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Mythbusters, Dog Addition: Chi WOW WOWs!
Every time I read the image below, it makes me cackle out loud! It’s not a secret that chihuahuas have earned a reputation as aggressive little buggers, even though I meet many exceptions to the rule. In fact, I live with WildeBean, who I think is a chihuahua mix (she’s pictured in the pink sweater below), and I adopted her specifically because of her sweet personality. She defies the stereotype for sure!
Years ago, I had a red miniature pinscher named Hahnia, and most people assumed she was a chihuahua. Back in the day, the commercial saying, “Yo quiero Taco Bell,” was very popular and people would call that out to Hahnia whenever we were out in public. If I happened to be holding her in my arms, people were also super-respectful about asking if it was okay to pet her because they were wary about possible aggression. Though Hahnia was not aggressive, she was indifferent to strangers – unless they had treats – so we both appreciated the fact that people were courteous about asking before touching.
What have your experiences been with the mighty little chihuahua?
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25 Replies
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Lol, I love this, too. And I love chihuahuas! Years ago, when I worked for a house call vet, we had a little chihuahua patient who was the coolest, chillest dog on the planet. He was all white except he had thick black “eyebrows.” He looked like a little gentleman and he behaved that way, too!
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The eyebrows sound divine!!
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Many years ago I was attending Clicker Expo and another participant was walking along with the most sociable Chihuahua I had ever met. Blew the stereotype away for sure!
I think a lot of Chis end up getting a bad rep because people don’t give them what they need. In many cases that can start as lil wee pups… are they carried everywhere? Do they get to develop confidence and resilience? Are their lives enriched as dogs? Are their stress/anxiety signals overlooked? Are they pushed past thresholds because they are tiny and their bites don’t kill?
The trainer with the Chi I met at Clicker Expo was on a mission to have her dog be a dog, to experience life in such a way that his needs were met and his boundaries weren’t breached. And he was lovely.
Sample of one, but worth consideration.
All that said… the breed was created to be a one person dog, alarming and defending the lap they were on… so territoriality and a lack of overt sociability is ancestral. It’s an important consideration too.
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lol! My Chihuahua was very angry and feisty! ????
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Oh you had a Chihuahua? Can you tell us more about them? What caused the aggression or “anger” as you put it? Was there any time they were sweet?
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Very very good to know!!!! Thanks for the insight!
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Great thread, @virginiad . I’ve met both the stereotypical chihuahua and the friendly/indifferent kind.
I have not really enjoyed a bond with one of these little dogs. I was a substitute walker for another walker, and the dog was easy to walk and let me get harness on, etc, but once we got back to the house, he could have cared less about me.
A friend had a chihuahua mix who was 17 pounds! His name was Spike. Lol. Again, mainly indifferent to guests at her parties.
I always respect the little ones, for most have big personalities. They often times don’t know they are as little as they are. ☺️
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I think I’d be devastated by the indifference!
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Great topic! I have never had issues with any breed of dog … until Gigi…
Gigi was a *6 week* old chihuahua mix that a former co-worker of mine impulsively “ended up with”. Gigi was brought to my office the day after my co-worker “adopted” her and was so playful and happy. My co-worker soon realized that she was in no position to adopt another dog, no matter how small she was.
The person who originally adopted Gigi said she’d take her back, and after one night, changed her mind again. Gigi was back in my office the next day. I told my co-worker that I had the perfect home in mind for her and that this back and forth was doing no good for Gigi. I knew that at 6 weeks old she still should have been with her littermates and mom.
Gigi met her new mom the next day and has been happy as can be with her. She has stayed at my house for days since she was adopted 3 years ago; she gets along great with my 3 aussies, loves my husband, my step-daughter and step-son. But, if I go near her, she makes it clear that she wants nothing to do with me. Unless I have food…. She will warm her way up to me for food, and that’s it! She has bit me multiple times when I’ve tried to pet her, or if I accidentally invaded her space while I was sleeping (yup, she has to sleep in my bed right next to my husband).
I believe Gigi has associated me with taking her from her littermates since I’m the one thing that she still sees from the very impressionable age of 6 weeks.
I wouldn’t blame her aggression on the breed, though.
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Oh @Halberry124 , my heart breaks that Gigi never warmed up to you, especially since you were integral to her scoring a beautiful life.
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After sharing this post I actually found a video from 2 months after she was adopted where she didn’t dislike me so much…
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@Halberry124 Gigi is adorable! I love how, in this video, you give her breaks and a little distance to see if she wants to re-engage. Well done! I could see target training being really good for her – both a hand target and a platform. Since she “pancakes” she would be difficult to pick up. Having her able to get up on a platform as a precursor to being picked up could help a lot with her anxiety. Virginia posted another method awhile back which is also worthy of a look for a dog like this. https://mycatchcampus.com/forums/discussion/teaching-a-dog-to-cooperate-about-being-picked-up/
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I can certainly try that. I will have to do this at her house since she’s on edge at mine.
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Let us know how that works, @Halberry124 – better yet, video please! ????
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OMD, @Halberry124 , my heart just melted into a puddle of goo!!! ????
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Oh Gigi! The scamp! I would be crushed…it’s so interesting about that possible association. Talk about 1-time learning!
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@Halberry124 AWWWWWE! Gigi…I’m glad you got some sugar from the little cutie! Thanks for sharing. ????
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I had a Chi when I was a teen, also in the age of Yo quiero taco bell, lol. He was not a big barker, and I think a lot of it has to do with training. Having been around a lot more dogs as an adult, I can see how a pet is treated, or not, just by how they act. If they are spoiled and never given structure, they are generally little monsters, (any dog, not just Chi’s) where as if they are trained and given structure, they act like good canine citizens. Sounds like a lot of kids I know. One of my favorite sayings, is “the only breed I see, is DOG.” Dogs act as they are taught, breed is not the determining factor of behavior, even though it plays a roll in some.
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Those are some wise words, @Cami !
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Thanks for the reminder.
I have to admit, I’m cautious when petting small dogs I don’t know.
Years ago, I rescued a 5yo, 12 pound minpin/terrier? who had “small dog” issues. He was the sweetest guy, but needed to let people and dogs know they shouldn’t mess with him. I didn’t have much experience and we never worked through his “fear-aggression”. I wonder if I could do more for him now?? When I get these types of inquiries, I refer to a behavior specialist, or offer help only with management.
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I think your caution is a smart thing, @Cyn . We should all be both cautious and respectful of a dog’s wish to interact, no matter the size. It continues to alarm me how many pet parents are wholly unaware of what their dog is ‘saying’ (in terms of body language). A growl or snap, of course, is super-obvious but there are so many subtle signs we can learn to see to help us adjust our behavior with a dog in the moment. Once people learn to read those subtle signals, they feel so empowered and are better able to understand their dog’s needs or boundaries.
It’s smart, too, that you determine what types of cases you can realistically assist with. Treating fear aggression can be complicated. If you want to dip in to that topic more, there numerous book resources. I wonder if you have someone more experienced in your area that you refer to who would permit you to shadow him/her when seeing a referred client…? That would be a great way to learn. Or, perhaps there’s a trainer who works at a shelter that you could volunteer with and learn from…?
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@Cyn I agree with @virginiad . I think you’re right to use caution with small dogs. I always mention the need to go slowly when I meet a small dog, especially if they have “small dog issues”. As the former owner of a 13” Beagle (major Napoleon complex, female) she was indeed the sweetest thing when she got to know people. I remember once having to hug a repairman for my dishwasher (OMD, I can’t believe I did that, pre-trainer! ????) so she would let him do his job. Then she loved him so much she kept bringing him squeaky toys. She HATED when someone advanced at her and put their hand out to sniff them. Fear the Beagle Bugle sound!!! Often, I wondered if the poor person wet themselves. She never bit anyone and was the sweetest with my babies when they were born, bringing them her chew bones and such. Yuck.
The worst thing we can do is not respect that very big dog in a tiny body. And small dog teeth hurt just as badly as big dog teeth!
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I love the Chi-Chis ❤️ Every one I have worked with has been such a big personality. Here are my two shelter girls who I had the pleasure of working with ???? I LOVED working with these girls! So much fun! Happy ending, they found their forever home ????
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OMD, they are beyond cute!! ????
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