Many of us think of Chihuahuas as small dogs with big dog attitudes. They definitely have a pinch of feistiness. But there is much more to a cute Chihuahua than meets the eye.
Their big personality has a lot more to offer than some other dog breeds.
Our Temperament & Personality guide is here to give you an overview of what this dog breed will bring to your life if you decide to own one of these small native dogs that hail from the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Here are the main traits of a Chihuahua’s personality according to the American Kennel Club; if you got your dog from a reputable Chihuahua breeder:
Coming from Central and South America, these tiny dog breed carries some of the Latin fire in them, and therefore these small dogs show quite a bit of confidence, which some people might confuse as being feisty.
Chihuahuas are incredibly affectionate towards their owners and will be loyal to a fault. This can sometimes make them a bit wary of strangers as they do not like to share the attention of their favourite person with anyone.
The best way to describe the Chihuahua’s temper is quirky. They truly have fascinating personalities, which are very entertaining to watch.
Bring a new dog into your home is always a big step. You want to know that the new addition to your family is going to add to and improve your family dynamic, not throw a spanner in the works. That’s why asking the right questions is essential. Let’s take a look at how Chihuahuas engage with your family and other animals.
Yes, if they grow up together or are introduced at an early age, Chihuahuas will live happily with other dogs. Just make sure that your other dog does not have a high prey drive and might see the Chihuahua as potential game to hunt.
Yes, again, if introduced at an early age, your Chihuahua will be able to live with any animal. You should just make sure that your other pets also see your Chihuahua as a family member and not as some potential prey.
If you socialise your Chihuahua correctly, it will become a wonderful friend for your young children.
However, children younger than primary school age should always only have supervised contact with any kind of dog, as they can display erratic behaviour that might disturb, hurt, confuse or scare your dog and can cause harmful situations for both sides.
If your dog comes from a reputable breeder, it is very unlikely to have behavioural issues.
However, Chihuahuas are prone to bark excessively. On top of that, these little dogs can suffer from anxiety which can make them very wary of strangers and sometimes aggressive towards anyone but their owners.
Being a toy breed, most behavioural problems stem from how their owners train or treat them throughout their lifetime. Many Chihuahuas get carried around daily and are used as a substitute for a teddy bear or a little child, which can give them some serious personality disorders and make them completely dependent on their owners.
After the destructive puppy stage, where your Chihuahua is likely to try and chew almost anything that comes in its way, your adult Chihuahua can definitely be left alone for short periods of time.
Like many small breeds, these dogs are very prone to separation anxiety; therefore, it is not recommended to leave them alone for long time periods.
Chihuahuas are some of the more noisy dogs out there and tend to suffer from small dog syndrome, where excessive barking is a way of asserting dominance over a situation.
They might also start barking because of anxiety, which they tend to suffer from as well due to their size.
If you have socialised your Chihuahua puppy from an early age and have exposed it to sufficient obedience training, this behaviour will be very likely to control, though.
Chihuahuas enjoy walks and have just as much enthusiasm to play fetch and other games as any other dog breed, but they do not require excessive amounts of exercise or thrive particularly well in dog sports, if this is what you are wondering.
The Chihuahua personality is definitely a unique one that will surprise most and make it a beloved pet in every home if you have exposed it to specific Chihuahua training from a young age.
Even tiny dogs require regular positive reinforcement to develop desired behaviours, and this is specifically true for this little South American dog.
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