Behavior and Temperament of Chihuahuas

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 problem. 

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.

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. Despite this, there are some that work as service dogs.

Some Chi are fiercely loyal to one certain human. This trait can work well in one-person households or when a family has many members but only one who will have time (and energy) to take care of the dog.  With this said, there are some Chihuahua dogs that do not choose just one human to think of as his "main owner". 

Toy dogs are called lap dogs for a reason. Many thrive on human companionship and love to remain close. Some take this a bit too far and will become very clingy. There are way to help a clingy Chihuahua that will benefit both dog and owner.

Many owners wonder if this dog behavior is normal, and it is usually a big yes ! With many Chi, warm rays of sunlight and grass are their two favorite things.

If your Chihuahua does this quite often, you should first examine your Chihuahua for any signs of health issues that would be causing your dog to feel very itchy and have an overwhelming need to scratch himself. Everything from food allergies to carpet cleaning solution allergies to fleas to skin infections can cause excess itching.

    * Redness

    * Swelling

    * Sores

    * Bumps

If you do spot any signs, you will then want your dog's veterinarian to perform tests to help find the culprit. If you see signs, you may also wish to read our Allergies section. If all is well and your dog does not have any skin conditions, you can rest assured that rolling around on the grass, rubbing against grass and other behavior such as this is perfectly normal for a dog.

If you find that this behavior is getting your Chihuahua too dirty and you wish for your dog to curb their love of the grass...you can try brushing your dog several times each day...this will feel as good to him as the grass does, his "back will be scratched" and it may limit this sort of outside behavior.

It is normal for a dog to sleep a lot. How much does a Chihuahua sleep? On average, 12 to 14 hours per day. However even 18 hours is not considered abnormal for a Chihuahua. This includes naps.There are 2 types of sleeping. One is a lighter sleep (called slow wave ) and the other is the deeper sleep (known as REM - Rapid Eye Movement).

Dogs, just like humans do have these 2 different types of sleep. It is the REM deep sleep that really allows a person or dog to rest the body and begin fresh once again! The difference with dogs, including the Chihuahua, is that they wake much more often than we do. You may not notice, however dogs wake very often (even if it is just for a minute) and then go back to sleep. Because of this, a dog must sleep for many more hours than we do, to receive all the deep sleep that is needed. It is expected for older, senior Chihuahua dogs to take more frequent naps.

This breed can tend to become exited rather fast and can also be sensitive to changes in the home environment that can affect his moods.  If your Chihuahua appears to have drastic mood swings or is acting out of character, this may point to a health issue or environmental factor in the household that must be addressed. Learn more about when a Chihuahua is acting moody. 

We have had many inquires regarding a Chihuahua hyperventilating. This can be a medical issue or a behavioral issue.

If your Chihuahua hyperventilates, please be sure to first have your dog given a full medical checkup. Kennel Cough and other respiratory health conditions can mimic hyperventilation. In some instances, it can be a sign of an allergic reaction. 

In the case of an allergic reaction, a dog may lick or eat something and then very quickly will begin to hyperventilate. In severe cases, the dog must then have a shot of adrenaline, given by the veterinarian or animal hospital, to help slow down the dog's heart rate. It is important to first rule out any of these causes.

If all is ruled out and your Chi is 100% healthy, you can then begin to address this as a behavioral issue.

When a person is hyperventilating, they breathe into a paper bag. You can help your Chihuahua by slightly covering his mouth, so that he breathes back in a bit of carbon dioxide to slow down or stop this.

You can also try to establish what is happening at the time when your Chi begins to do this. Does it happen when you come home and greet him? Does it happen when you are going to take him for a walk?

If you can pinpoint the situations that are causing your Chihuahua to become overexcited, you can then begin to train your Chihuahua to become used to those situations, at a slow and steady pace, so that he is better able to handle them.

For example, if your dog gets very excited when you enter the home, you will want to show your Chi that while this is a good thing, it is not a reason to lose control.

Train him by entering and exiting the home. Each time you enter, do not greet your dog (yes, it is tempting, but do not do it). Just read the mail for a minute, get a drink or do some activity that is quiet and takes a minute or so. Then, kneel down to your Chihuahua and in a very calm and matter-of-fact voice, greet him. Do not shower him with hugs and kisses. Just gently pat him and say hello. Once he is used to your presence, you can then begin to play with him.

You can use this type of training for just about any situation that is causing his excitement and hyperventilating. Always look at the situation, break it into smaller pieces and give your dog once piece at a time. Within a few weeks, your dog will learn that there is reason to be happy, but will be able to control himself and should no longer be overexcited.

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 particular dog and what type of training you give to him. A huge deciding factor in the personality of a Chihuahua is how the puppy is raised. 

The home environment that you offer, the way in which all family members interact with the Chi, how negative behaviors are handled, how much positive reinforcement is given and successful socialization all come into play.