Is a Chihuahua Right for You?

It is important to understand the behavior and temperament of the Chihuahua dog.  If you are thinking about getting a Chihuahua, you will want to make sure that having this toy dog breed is a good fit for you and your family. You will want to be sure that owning a Chihuahua will be what you imagine it to be.

If you already have a Chihuahua and you find that their behavior seems a bit out of control or you wonder if it is normal, you will want to find out if you have a training issue or other.  If you are bringing a Chihuahua home, you will want to know what to expect as far as behavior how this dog will interact with you.  This is especially important if you have children.

Chihuahua Behavior

Each Chihuahua is different because each has his or her own particular personality and way of perceiving the world.  You must keep in mind that the Chihuahua is the smallest breed dog in the entire world!   One element that sets the Chihuahua aside from some other types of dogs is that a Chihuahua does not choose just one human to think of as his "main owner".  This dog easily attaches to many people.  Therefore if you have family members in the home, you Chihuahua dog will become very attached to all of them.  If your Chihuahua shows aggression toward other dogs, training can help resolve this.

Although a Chihuahua is a very small dog,1 to 6 pounds generally, you won't be able to convince him!   The Chihuahua has the canine instinct to protect and guard its owners.   Even if your Chihuahua is a quiet dog, do expect its behavior to turn up a notch if a stranger comes to the door.  A Chihuahua will bark as if he is powerful watch dog,  if he senses a stranger or feels there may be potential danger to its owner.  This dog shows no fear toward anything if he is in "protection mode".  The final analysis: the behavior of a Chihuahua shows 100% loyalty to its owner and the entire family.

A Chihuahua will generally adapt quite well to just about any situation.  The type of environment or home that is perfect for a Chihuahua is which ever home its owner is in.  This dog will be happy as a clam in a sprawling farmhouse and just as content in a small apartment.  However, a Chihuahua must be an inside dog. And the Chihuahua should never be over-powered.  He is so small that he will get scared if strongly intimidated.  Some Chihuahuas have to take quite a while to get over an incident if they were hurt or scared by severe yelling.  The home should be a peaceful one, where everyone is aware there is such a small animal walking around and he will be happy.

Going for walks and playing around outside in the sun will always be fun for him, but he must never be considered an outside dog!  A Chihuahua  will not last very long if he is tied up in the cold weather or  put into a pen that is in the hot sun.  Any owner of a Chihuahua must be 100% willing and able to keep this dog living in the house as part of the family.

Extreme Aggression

Although rare, some Chihuahuas will show extreme aggression, such as biting human family members. This is not acceptable behavior and can put small child at great risk.    In these cases,  it is vitally important to implement strict training.  Read more about Extreme Chihuahua Aggression.

More Tips for Helping a Chihuahua Behave

There is a bit of a stereotype against Chihuahuas in the fact that some people believe that small breed toy dogs are "snappy" and bark a lot.  This is not true.  The behavior of a Chihuahua can be extremely calm and friendly; it depends on the dog and what type of training you give to him. A Chihuahua will not bark incessantly or nip at everyone unless there is a problem, such as the dog feeling threatened, being bothered while trying to eat his meal, etc.  If you find that your dog is behaving badly when the house is peaceful and quiet, it is time to learn about training and what you can do to help your Chihuahua learn how to behave.

To keep the behavior of a Chihuahua calm a person should be sure that the dog does not feel in danger.  Being so small, no one should ever throw him around in play, there are much better ways to have fun with him.  No one should ever tower above him and yell; this is not the correct training method and will cause adverse behavior in a Chihuahua . 

Just like any other canine, he should be left alone when eating.  All dogs, no matter which breed, are descendants of wild dogs.  They have a natural, build in instinct to feel as if they need to protect their food. as if someone is going to come and steal it!  Their food should be placed in a quiet spot, in a quiet room.  Once this dog is done with its dog food, the behavior of a Chihuahua will go right back to its normal, friendly self. 

Overall behavior analysis:  A Chihuahua will be your best friend, loyal companion and love everyone in the family.  Barking issues will only get out of control if not trained properly.  The Chihuahua will be active to play and go with you on walks and he will be just as happy relaxing with you while you watch TV.