Chihuahua Puppies for Sale NZ (2026): Breeders & What to Check

Finding purebred Chihuahua puppies in New Zealand requires contacting registered breeders, understanding coat standards, and checking official health screening. Registered breeders quote prices directly on enquiry rather than publishing standard prices. The most important check is the parents' health-test results; also note that the Dogs NZ breed standard does not accept merle.

Where to find Chihuahua puppies in NZ

Dogs NZ registers the Chihuahua as two distinct breeds in the Toy group: Chihuahua (Long Coat, DNZ No 112) and Chihuahua (Smooth Coat, DNZ No 116). The two standards are the same except for the coat. The Dogs NZ standard sets weight up to 2.7 kg, with 0.9 to 1.8 kg preferable.

The breed standard accepts any colour or mixture of colours but never merle (dapple). A merle Chihuahua does not meet the New Zealand breed standard. This restriction is part of the Dogs NZ breed standard rather than statutory law. Under Dogs NZ Registration Regulations, progeny from merle x merle matings across all breeds cannot be entered into Part I of the register.

Dogs NZ keeps a page of puppies possibly available from registered breeders for each variety. Check these pages for the latest litters.

Dogs NZ notes that reputable breeders may advertise on TradeMe when personal contacts are insufficient to place puppies. When searching online, buyers should favour sellers who are Dogs NZ members. Canine sport in New Zealand is amateur and no Dogs NZ member is a commercial operator, meaning puppy sales are private transactions. In our snapshot on 30 September 2026, five of the seven listings in TradeMe's Chihuahuas-for-sale category were crosses (with a Maltese, Griffon, Dachshund, and unspecified); only two were purebred Chihuahua puppies. Buyers should verify both parents before proceeding.

Dogs NZ lists two affiliated Chihuahua clubs: the Auckland Chihuahua Club (Te Awamutu address) and the Dominion Chihuahua Club (Kaiapoi address).

For wider guidance on contacting sellers, see our guide on how to find puppies for sale in NZ, as well as our comparisons of the Pomeranian vs Chihuahua and Papillon vs Chihuahua.

What Chihuahua puppies cost

No reliable NZ price range yet: registered breeders quote on enquiry, and too few purebred Chihuahua puppies are advertised to set one. At least one Dogs NZ-registered breeder charges a $500 non-refundable fee to join its waiting list, which comes off the puppy's final price. You can also explore our dog breed price tool and overview of the cost of owning a dog in NZ.

When adopting through SPCA New Zealand, adoption fees are standardised across all centres rather than specific to Chihuahuas. Current SPCA fees are $399 for a puppy under 5 months, $149 for an adult dog aged 5 months to 8 years, and $75 for a senior dog aged 9 years or older. Each fee includes the $15 NZCAR registration fee, and SPCA adds a $2.50 service charge to every adoption fee.

Health tests to ask about

Dogs NZ publishes a health-test list for the Chihuahua from its Accredited Breeder scheme. Dogs NZ says that scheme has now been discontinued, so treat the list as a checklist of results to ask the breeder to show you, not as proof of any current accreditation. The list includes: a cardiac certificate renewed every year, a patella luxation certificate renewed every year, an annual eye certificate, and a DNA profile (optional on the list: hip dysplasia, and a DNA test for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD); an optional thyroid test is listed only for the long coat).

For more on the breed itself, see our Chihuahua breed profile.

Adoption and rescue

New Zealand Chihuahua Rescue (NZCR) rehomes Chihuahuas and Chihuahua crosses. Its adoption FAQ states that its rescue dogs are placed into new homes health checked, desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, and registered on the NZ Companion Animal Register and with their local council. The adoption fee for each dog is displayed directly on its profile. NZCR does not charge extra for pedigree rescue dogs, apart from a $30 disbursement fee to transfer the dog into the adopter's name with Dogs NZ.

NZCR notes that many surrendered Chihuahuas require patella luxation surgery and full dentals with extractions. This is NZCR's own observation, not clinical data.

Papers, endorsements and contracts

Dogs NZ is the only New Zealand authority for pedigree and registration papers, and cautions buyers against unverified mail order certificates from overseas organisations.

Dogs NZ's buying advice is to insist on papers with the puppy at the time of sale, at no extra cost. Its Breeders Code of Conduct sets the minimum a Dogs NZ-registered breeder must meet: the Dogs NZ paperwork within two weeks, at no extra cost.

Dogs NZ's Breeders Code of Conduct also commits registered breeders not to hand over a puppy before it is eight calendar weeks old, to provide test results when a buyer asks, and to disclose known health problems of the breed. Dogs NZ also recommends that pet puppies have endorsements placed on their registration, most commonly specifying 'Not to be bred from and/or shown'. Registration regulations also provide for 'Pet only' endorsements.

Dogs NZ strongly recommends using a written sales contract and provides a recognised contract for breeders and buyers.

After you bring your puppy home: the legal bits

Under section 36(3) of the Dog Control Act 1996, a person who becomes the owner of an unregistered dog must apply for council registration straight away, or before the dog turns three months old, whichever is later.

Section 36A requires newly registered dogs to be microchipped within two months of registration. For council registration details, see our NZ dog registration guide.

Under the Dog Control Act 1996, Schedule 4 lists only the Brazilian Fila, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario, and American Pit Bull Terrier type; the Chihuahua is not on it.

Sources

• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/chihuahua-long-coat/112
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/breeds/info/chihuahua-smooth-coat/116
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/accredited-breeders/health-tests-by-breed/chihuahua-smooth-coat/116
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/accredited-breeders/health-tests-by-breed/chihuahua-long-coat/112
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/pedigree/puppies/chihuahua-long-coat/112
• https://nzchihuahuarescue.co.nz/adoption-faq
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/clubs/info/chihuahua-smooth-coat/116
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/dogs/buying-a-dog
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/dogs/registered-dog-benefits
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/health/canine-health
• https://www.dogsnz.org.nz/pdfs/regs-registration.pdf
• https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/13/en/latest/
• https://www.spca.nz/adopt/why-we-charge-adoption-fees