How to Adopt a Chihuahua in Germany | PetzLover
To adopt a Chihuahua in Germany, look at animal shelters (Tierheime), which you can find through the Deutscher Tierschutzbund's shelter finder, at licensed rescues and at private adoption listings. A shelter will usually ask you to fill in a questionnaire, meet the dog more than once, accept a home visit, sign a protection contract (Schutzvertrag) and pay an adoption fee (Schutzgebühr).
Small breeds do come up for adoption: some Chihuahuas are adults whose owners could no longer keep them, others are puppies seized from illegal traders or illegal breeders. If you would rather start with a puppy from a breeder, read how to buy a Chihuahua puppy.
Key points
- The Deutscher Tierschutzbund's shelter finder lists the shelters and welfare societies near you.
- Chihuahuas are among the breeds seized from illegal traders and illegal breeders in Germany, and such dogs are usually placed through shelters.
- Berlin's animal shelter charged €350 to €450 for a dog in late 2024, depending on age, including vaccinations and neutering.
- Ask about knees, teeth, heart and breathing: patella problems, dental disease and a collapsing trachea are common concerns in the breed.
- In Berlin, a dog adopted from a shelter is exempt from dog tax for five calendar years.
Where can you find a Chihuahua to adopt in Germany?
- Animal shelters (Tierheime). The Deutscher Tierschutzbund, the umbrella body of German shelters, has a shelter finder (Tierheim-Finder). Shelters take in dogs seized by the authorities: in 2023, Chihuahuas were among 212 dogs seized from seven illegal breeding operations in Germany, and the Berlin shelter took in 119 puppies in 2024, two of them illegally traded Chihuahuas.
- Rescues that bring dogs from abroad. They need a licence under § 11(1) no. 5 of the Animal Welfare Act to hand dogs on for a fee; ask to see it.
- Private adoption listings. You can browse Chihuahuas listed for adoption and save the search to hear about new ones.
- Breeders. Some place retired breeding dogs, usually as a sale; how breeders sell Chihuahua puppies shows what to expect.
No shelter can promise a particular breed. Ask several, keep your saved search running, and consider a Chihuahua mix with the right character.
How does adopting a Chihuahua from a shelter work?
- You fill in a questionnaire about your household, home, working hours and other pets.
- You meet the Chihuahua, ideally several times and on a walk.
- Many shelters visit your home before the adoption (Vorkontrolle).
- You sign a protection or transfer contract and pay the adoption fee.
- You take the dog home with its vaccination record (Impfpass) and papers.
- A follow-up visit is often agreed.
Expect questions about stairs, balconies, small children and large dogs. A dog that weighs 1 to 3 kg, the range in the FCI standard, can be badly hurt by a fall or a rough game.
What does adoption cost, and what does the contract say?
| Point | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Adoption fee (Schutzgebühr) | Each shelter sets its own; Berlin's shelter charged €350 to €450 for a dog depending on age (ZDF, December 2024) |
| What is included | In Berlin, advice, vaccinations and neutering; ask about the chip and worming |
| Contract | A protection or transfer contract, not a sale contract |
| Warranty | None, says Stiftung Warentest: vet bills after the handover are yours |
| Dog tax | In Berlin, waived for five calendar years for a dog from a shelter, on application |
| Liability insurance | Compulsory for all dogs in seven states, including Berlin, Hamburg and Lower Saxony |
Stiftung Warentest advises having the dog's health checked before you sign and recording it in the contract. For a Chihuahua, ask specifically about knees, teeth, heart and any cough.
Which health questions matter for an adult Chihuahua?
- Knees: a dog that skips for a few steps on three legs may have a slipping kneecap. The Verband Deutscher Kleinhundezüchter (VK), the VDH club for the breed, breeds only from dogs with a patella result of 0/0.
- Teeth: PetMD says dental disease is common because the teeth crowd a small mouth. Ask about cleanings and extractions.
- Heart: the Chihuahua Club of America, the US breed club, asks breeding dogs for a heart examination to catch early murmurs. Ask whether a vet has heard a murmur.
- Trachea: PetMD lists a collapsing trachea; a honking cough is a reason to use a harness and see a vet.
- Head: ask whether the dog has a molera (an open soft spot) and whether it has ever had seizures.
- Basics: vaccinations, chip, neutering and the date of the last check-up.
PetMD gives a typical life expectancy of 14 to 16 years, so a Chihuahua of eight or nine can still have many years ahead.
What should you know about seized or imported Chihuahuas?
Puppies from illegal trade are often taken from their mothers too young and transported badly. In 2025 three quarters of the known cases of illegal trade with health details involved sick animals, often with giardia or parvovirus, and the Tierschutzbund lists the Chihuahua among breeds with breeding defects found in that trade.
- Expect a nervous puppy that needs gentle socialisation and patience with house training.
- Ask the shelter which treatments it has had and whether any check-ups are due.
- Feed small meals often at first; young Chihuahuas are prone to low blood sugar, PetMD warns.
- Be wary of a "rescued" Chihuahua puppy offered privately from abroad for a high fee: that is a sale, and it may be illegal trade.
How do you settle an adopted Chihuahua in?
- Set up a warm, quiet corner with a bed before the dog arrives, and block stairs and balcony gaps.
- Keep walks short and calm, on a well-fitting harness; many Chihuahuas need a coat in cold, wet weather.
- Introduce children and other pets slowly, and teach children to sit on the floor rather than lift the dog.
- Register the chip in your name, free with FINDEFIX or TASSO, and the dog with your municipality for dog tax.
- Book a vet check, including teeth and knees, within the first weeks.
If you ever have to give a Chihuahua up yourself, read how to list a Chihuahua for adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to adopt a Chihuahua in Germany?
Each shelter sets its own adoption fee. Berlin's shelter charged €350 to €450 for a dog in late 2024, depending on age, including vaccinations and neutering. Ask your local shelter for its current amount.
Are there Chihuahuas in German shelters?
Yes, though not always nearby. Shelters take in Chihuahuas given up by owners and puppies seized from illegal traders or breeders. Ask several shelters and save a search for Chihuahuas listed for adoption.
What is a Vorkontrolle?
It is a visit to your home before the adoption. For a Chihuahua, the shelter will look at stairs, balconies, fences and how the dog would live with children or other animals.
Do I have warranty rights if an adopted Chihuahua falls ill?
No. Stiftung Warentest says shelter animals come without warranty rights, so vet bills after the handover are yours. Have the dog's health recorded in the contract.
Is an older Chihuahua a good choice?
Often, yes. PetMD gives a typical life expectancy of 14 to 16 years, and an older dog's size and character are already known. Ask for a recent check of its teeth, knees and heart.
Helpful guides
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Chihuahua for Adoption in GermanyList a Chihuahua for adoption in Germany by asking the breeder first, describing size, health and character honestly, screening adopters with questions and a visit, and handing over with a protection contract.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Chihuahua Puppy in GermanyBuy a Chihuahua puppy in Germany from a breeder you can visit, with parents of 1 to 3 kg and known patella results, an Impfpass, chip and contract; never a teacup, merle or under-age import.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Chihuahua Puppies in GermanySell Chihuahua puppies in Germany only from healthy, patella-tested parents within the FCI weight range, over eight weeks old, chipped and vaccinated, with a contract and only once paid.