Five Things to Consider Before Buying a Chihuahua

Chihuahuas are little bundles of joy that will drive you completely insane. Seriously. They will. You will lose your sanity and question why on earth you wanted one. Then they will look at you with that cute puppy dog face and you’ll completely forget whatever they just did. Until they do it again, that is. So here are a few things you may want to know about Chihuahuas before you get one. Also, these traits are based on my dog, Pedro, so your dog may be a bit different. Pedro is also a puppy still so he might change as an adult, but you can use these tips as a general guideline.

1. They will whine incessantly. Incessantly. If they’re not sleeping, they’re whining. They always want something, and they expect you to get it. They are the royalty and you are the lowly peasant. You want to just sit down and relax after a long day? Good luck. Your Chihuahua expects you to cater to their every whim. Oh, and you want to try tough love? Well, prepare for more whining.

2. They are hard to house train. Like, really hard. But not impossible. You do have to stay on top of it though, and they will backslide. I suggest if it is cold out you start with pee pads and wait until it is warmer to train them to go outside. It also helps if you give them a small treat after they go on the pad or outside. Except now my dog thinks he gets a treat for everything, and it can be difficult to wean them off the treats. Oh, and you’ll enjoy the added whining to the daily quota when you do that.

3. They don’t like people, sort of. More they don’t trust people, like anyone. See that cute little girl in the sundress, with the big smile? Yeah, well to a Chihuahua she’s a giant and a mass murderer. Oh, and the stereotype about Chihuahua’s being ankle biters is true. Pedro will literally bite people’s ankles. It’s actually quite comical, aside from the fact that it makes it difficult to have guests. You can train them not to attack people though. The best thing to do is to just get them used to people, and tell them no when they bark excessively at people, and reward them when they’re being good.

4. They love to chew on everything. You’re thinking, everything, she’s exaggerating…No. I mean everything. My Chihuahua will chew on drill bits, beer caps, and cigarette butts. And the normal things like slippers, newspapers, and anything you leave on the floor. So be warned, if you leave stuff laying around you better change your ways or reconsider getting a Chihuahua. It does help if you give them lots of stuff to chew on though, and if you teach them not to chew on certain things.

5. They may not like other people, but they like you. A lot. Chihuahua’s are known for being a one person pet, and while this could happen it’s more like a one family pet. As long as everyone interacts with the Chihuahua as a puppy they become attached to everyone. Older dogs can make new attachments but it can take a lot of work. However, as nice as it is to have a dog that likes you, it can also be an issue. Like if you want to go upstairs or in the basement of your house for whatever reason and your dog can’t come with you, he might start whining like he’s being strangled to death excruciatingly slowly. He might also chew on stuff he’s not supposed to just to get back at you. Another issue can come when you leave house. Sometimes they can get really upset when you leave. Although these seem like minor issues, if you’re not looking for a clingy dog, or you don’t want your dog to sleep in the same bed as you, then you might want to reconsider.

Although Chihuahuas do have some issues, they can make a great pet. They are trainable and they are the perfect snugglers (when they’re sleeping). They are also very tiny so they’re good for if you have an apartment or a small house. But never buy one from a pet store, or from someone who claims to be selling a teacup Chihuahua. Teacup Chihuahuas do not exist. They are the result of breeding runts and can be sickly and fragile. You can get small Chihuahuas, but let nature do it naturally. Stay away from pet stores because often the animals they sell come from puppy mills and are sickly. Whenever possible visit the puppy before you buy one and make sure you see at least one of the parents to make sure the puppy will be healthy. Don’t buy from a website if you can’t see the dog in person before you buy them. I’m not saying you have to go to the top breeder, but you should definitely check out the people you’re buying from and make sure their dogs are kept in a healthy condition. And yes, you can even find a pure breed Chihuahua in a shelter, so don’t forget to check there too.

I hope if you decide to get a Chihuahua it brings you joy!