Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are best suited to families with older children who understand how to safely handle them and read their body language. These dogs aren’t known to be the most patient or tolerant, so they learn to growl or snap to make sure they’re listened to.

These tiny little pups are very fragile and vulnerable to injury if they’re picked up or played with too roughly. They love to burrow into warm, cosy spaces, so take care to check under blankets and duvets for any resting Chihuahua before sitting down!

Chihuahuas love being the centre of family activities and thrive in the company of people, so, ideally a home where someone is around most of the time would be perfect. With the right interactions and training, they can get along well with other pets in the home.

If you like to keep your personal space to yourself, perhaps a Chihuahua isn’t the dog for you. But if you’re looking for a snuggle buddy - look no further!

Chihuahuas are incredibly affectionate and love being close to their owners. They’re known for their cuddly nature and will snuggle up to warm spots, like your lap or a cosy blanket. These little dogs form strong attachments and enjoy being pampered and fussed over. With this said, their desire to be with you can lead to them becoming a second shadow, as spending time on their own isn’t something Chihuahuas are naturally good at. They’re the type of dog that will follow you around the house whatever you’re up to. Training and confidence-building is essential for them to be able to spend time on their own.

Chihuahuas have a playful, cheeky, and mischievous streak! As they’re such a small breed, they don’t need as much exercise as large dogs, but they enjoy burning off their energy with regular, short play sessions. They enjoy games like tug-of-war (make sure to be gentle!) as well as chasing after soft toys and playing with dangly wand toys. These highly intelligent little dogs love food puzzles and learning new tricks! Playtime is a great way to bond with your Chihuahua and keep them mentally and physically active.

Chihuahuas certainly have a voice and know how to use it! They’ll often bark to alert you to any unusual or exciting activity, whether that’s another dog walking past the house, or the post being delivered. This makes them excellent watchdogs despite their small size, but their barking can get out of hand if they don’t learn the difference between everyday occurrences and things that are worth shouting about. This can cause issues if your dog barks when they hear your neighbour moving around, or when they want your attention.

Early training and social interactions are key to preventing unnecessary barking. Barking issues should be tackled as soon as you notice the problem to prevent your dog from building bad habits. This way, Chihuahuas can learn to bark less and not be too noisy.

It’s natural for Chihuahuas to feel threatened easily and become frightened, anxious and sometimes aggressive. They can become prone to biting – especially when they’re touched or handled. Listening to your dog and knowing their body language is key to building their confidence and prevent biting. 

Chihuahuas can be protective of their favourite people, food, toys, or resting spots. We call this ‘resource guarding’. There can be disagreements in houses with more than one pet or where there are children, so it’s important to teach your dog that pets and people aren’t going to take their things.

As loving and watchful dogs, they often become attached to one person, so they’re likely to become anxious when left home alone, or even if they can’t be in the same room as you. They can also be wary of new people and may bark, lunge, or snap at people and dogs that they don’t know.

Chihuahuas are suited to various living environments, including flats and apartments. They often prefer relaxing on a bed or sofa, somewhere they can see what’s going on and avoid getting underfoot.

While a secure, enclosed garden is a plus, they don’t need it as their exercise needs can be met with indoor play and short walks. As long as they can nip out to toilet and exercise, they’ll be happy! Make sure the outdoor space you do have is escape-proof. Chihuahuas are small and can easily slip through gaps in fences that you may not expect!

As long as they meet from a young age, Chihuahuas can live happily with other pets in the home. You should take extra care when introducing them to cats and larger dogs, as their small size and round, prominent eyes are exposed to potential injuries if playtime gets too rough or there’s a disagreement.

Chihuahuas have low exercise needs and only need around 20-30 minutes of physical exercise a day. They enjoy short walks in nature where they can have a good sniff, explore and be curious.

Don’t forget to keep their minds working! Chihuahuas learn new things very quickly, which includes bad habits. Learning tricks and useful skills will be helpful for day-to-day life with your dog, it will also keep their brains busy, so they don’t get up to any mischief. Using their daily food allowance for training and brain games is a great way to keep them mentally active. Try feeding them in fun and interesting ways like scattering their meal on the ground, search games, lick mats and puzzle feeders.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Chihuahuas are moderately easy to train because they’re highly intelligent. However, with intelligence comes mischief as your little fur ball will try to find loopholes in your training and household rules! Some would describe Chihuahuas as “stubborn”, when actually they’ve just worked out a clever way to get what they want. To avoid this, teach your dog good habits and skills with reward-based training from day one.

All dogs require reward-based training to learn basic behaviours, as well as how to interact with other dogs, animals, and people. Otherwise, they tend to become anxious or develop rude behaviour that can be hard to manage, requiring extra training in their adult life.

Common Chihuahua behavioural issues to watch out for are excessive barking, reactivity to dogs and people, resource guarding, fear and anxiety.

Chihuahuas’ grooming needs all come down to their coat type and fur length. They come in two varieties: smooth-haired and long-haired.

Smooth-haired Chihuahuas only need to be brushed once a week to remove loose hair and control shedding. Long-haired Chihuahuas require frequent brushing to prevent tangles and matting. This keeps their fur shiny and healthy, and their skin and coat clean. Long-haired Chihuahuas will also benefit from regular trims around their ears and feet to prevent pesky tangles.

Regular baths, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and dental care are also important for your dog’s overall wellbeing. This can be done at home if you train your dog to enjoy grooming from the start.

Keeping your dog healthy means trips to the vet for check-ups and vaccinations, as well as ensuring a healthy diet, plenty of exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

Chihuahuas in particular, are prone to several health conditions, including:
Patellar Luxation: A condition where the kneecap dislocates, causing pain and lameness.
Heart Disease: Including conditions like mitral valve disease (a problem with the valve between the left heart chambers)
Dental Problems: Due to their small mouths, they are prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
Seizures: Caused by conditions affecting the brain, spine, or nerves, such as Epilepsy.
Respiratory system disorders: This includes conditions like tracheal collapse, where the windpipe becomes narrow and obstructs airflow.

This everyday care is the best way of preventing common health issues and easing the impact of any existing health issues.