First of all, I want to thank the members of our Facebook group for contributing to this article by answering the question “What things have people said about Chihuahuas that really irritated you?”
Here are the top things said to Chihuahua pet parents that irritate them. See how many things you can relate to.
1-“Ankle Biter”
This was the number one thing heard by Chi owners. One lady replied, “They actually go for the crotch first”. LOL
2-“That’s not a dog, it’s a rat”
This is the second most common comment heard. Not a nice thing to say, is it?
3. “That’s not a real dog”
Really? Well, mine sure is a real dog.
4. “What IS that? Don’t you step on it?”
No, Chihuahuas are usually pretty good at getting out of the way, but you do need to be careful.
5-“That’s a teacup, isn’t it?”
This is something even Chi owners say. Officially, according to the National Chihuahua Club of America, there is no such thing as a teacup Chihuahua. It’s just a marketing term breeders use to sell puppies. Personally, I do believe they need to change that since there are some Chihuahuas that are especially tiny.
6-“Why would you have a dog that can’t protect you?”
Frankly, most of us get dogs for companionship, not protection. But if someone broke into my house, my 80-pound Bulldog-German Shepherd mix would go hide under the bed. My Chihuahua would attack the intruder.
7-“I hate little dogs”
How rude of someone to say that! One person had a good comeback. She says, “Yeah, I know how you feel. I can’t stand people who hate little dogs.”
8-“You know he’s not an ACTUAL child, right?”
Well, duh! But they are our fur kids.
9-“Old people raise Chihuahuas”
You better not tell Paris Hilton, Reese Witherspoon, Alyssa Milano, Hillary Duff, Christina Rici, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kimberly Stewart, and many other youngish stars that they are old for raising Chihuahuas.
10-“Chihuahuas are mean, aggressive, snappy, and bark too much.”
I have to admit, sometimes this is true. But don’t assume all Chis are this way. Mine isn’t, and I know many others that are total sweeties.
11-“Why do you spend money on her? She’s just a dog”
I have heard this one myself from family members when I was trying to save Kilo. The 4 dogs I have now are what I spend most of my money on, and I don’t regret it one bit. They enrich my life and are worth every penny I spend on them.
12-“Gator bait”
A variation of this one is “fish bait”. Such a mean thing to say.
13 -Parents that tell their children to “go pet the Taco Bell dog”
The Taco Bell dog thing doesn’t bother me (we don’t hear that much anymore anyway), but having parents assume it’s okay for their children to pet a dog they don’t know is a disaster waiting to happen. Always ask the pet parent first if it’s okay to pet their dog, no matter what the breed is.
14-“Chihuahuas can’t be service dogs”
Why can’t they? Chihuahuas are extremely devoted and smart. They make excellent service dogs. I know of Chihuahuas that are Diabetic Alert Service Dogs, Medical Alert/Psychiatric Service Dogs, and more.
15-“Where’s the other half of your dog?”
I guess this is supposed to be humorous because Chis are small.
16-“He’s got big buggy Marty Feldman eyes!”
I love the big, beautiful, expressive eyes on a Chihuahua, don’t you?
17-“Chihuahuas are ugly”
I can’t believe the gall of someone who would say that to any pet parent. I haven’t yet seen a Chihuahua that I thought was ugly. They are gorgeous little dogs!
18-“Look at those ears, I bet we can get the NFL channel.”
This one doesn’t bother me too much, as I LOVE big ears on a Chi. I think they are adorable!
19-“Chihuahuas are girly pets”
Oh yeah? Better not tell Mickey Rourke, Brian Littrell, The Rock, Noah Wyle, or George Lopez that. They have all owned Chihuahuas. There’s nothing sexier than a man holding a sweet little Chihuahua (in my opinion).
20-“Chihuahuas are accessory dogs”
This has been perpetuated by movies like Legally Blonde, and stars like Paris Hilton who walk around with a Chi in their arms when seen in public. There are plenty of people (like me, and I bet you too) who just love the breed.
21-“My cat is bigger than that Chihuahua”
And your point is? So what? It’s not a contest of who’s the biggest.
So have you heard any of these things said about your Chihuahua? Leave a comment and let us know what it was or even if it’s something not on the list, let us know. And be sure to read the comments to see what other people said.
ALSO READ:
Best and worst Chihuahua traits
Cathy Bendzunas
Pet Blogger
My house is protected by two Chihuahuas and they are protected by Smith & Wesson.
LOL. Good protection there Bill.
They are the best protection, no one will enter my home unless I let them in, and has fended off a few aggressive large dogs with their tail between their legs. If his brother my Weiner dog yelps he is right in front of him.
They are mighty little protectors Sean. Well at least most of them are. I think my Lucas would run off and hide. But at least he would bark his head off and let me know something was wrong.
I have 10 they let me someone is my yard I wouldn’t take any thing for them
I bet they do let you know!
Barking Rat
My ex would call mine barking rats.
Chihuahuas are so cute
yes they are!
They definitely are
haha no!! even the photos above make them look like ugly
never met a nice one and have never seen a cute one! look like frogs – bulging disgusting eyes, tiny little squashed gross faces – also they yap allll daaayyyy
Wow Rude much there Gertrude? It’s okay tho, little dogs probably don’t like you much either!
haha would love to see the real you “gertrude” with that name I bet your a prize yourself
Hey Gertrude, your name suits you well, —-rude. You show signs of having fed your basic ignorance. GET A GRIP, trude! What planet are you from?
Awesome love them good work
My chihuahuas are nice as can be and very loveable
That’s great!
They are just about the most intelligent of all breeds of dog, practically clairvoyant, and i’ve kept a number of different breeds both large and small.
They do seem to be able to read our minds sometimes.
Wow! I have 7 Chis, short hair to long hair. Everyone will greet you with love and kisses. All in how they are raised. Raise a hand to me, then they become aggressive.
what a douchebag
2 chis here and only yap if someone is here. Love to play and love to cuddle. Depends on how you raise them and socialize them as the case with any other dog breed. After meeting my dogs I’ve gotten 2 of my friends and my husband converted to little dog lovers
Yay! It’s always good to have more converts to little dogs.
@Dawn Peterson, I agree with you, Dawn!!!!
Yep I have one of each. 🙂
I had a lady say to me? ” get that out of a rat trap?” She made me so angry I asked her if her husband got her out of a penny machine. And she had the nerve to call me rude!
Good comeback Lynda. I think I have heard more “is that a rat?” comments than anything else. Very annoying.
My son’s teacher called our chi a “chew toy”
Oh wow, that’s a new one, and not a very nice one either.
I had pugs for years before I got a chi, and they taught me a lot. Things like if someone says something mean, they can often be made to shut up and go away if you just stand quietly, tilt your head to the side, make eye contact and stare at them silently. Sometimes they even squirm before they go. That’s always fun.
That’s priceless Kyla! I’d love to see that in person.
Lol lol I loved ur comeback, people need to remember what our parents taught us if u don’t have anything nice to say dont say anything at all! !!ur comment back was justified since u were just protecting ur “baby”and yes I said it they r perpetual babies that want and need our love ,and I love that about my little peanut!!! 😉
that’s what you call a nice clap back.
I bet nothing can out run those !! I just got a Jack chi not for protection but for affection and companionship I also have a security system from the companies of Cobra and Remington and I know for a fact being a long range big game hunter no one can out run the Remington.
LOL James
Mine too but a glock not a smith and Wesson!
LOL!
I’ve heard them all as my own son is not a fan of small dogs! He thinks if it’s not a Pit Bull it’s not a dog!
Too funny Cathy
I’m and been looking for chuhua , because mine died and other one please let me know where I can get one, here is my e- mail and telephone number 979)(985-0009
I’m so sorry your dog died Guadalupe. I don’t know of any available chis. Have you looked on petfinder.com
My little 4 pound girl rules my 50 pound pit. Runs the big dog off the bed and always tells on the pit when she charges the bathroom door at the cat. My Penny knows immediately when I’ve had a hard day and isn’t satisfied until I’ve held her, with her head on my chest, for at least 10 minutes. My chi’s are awesome little girls. Penelope Feathers is the tan; Pollyanna Nibbles is the black.
They are simply adorable Jenny!
@Bill Fox,
Ya. Mine too.
@Bill Fox, Sounds like my house except they are protected by a Glock.
@Bill Fox, I love it!!!
Yasss!!
I love this! I have an 8 year old Chihuahua mix named Marbles. I rescued her from a shelter. She’s the smartest dog I’ve ever had. She’s also a trained Medical Alert/Psychiatric Service Dog and she does sever tasks to help mitigate my disabilities.
I would like to point out that there is no such thing as “Emotional Support Service Dogs,” per the American’s With Disabilities Act, Emotional Support does not count as a service dog. Psychiatric Service Dogs are different in that they are specially trained to perform tasks to mitigate a disability. If anyone would like more info on service dogs, please check out http://www.ADA.gov
Any websites that offer to register or certify your dog are scams. Per federal law, there are no registries or certification required or recognized by the government. 🙂
Marbles is a cutie Brandi! I changed the article to take out the emotional support service dog thing and added psychiatric/medical service dog.
Thanks! 🙂 There’s a lot of confusion regarding service dogs out there.
You’re welcome 🙂
My Chihuahua is a service dog for me too. I have PTSD and physical handicaps which make his small size perfect for me. Service dog owners must educate themselves about the law because so many people do not know the law and will try to discriminate against you, Particularly if your disability can not be seen.
Your chi is a cutie Tracy.
Chi’s and other small breed dogs,are excellent at helping those with PTSD
I agree Dave.
I love what you have to say about the service dogs and even more about the “invisible” physical challenges (and I have something to say about that too).
1. I like the use of the words “physical challenges” to apply to ALL disabilities, including developmental and emotional. Why? I remember when I ran a small but very active nonprofit for physically challenged artists. Now we were having an exhibit to honor them for doing their art so wonderfully and magically despite some pretty huge challenges. So all of a sudden I started getting all these calls from ladies wanting to know if the “invisible” challenges like fibromyalgia, cancer (and yes, I have had it too), PTSD (me too) and chronic depression could be considered physical challenges (they wanted to enter too). My response was always the same, “Well, honey, it sure isn’t an out-of-body experience, is it?” So whether it is physical, developmental, or emotional, it is all a physical challenge. We do not have a mind-body dichotomy.
2. I have had animals (and still do) with physical challenges. I don’t care. I would not throw away any human being, and an animal is no different. They are all worthy of our love and attention. Sure, they have accidents at times, and they throw up and have all sorts of things go wrong. But we wouldn’t throw away a human being for that, and neither should we ever throw away a pet that has issues either.
By the way, the reason I like physical challenge and not disability is that just because we have challenges doesn’t mean we are not capable of anything. We still have our minds and our hearts too, and I think for a lot of us, our hearts are bigger than a lot of folks who never had anything go wrong with their bodies, etc. Even those of us with PTSD can still think and we are capable of love, and of caring for others, no matter how bad the PTSD is.
Good points Anne.
Sorry but I beg to differ. My 3 year old Chi “Beanie” has been my physiatric/ESA for 2 years. She is recognized by ALL my doctors and not just the doctor who prescribed her for me. She legally goes with me everywhere. Every store you can think of. Every hospital test I’ve had including X-rays while she hid on my chest under a led blanket. She has also been to a wedding with me and a funeral. And when she saved my life last year from deadly blood clots, she was able to be in the hospital with me every day. If I were to choose to fly, she would fly free and on my lap. No ESA? I believe Beanie would also beg to differ. I also have a close friend who has an ESA and fair housing made SURE she was able to have him with her in low income housing where she currently lives because that is what the LAW dictates for service animals. I had to put this here because saying they do not exist is giving out bad information.
Do you ever get any flack when you take her in to places Kelly?
My chi is a PTSD service dog. We have both been physically attacked at one store when I took her in. The crazy woman said she was going to kill my “fake service dog” to prove she was right. She said if the dog tried to resist her it would prove she was fake. Ummm what?!?! She left before the cops showed up.
Oh wow! That’s totally crazy Norine!
I dont know from official. When I was physically ill and didn’t know it, it made me very suicidal. My chi literally stopped my by constantly putting his head between me and the blade till I put it away. I got better and thanks to him I’m still here. If that’s not a service, I dont know what is.
Wow Cyndi! That’s amazing! Your little chi is a hero!
@Brandi White,
You are very right. However many States have and are making what they call Fake Service Dog Laws. These efforts are often the lobbying efforts of Service Dog Training Organizations. We must stop all these LAWS!!! The Beauty of ADA is the fact that they did not try to define and restrict the uses of a dog. I consider myself a very good trainer. But I would be the last one to determine if someone else’s Service Dog is Fake or Not!
@Kelly,
Your right, and wrong. ESA are not considered Service Dogs. However if the dog provides you a service, just change the title to a recognized Service Dog Disability. Mine are Hearing/Alert and PTSD Service Dogs. That can be as simple as barking to Alert you to someone at the door.
I love my litle chihuahua girl! Someone asked me if i have washed my rottweiler at 90 degrees! That was not nice to say to my litle girl!
You are right, that wasn’t nice to say. I guess they thought they were being funny.
I get real defensive of my Chis. I would have replied with, ” It’s a good thing you have teeth, cause then people would know which end is up!” Sorry, love my Chis.
That comeback just gave me a laugh Lynda. Where are you when I need you? I can never think of anything to say.
Hi this is my Chihuahua Kozmo or Kozzy for short. We live in Dunedin, New Zealand. Kozmo is very loyal to myself and. Y two children who are 9 and 11. Kozmo is 8mths old. The only issue I have with him is he is quite anxious and when he hears any noise he starts barking non stop. He barks at our neighbours and anyone who comes to visit and so for those who don’t come regularly to my house I end up having to lock him out of the room I’m in until the person is gone. This is the first time I’ve owned a Chihuahua as I previously owned a Golden Retriever that hardly ever barked. Kozmo is still young so possibly he might get better as he gets older. In terms of comments I’ve heard quite a few of them from family who hassle me for not having a proper dog but I love that he is small enough to sleep on me like a cat and snuggle in bed with me at night. Lol Kozmo is also a good companion to our 1yr old cat Nylah. They have a lot of fun chasing each other around the house.
He’s adorable Debbie. We do have an article on barking that may help: https://ilovemychi.com/chihuahua-barking/
Hi Debbie,
I have Chihuahua’s too. My husband & I bred them for a while, and everybody loves how sweet they are. We used to tell the people that bought our babies, socializing them is very important. So when you have friends or family come over to visit, hand Kozmo to them, that way Kozmo gets used to who they are, and eventually he won’t bark at them. This way you don’t have to lock him in another room, till they leave. Give it a try and see how it works out.
Good advice Beverly.
That is a really good idea! I will have to try that with my Chica. Thanks
Hi – I’m a dog trainer, live with a rather famous dog trainer. It’s official – we’ve surrendered. I adopted a 9 year old chi who has threatened my sanity with his barking. He still barks at the opening or closing of any door in the house, barks like a fool at my roommate despite living with him for the last 3.5 years and has proved to be impervious to barking control measures.
That said, your guy is young! For most dogs, even chis, having them walk on a leash being held by other people. This clarifies their relationship, letting your baby discover that he has nothing to fear from people. Also, handing him gently off to other people / YOU have to be tough, Momma – no eye contact or solicitous noises! It’s absolutely vital that he be allowed to experience some anxiety and work through it be himself. My all- time favorite trick, however, is to instruct guests to COMPLETELY ignore the dog – no cooing, petting or eye contact. However, arm your guests with small pieces of a high value food, like bits of rare beef. No dog cookies- not enough bang for your needs. As the visit wears on, instruct your guests to simply drop a little piece of goodness righ in front of your dog and keep right on moving. In my experience, before too long your little guy will be following your guests around the room. Sooner or later, he’ll be inspired to visit their laps for attention. If you make it random, it works even better. My guy used to believe that the correct way to greet any man was to run up and bite him I the leg. These days, he seems to prefer men !!
Great suggestions Danielle!
Exactly, Danielle! This is what we tell people about our little Chi. Ignore her. No eye contact, no reaching out to touch her, don’t keep talking to her. She gets to know people on her terms and after about 10 minutes, when she’s had time to sniff and realize that we don’t feel threatened by the person, she will go to them. We don’t use the snack trick though. We want her to associate our friends as her friends and not as someone whose roll is to feed her.
That should be “role” not “roll.” We don’t feed her rolls either!
LOL Robin. Good advice though.
@Debbie Bethune,
To control barking, first teach him what to bark at and when not to bark. That sounds counterintuitive. But they are looking for direction on their duties. You demonstrate to them simply the things you want them to react to and dismiss them to things you do not want them to respond. They know this by how you act, smell, look, and simply by being able to read your reactions and mind. Dogs need jobs.
I love that you have covered these things and everyone is true. I hear people say” those little dogs are yappy”
Mines not! Lol
Thanks Starr and love your fur babies! So cute.
Your babies are so gorgeous ??
My chihuahua (Termite) is now a year old and 7 pounds, but when he was a puppy, he was so tiny. I always heard the “that’s not a dog, it’s a rat” thing. My husband and I are avid fishers and Termite goes with us (he wears a life jacket) and people always say “fish bait”. The one thing that people say that always makes me proud of my little guy is, “I’ve never met a chihuahua so friendly, calm, and quiet”. I have worked with Termite since I got him at 8 weeks old, to insure he was comfortable around poeple. I took him and still do take him every where he can go. I read in a training book years ago that by 12 weeks a dog should know 12 people, 12 places, 12 sounds, 12 dogs, and 12 ground/floors (ie grass, pavement, carpet, linoleum, etc). Termite is also command trained (stop, wait, left, right, etc). He also knows tricks (rollover, shake, high five, etc). Chihuahua’s are highly intelligent and love to learn. They can be trained to do agility runs and excel at them. They can also be trained and compete in smell work.
It sounds like you did an excellent job with Termite (love the name)!
I have a beautiful little chi named Pixie. Yes, I have had these comments said to me. But she is the best little dogter in the world. She is a wonderful companion. I will take a chi over a big dog any day. They are easy to bathe, cuddle with, and a whole lot easier to handle then a big dog.
Yes they definitely are easier in a lot of ways Dawn.
I have a terrier chi named pixie star! pixie is a great name!
Comment- “Thst’s not a dog, it’s a rat” -To which I replied “Snd that’s not s child, it’s a BRAT!”
Good one Sonnie!
@Sonnie,
Love it!
My Chihuahua, Chico, sometimes looks like a baby fox and sometimes a little doe, but never a rat! He also makes a little howling sound that is almost like a beagle! I have heard that rat comment so many times and it does make me mad. He is such a smart dog and has added so much to our family. People are ignorant when they make such hurtful comments. I love all dogs and would never say anything hurtful to anyone about their dog. My only regret in life is that I haven’t always had a Chihuahua. Chico is my first and I am so thankful to have him!
I feel the same way about Kilo Martha.
When I was going through my chemo and radiation treatments my little Chio would go with me. She would sit on my lap and the nurses loved her. Chio was so quiet and never made any trouble for anyone. That is how she became my service dog. She has been by my side for six years and I have been cancer free for that time. Yes, there are two restaurants here in Florence, Oregon that I do not go into any more because they will not accept my service dog. But the rest are kind and more than willing to accept her.
Chio is really a pretty little chi Dianna.
@Dianna Allison,
You need to read the American Disability Act regarding Service Dogs. Those restaurants cannot deny Service Dogs. I had that happen in a business and I brought a suit against them for violations on my disability rights. There is no money to be rewarded for these actions unless you can prove damages. However if we do not stand up for our rights, they will go away.
I have 2 Chis, MiaSofia and Bacchus, and they are my life! They are territorial over their domain, especially if someone rings the bell and either myself or my fiancé is home. They need to be formally introduced to whoever is on the other side of the door. That way they understand that whoever it is is someone who can be trusted. As soon as hellos are said, the barking stops. But be prepared to have one or both in your lap the second you sit down! They are very lovable and I socialized them as soon as I got them. Everyone loves these pups! I’m so proud of them and I love them more than I ever thought possible to love anyone!
My little boy’s name is Bruiser. He is my world!!!! He is just a little over weight (we are working on that) and his ears don’t stick up all the way. I wouldn’t have him any other way!!! He is perfect???
Of course he’s perfect! So is my Kilo even though she’s a chubster with health issues.
I’ve heard “that’s almost a dog” and “where is the rest of her?” Once too often. I have two Chis, Mitzi and Sophie. They live with my other four dogs and are as different as can be. Mitzi is older,9 years old, and Sophie is just two years old. Mitzi was a former hoarder dog, and Sophie was found as a stray. Both are rescues. Sophie is very sweet, and loves everyone. She is also very smart. Mitzi is a bit more reserved with strangers. But neither is snappy. Sophie doesn’t like kids very much, though. Mitzi is scared of everyone, at first. Both are extremely sweet once they know. I can only add one picture, so this one is Sophie. I love your newsletter and articles. Thank you!
Sophie is so pretty Karen! I’m glad you rescued your little chi girls!
And here’s Mitzi.
She’s a cutie too! Love her dress.
I’ve probably heard all of these at one time or another! The “cat” comment really made me giggle! We have 2 cats, Hunter and Roadie, and , yes, they are both bigger than my Chito!!!! And, while Chito isn’t a certified “support” dog, I can honestly say he, along with our other “fur kids” have helped my husband and I through some emotionally difficult times. Several years ago, shortly after Chito came into my life, my husband’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I was with her through every chemo and radiation treatment. I’m sure you can imagine how stressful that was but, coming home every day after treatments, to see my Chito’s little face, and his utter joy at seeing his Mommie, made a difficult time much easier! No, our pets aren’t kids, they are something even better! They don’t ask for money, cell phones, the latest gadgets,( as a Mom of 2 biological kids, 2 step children and 1 adopted child, I know!). They just want US. To be able to curl up next to us, get a belly rub, play with a toy, snuggle or just be! They don’t care if our house is a mess, our hair is a mess, what kind of car we drive or who we “are wearing”. I love all my fur kids but, my Chito holds a special place in my heart. He is, heart and soul, Mommie’s boy and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Yes, they definitely are the epitome of unconditional love unlike our human kids unfortunately.
My three boys (Diego, Hero & Shiloh) are all Therapy dogs and they help put smiles on residents faces at nursing homes and hospitals with each visit. Hero is about to join his two brothers as reading dogs as well.
That’s fantastic Ethan!
I was pushing my chi’s stroller at the mall and the majority of what i heard from people were “is that a dog? She looks like a rat” it irritates me whenever people say that.
That would totally make me mad! She’s adorable by the way.
Yo Quiero Taco Bell Dog! Little Yappers! Ankle biters! They’re just a dog why do you talk to them like kids and dress them up!?.. Because they’re family they’re our Furbies, that’s why!!!
Love your little fur family there!
We don’t dress up our Chihuahuas but not for any high-minded reasons. But when it is C-O-L-D, the get sweaters and appreciate them ! My oldest, a bright-white long-legged girl Chihuahua named “Sidney” still uses the snuggle-sack she came with. The others don’t use the sacks but will burrow under the covers to snuggle right next to one of us.
If people don’t think a Chihuahua can’t protect us, my little young Tammy-Sootu will surprise the hell outta anybody that tries anything funny. She is still very young and I live in a very arid part of the country so I woundered how T² would react to thunder and lightning. I had to use “Thunder Shirts” on two of mine before they passed (old age) … secret to success with the shirts is you have to get them ON the dog BEFORE the storm hits … now back to the point … I was in bed (most of the time with me these days as I am medically disabled and Tammy-Sootu was next to me. I didn’t hear the storm approach but I got a lightning strike right next to the bedroom window followed immediately by a super-bright lightning flash. Did Tammy-Sootu disappear? No! Quite the opposite ! She exploded in action jumping straight up over two-feet and bounded to the window with all teeth bared and her super-loud barking. The thunder and lightning made her raging MAD ! The others saw this action and the two Chihuahuas joined in by following Tammy-Sootu’s lead. I have never seen a dog of any size or breed actually ATTACK lightning flashes ! The second strike made T² even more mad ! She snarled and did that bark of hers … remember how, in the movie, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (I, II, and III), they said that Cloe would “find her bark” when she needed it? Well, Tammy-Sootu, my youngest Chihuahua, has a bark that has made neighbors think that I had gotten another Great Dane !
The picture is a very recent shot of my Tammy-Sootu.
That is priceless Eugene! I love how she was going to get that mean ol’ lightening!
OK … First, the Lightning Flash … THEN the thunder. Tammy-Sootu was ready for the second flash and she looked as though she’d been X-rayed ! But she was furious with this sort of nonsense ! The photo is what my eldest Chihuahua, Sidney, normally does when the thunder is afoot. She almost vibrated herself out of the photo !
I have 3 chis and they won’t let anyone in the house without warning me first! I’ve also been asked if my chi knew it was a dog….what kind of question is that??
Pictured is my little one, Shanelle, at 3lbs 5oz.
I guess they think they are being funny. Shanelle is quite a beauty Maple.
I have CP, that affects my balance. I fall down frequently. I usually am able to get back up, and go on my merry way. I have a “medical alert” device, in case there ever is a time, I hurt myself, and can’t get up. It is a “pain” to have hanging around my neck all the time. When we got our baby Jack, at 8 weeks old, he instantly bonded to me. He absolutely would not leave my side, for any reason! We also quickly noticed that he loved to “retrieve ” things. We would throw his tiny tennis ball, and he would go get it, and bring it back to us, as fast as his tiny little legs would carry him! My husband got the idea of teaching him to retrieve my medical alert device on command. Within a month, he was running into my room, and picking it up out of the little box we put it in. I was able to get Service Dog tags, and attach one to the crate he is in when we go out. He goes EVERYWHERE I go! It sits right on the seat of my walker. He NEVER says a peep. Most of the time, people don’t even realize I have a dog with me! And when they do, it’s usually a positive experience. I’ve had a couple of people say, “he’s too little to be a service dog!”. I look them right in the eye, and tell them, “he is the BEST 4lbs. of protection I could ever ask for!” I can’t imagine my life without him. He is the love of my life!
What a lovely story Shannon. Jack is 4 pounds of cuteness too!
Thank You So Much!! I might be a LITTLE biased…but I think he is THE CUTEST Chi ever!
Jessie James biker
Jessie James biker? Is that what they are calling your chi Mark?
We have two chis that we love dearly. One is a tan deer head male named Lincoln and the other is a black and tan female named Sophie. We take them with us to the flea market, mall, and the park. They love to socialize and they get a great amount of attention (which they love!) We love our little companions and wouldn’t trade them for anything 🙂
They sound like wonderful little chis Brittany.
One someone has said to me a few time, “You know how you get a Chihuahua go to the bathroom? Hold them outside the window and squeeze.” My dog is a Chihuahua mix, not full blooded Chihuahua but that offends me. He’s actually very housebroken. We had a few accidents when he was new in our home (but that’s to be expected) and when he had a stomach bug (we got that fixed). I do love my little dog!
Wow, that comment offends me too Lindsay.
one lady said to her children, dont touch them, u might get a disease, my mum said, yeh, children can be such grotty little things 🙂
Hahaha! That’s a great retort!
I understand that a lot of people have had negative experiences with Chihuahuas (including me!). Our Pluto is a credit to his breed tho… He’s a great ambassador – he’s never met a stranger & he’s never even barked at a human being much less bitten one!
I get really sick of the “I hate little dogs” remark too but at least then we know who we’re dealing with! ?
Pluto is quite handsome Cassie and he sounds like a special little guy!
Chi’s are horrid little creatures. Biologically speaking, they are dogs but they appear like over-sized rodents. Their incessant shaking, squeaking, and whimpering is honestly insufferable. I can’t even relax and watch some TV without turning my head and seeing her Chi stare at me. It’s creepy tbh, their big, insectoid, eyes; the intensity of their gaze, as if the eyes itself are begging. The worst is how pathetically needy the Chi is, you can be in the same room as it and the dog will still shake, whine, and cry. The only time it stops is when it is literally on top of you and you’re coddling it. As soon as put it back down, it starts whining again. Oh man, I can never hurt an animal, but sometimes I imagine myself giving it one, ferocious and final kick to the head.
I’m not sure if you are serious or just a troll. If it’s for real, I really hope you got your hatred for this little dog out of your system by writing this. I worry for this poor little dog that seems to love you. Does your girlfriend know how you feel?
MorningStar, You are a sicko to say those things in an I LOVE MY CHI site. You belong on a wild animal site. Whatever your pathalogical problem is, don’t come in here and lay it on us. I am a 78 year old woman and I would love to see you come to my house and say that to my face! You are either in need of a straight jacket or you are 13 years old. Whatever, go away and seek help because you are a loser……….
LOL. You tell him Dixie!
Re #14 – there is a chihuahua as a drug dog in Geauga County, Ohio!
That’s great!
I have had people say that Chihuahua’s are stupid because they are so small they must have a tiny brain.
When you ‘get it” about chihuahuas there is no turning back, they are such special little dogs!
Yes they are definitely special little dogs!
FWIW, when they talk about intelligence and brain size, it is generally observed that it is not the size of the brain, but the size of the brain wrt the size of the body – like humans, who do not have the largest size brain. Chihuahuas have the largest brain to body size ratio of any dog. So there goes that small dog, stupid dog theory 😉
Yeah I have found them to be very smart Dianne. I think they sometimes get that reputation because they can be hard to train.
The comment where’s the other half of your dog… well I my heart of course!
That’s a great comeback Joel and your fur baby is adorable!
I almost lost my sweet baby Rosa two weeks ago. She woke me up that night with horrible diareaha and vomiting. She was no better in the morning so we ran to the vet. Rosa had a fever and a very bad intestional infection. Vet gave her two injections and sent home two more anti biotic pills and liquid. It was such a touch and go for several days and nights. After 4 days of sickness, she woke up happy, and no more diareaha or vomiting. She is only 2 pounds so it, whatever it was, went through her quickly. She is fine now and I do thank the good Lord for that.
Poor little Rosa! It’s so scary when they are so small.
I went through the same thing with Lucas twice now. Except he was vomiting and pooping blood. The first time was a 3 day stay in the hospital but the second time wasn’t as bad and I just used the meds they gave me to help him get over it. They never could tell me what caused it. But at least he’s bigger and it’s not as scary as it would be with a 2 pound dog. I’m glad she’s fine now.
Cathy, sorry you and Lucas had to go through with it and sounds much worse than what Rosa had. They couldn’t tell me what caused Rosa to get so sick either. If she ate something bad, my other furbabies ate it too but they are so much larger and stronger the vet said they could get they could ward it off better than tiny Rosa could. It was very scary and thank goodness she is happy and well now!
Thank you. I’m just praying it doesn’t happen again.
Oh, my goodness, so do I and hope your Lucas doesn’t ever have that blood poop and vomit! Now that is very scary!! If Rosa had blood in her diareaha, I would be terrified. I do not know how I could handle losing her, not after losing Henry and Irene. William is my dog unless John is home and then he wants to play with the boys, LOL, Pinto and BO and John!! Rosa is my baby girl all the time!
HERE’S TO HEALTHY AND HAPPY CHI BABIES FOR ALL OF US!!!
AMEN!
MorningStar if a chihuahua is always shaking and whining then something is wrong. Any intelligent human should be able to get help for it, for after all, dogs and cats need us as we have made them dependent on us by domesticating them. Maybe someone responsible needs to figure out why they are not adjusting or rehome them to someone else who will. There are good chihuahua rescues out there.
I think MorningStar is just an internet troll trying to get us all riled up.
Hey Cathy, I do get a little unset when people say some of those things to me but I wouldn’t trade my chi for anything! Yes he’s my fur baby and I love him sooooo much!
Thanks for sharing your great newsletter
You’re welcome Lisa. I agree, I wouldn’t trade my chis for anything either. Your baby is adorable!
Hi everyone, I have done a painting of a Chihuahua and made some items , if you’d like to, please check it out!
https://www.redbubble.com/people/artistmaryanne/works/35867962-the-moment-of-remorse-of-the-chihuahua?asc=u
I’ve heard “CHIHUAHUAS ARE MEAN, AGGRESSIVE, SNAPPY AND BARK TOO MUCH.” before. My response was to raise one eyebrow slightly and say, “Me too. What’s your point?” Usually does the trick.
HaHa! Good one Kyla!
Thanks!
@Kyla, I like that, lol!
My chi is a tiny 4.5 pounds but he will alert us if someone is on our property while my son’s German Shepherd at 100 pounds has no clue!!
LOL. They do make excellent watch dogs.
I was holding my little one while walking the mall when I stopped to look in the window at something. Awoman and little girl came up to me and started talking. The woman asked if her little girl could pet my dog. She said her little girl loved animals so I said yes and lowered my dog so she could pet her. The little girl raised her hand and slowly moved towards my dog, then all of a sudden she hit my dog on the nose very hard. The woman started laughing, she thought it was funny what her daughter had done. From that point on I do not let anyone touch my dog, you just don’t know what their intentions are.
OMG! What a horrible mother. By laughing about it, she was encouraging her child to be cruel to animals. So sad.
@Cathy, kids are far meaner than any dog I know!!
Sara, Currant Louise, Ginny, Jefe, and Kevlar. are chis I have had. Currently I have 3 chi mix rescues. I have always had a chi and always will. The picture is of Kevi.
What a sweet face Kevi has. I will always have chis too. Not to say I won’t have other breeds too as I also have a York is but chis are my totem animal. Lol
I have heard every awful thing in the book about mine “rat pack” “yappers” etc..let me tell you the only time mine bark is when there is someone at the door or someone in our yard other than that they do not “bark all day” so I do not understand where that idea comes from as I personally have seen/heard other breeds of dogs that DO bark all day at NOTHING..as a matterof fact there are 2 right down the street..the minute the owner puts them out that is all they do bark bark bark…one sounds like it is choking to death or screaming..it is awful..I would not trade my babies..YES I SAID BABIES…for anything..I had 2 surgeries last year and both times when I was home recovering they stayed right next to me until I was well enough to do my normal routines…they gave me more comfort and watched over me until I felt better..at one point before the gallbladder surgery when I was having an attack and feverish my Bear layed next to my head and licked it because I was writhing in pain…so personally I don’t care what people say about them I love them and most of the people that have bad things to say should take a long hard look in the mirror as I bet they are not so cute or perfect themselves
Mine don’t bark much either Dawn. I think there is so much more good about these little fur babies than there is bad.
They definitely help us emotionally and health wise too as you just attested to.
@Cathy, definitely true!
My junior bacon chi has such a big heart for such a teenie tiny guy ☺️❤️
They do have so much love for such tiny little beings.
This is a good time for me to remind all of us who love our chi babies to be deligent if we travel over the holidays in our car. I found my deer head, Pinto, just wandering around a very busy quick stop gas station. We ask everybody inside and outside if he was their dog and nobody claimed him. We brought him home. He was exhausted, hungry and thirsty. He had a collar with a rabies tag and a leash attached to it. The next morning we took him to our vet and had his chip read and it only told us he was bought in NJ and we are in Texas. The phone number on his tag was no longer in service.
We made posters that said IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR HOUSE PET, PLEASE CALL our phone number AND DESCRIBE. Didn’t want to describe him since some one might just claim him. John went to all the shelters to see if they had any idea about who he might belong to. No luck with any of that.
He was not abused because he was very loving and didn’t look thin and wasted or broken any place. He did have mange on both his sides. Our vet cured that over night with the flea killing pill, it killed all the mites that make mange. It was just then being used to kill mange mites. He said it was usually a very expensive process to cure mange and maybe that is why someone did not want to keep him, but I kind of doubt that since he was obviously a pure bred and had a lovely shinny coat. I am positive he was very expensive to buy as a puppy.
The only thing or reason I felt that he was separated from his owner is that his owner had stopped for gas and did not notice that Pinto was not in the car when they drove away. Probably did not miss him until they were many miles away. They were probably moving from NJ to a southern state.
If you travel in your car with your fur babies this season, PLEASE check that they are all there before you drive away after a stop. This is his picture. He is so beautiful and perfect in every way and spoiled!!
Good reminder Dixie! And Pinto is so lucky yall found him.
I got a Chihuahua and he my buddy he is 3 months old i name him cosmo
Cosmo is a great name for a puppy.
LOL Funny never heard of bait but here is my Gator…little guy on the right
What a sweet photo! They look so cute together.
I have hear many of those comments. The one that resonates most is that chis cannot be service dogs. Both my Male chihuahuas are very compassionate and intuitive to my health needs. My first baby will wake me up if I am not breathing right. My youngest follows me everywhere and will lay on me in specific spots that hurt. They amaze me. My oldest is a registered good citizen canine. I intend to have both therapy certified.
I agree with you Jamie. They make amazing service dogs. They are so intuitive and loyal.
Oh! That’s a Kick me dog.
Oh wow, someone said that to you Missy?
It makes me Cringe when I hear people call them a kick me dog.
@Missy, I understand. One guy calls mine, biter! I told him if she growled not to try again and he did. She bit him!! Most people would have listened. Or, can I drop kick your dog? Really???
All of them. My Chi rarely barks. She will growl but she knows I don’t want her to bark. Outside, is a different story. Barks at everything……will mostly growl. If ppl walk on the sidewalk, she will bark. No matter what size a dog is, she will go after it….she is anxious and it makes her aggressive. I’m looking for something I can give her that won’t hurt her for this problem….help anyone?
@Cathy Mayfield, BGLW has a line of CBS oils that work wonders..
I love my Chihuahua Karma , she’s 13 years old.
I like the name Karma Hazel.
Yes I have heard many of them and sometimes I say something that makes them sit back and think. I stand up for my Chihuahua. But also sometime I walk on by.
Good for you Deborah. Believe me, I have heard them too. Specially when people find out I run a chihuahua site.
I can attest to number one. I was a mail carrier for over 20 years and was bitten 14 times. Once by a goose (yes a goose) 13 times by a dog and 2 of those were by a chihuahua. Both times they went for the crotch. LOL. Still love dogs and have a chi as my fur baby now.
I have a chi-mix and she only barks when there’s a reason to which is seldom. She’s such a good watch dog. She’s as sweet as can be I’ve had people make comments about her ears but it doesn’t bother me cause my fur baby is beautiful to me inside & out!
What do they say about her ears Brenda?
I have a chihuahua who’s name is Shadow
Yes I have heard some of them but the one I mostly
Love is shadow and I were in a park
a guy who had a big dog and wasn’t bad looking for a big
Big dog then another guy came to me and said
That shadow was better looking then the bigger dog
But here’s what Shadow does for me
Make me laugh every day,hardly barks but if some came to the
House he would let me know,gives me hugs
And we have fun together
In dec he will be two and he hisn’t changing his love
So that what shadow does for me
Shadow sounds like a wonderful little chi Linda.
I’ve had my chihuahuas called mice. I now call them the mouse brigade. People freak out when you tell them you have to go home to walk the mice.
LOL, I’d love to see their faces when you tell them that Cindy!
Hi! We just lost our little Winnie about 6 months ago. We miss her dearly. We had her 1 month short of her 16th birthday. She was a beautiful little cuddler, and a great lap dog, too!!
She was by far the best dog we have ever had!! Anyone who has one already, knows what I’m talking about!! Anyone who’s never had one, needs to really experience the total love AND companionship these little dogs have to offer!!
Believe me, it’s true when you read, these dogs leave paw prints on your heart!! It’s the gospel truth!!
Alan Brinkman.
So true Alan and I’m so sorry yall lost your little Winnie!
I have a Chihuahua mix. I adopted her from a rescue last February. Well I was looking into getting a dog my friend trying to convince me that all Chihuahuas are really mean. Here’s a girl she also tried to convince me that all pitbulls are dangerous which isn’t true either. As someone who used to intern at an animal hospital and then later at a doggy daycare I hate it when people judge a dog based off of its breed. If a dog is badly behaved it’s usually because of the owner.
Very true Pales.
#12 – If you are from Wisconsin it’s Musky bait!
As far as being mean or snappy – most are made that way by indulgent owners who never reprimand as puppies.
True, although sometimes it’s poor breeding or fear.
My chi’s is a excellent guard dog
Most of them are good watch dogs.
Just precious, the black one especially.
Service Dog? Absolutely! Bugsy is my certified service dog and he is a Chi. He began alerting me due to health problems before we even thought about his being a service dog. He may be small but when he knows something is wrong with me he puts his paws on my shoulders, gently pushes me down and literally sits on my chest! I have had 4 strokes in the past that I was told would keep me from ever walking again. Bugsy, (Doc) was there to work with me and love me. Now I not only walk but no limping. I don’t know how he ever started all this but I know that he has saved my life on at least 2 occasions and/or stopped more strokes. He’s a true gift from God, my best friend and my sometimes doctor. I am a lucky Mom.
I’m glad you got Bugsy to help you. Chis make great service dogs. They are so obsessed with their human, they pick up every little change with them quickly.
I use Chihuahua’s for Hearing/Alert and PTSD Service Dogs. They need to sleep on the bed so they can wake me to any issues. Also them fantastic ears are little radar dishes. My dog Rascal (passed) was nicknamed was Radar. I loved watching those ears turn and focus on a sound. Human hearing diminishes during sleep. Dogs does not. Their sub brain while sleeping can sort out what are good or bad sounds while sleeping. If it is a not a natural sound they wake and wake me. They aren’t allow to handle guns. My job.
I have noticed that they will seem like they are in a sound sleep, but those ears are still at attention and working.
Where to start. My SweetPea is 14 years old and has been with me since she was 7 weeks old. I once had an “alarm” salesman mock me when I said she was my alarm, he said she’s no protection. I said neither is your alarm, but she’ll keep someone’s attention while I grab my Glock.
She is also my service dog, I am older and have become very hard of hearing, she howls when my phone rings and lets me know when someone is at the door. Other than that she’s very quiet. She has never been aggressive and only once did she go after anyone, and that was because she was protecting me.
I am single and all my children are grown. I don’t know what I’d do without her. Thank the Lord, she is still healthy and active at 14. I adore her.
She sounds like a real gem Luanne.
Almost all of these things have been told to me about my chihuahua! Especially that he is (and all chis in general) are ugly.
i don’t know why people think they are ugly. They are adorable!
Thank you for posting. People think if the dog doesn’t understand English it is ok to be rude. Imagine saying this to a child with Mom there?!!! Not the same? Yes, my dogs are my family.
Next time I will use the retort that lady said,” I know how you feel…
I was told I would need to crate my Rat Terrier/Chihuahua when I was adopting another dog from the Humane Society once. I was told the dog I was adopting would be back within the week because Rat/Chi I had, told them I would never bring back the dog I was adopting, I would find it a good home first. There is an adjustment period for all dogs after they first meet. My Rat/Chi was the alpha and they learned to get along beautifully. The dog I was adopting was a Shiba Inu/Rat Terrier mix and a bigger, older dog. I had a Yorkie/Chihuahua mix (2yrs.older) than my Rat/Chi (alpha, gotten at 4 wks. old). The one I was adopting was 8yrs. going on 9 and she was 2 yrs. older than my Yorkie/Chihuahua. The Shiba Inu/Rat never went back she stayed till she passed away short of 13 yrs. from pneumonia.
But to tell me my dog needed to be crated doesn’t go over well with me especially when you work at the Humane Society and all dogs need to get used to one another. It takes some time.
Personally, I wouldn’t crate mine either though I do use playpens with puppies. I have nothing against crates though and they work well for some. I just prefer not to crate my dogs.
I got my Chi several years ago from my daughter. She had him (Buddy) with an Irish Wolf Hound (Ripley) and the wolf hound was scared to death of him.
My Buddy is lovely, friendly (unless you’re a dog walking passed my window…or a pigeon/gull/cat) funny, loyal and a great companion for a 73 year old widower. I’m converted.
They do make great companions for us older folks and they will defend you to the death from that squirrel running by or that leaf blowing in the wind. LOL
I tell everyone they are my security system. They are my life and love.Those adorable eyes melt my heart.
Yes they definitely have the most expressive eyes of any dog breed, in my opinion. And no one will ever break in your house without them letting you know.
I found my chihuahua in a house that I had rented to a young couple, abandoned, no food, no water, a very handsome long hair. He has become the love of my life. He is always with me, my shadow.
Oh wow! I’m so glad you found him in time and gave him the home he deserves!
My daughter always said that my chihuahua is a rat. So rude coming from my daughter. For me my chihuahua little girl (Chloe)is the most beautiful.
I know, I hate hearing people call them rats. So mean!
Love my Stanley! And people who make nasty comments about Chis are ignorant even if they think they are being “funny”. NOT!
No, not funny at all.
I just love my new furbaby. Thanks for all those insightful tips. Keep them coming.
You are very welcome Linda and congratulations on getting your new fur baby!
Your dog looks like rat.
I have heard this one a lot. So mean.
I have heard the rat dog comment. My response, so give us some cheese and be on your merry way.
Tokyo, come in Tokyo. That’s something a friend used to say about one of my chi’s ears thinking she was funny. Not!
That’s a new one for me.
My Chi is my service dog! I don’t hear very well and he lets me know when someone is talking to me or around me. Plus, he lets me know if someone is at the door. Who knew a Chihuahua would let me know? Lol I have a disease, Menaires and he lets me know if an attack is going to happen. He lets me know if I’m getting sick in any way. He’s even let strangers know. He’s very well behaved, which service dogs are supposed to be. But most of all, he loves me unconditionally!!! (And I love him!!!)Not too many humans do that! When someone makes a mean comment, I just pray for them. They are just jealous because my dog is smarter than they are!!!
I have heard all of these sayings — I always say ‘it’s your loss as you don’t know what you are missing — i have had A Chi since 1980 and loved every one.
You’re right, they don’t know what they are missing.
heard most of them – until someone owns a chi, they won’t understand –
So true Bev. I didn’t like them much, until I owned one.
My little one will me know when somebody is at the door, before they knock, yes she does protect her place, and us.yes I have heard some of the comments.
They are great watch dogs.
I have a long lane in the country as soon as my Chihuahuas here a car coming up the lane they are baring before you can see it.We like them because no one can come near the house without them barking. They also keep the squirrels away that were causing damage.
I look forward to this newsletter. Congratulations on your tx completion. Been there; 27 weekdays in a row in 2012, 7:30 am. C-free 10 years. Blessings and again, thank you!
Thanks Marcia! Did you burn badly after your treatments? I’m hurting pretty bad right now but it didn’t even hit me until the last couple of days of treatment.
I wish I could post a photo here… as to “accessories”, well I have a photo of my grandson in his fatigues, legs apart, looking very “soldierly” with a chi in each leg pocket. I wouldn’t want to make a “poor” comment on chi’s to him at that moment. LOL
That photo sounds priceless!
Hi Cathy,
Yes I hae heard nearly al of the above comments mad about my little girl, and I quickly and sharply put a stop to them. I think my Chi is the best and most beautiful dog I have ever seen. As far as pprotection is concerned, if I a hlding her in my arms, she doesn’t like anyone to come too near me and starts to bark, it is usually the only time she does this.
Love your pics of Lucy, she is beautiful.
Kind regards,
Julie Cameron, Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia
I’m glad you don’t put up with the negative comments Julie. I don’t know why people think it’s okay to insult our babies.
I have a Chihuahua that is almost a year old and she very seldom barks.
You are lucky. My chis don’t bark that much either unless someone comes to do the door. My Yorkies however, love to bark.
Cathy, if you could spend big bucks for a designer with talent and detail, you could make a stuffed animal toy that looks like Lucy and you would sell millions! Same color patterns, very detailed eyes and head shape, also extraordinary fur type.
Think about it. 😄
Adults and children would not be able to resist!
You could write about her.
Even include the process of making the stuffed animal for curious minds who love to know just how you did it!
I never thought of that before Jane. Interesting idea.
All the comments I have heard before from some people. 99% though say, “Awwwww, she is such a Cutiepatoodie!” 😍
That’s good they are mostly positive. I can never understand why some people say such mean things about them.
Loved the Quotes.
Thank you 🙏
You’re welcome Linda.
People who say things like that to pet parents are very rude. I could say more but I better stop now.
Yes, they are definitely rude.
I used to be that person saying those things like #1-2-3 pretty much in that order. Then I decided I wanted a small and I saw this picture of her as a puppy and had to have her because I was already in love with her.
I’m glad she changed your mind Debbie.
Hi Cathy, I have had mostly the “rat” comment and “tht is not dog, but I tend ti igore people who make stupid comments like this, I KNOW my girl is not a rat and is a dog, and love her so much, I would be totally crushed if I let these idiots comments get to me. I agree with all that you have said pertaining to all the above comments. I have a nephew whom I visit for coffee occasionally, taking Heidi with me, he has a large bull mastiff cross american pitbull, and my Heidi puts the dog in his place every time we visit and it is comical tio watch, she just turns round and gives him her evil eye and he backs off, mind you he is a very gentle giant, and would not harm a fly, but it is funny to watch nevertheless. Thank you for all your wonderful insights and stories you share, I love your emails.
Kind regards, Julie Cameron
Proud Chi parent.
I would love to see her give the big dog the evil eye.
Love this article! I think I’ve heard every one! Unfortunately 😤
Yeah, some people can be so rude.
I love Chihuahuas!! I have three Chihuahuas Fifi,Penny, and Biscuit.They are SOO CUTE!!
You are in the right place Heidi! I love the name Biscuit for a Chi.