Chihuahua temperament

[SaturdayGiraffe]

Have you ever met a friendly chihuahua? I’m asking because over the years I’ve met 9 of them, both in a pack and 1:1 and they, without exception have always hated me.
And I mean friendly to new people in the house, at the park etc, not their owners.

Yes but only once. The first one I ever met (I was early 20s) was so lovely that it completely lulled me into a totally misguided belief that others were the same. I’ve never met another nice one!

Yes. I’ve got a friendly chi and I’ve met no end of friendly chis

I’ve only met one lovely, affectionate chihuahua. He also had no teeth, so even if he decided to become a ratbag horrible chihuahua, he was limited as to how he could express his rage

His name was Steve McQueen!

What’s the ratio of friendly to unfriendly in your experience?

Did you do anything to make yours friendly or was it just born a non-barker non-biter?

I've only met a few chis and two were lovely

I've got one that loves me but bites anyone else that tries to touch her. She was a v poor choice of family dog.

Theres a few who live locally who are friendly, more friendly than my grumpy terrier anyway 🤦‍♀️

Just from the 9 I’ve met, this is what I would expect.

My mum had one. She was adorable. Outgoing, friendly, liked people and dogs (especially big dogs). Everyone got a welcome, not yappy or anxious.

Not sure why ... My parents were super experienced dog-owners and had everything from Afghans to Border Collies to German Shepherds to various terriers over many years ... and the Chihuahua was my mum's very last dog, she'd always wanted one. I think they just brought the dog up as a proper dog rather than a lap-dog. She had no idea how teeny she was, and her best friend for ages was a local wolfhound.

RIP Matilda.

Shes a non barker, non biter

So why aren’t they a banned breed if they bite? Just out of interest I’ve never met one. But they bite and are aggressive so what are they breed for?

We got our chi in lockdown and she was chased as a tiny pup by big dogs so she's a bit anxious and barky.
When people come round who she knows she is lovely and excited to see them, new people she barks at but we have worked with a trainer so now keep her on a lead when they come around until she calms down. 20 mins later she's sat on their knee letting them stroke her 😊

I've met a few and they've all hated me. The feeling's mutual, tbh. I normally love dogs and they love me, so it's a weird experience to be snarled at.

They’ve only ever barked or bitten when I’ve approached their humans. Brilliant watchdogs, a flea wouldn’t have got past the pack I met.
I’m asking because I know someone keen on one and if there are breed lines or training that can make them less reactive it’s worth passing on.

Theres a few on our school run and they all seem like really friendly little dogs tbh. One of them in particular is the most placid sweet little thing. The daughter runs out of school and scoops her up like a baby where she then lays in her arms and the other kids fuss all over her. She's absolutely adorable. I think thry can be very fearful, probably due to the fact they're tiny and alot of the aggressive ones people see are probably just very nervous and wanting to appear fierce out of fear of getting hurt. We stayed on a farm once with loads of blue merle collies, they also had a matching merle chihuahua who genuinely thought he was a sheepdog, and would race around with the collies rounding up sheep, caked in mud, not scared of anything or anyone. He was amazing! I love them, and would love to have one one day if I hadn't sworn I'd never have another dog after our current one!

Mine are both friendly one is very friendly

I have only met 2 and they were awful
Its a small sample though so maybe some are ok

I’ve got 2, they are both so gentle and loving. Neither of them have ever snarled. I never wanted chi’s. Thought they were horrible snarly little rats but mine were both rescued and I couldn’t be without them now. I absolutely adore mine and I’ve since met loads of other friendly chi’s.

Mine is so friendly loves everyone BUT he’s regularly in environments with lots of new people so had become used to it

The problem is, most people who want a chihuahua don’t actually want a dog - they want a cuddly toy or a baby, as PPs have demonstrated aptly with ‘the DD scoops it up like a baby‘ - and therefore they put no effort into training them, socialising them or letting them be a ‘dog.’ The owners often think it’s acceptable for their dog to display poor behaviours because it’s small, which results in the issues so many people mention.

A beautifully trained chihuahua is as rare as hens teeth. They are also prone to a range of health issues and yappy - because of the way they have been bred. They are ‘one person’ dogs typically, and can display nasty resource guarding around other people - there’s so many videos of them attacking people who touch ‘their human’ (and the people laughing thinking it’s funny - you can bet if a GSD displayed the same behaviour those same people would call for it to be PTS).

They are the only dog breed that I have repeatedly had issues with for my own dogs - and the only dog I have ever had to physically pull off one of my own when it sunk its teeth in. Honestly, when I see one my heart sinks. There are very few dog breeds I inherently dislike, and Chihuahuas are one of them. I’ve never met one that wasn’t showing behaviour that would get a larger dog PTS.

A local acquaintance has two, if she's out walking with them I don't stop to chat anymore as they yap at me the whole time. In fact the last time we did chat with the dogs around one of the snapped at my son who hadn't made any sort of move toward them.

I do know they were never trained or socialised properly.

If you treat them properly (ie. like a dog and not like a fashion accessory) then you shouldn’t have any problems. They need exercise, good diets and to be trained like any other dog.

Yes, there are things you need to do differently because of their size and their weight (coats in cold weather, for example, and ramps so they can get into cars and onto furniture) but they’re still dogs and should be treated as such.

Don’t pick them up and carry them around constantly. Don't allow them to lunge about on a lead just because they’re small and can’t pull you over. Don’t let them jump all over other dogs because they can’t do the same damage as say, a lab.

I’ve met chi’s with a whole variety of temperaments and I’d say the best ones are the ones who live with other dogs and are treated like dogs.

Okay this makes sense. The singles (not the pack) were carried around in pouches and slings like babies (and were referred to as ‘baby’) which I guess no one would do to a larger dog.
The lunging and growling was laughed at as cute as well. I suspect the owners liked being guarded.

I have two. They are a bit yappy if someone rings the doorbell in the same way a lot of bigger dogs would bark (chihuahuas just sound awful!) but their temperament is lovely. They socialise a lot with other dogs of all sizes, have excellent recall if they're let off lead and are gentle and quiet around people, especially if given a tummy rub. We have worked very hard since we had them as puppies to socialise them though and were ready to work at any issues should they have arose.

@SaturdayGiraffe yep, unfortunately the behaviour that’s laughed off in small dogs is the same behaviour that would get a larger breed PTS.

Aggression is aggression whether your dog is a chihuahua or a mastiff. Yes, the chihuahua isn’t going to kill anyone but that doesn’t mean it’s okay not to train them. Just treat them like you would any other breed and you’ll be fine (obviously while making allowances where necessary due to their size).