To think chihuahuas are the best dog?

[maybeimbornwithit]

I have never been a lover of small dogs, always imagined myself with a Labrador or two. However, after doing some (lots) of research we thought chihuahuas would be the best fit for our family as first time dog owners. So we brought 2 home six months ago (different litters).

I had the puppy blues for a couple of weeks, really thought I'd made a mistake but as the time has went on I've grown to love them so so much. They are the easiest dogs ever, don't require too much walking, walk great on the lead, lovely temperaments, not destructive, sleep a lot, sleep through the night, excellent recall, easy to obedience train, good with the cats and children, the only complaint is they are very hard to toilet train.

I have been treating them like dogs rather than accessories. I love that if there's a day I can't take them their walk they have a massive garden to run about in and play with each other and we do loads of brain games. I am really enjoying being a dog owner and never expected it this much.

I now could never see myself having a big dog, the only downside is I would love to walk them longer and further.

AIBU to think small dogs are easier and less messy than big dogs? Which do you prefer and why?

I’ve wanted a chihuahua for so long! I love them. Don’t think the cats would though. Please can we see them @maybeimbornwithit ?

They really are. I’ve got two and they are honestly the best little dogs

Even dh is fully converted to chihuahuas

I know two lovely ones the rest spoiled horrors.
I'm a bull breed/ medium large dog person.

Aww so cute but quite big? My two are very very tiny and they won't grow much more

These are my two

You’ve never met my lurcher - the actual best dog ❤️

I’ve met more unpleasant Chi’s than nice ones tbh. I couldn’t cope with the yapping.

No I don’t like them at all, sorry OP. I like bigger dogs that look like dogs and do dog things. I like to take my medium sized dog on long walks, I like that I’m never going to stand on him. He also has one walk a day (if a decent one) and then will sleep all day. He will also happily skip all day and stay home and do lots of playing. He’s a lovely temperament but can still be exciteBle as he’s still young.

@SlingsbyKindaDay your Italian greyhound with the top on made me laugh! They are cuties

Mongrels/crossbreeds are cheaper to run. Small dogs live a lot longer than larger breeds, so insurance in their later years is going to be a crazy amount.
I don't know anyone who insures their dog after about 10 years of age.
Toy breeds just seem to generally be a big money pit anyway. I know someone who had a toy breed terrier who had to have lots of reconstructive surgery after falling off the sofa.

Sorry, just don't see the appeal of them. Now boxers otoh!

Yep they are bigger than a traditional one.

We have two cats two. They all rub along ok. No fights but they are not playmates as such. Although the young one has a go at playing with them but they don't tolerate it.

Hell no. I wouldn’t want any dog that struggles to procreate naturally.

Here's my two

I have a chug (chihuahua x pug) she’s is a wonderful dog. Like you’ve said OP, very trainable, great with people.

And like you’ve also correctly identified, the problems most people associate with chihuahuas are because too often owners don’t treat them like a dog. They treat them like a baby, carry them everywhere, don’t exercise them, mentally or physically, don’t correct unwanted behaviour.

They are very intelligent dogs, full of energy - they need to be mentally stimulated every day with scent games, puzzles, walked at least once a day and given time to SNIFF on their walks. They’ve only got little legs so can’t manage hour long treks, but two shorter walks every day where they can have a good sniff, follow scents and have a good race around are really important, just as they are for larger dogs.

They give the same warnings as larger dogs, but people think they are cute and funny when they are growling or barking, they ignore it and approach instead, even pick the dog up, and then wonder why they get bitten. So make sure YOU can read your dog well and don’t be afraid to step in and make people back off if they are ignoring your dogs own communication. You need to be your dogs advocate.

Train them and treat them the same as you would any other dog and you won’t go far wrong 😁

Spaniels all day long. Lovely size for the house, walk for miles, easy to train. Loyal. Love belly rubs and will do anything for a bit chicken.

i will concede they take a bit of grooming time though. Or is only mine that loves to roll in the stinkiest stuff he can find?

This is our chug girl - she’s just turned 1

I’m not a fan of chihuahuas. I just don’t find them very cute. I don’t like the trembling and bulbous eyes as mentioned by a PP. I also don’t like Pugs or Frenchies because I don’t like their flat faces, and I don’t like King Charles Spaniels because they also have bulbous eyes. I like massive dogs but would probably never have one because they take up too much space and often don’t live as long as smaller dogs. Retrievers and Labs are lovely but often smelly and you have to be careful with food as they can be greedy and raid the bin.

I’m quite fussy when it comes to dogs 😂

I have a rescue who is a mix of multiple breeds including border collie, corgi, Jack Russell and various others. He is about 17kg and looks like a dingo. He can cope with a good two hour walk up hill and down dale, but can also get by with a much shorter walk on the lead for those occasional days when life gets hectic and there aren’t enough hours in the day.

He is the best dog, and a very very good boy. 😬

But I know we all love our dogs, and the breeds I’m not a fan of are loved by many. There’s something for everyone!

I went from two greyhounds to two mongrel terrier types (all rescues). Whilst I totally adored the greyhounds and was devastated to lose them, little dogs are just so much easier. Plus my two have big personalities and a great sense of humour, every day they make me laugh and they always know when I need cheering up. I'm a terrier-type mongrel person through and through now.

They are the easiest dogs ever, don't require too much walking, walk great on the lead, lovely temperaments, not destructive, sleep a lot, sleep through the night, excellent recall, easy to obedience train, good with the cats and children, the only complaint is they are very hard to toilet train.

Mine is broken.

She does none of this. She loves nothing more than to chew up people's belongings and steals anything and everything she can fit in her mouth. She keeps everyone awake by bedhopping all night and the second the front door is open she's off up the street like a tiny, annoying lightening bolt. She also terrorises the big by digging up his bones (which are often bigger than she is) and then guarding them. He's too afraid of her to take them back. DD has been trying to teach her to sit for months. She'll still only do it if she is lured into place with a treat.

Op I love chihuahuas. They really are the marmite of the dog world

@maybeimbornwithit @Rinoachicken

They are super cute. ♥️

@Frequency gorgeous ♥️

this. My experience they are yappy and ill-tempered. Not really doglike at all. I like dogs to be wolf or collie adjacent personally. Prefer rescue mixes to breeds as well.

@Soubriquet they are gorgeous too!

I love chihuahuas.

We hardly see any on our walks. It's mostly pugs and the little curly haired ones we see. Cockapoos I think

Every time I see a brachycephalic breed all I feel is sorry for them with their squished deformed faces, excess skin folds and prominent eyes and all the problems that go with that, I don't understand how anyone can find them attractive.