Chihuahua owners

[Blueberrymuffin40]

Any chihuahua owners? Looking for experiences.

I have a rescue Chihuahua. I adore him. He’s not an easy dog but I’m not sure how much of that’s from being a rescue and how much is because he’s a Chi. He’s got a hell of a bite on him and he’s very stubborn. He was tough to house train. He’s very sensitive - doesn’t like being told off. I wouldn't be without him and I’m hoping he’ll mellow...

Thankfully tiny dogs are not popular around here, where I walk anyway, but have met 2.

One was a little shit we met now and again that my lab was terrified of as it kept nipping and I had to have words with the owner to get it away from him before I launched it into orbit with my boot.

The other was a pack of 5 of the little shits offlead, they ran from their owner who was on the other side of an embankment to have a go at my lab, they were all noise thankfully and just circled us and barked constantly the whole 5 minutes it took her to get over to us to control them one or two had a firm tap with my boots while waiting for her, she thought it funny as they were tiny and my lab huge. She did not think it funny for long 🤬.

@WeAllHaveWings how very unpleasant you are

We get it, Wings, you don't like small dogs. I don't like large ones but wouldn't refer to them as 'shits' or that, I just avoid them.

I have 3. Two girls who are sisters age 6 and 1 boy age 4.

Very very clever, very loving. Yes they are more vocal but can be trained to keep it to a minimum.

Mine are pigs, food rewards, positive talk, belly rubs do it every time for whatever you need to train them for!

The boy is more cuddly but I prefer girls, they have been much easier.

The boy is tiny, far more energy, rarely sleeps in the day. The girls are happy to snooze a lot.

All have health issues. 2 with multiple allergies both food and environmental. One with luxating patellas even though its parents were free of it!

The boy is much, much harder work than the girls. In hindsight I would have not got him even though he's lovely in his own way.

They're all very unique personality wise. They're all attention seeker's and demand affection all the time. It's not a breed who is happy to have a walk then go lie down in a corner the rest of the day. Chihuahuas tend to follow you about and want to sit on you or next to you most of the time.

I love them despite the few downsides, they're so comical, so loving and so smart. I can't imagine having any other breed. I've had others in the past but chihuahuas are the best for me and my lifestyle.

Would be without my Male chihuahua & would highly recommend them as family pets.
Mine barks when there is someone at the door etc but never barks for no reason. Great security.
Happy to go on walks but if its raining neither of us want to go.
Slightly nervous and I always pick him up if other dogs are off lead as he was attacked once & I'm not risking that again so probably my own fault that he isn't properly socialized. Having said that he is fine with the neighbours dog who just ignores him.
Another poster mentioned a sensitive stomach & that is definitely the case for us but once I stick to dry food there is no issue.

*wouldn't

@OohKittens

This is my boy

He is a handsome boy.

My parents' dog is very similar, but her colouring more 'foxy' - ie, light hazel eyes, more of an orange colour where your boy has the darker chocolate tones. They got her from a rescue and I think they assumed she's a cross, because of the longer hair, but perhaps not!

Mine is absolutely horrid

She is incredible loyal to me and is well behaved on her lead and off for me.

Anybody else? Nope. Absolutely hates children and will bite if they touch her. I have to manage her very carefully around kids, my own included.

She will stare my husband down and piss on the floor in front of him, preferably on an item of his clothing. He took her for a walk along the beach on holiday once. She got out of her harness and ran all the way back to the caravan.

I love the bones of her and she was my birthday present after 30 odd years of waiting for my very own dog. But I would never have another one. She'll probably live until she's 25 and stink. My husband is so happy about that. M

It isn't her fault, she had a very nervous dog as a mum and was an accidental itter. She never should have been bred. I have met many many lovely Chihuahuas. She just isn't. They all have their own personalities.

I have a chi x and she is wonderful.

Except for the fucking noise. All. The. Time.

She barks at everyone walking past. Barks at the door. Barks at the wind. Barks if her water bowl is empty. Barks if the door is shut.

I wouldn’t be without her though.

@chatw00 he is a long haired chihuahua

It’s pretty rare to meet one that doesn’t have some sort of issue with other dogs - even when their owners have tried really hard to socialise them with dogs.

I mean, it’s understandable really given the size of them, nearly every other breed of dog can accidentally squash them...

Very upset to see one accidentally spun into the air on its lead, when the owner yanked it absent mindedly. Please don't underestimate how delicate and light these dogs are.

I would absolutely love a chihuahua!

No doubt mine would be an absolute horror around other dogs though and people on walks would probably refer to it as a ‘little shit’ and ‘bastard’ as said upthread but I wouldn’t care

No way on earth would I let it interact with anything other than another toy breed (I’m too scarred by so many negative experiences of other dogs against my current dog, who is not a medium sized breed and now mildly aggressive herself as a result)

Who IS a medium sized breed I meant

I’ve got two!

They are fab little dogs, love my children and will happily walk for miles but dog friendly they are not.

They wouldn’t attack them (I don’t think) but they do fob off at them. A lot.

I don’t let them interact with other dogs because I can’t guarantee how they will act.

I love them though and wouldn’t change them

Mine bullies my Labrador mercilessly. She’s definitely top dog. I feed them together (same bowl) and she goes first, he gets what’s left.

There’s something really funny about watching a ginormous food hoovering lab wait patiently for a 2kg dog to finish eating.

The best breed of dog, I don't care what anyone says ❤️ So loyal. So loving. Yes they are fussy but that usually gives them so much character ☺️

I've got a 2yo boy and he's a nightmare and wonderful at the same time.

His ideal would be to never leave my side given the chance and he is very protective and jealous - I have to put him in his crate when the hairdresser comes because he hates her standing over me and touching my hair He went for her ankles once so now it's the crate. I would recommend crate training a chi btw. Mine loves his crate and associates it with food and sleep. He's raw fed so crate was necessary as I wouldn't like to find a raw chicken wing in my bed (this has happened once when I hadn't shut the crate door properly).

He loves my son and manically play fights and tolerates all sorts from him but as a general rule hates kids - particularly toddlers and I would never allow a child to approach to stroke him. He can be an outright embarrassment in public sometimes but off lead he'll just trot along by my side. On lead is trickier but necessary.

He was not very trainable (I've been the owner of a saintly female labrador previously so was shocked by how difficult he was in some ways as a puppy) but is gradually getting better with time. For instance he still barks when he hears the tesco delivery van reversing but he now runs and jumps in his crate ready for me to shut him in and barks from there instead Plus he only barks when I go away from the front door (leaving it unguarded) to put stuff in the kitchen. And it's a couple of half hearted barks just for fun rather than what it used to be.

I got him in part because I may work and live overseas after ds leaves home and at points in my life I live between UK and a place I have elsewhere and tiny dogs can fly in the cabin from France or Brussels and are small enough to be in a pet box for Eurostar or a ferry and trains. It can be really hard to travel with dogs and I hate the idea of them going as freight.

I was just entertaining the idea of a small dog and then went to visit a very good breeder and sat in the garden in the sunshine with the litter of puppies and several adults of his running mayhem around me and seeming like the happiest beings ever and fell in love. He's beautiful and apparently has a very good pedigree but was a bargain because the breeder had been intending to keep him for showing so he didn't get advertised initially until his partner put his foot down and said enough dogs!

I'm not sure I'd recommend them - I'd probably go with the advice to get a female if you are going to as they sound calmer and might be less of a cling on. There are easier dogs out there but they are also adorable and so loving and such big characters.

On your own head be it I guess.

And if you get a male get them neutered as early as possible before the male territorial/aggressive instincts kick in.

There is a few here some are nasty and owners lsugh it of as because they are small etc .Think it funny when snarling and going for my large lab.I been known to yell that if was my boy there soon complain

But on other hand are a couple of chi with differnt owners that are lovely and well trained treated as dogs

My boy loves them and owners happy to trust mine near them he us very gentle

I always apologise and generally forewarn when approaching other dog walkers if I feel he's going to be barky and I create plenty of space in passing.

Off lead he's my little shadow and far more humble and aware of his size and vulnerability but it's not possible to be off lead all the time obviously so I keep working on it.

He's consistently improving and behaving better which is lovely to see and note the progress.

My friends Mum always says dogs need a year under each paw before they're grown up. In my experience that's especially true for small dogs.

Before I get yelled at - I love dogs, including Chihuahuas - but from my experience they are hard work.
To my mind they are almost like cats to a certain degree - they can be very loyal and loving, then within a split second highly territorial and aggressive and you'll never know what you do wrong.

They can be a nightmare around other dogs and as others have pointed out really fancy their chances against larger dogs and in one case I found - foxes.

They can also suffer from a number of health issues and they struggle to maintain heat in their bodies (brachycephalic) and can have problems with digestion.

Of course, it is very much a personal choice and to be fair when they are good they are really good.

Digestion wise raw food is your friend. Mine eats a chicken wing and some beef mince with added bone meal most days with occasional bits of liver or fish or egg. That means dry, chalky, non messy poos which with a breed that is hard to toilet train is a good thing.

I have a 4 year old boy and my advice would be get yours neutered sooner rather than later as they do have a tenancy to mark especially if male.I absolutely adore my dog he's a hilarious,gorgeous buddle of love and we got him when ds was two.