I've never had a dog in my life, but I'm looking at chihuahuas

[AgingDisgracefullyHere]

I have never been a dog person. I am generally mildly afraid of them or just a big anxious. If a dog doesn't want to jump on me and lick me then I can get used to it and come to really like it.

But I have always kinda liked chihuahuas. I used to joke that it was because they're not really like dogs, but I do understand they're very much dogs. Even the yappy aggressive ones I've encountered haven't upset me because I know they can't jump up and get me. I have met some really lovely ones, too. A couple who right off the bat wanted to sit in my lap calmly and be stroked.

I live alone in a flat and I've wanted a cuddly pet for a while. I have considered cats and small dogs. I have experience with cats.

But I keep thinking about getting a small dog and chihuahuas really appeal to me.

I have promised myself not to get anything this year - I don't want to rush. But I look at chihuahuas online all the time and read about them. I do worry about having the patience and experience to properly train and socialise a dog. I also worry about health problems and how to find a good, healthy dog.

Has anyone else gotten a chi as their first dog?
Does anyone have some good ideas for getting more real world information about them? Are there other small breeds I might consider?

@AuntieMarys
But any dog could do this if not brought up correctly. It's the owners not the dogs. All the shih tzus Iv ever known haven't been viscous but you can always get an aggressive dog in any breed.

Two of my friends have them. They are very cute! They're a breed I have looked at.

Shih-tzus are brachycephalic and come with a number of health issues. Not a breed I would recommend which is sad as they have lovely personalities.

It seems like any small breed dog is likely to have issues, though Google tells me that chihuahuas rank lower than many breeds on this list.

A dog that struggles to breath would be upsetting to see.

I agree with this.
You don't sound like a dog person at all and dogs, even little dogs have dog needs.
You have experience with cats, and loads of my friends who are cat people have cuddly cats who love to cuddle up with them on the sofa or in bed.
Chihuahuas are also not great as first dogs full stop. They are great but they can be snappy, yappy and quite difficult if they're not given their proper boundaries and training from a young age, and putting up with that behaviour because they can't jump up and get you isnt fair on the dog.
There's no shame in not being a dog person - many people aren't.

I wasn't a baby person, either. Had no experience with them and zero interest in them. Never even held a baby until I held my newborn - that I was initially very ambivalent about having.

I ended up having three of them and I'm now gaga about babies.

There are lots of healthy small breeds out there, it's just shih tzus aren't one of them. Their skulls are just too small - which is why most have underbites, dental issues, eye issues and breathing difficulties.

Yappy little fuckers

I have a chihuahua. Not my first dog that was a golden retriever but my chihuahua is the easiest most placid dog.
I recommend from day one taking him/ her with you everywhere to socialise even if you need to carry them before their jabs. I took mine as a puppy into my work at a special needs school.
I think the key to a happy, non yappy chihuahua is good socialisation from young

We have a Maltese and he's a lovely dog.

Throwing a curve ball. We have a 'malty shit' a cross breed maltese shitzu bitzer from the pound. It is so placid and cuddly, sleeps all day, house trained in a few weeks. It is only one year old and such an easy, happy, pleasant dog.

(And I don't like dogs)

Nbo, their portability is a key attraction for me. I don't intend to carry it as an accessory in my handbag but I like the idea of being able to pop it into something. There's a nice green space nearby but you have to walk through an underpass full of broken glass to get there from mine. I could carry a very small dog to a place like that.

I frequently see a man in the shopping mall here holding a chihuahua puppy and I assume he's exposing it to different people and places.

AKC has breed temperaments and traits to see what it is and compare to other breeds if you would like to try it out!

also how about a papillon?

I have not really looked at papillon yet.

I have a preference for dogs with short hair. I know they shed, but it's not the shedding. It's partly aesthetic and partly the idea that they're cleaner, or easier to keep clean. I don't even know if that's true.

Chihuahuas are very intelligent dogs. I read somewhere recently that it's due to the proportion of their brain size vs their bodies. I think the reason why people have issues is bad breeding and/or being treated as a toy/doll and being picked up and tossed around. Many people don't listen to their cues as they would a big dog.
I think if getting one, I would go to breeder that you can observe the temperament of their parents and know that they've been looked after well as pups. Then go straight into training and mental stimulation. Treat it like a big dog and listen when it's telling you how it feels by body language.

One thing I would say as someone who lives alone is that you can't underestimate the impact that having a dog has on your social life. It really isn't like an indoor cat that is chill. At most you really only want to be leaving it alone 4/5 hours and with a small dog probably less. You can't really do spontaneous nights out or drinks after work and even if you aren't that social it's rough. Say goodbye to lie ins on a Saturday and they don't care if you're hungover 🤣 I always had family dogs and did not realize how much care it takes when there's no one to share the burden. That said, it is soo wonderful to come home to someone happy to see you and snuggles on the sofa are lovely. Just go into it eyes open knowing things will change xx

If you want a small cuddly dog try a portuguese podengo. Very cute and needs a step ladder to jump up.

I got a chi boy dog last year, I have two elderly medium size girls dogs as well who have accepted him well. He is the apple of my eye and I love him so much. He is very much a dog and full of moxy. Cons are : harder to housetrain, this may get better when I get him fixed next month but there is a chance it won't. He can also be snappy when being protective of me . I am learning to avoid situations where this may happen. Pros : very fun and loving and endless entertainment. He will be a year old in March!

He's gorgeous!

Even though they are small they still require a lot of work, training, socialisation etc.. I’d recommend speaking to your local dog trainer & get some info about what training & socialisation involves. Training any dog well is a huge commitment, for the first 2yrs you have to keep it consistent if you want a well rounded happy dog. Also as you don’t like most other dogs socialisation for your dog will be very difficult, because they will need to be around a variety of dogs on a daily basis to stop them ending up with behavioural issues/fears when they are around other dogs. They also pick up on their owners anxieties & fears especially around other dogs, so that is something to consider also. Cats on the other hand are a lot easier for people who don’t really like being around dogs on a daily basis, there are some amazingly loving breeds, generally Ragdolls love their owners & attention/cuddles. Obviously there’s some exceptions but generally their temperaments are living & affectionate. Maybe look into all your options before deciding x

I was in Pets at Home getting fish food and I walked around the dog aisles and met a lot of very nice dogs. I pet most of them (the ones who seemed amenable). I assume few people would take an unruly dog into that setting. That could be a good place to socialise with dogs.

But I hear horror stories about big dogs that just run up to chihuahuas and aren't nice. How do you deal with that?

My dsis has a chi JRT mix and she's a dote. Sweet little thing & very loving BUT she fronts up to big dogs when out walking! It's usually not an issue as you can just scoop her up, but I could see if developing into an issue if you ever met an off-lead dog.

My MIL has a Cavochon (Cavalier/Bichon mix) and he's the sweetest cuddliest little fella. Also non-shedding and is happy with shorter walks.

As a chihuahua x JRT owner. I would not recommend for a first dog she’s high maintenance. She has small dog syndrome she will bite if you do something she doesn’t like. At the moment she’s freezing but will attack if I try to put a jumper on her.. on the other hand I have a cavalier King Charles and he’s the most placid dog in the world, loves cuddles and happily chill all day

Yup, I have one. From a rescue. He's literally the perfect dog. Housetrained impeccably ; has NEVER had an indoor accident, clever, loves long walks,gentle with my kids, loves a snuggle, cuddles up when I'm sad, fabulous health record. Really playful and friendly with medium sized and small dogs but wary of large dogs. And he's so fucking cute to look at to boot. A classic jrt but slimline with cute massive ears 🤣

NO Pets At Home is not a good nor usual place to socialise your dog !

It's a pet shop and you will only have a few mins.

You will socialise your puppy when you join the puppy classes. and when you walk it in the local park etc.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking your dog to pets at home as part of their socialisation.