The Chihuahua is a spunky toy breed of dog with a huge personality. This tiny lap dog is an extremely loyal companion. They make excellent watch dogs with a tendency to be a little yappy at times. Choosing a Chihuahua for your family should take careful consideration as they may not be the right companion for everyone.
With the recent Chihuahua movies, exemplifying the cute antics of the adorable breed of dog, the population of adopted Chihuahuas exploded. The problem is that many families realized there is a lot more to this little dog that did not fulfill all their needs and expectations. Suddenly the shelters were full of unwanted tiny dogs, which is very sad.
Since these dogs make great companions, I got my first Chihuahua when I got my first apartment. I had not a stitch of furniture but needed a companion to fill my loneliness. She eventually had babies, five of them. I kept one of them, the girl, and then I had two Chihuahuas. After I got married and had children, the family unit changed. I had to make a difficult decision to find a home for my girls and was lucky to find someone who took them both and treated them like queens, literally. We adopted a wonderful larger family-sized dog with all the qualities necessary for a family of small children. However, my passion for the Chihuahua has never left and when my youngest child was old enough to know the responsibilities of treating a small dog carefully, I adopted another Chihuahua . . . and the rest, as they say, is history. The children are all raised and on their own but I am now the proud owner of three babies, two girls and a boy. We would have more Chihuahuas if we could . . . but they aren’t for everyone.
The Chihuahua, as tiny as it is, thinks of itself as a powerful Great Dane. They will stand up to any other dog, despite its’ size. On the other hand, they may appear to be afraid of its’ own shadow. Their personalities vary a great deal. One thing is for sure . . . they love their pet parents greatly and are very protective.
Most often the Chihuahua is said to be a one person dog which is not always true. Ours are attached to both of us equally. Much of how they behave depends upon a combination of their genetic upbringing and how you raise, train, socialize and pamper them. One thing is true . . . the Chihuahua is not the best dog to have around small children. They may have bold personalities but in reality they can also be very fragile and easily get hurt. Children also have a tendency to pull on ears and tails which is unfavorable to this little guy who may nip or bite.
Any aggressive antics of the Chihuahua are highly due to their fears. The reasons they may bark excessively in a courageous manner is their way of being brave (remember, they think they stand ten feet tall). There are pros and cons to having this little breed of dog. The first pro, of course, is their companionship. They just love to snuggle and sit in your lap . . . all day long. My two girls are like that although my little boy thinks he is part retriever and wants to play fetch every waking moment.
The tiny Chihuahua loves to be carried, comes in various sizes and colors and even has long and short-haired varieties. They love warmth and will find the smallest spot of sunlight in the home to lie in. When not in the sun, they will be snuggling under some covers somewhere. They can be very fun and entertaining to watch and do some of the cutest things. As stated, the Chihuahua makes an excellent watch dog. They will alert you of strangers’ way before the door bell rings. They do not require a lot of exercise and make great pets for small spaces, are best with older children and adults and live a long time.
The disadvantages of owning a Chihuahua may be that they are a little harder but not impossible to housebreak, they are a frail breed of dog to have around small children, they have barking issues, they do shed, and there are potential health issues.
In my own opinion, the advantages of having a Chihuahua far outweigh the disadvantages. I agree that the Chihuahua is not best with small children. If children come to our home, including my grandchildren, they may play with the dogs on their level on the floor but no child is allowed to pick them up. Since these dogs are small and ours can be squirmy, I fear they may be dropped.
Keeping up with required veterinary visits, tests, dental care, vaccinations and other health preventative measures, your Chihuahua can live a long, happy and very healthy life. They are a joy to have around . . . most of the time . . . so enjoy them, love them, train them and share the quality time together that you all deserve.
