Chihuahua owners - are you constantly terrified of your dog being killed?

[DannyOD]

I have had a couple of hair-raising experiences when larger dogs have chased and terrified my dog and if I hadn't been there to grab her I dread to think what the outcome would have been. There has also been a couple of stories in our local paper lately of chi's being mauled to death whilst out on walks. I have resorted to pavement walking to keep her safe and me sane but I feel sorry that she doesn't get the chance to run free except in our garden.

[coffeetasteslikeshit]

I've often wondered this. How do you avoid stepping on them too? I'm forever tripping over my dogs!

[DannyOD]

The stepping on them thing is not the problem I thought it would be - they are quick as a flash. I have not stepped on her once.

[IceLemonGin]

We have had some hair raising experiences with dogs and we have a lurcher! One of his friends is a very sassy chi but I'd never let him chase her. He's not allowed off lead when she's around. I'm not sure what to suggest, sorry!

[Cakingbad]

It must be difficult OP. I always worry when I see a chi when I'm out with my medium sized dog. He likes other dogs but will chase prey animals and I worry that he will not realise that a chi is a dog. So I always recall him just in case.

[GinAndOnIt]

Gosh, I've never even considered this! I had no idea it was so regular. GinDog sometimes gets yapped at by little dogs and he cowers behind my legs. He's bloody huge

[GinAndOnIt]

Rolling eyes at GinDog, not you!

[Cakingbad]

Tiny terriers don't worry me in the same way because they are so good at standing up for themselves.

[Floralnomad]

I don't think the size is altogether relevant , I have a 13kg patterdale X and he was attacked by a staffy last year , if I hadn't jumped in and hauled him out by his harness he could easily have been more seriously injured if not killed . I just make sure that he is never too far away from me and put him back on his lead if I see any dogs that I'm not sure about .

[ShoutOutToMyEx]

I was bitten by an Alsatian as a child trying to protect our chi. I still have scars all up my leg! She however was fine and lived to a ripe old age.

[DannyOD]

She is dinky - even compared to other chihuahaus. Here she is with Dd2 As has been mentioned I worry that other dogs don't recognise her as one of their own kind.

[Cakingbad]

She is lovely. But I think you are right to be wary of other dogs. Shame.

[CompanyOfCats]

My chi was attacked and killed

[Niklepic]

Not quite the same as we have a pom so he's a little bigger but we did have a very expensive time when he was a puppy. He was jumped on by a very playful boxer who managed to break his leg broke.

He is walked off lead now but does have very good recall and is walked with our two cockers who seem to shield him a little bit.

[Niklepic]

Not sure where the 'broke' came from.

[Blackfellpony]

I hate walking my dogs incase they are attacked (again!) and mine are 30kg each so I can't imagine how tiny dog owners feel!

[Somevampsarehot]

My sister has a teeny chihuahua that hates walking, so she doesn't worry too much about other dogs. I, on the other hand, am terrified that my 1 year old nephew (who is a gorgeous chunk but very heavy handed and doesn't know how to be gentle yet) is going to kill her. She's only a couple of months old and very very tiny, and my nephew is very big for his age and lands very heavily when he sits down (or falls down!)

[dalmatianmad]

My spots are the friendliest dogs ever but I feel so anxious when we're out and see one of these type dogs, I call them back and stick them back on their leads ....
They just look so bloody fragile

[DannyOD]

CompanyofCats - so sorry to hear that. Must have been awful for you.

[OrangeJulius]

A chi was killed by a rottweiler at my work a couple years ago. I think there was some legal action against the rottweiler owners (they werent very nice people) and they were required to only have one dog per person (they showed so had a few) and the dogs were supposed to be muzzled. That lasted about a week before two or three unmuzzled rottweilers were passing me every morning...

I'm glad I have a large dog, or I would worry quite a lot about this sort of thing.

[Ylvamoon]

How well socialized is your chi? My very boisterous Tibetans have lots of doggie "friends"- large & small. But, if given half a chance, they will chaise small animals (cats, dogs or rabbits- as long as it's running away.)
You can half the risk by having your dog well socialized- some people say, dogs don't know about size.... if she isn't scared, there is no need to run.
Unfortunately, there will always be that rouge dog / owner that won't play by the rules.

[HealthyElf]

My little dog is a mongrel but has chihuahua and Jack Russel in her. Having said that, she looks very much like a chihuahua.

She was very well socialised from an early age and was excellent on walks and with other dogs.

Then one day she was chased and very nearly caught by a lurcher, she was lucky to get away.

Unfortunately, she is now incredibly nervous of other dogs. It breaks my heart that this experience has left her ultimately a different dog.

She is still lovely with our other dog and is incredibly affectionate. I just wish I had taken a different path that day.

[ChairRider4]

Admit if it's one I don't know and it's of lead my boy goes on .(35kg lab ) He won't harm but I worry about being squashed by accident by my dog or my wheels

But saying that one of his best friends is a Chi cross and he lies on floor as to let her climb on him or play they play really well but my boy is gentle often used for puppy introductions

[Hoppinggreen]

I don't allow my Goldie to play with small dogs, he wouldn't hurt one on purpose but he's very big and clumsy.
He was playing with his very boisterous GS friend and a Jack Russel owner asked if his dog could join in. I advised against it but he said it would be fine
It wasn't but no lasting damage thank God
As the owner of a large clumsy dog I wouldn't let him anywhere near a Chi

[CompanyOfCats]

Thanks Danny

It was a lurcher who I think just saw him as a rabbit or something. Poor thing

[Thattimeofyearagain]

You'd love my lab cross, we see a couple of chi's on our walks and he lies down/ shows tummy to them. They are most bemused