Chihuahua Temperament

[puppy_lover_92]

I don't own a Chihuahua, but I know several people that do, and all the chihuahuas I know have a hateful, aggresive personality. I was just wondering if that's just the personality of chihuahuas or if it's the way they've been raised. Anyone know?

[RD]

Some of it is probably breeding, Chi's tend to be one-person dogs, but IMO most of it is the way they are trained or, rather, not trained. They are treated like little people, carried everywhere, and praised for being aggressive because the average pet owner thinks its "cute".

I have three Chihuahua "god-puppies" that are wonderful, sweet little dogs. They aren't well trained as far as commands go, but they have been raised to be polite.

[bubbatd]

I would love to meet a well bred nice Chi !! I really haven't met many , but the ones I have are nasty little critters ! I know there are sweet ones !! Don't rag on me !!

[dr2little]

Won't here raggin from me Grammy and I have 2 Chi's. I love these little dogs but I've met more narley little monsters than well behaved ones...LIKE MINE...of course:D

I have so many Chihuahua's coming into class already pretty messed up. I've rarely had one come through the doors actually walking. I always have to stand at the door on the first day of class and ask people not to carry them in. People buy those stupid little bags and cart them around everywhere, I wonder if some of them have ever felt the pavement on their little paw pads.
They also tend to sign up for class late (after 4 months) and only then because their Vet has told them that "little ankle biter" is getting out of hand and needs classes.

***Now the flip side, and it does exist, is those wonderful little dogs who are allowed and even encouraged:yikes: to be dogs. They are (safely) socialized, allowed to walk and are actually asked for behaviors before goodies rain down on them.

I've met my fair share of these social, sweet little dogs and they are a true pleasure. I took both Tia and Tinker everywhere with me until very recently when their health no longer allowed it. I still take them along when I can and they both (now 9 and 15 years old) totally LOVE everyone.

JennSLK, a Chaz member who wasn't exactly a Chi lover, came over to my house and my 2 totally reformed her.

[bubbatd]

I'm with you Doc..... and totally understand !! The only ones I met were in their little sweaters , still shaking to death , being tightly held and when I went to pat , wanted to take my finger off . I'm trying not to be bias .....I know it's not the breeds but the owners . I can almost see the looks of the owners when you tell them to put them down !!

[dr2little]

I'm with you Doc..... and totally understand !! The only ones I met were in their little sweaters , still shaking to death , being tightly held and when I went to pat , wanted to take my finger off . I'm trying not to be bias .....I know it's not the breeds but the owners . I can almost see the looks of the owners when you tell them to put them down !!

Yes, I see this all of the time, and usually the owner laugh when the Chi snaps too. And the vibrating Chi..when they're too cold, nervous, excited, their bateries never seem to run out.

I think asking owners to put their dogs down would be even worse if my own Chi's weren't on my business cards and pamphlets. They DO still give my that quick look of mistrust but change their minds by about class three when their little nipper is showing not only no signs of stress, but is actually being a dog...AND LOVING IT!:D

[Kurby]

My little Pinky is well-behaved. He is good around people and dogs. He lets me know when somebody is knocking because I can barely hear it from the 2nd floor of my house. He is well trained.. he was stubborn at first but i let him know right away whos the pack leader of the house. All in all they are pretty good dogs. I dont carry him around on designer bags. I have 1 piece of shirt that my friend bought for me (it says BITCHES LOVE ME) he only wears it when its cold outside. He's tougher than my APBT thats for **** sure lol. He got the big dog syndrome. :)

[Doberluv]

My Chihuahuas are sweet and very, very outgoing. If they see someone walking and we're on a hike, they run up to them yapping and wagging and want to be picked up. They're social butterflies. I use to take Chulita when she was young into this local pub/restaurant all the time. I'd set her down outside of my car and she made a bee line for the door. I'd open the door and she made a bee line through the room to where the tables were. She'd find someone (easily) who would hold her on their lap. She got to lick whip cream off of coffee nudges and was passed around the bar from one person to the next. Everyone loved her. Then I got Jose, same thing. She and Jose have never once shown one iota of nastiness. They love everybody. They need to sit for some of the things they want, they know their basic obedience and a few litte tricks. They go outside with the big dogs, run bears off the property (lol) and pretty much are treated like my other dogs except I have to watch out for birds of prey. I don't worry about the bears...LOL....just birds.

They go on 2-6 mile hikes just about every day, negotiate fallen logs and brush, keep up with the Doberman and the other big dog. They do wear coats when it gets cold because it gets severely cold here. But that doesn't make a dog's behavior different. They need the extra warmth. So does Lyric.

So, the way Chihuahuas act mostly depends on the same things which determine how any dog will act and that is owner handling. Lots of people treat toy dogs like something other than dogs and give them everything they want without being asked to do things dogs need to do. They reinforce crappy behavior in it's beginnings and it just escalates. They think their Chihuahuas will break if they walk on their own. Ridiculous. Chihuahuas can be very sturdy little dogs. They're fragile in that they're small and can get stepped on. But mine leap off of rocks and logs which are quite high and on and off furniture. I've never had a dog break it's leg. Maybe that comes from all the hiking they do. They probably have good muscles to support them.

My little one, Chuli does shake sometimes. It's exciteability or cold. She can be eager about something and she shakes. She can be nervous or hungry. Jose is a little chubby, larger and he doesn't shake so much.

So, some people get these toy breeds, not because they appreciate dogs....as dogs, but for some human, needy reason. (?)

[candaceluvspebbles]

Hey :)
I think its the way they are raised.
My chi is so sweet,she loves everything and anything :)
She is so cute,she has her own little treasure chest,well basically its just toys and slippers piled up under my bed in which she protects.She also knows how to play hide and go seek too.
Chihuahuas are very intelligent animals which i love to bits :D
Anywho
cya
Candace

[Chrissy&B]

I would love to meet a well bred nice Chi !! I really haven't met many , but the ones I have are nasty little critters ! I know there are sweet ones !! Don't rag on me !!

You obviously haven't met the real Chihuahuas then :p . My Billy boy is the sweetest little dog and I can take him anywhere with me. Do not get me wrong, he is a great guard dog as well..... here's a little story. My parents and me all had to go out for a day and we asked our neighbour (who he knows and likes very much) to check up on him and take him out for a walk. At around 2pm she called almost crying and said that she came to our house a few times and he simply wouldn't let her in. He was barking, growling and showing teeth every time she wanted to enter through the main door. He actually spent a day in the house and refused to go for a walk till we got back!! :yikes: He obviously takes his job seriously, but when we're around, he's an angel..... and that's how I like my dogs!! Loyal, smart, well behaved and impossible to bribe!

I go to dog shows regularly and I have to say that all of our Chis are perfect little pets and great show dogs. Non aggressive, great temperament and I can't imagine it any other way. Imagine a Chi that doesn't let a judge touch him!! :( We'd be disqualified straight away........
I have noticed a worryingly large number of really badly bred Chihuahuas in US and sometimes they look nothing like Chihuahuas at all. I guess all that bad breeding results in such bad temper and as a result Chihuahuas as such get a bad name.....

[Dulce Pit Bull]

You obviously haven't met the real Chihuahuas then :p . My Billy boy is the sweetest little dog and I can take him anywhere with me. Do not get me wrong, he is a great guard dog as well..... here's a little story. My parents and me all had to go out for a day and we asked our neighbour (who he knows and likes very much) to check up on him and take him out for a walk. At around 2pm she called almost crying and said that she came to our house a few times and he simply wouldn't let her in. He was barking, growling and showing teeth every time she wanted to enter through the main door. He actually spent a day in the house and refused to go for a walk till we got back!! :yikes: He obviously takes his job seriously, but when we're around, he's an angel..... and that's how I like my dogs!! Loyal, smart, well behaved and impossible to bribe!

I go to dog shows regularly and I have to say that all of our Chis are perfect little pets and great show dogs. Non aggressive, great temperament and I can't imagine it any other way. Imagine a Chi that doesn't let a judge touch him!! :( We'd be disqualified straight away........
I have noticed a worryingly large number of really badly bred Chihuahuas in US and sometimes they look nothing like Chihuahuas at all. I guess all that bad breeding results in such bad temper and as a result Chihuahuas as such get a bad name.....


LOL! You think CHIHUAHUAs get a bad name!?!?! LOL..