What You Should Know Before Getting a Chihuahua

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Thinking of getting a chihuahua? Here’s everything you need to know about chi personalities, the health of chihuahuas in general, even how to train a chihuahua, and more!

I sometimes get emails from people who have never had a chihuahua and wonder if they should get one.

They ask about what they should know before getting a chihuahua. I give them my two cents worth but decided it might be easier to just send them to a post. And to get the point of view of other chihuahua pet parents.

So I asked on our Facebook page and got over 900 responses!

A lot of the responses were similar. Below is a list of the most common responses given. 

Of course there are exceptions to  every rule so if you read these and think “my chihuahua isn’t like this”, then yours may be the exception. My chis didn’t fit some of these  things either.

I have linked to the things in this list that we have articles on.

Health

• Chihuahuas are always cold. Keep them warm with blankets, sweaters and even a heating pad.
• Chis shiver a lot.
• Chihuahuas can easily get hypoglycemic, especially when they are puppies.
• There are some common health problems with this breed.
• Shedding (though that hasn’t been my experience).
• Chihuahuas tend to have dental issues.
• Separate their vaccines by having your vet give only one at a time and then have a period of several weeks before letting them have another one. They are so tiny and can be sensitive to over vaccination. Also have your vet give them some Benadryl before the vaccination.

Personality

While your chihuahua will be unique, there is a general personality shared by most chihuahua dogs. Getting to know your pup will be an adventure, but here are a few personality traits that you can probably look forward to!

• They are very protective and are mighty little warriors.
• Chis like to lick.
• Chis love to snuggle
• They can be a bully to other pets in your home, no matter how big those pets are.
• Chihuahuas are very smart, but stubborn little dogs.
• They can be sneaky.
• Chis tend to be needy and crave a lot of attention.
• They don’t like to be alone and often have separation anxiety.
• They can be quirky and often have strong personalities.
• Chihuahuas love to bark a lot.
• They tend to bond with one person and don’t do well with young children.
• Chis love to be held.
• Watch how much you feed them as they can put on weight fast.

Training

• House training a chihuahua can be a challenge.
• They need more social interaction so they won’t bark or snap so much when you have guests in your home.
• It’s often easier to train chis to use puppy pads, as they don’t like rain, cold, snow, etc.
• Chihuahuas can be snappy.
• It’s a great idea to enroll them in an obedience class as soon as possible.

Other

• Be very careful when walking, especially when they are pups, as you can accidentally kick them or step on them. A collar with a bell really helps.
• Chihuahuas do better with a playmate their size. So get another chihuahua.
• Watch them closely when outside. Birds of prey and other wild animals (coyotes, wolves, etc.) can snatch them in a second.
• Chihuahuas are indoor dogs and should never sleep outside at night.
• If getting your chi from a rescue, check out the rescue and find out as much as you can about the dog’s background.
• If getting a puppy from a breeder, ask lots of questions about the parents, ask to see the parents… do they look like Chihuahuas? Are they friendly?  Does the breeder health test and do they know about the breed? And if something goes wrong that they will refund your money? Click the link to find out more about how to find a reputable dog breeder.

How Your Life Will Change

• You won’t need a doorbell.
• You will never be alone again. They will be your constant shadow. You will forever have a bathroom buddy.
• It’s hard to stop at just one chihuahua.  It’s VERY important to know that if you are to get a Chihuahua you will become addicted to having more. There’s no cure.
• If you give them a chance, they will rule you and your household.
• They will take over your bed, couch and especially your blankets so you need to check before sitting or laying down to be sure there isn’t a chi hiding within them.
• Chis will show you the greatest love you’ll ever know.
• A lot of them like to steal dirty clothes such as socks and underwear.
• Chihuahuas are so entertaining, especially if you have more than one chi. Just watching them chase each other around and play is loads of fun.
• Because of their size and being somewhat fragile, you will need to change things in your house such as having steps or ramps for your bed and couch, extra blankets, dog beds in rooms they hang out in, etc.

What would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let us know if you agree with these things and what you would tell someone before getting a chihuahua.

 

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