Any chihuahua owners out there? Need some advice.

[DannyOD]

Hi, I was just wondering if you let your chi's of the lead when you go for a walk? I have recently adopted a one year old chihuahua and she is tiny. Her previous owner used to let her off the lead and when we go out she clearly wants to run free but I have had a number of scary encounters with over exuberant bigger dogs and a terrifying one today with a lurcher who clearly thought she was a rabbit!! I feel mean keeping her on the lead when she clearly wants to run but terrified that something will happen to her. Just wanted to know what the general consensus was on the subject. Thanks

I had a chi

I used to let her off her lead. As long as she has good recall and isn't agressive, no reason why you shouldn't

I had a chi cross and stopped letting her off the lead after a collie relentlessly herded her in the park causing her to scream horribly and finally get away, running across the road and getting hit by a car. I wouldn't let her off unless you have a really clear line of sight and couldn't get to her before another dog, were one to appear.

There is a chi at our dog walking field and it terrifies me when the owner lets it off to play with the other dogs including Labradors, northern Inuits, etc. IT looks tiny and one fall or miss placed paw could probably cause harm, but owner isn't bothered.

IT is also a little yappy shit that terrifies my 34kg softy lab.

Mine goes off the lead whenever he can. He's got a bit cocky though and goes bounding up to other dogs and barks at them. He's not so fond of black labradors for some reason. It does him good when they bark back!

I don't let mine off lead for that reason. She walks with us and I make sure I can scoop her up if another dog approaches. Just not worth the risk of her getting hurt and she clearly hates big dog attention.

I don't have Chis but I do have 2 Affenpinschers which aren't much bigger and I do let them off lead.

You need to make sure you have solid recall before you try it so practice in the garden or somewhere safe first.

Once you have a reliable recall you can let him off but make sure you keep him close so you can see how he does around other dogs.

Please don't let him run up to other dogs and bark, it is very bad manners and gives all us small dog owners a bad name.

Sorry, she!

Yellow, I absolutely loathe when a chi does that, hope you get him back on lead straight away when he does.. He is going to meet the wrong dog one day that won't put up with it.

Our ndn's large x staffy which was on lead picked up and shook a persistent cocky chi a couple of weeks back, terrifyingly for both owners, thankfully it wasn't hurt but it easily could have been.

I also got told I was doing the worst possible thing when I picked my chi x up to walk past an older woman with a very big dog (didn't look like she'd have been able to physically control it at all) as apparently I was causing her dog to want to go after mine? She was of the very firm opinion that I should have made her sit (rather than cower behind me) and wait for them to walk past on the narrow path. My point is that you're dammed if you do and dammed if you don't but don't count on others to be in control of their dogs. Congratulations on your new dog by the way, I wish you years of happiness.

Thanks everyone. My chi isn't the slightest bit yappy. She just wants to potter about in her own and chase a few birds. It's just when other bigger dogs (well actually they're ALL bigger than her!!) come thundering up to her it absolutely petrifies ys both. It have bought an extendable lead to see if that helps but mostly I just stick to the perimeters as far away from the others as possible like Billy No-Mates

This is her!! I am not responsible for the flower btw!!!

To clarify - I do let him do this to dogs we see regularly and know at the local park. In this area all dogs are off their leads and most of the time they play well together - chasing in circles and so on, sometimes they bark at each other - it's all fine in play and they are familiar with each other. I've seen one fight in about 4 years (didn't involve mine thankfully and the instigator was an aggressive staff fighting with another staff). Mine stayed well away. He's also walked with a dog walkers pack (again off lead where possible) and is very socialised with good recall.

Danny she is gorgeous ! I love the short haired ones

I have two but never let them off of the leash. They're both very independent and know they wouldn't come back. However I had one before these two and when he reached about 8 I could let him off of the leash. It seems as they get older its more likely that they'll come back now they're old and just want a slow walk! I always get so annoyed at councils who make dog areas for off leash but make the fence posts wide enough apart for small dogs to run through! They should make then grated or with a chicken wire covering for this purpose so every dog can use the park