
The Chihuahua is the better alarm. The Boerboel is the better guardian.
Thinking about a Boerboel?
Start with our puppy application, see our available puppies, or read the Boerboel puppy price FAQ. To compare the Boerboel with more breeds, see Boerboel vs other breeds.
Sources
By Cold River Boerboels. Updated October 2026.
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