The Chihuahua.

[PWCorgi]

I'd love to learn more about them. What their temperment is like, what it's like to live with them, their attributes and downfalls, etc.

Basically anything about the little guys

[~Jessie~]

I love chihuahuas I think they're the greatest (I'm also a very biased mommy). It all started with Madison, who is from a BYB. I learned more, and my 2 girls are from show breeders... they have very different temperaments.

They are very big dogs for such little bodies... they think they're very tough little guys.

Chihuahuas are very much "pack dogs." They like their own kind best... even when we go to the dogpark and there are other chihuahuas, they flock right over to them. They get along with other dogs as well, though... depending on how they're socialized, of course (which is how it is with any dog).

They are high energy, but it's not constant. My chis spend a good bit of time sleeping. They are also able to go on long walks (we walk a 3-5 mile park walk a couple of times a week, and they never tire out, lol). They're silly... headstrong, though. They are intelligent dogs, but sometimes they take a little more effort to train. Rylie is very stubborn... but a quick learner.

Contrary to what most believe, they are actually really good with kids... they loooooove kids (even though we don't have any!).

They're known to be barkers... Rylie is a barker... Madison and Chloe are pretty quiet. Again, a lot of it is in how you socialize them, and get them to various sounds.

Breed standard calls for the chihuahua to weigh 2-6lbs... apple head, erect ears, straight topline, short legs. My Rylie and Chloe have appleheads. Again, Madison is badly bred and has a deer shaped head, floppy ears, etc.

They are great dogs... if you'd like to know anything else, feel free to ask. I know the history, breed standards, etc... I can ramble it in my sleep

[Cassiepeia]

Big thing to remember with Chihuahuas is that they know they rule the world and everything (and everyone) in it. LOL

Like Jessie said, they are the true 'big dog in a small body' and they're certainly not the yappy, snappy dogs people think they are. Their reputation is due to irresponsible owners not treating them like real dogs. They need plenty of socialisation and training (by that I mean that they must know the rules). People tend to let them get away with murder because they're tiny and cute, this is a mistake.
My boy Jesse James is one of the quietest dogs I've ever met. He's not good with kids though. Whether or not they're good with kids depends largely on the child involved and also on the socialisation they get.

They're great dogs though, I highly recommend them. I hope I get to share my life with more Chis in the future.

Cass.

[~Jessie~]

Oooops, when I said "they" are good with kids, I was referring to my chis in particular. It is really all about how the kids act, and how the dogs are socialized. Madison and Chloe love all little people... Rylie takes a while to warm up to them, and they have to be calm.

[PWCorgi]

Thanks Jessie and Cassiepeia!

Chihuahuas are very much "pack dogs." They like their own kind best... even when we go to the dogpark and there are other chihuahuas, they flock right over to them.

I've heard that before and I've always thought that it was very interesting that they can discriminate between their own kind and other dogs.

Big thing to remember with Chihuahuas is that they know they rule the world and everything (and everyone) in it.

LOL, I can believe it from the few Chi's that I've met.

They are great dogs... if you'd like to know anything else, feel free to ask.

I always have more questions

Oh lookie, a few more...

Are they good dogs for people who spend a lot of time outdoors doing things like hiking, boating, etc?

It all started with Madison, who is from a BYB. I learned more, and my 2 girls are from show breeders... they have very different temperaments

Do you mean difference in temperment between Madison and the girls or difference in temperment between BYB dogs and show bred dogs? If it's between BYB and show dogs I'd love to here more.

Is there a problem in the breed with lack of health testing (like what Laurelin talked about in Papillons if you remember that)?

Is there a lot of difference between male and female behavior/temperments?

I think that's all for now

[FoxyWench]

ahh what to say about chihuahuas. see that crown that hiding the little horns...those belong to a chihuahu thats EARNT them

there some common things with chis that ive noticed through the years.
they LOVE to ehar their own voice, while some chihuahuas dont bark much, all of them, when they do seem to have this "oo im so special, i made that big sound" look on their face. nd when they do bark, FORGET the Yippy myth, these dogs may be tiny but they have BIG voices, my 3lb males bark is stronger than the 30lb cockers!
they are EXTREEMLY inteligent, there one of the few breds i honestly feel are little people in fur coats, they not only learn tricks extreemly quickly, they learn how to use their training against you, they will find ANY and ALL loopholes in their training and i swear you can see them laughing at you when you fall for their own little sneaky tricks.
They are STUBBORN, there the kind of breed that asks WHY? why should i fetch that ball, why shoudl i sit for you.
They bond STRONGLY, many chis will pick their favorite person, when that persons not around someone else will do, but when that person comes home, the other people can forget it. many chis love everyone, but all of them will have a prefered person for cuddle time.

they CAN be hard to housebreak, persistence and repetativeness is 100***37; key with chis,

a bell on the collar helps you avoid puppy squishing, but they actually learn very quickly how to use your feet like weeve poles

health concerns, watch for treacheas, retained baby teeth, bad teeth, luxating patella, and heart murmurs. corn allergies are also common in the breed. Hypoglycemia is a risk with any small breed, feed often and carry nutircal on you especially during the first 6months of the puppies life, after 6 months MOST chis will get past the risk, some however will also be prone to hypoglycemis attacks.
find a breeder who checks for knees and heart, preferably elbows and eyes too.
puppy shoudlnt come home till 10-12 weeks for best development and NEVER walk on a collar with this breed, a harness is MUCH safer.

because the breed is so small, they are extreemly transportable! ours LOVE to go down to the sail boat with us and all 3 chis take up little room on the boat. a single chi would be the perfect companion for an outdoors man, many LOVE to hike, they can walk alot further than many think and for when their tired and your not (which will be rare) a small front carrier worn like a backpack is handy, they are the perfect sixe for taking cannoing with you as thier petite stature wont damage the canoos center too much mine love camping and they keep my sleeping bag rather warm on those chilly nights.

most chis love to burrow, give them extra blankets if you crate, and if you have clean warm laundry out, plese check for a sleeping chihuahua before putting away lol

UNDERWARE IS NOT SAFE in any home with chihuahuas...just be aware of that one!

personaloty wise, my male is MUCH more attatched to me than the females are, males seem to be snugglier, while females tend to be a little more outgoing (of course this is not THE RULE but seems to be a trend i myself have seen over the years) however if you have your chi spay/neutered there shouldnt be much else in terms of a personality difference.

They think there 300lbs though, and same sex "strange dog" agression seems to be common in un"fixed" chis. chis are very pack orientated, as said, prefering their own over other breeds. they will accept other dogs into their pack but in my house youll see 3 chis curled up together and the cocker kind of off to the side... the ONLY dog agression ive ever seen from my dogs has been when my male was not neutered and he met another unnutered male who began trying to dominate him, neopolian complex kicks in and dodger nips 240lb mastif on nose, mastif is confused and walks away, dodger wins.
they dont realize their size and most will put a much bigger dog right in their place (sometimes with no so good results)

all in all they need plenty of playtime, they can get enough "excersize" by running yound the house, but playtime in the garden or interactive games keeps them metnailly stimulated. and they need an owner who can be sensitive yet still maintain an upper hand on this very inteligent breed.

oh and one more thing, mine are hunters...BUG hunters, they will chase off any butterfly and grasshopper they can find, dont be suprised to see your chi eating a spider or cricket its caught, kinda gross yes, but theres some stipulation fennec fox is in their very ancitent backlines, which would make alot of sence seeing the 2 different animals at play.

they make wonderfull companions.

[Cassiepeia]

Jesse was a bug hunter too. He loved to hunt down and eat the creepy crawlies and he loved licking up ants. He would stand over a line of ants and just lick them all up until there were none left. LOL

Chi's LOVE exercise so hiking is great for them, Jesse use to love going for very long walks..old age has got him now though so he can't do as much. But he still tries. LOL They're tough boogers.

I totally agree that they're one people dogs (with some exceptions) my boy much prefers my father. He adores him and considers my father his prime worshiper (remember, he rules the world ). But he's satisfied with me when my dad doesn't want to be his slave or isn't around. LOL

Cass.

[mrose_s]

a friend of mine has a couple of chi mixes. so cute.

thier names are venus and cici
but i call them peanut dog and rhino. their gorgeous though. peanut dog is a bit overweight, old with eyes too big. but she is just such a sweet little girl. i love visiting her.

i would definetly rescue a chi or 2 one day. or three or four. lol they are cute. but i dont know a lot about hem either

[FoxyWench]

oh yeah...
forgot to mention

chihuahuas are like pringles, once you got one...youll want more...

my father didnt like the idea of chihuahuas, when i got vixie, after meeting her he loved her and let me get a second...after being dead set against it he now has one of his own lol the packs up to 3

[PWCorgi]

Thanks again everybody, and thanks a ton for answering all my questions Foxy

A few more questions, if you don't mind answering them

Do a lot of breeders title in dog sports (agility, flyball, etc.)? I have seen a few MACH Chi's, but do a lot of breeders participate in events other than confirmation?

Do a lot of breeders require a fenced yard like larger breeds?

Are Chi's generally good with small animal pets (rodents, birds, etc.) or do they have a higher prey drive?

How drivey are Chihuahuas?

Thanks again