Thinking about adopting a Chihuahua...?

Question

What is their temperment like?
Are they potty trained easily? What about litter boxes?
Do they make good companions?
Do they bark excessively?
Can just one person care for them, or do they do best with multiple caretakes?
Do they require grooming often?
Book recommendations?

Answer 1

glad to see this question. i owned to chihuahuas when my ex and i were still together. i can say honestly from having owned a bunch of different dogs, that chihuahuas are definitely the most fun ;) they need a lot of attention, but theyre definitely characters. they have a really outgoing personality, and their faces have a lot of expression. their temperament is good as long as you dont spoil them too much. we had a male and female. the female got spoiled pretty easily. she started getting possessing and snappy sometimes, so we had to put her in line more often. they potty train pretty easily. we had a screen door. we tried the puppy pads. they worked ok. but usually if they started to have an accident, id slide open the screen door and set them outside. pretty soon they learned to walk to the door to let us know they had to go ;) they dont bark too much if you introduced them to other dogs or if theyr used to be around other people. you should take them on walks pretty frequently, otherwise theyll get really territorial. ummm....its a big responsibility to take care of more than 1 on your own. but if its just you and u have jsut one, u should be fine. 2 is a lotta work, but then again, 2 puppies will play with each other and keep each other occupied. its definitely better that they have a playmate. if you get a longhair, they need groomed about once every 2 weeks. we had shorthairs, so we bathed them every week but they stayed very clean.

Answer 2

I saved my standard chihuahua from a puppy mill and I have never met a more loving dog. However, my coisin has a toy chihuahua and he is the meanest thing on the planet. (the bigger they are the nicer they are...wierd parallel) They love to snuggle thier own on the bed, and are very protective. the larger breeds on chihuahuas are not yippy, and only bark if something is bothering them. One person can care for them (and will be favored excessivly) or an entire family will do well. If you have small children, I do not reccommend this breed as they are very afriad of children. They are potty trained easily IF you are consistant... i'll include some foolproof directions for you. (i dont' reccomend litter boxes). I really think that you should either meet your dog prior to adoption, or meet the parents of the pup before you pick one out. This will really clue you in to the temperment.

Potty training: I've had several dogs and I have trained them without potty pads, newspapers, etc. Of course, you have to remember that they will have a few accidents while they are learning. keep them confined to the kitchen or a hard floor so the smell of pee will not deter them during training. Take her outside and place her on the grass. Say "outside"a few times. When she goes, say "good girl!" and be ready to reward her with a dog biscut or a bite size carrot. Keep her on a tight potty schedule so she will learn when to expect to go out.... 7am, 9:30 11, 1, 3:30, 6, 8, 10:30 before bed. After a few days she will get it. (If she pees on the floor, lead her to it and say no several times and point. she will know that it si not good. right after you show her, take her outside and let her pee using the above training.

Answer 3

I own a Chihuahua she is 2 1/2 years old .She is very protective doesn't like anyone out of the household. They do not potty train easily they are very stubborn and bull headed. They don't bark excessively at least the several I've been around. The only time mine barks is when she wants a treat (which is more like a howl) or when she hears a noise or sees something out of thr ordinary.And if they are short haired they don't require much grooming. Book recommendations: Chihuahua's For Dummies

Answer 4

Thier temperment they can be shy around strangers and playful funny and good natured usually but if you are considering one ,make sure you get one from a breeder or a rescue place because if you get one from a puppy mill they will have health issues and they will be abused and neglected and etc, my aunt does rescue for dogs and the 2 chihuahuas we have came from a puppy mill and that's what happened to them they were abused ...They are really smart so potty training them is really easy just take them on a leash they usually do not bark alot in less someone is at the door or outside your home they will bark at strangers in your home because they are shy and not trusting of strangers and as far as grooming depends on if you get a long haired or short haired and they usually good with 2 other care givers but they are wonderful amazing little friends get Chihuahua's For Dummies and go to PetCo for some books...GoodLuck.

Answer 5

I have a Chihuahua mix. He is very attached to myself and my husband, and HATES strangers, but once he knows you he loves you. He definitely likes to get his own way. You have to be sure to be the "parent" and not let him get away with breaking the rules.
Our dog was potty trained fairly easily. We don't use a litter box though. I wouldn't recommend it, since it's always good for them to get outside.
Our dog barks like crazy if people are outside the door, and sometimes at other dogs, but that's it.
My husband and I share caring for our dog, but it's not overwhelming, he would be fine with one of us.
He doesn't require a lot of grooming, just baths and some brushing. His short hair does stick in everything though!!

Good luck! They're cute and adorable, but can have a Napoleon complex (little dog thinks he's king of the world)...

Answer 6

Hey... I have a mini-Chihuahua (teacup)...She's 8 mos. old and weighs about 2 pounds. She's GREAT... and exceptionally smart..However, the potty training thing hasn't been the best, I have tried.. I use puppy pads, and that she can do-- A little. She also is so afraid of the outdooord half of the time she won't go there either. However, she doesn't bark at all. She is the best comapnion dog(besides her older Malti-Peke sister (age2 years)). She is awesome with us-- LOVING SWEET AND GENTLE! One person should be able to care for him/her. She hardly requires any grooming at all.. I go and they clip her nails and JUST shampoo her-- no need for haircuts... They only charge me like 10-15.00!!
Hope this helps, Angel M.

Answer 7

I'll answer all your qustions the best I can:
1. I used to have a chihuahua, and I would highly suggest not getting one, if you hace a child don't get one, they stick only to one person and are NOT good around kids. They can be really selfish, and really mean.
They are stubbron and I don't know about litter boxes, dogs use litter boxes?
They tend to bark a whole lot when they are puppies, but with just one person with them they can be good companions
They need just ONE caretaker
just an every now and then bursh, just to get dead hairs out. Unless you want a long haired chihuahua, i'd get shorthaired, they are nicer. Book recommendations, Dog illustrated, but thats a magazine. One book is The Chihauahua. You could get Chihuahua and lots of others.
GOOD LUCK

Answer 8

i own 2 chihuahuas myself. they are both friendly. my older chihuahua was easier to potty train then my baby one. we use the puppy pads. dogs use litter boxes? i'm not so sure about that one. they are really close to my family and my boyfriends family. the older Chihuahua i have is friendly to strangers, but the baby one tend to be a little shy. the older dog barks only when the doorbell rings, and the baby one barks when she wants her brother to play with her. i groom them every now and then to get the loose hair off their backs. you are gonna adore them! i've seen some really mean chihuahuas and am glad that both of mines are playful and friendly. GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

wow that's alot of questionsbut i would say they are easy to take care for and they are soo cute and cuddly.