6 Reasons Why Many People Hate Chihuahuas

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Although Chihuahuas are beloved by many, they are not loved by everyone. Sometimes the reasons behind the dislike of the breed are formed based on assumptions, personal preferences, or experiences.

To tell you the truth, I didn’t like chihuahuas for a long time. You see, I was a dog groomer and my experience with chihuahuas was not a positive one. It wasn’t until I rescued a little chihuahua named Kilo that my neighbors had abandoned that I realized how wonderful they really are.

The reasons that I hear most often from people who dislike Chihuahuas are:

“Chihuahuas are mean.”

Some people believe that Chihuahuas are mean; that they are ill-tempered and have tendencies to snap and bite people. This assumption likely originates from experiences people have had with Chihuahuas who are resource guarders.

While Chihuahuas may enjoy attention from everyone, generally, they bond very strongly with one special human. Some Chis will think that they need to guard their person, as they are a resource that they do not want to share with others. Other Chis are loving and will take attention from whoever offers it.

“Chihuahuas are yappy.”

Many people dislike Chihuahuas because some of them may bark excessively. Though not every Chi is super vocal, most are prone to barking more than other breeds of dog. Some Chihuahuas make their opinions known at every opportunity they find!

“Chihuahuas are not real dogs.”

Occasionally you may hear someone claim that Chihuahuas are not “real dogs” due to their small stature and their low activity level.

There are so many breeds of dogs because there are so many different lifestyles, preferences, and activities; Chihuahuas were bred to be companions.

To be a companion, Chihuahuas do not need to be large or active to fulfill that role. Their small size and loving nature are what make them excellent companion dogs. Though a dog of any size can be a good companion, people solely looking for a companion dog tend to prefer smaller dogs.

“Chihuahuas are too small.”

Many people are uncomfortable around Chihuahuas because of their petite stature. They may fear handling them or having them loose in the home because they think that they may injure them in the midst of everyday life.

While their small size does mean that an everyday household occurrence such as closing a door, sitting down, setting down a large package, moving furniture, picking up and setting down your dog etc, must be done with extra care than you would need to use if you lived with a larger dog.

It is certainly possible to severely injure or even kill a Chihuahua during any of those tasks, however, it is possible to live with a toy-size dog and have no incidents as long as precautions are taken.

Some Chihuahua parents choose to purchase a cat collar with a bell to help them be aware of their petite pooch’s presence, or they may secure them in a kennel or baby playpen while performing certain tasks to keep them out of the way of harm.

“The people who own Chihuahuas are annoying.”

Every breed of dog has a certain following of people who prefer to own them due to their perceived status of owning the breed, their lifestyle, and their activity level. The celebrities who made the breed famous, such as Paris Hilton, are not universally liked.

The frequently assumed stereotype of Chihuahua owners is that they tend to be owned by people who baby their dogs and who do not train their dogs, which results in poorly behaved dogs.

These dogs that are not trained and allowed to run the house usually are the culprits behind the assumptions that people who dislike the breed have made. After all, no one likes an unruly dog.

“The people who breed Chihuahuas use unethical breeding practices to get rich off selling purse dogs.”

Small breeds of dogs, such as the Chihuahua, are most often the victim of puppy mill abuse and suffer the result of poor health due to the lack of good breeding practices.

Many people dislike the breed because they believe that many breeders are churning out unhealthy dogs just to make money. They may believe that people should never buy a Chi puppy to avoid supporting puppy mills, as it is hard to know what conditions the mother and father of a puppy are living in when you can only see the puppy.

To learn more about puppy mills and see what you can do to prevent puppy mill abuse, visit the ASPCA website.

Also to find a reputable breeder, read this post on how to find a reputable chihuahua breeder.

Conclusion

Many times, the reasons people dislike or hate Chihuahuas are assumptions created from stereotypes that they have heard, not based upon actual experience with the breed or real facts.

It may be very difficult to hear someone speak unkindly about the breed of dog that you love so much! To fight the stereotype, train and socialize your Chi and give him or her lots of opportunities to socialize with a variety of people.

He or she may be the dog who changes someone’s mind about the breed or makes someone fall in love with the breed!

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Never say these things to a chihuahua parent
Why you should choose a Chihuahua over other breeds