Why is it that.......?

Question

Why does everyone say chihuahuas are mean?And they get a bad rep.Especially people that never been around them?

Answer 1

The vast majority of Chihuahua's are nasty dogs. They have been either badly bred or badly trained and socialized. Everybody thinks it's funny when a Chihuahua bites because it doesn't hurt as bad as say, a Rottweiler. They don't bother to train them because they are so small people think it is pointless.
Bad breeding has also ruined this breed. People see a way to make a quick buck and don't think about things like bad temperament, inbreeding (letting relatives mate, which causes birth defects and bad temperment) and genetic disorders.
I work at a vet clinic, and let me tell you, every Chihuahua that comes in, the first thing we do is get a muzzle. We have more tiny muzzles than we do the ones for large dogs. Large dogs have to show us they need one, while we never take a chance with all the "teacup" dogs. I have worked there for almost 4 years and I can think of 3 Chihuahuas and 1 Yorkie that are nice enough not to muzzle. So, there are some, but not many.

Answer 2

Chi's are very protective - my older son has one.
I love studying the history of dog breeds as it helps me to understand why some dogs act like they do. In the case of chi's, there are several stories about it's origions but the one I like is -

They were bred to be human sacrifices. The aztecs believed that when someone died, on their soul's journey to the afterlife, they would encounter evil spirits. The chi's were sacraficed to escort the soul and keep it safe by fighting off the evil spirits. That explains why they attach to one person and protect them like little lions. (or in the case of my son's Pipi - like a teacup Rottie!!)

Answer 3

Because they're usually nippers, & if you see most rank for fatal dog's attacks, you will see chihuahuas would be in the list!

And they're usually are fear aggression dogs, if you watch the program Cesar Millian you will see he will have many Chihuahua, that needs help!

Here you can read about Fear Aggression
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/inter-dog-fear-aggression/page1.aspx

Answer 4

well they are not exactly mean they can actually be very nice all you have to do is train him or her to not nip at people because they are usually nippers though i had some chihuahuas once im used to it they areso cute.

Answer 5

They are when it's not the owners. Have you ever seen those little ankle biters flip out when someone new walks in. They are nutso

Answer 6

Chihuahua Breed Standard
Toy Group

General Appearance
A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression, compact, and with terrier-like qualities of temperament.

Size, Proportion, Substance
Weight - A well balanced little dog not to exceed 6 pounds. Proportion - The body is off-square; hence, slightly longer when measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks, than height at the withers. Somewhat shorter bodies are preferred in males. Disqualification - Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.

Head
A well rounded "apple dome" skull, with or without molera. Expression - Saucy. Eyes - Full, but not protruding, balanced, set well apart-luminous dark or luminous ruby. (Light eyes in blond or white-colored dogs permissible.) Ears - Large, erect type ears, held more upright when alert, but flaring to the sides at a 45 degree angle when in repose, giving breadth between the ears. Muzzle - Moderately short, slightly pointed. Cheeks and jaws lean. Nose - Self-colored in blond types, or black. In moles, blues, and chocolates, they are self-colored. In blond types, pink nose permissible. Bite - Level or scissors. Overshot or undershot bite, or any distortion of the bite or jaw, should be penalized as a serious fault. Disqualifications - Broken down or cropped ears.

Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders. Topline - Level. Body - Ribs rounded and well sprung (but not too much "barrel-shaped"). Tail - Moderately long, carried sickle either up or out, or in a loop over the back, with tip just touching the back. (Never tucked between legs.) Disqualifications - Cropped tail, bobtail.

Forequarters
Shoulders - Lean, sloping into a slightly broadening support above straight forelegs that set well under, giving a free play at the elbows. Shoulders should be well up, giving balance and soundness, sloping into a level back. (Never down or low.) This gives a chestiness, and strength of forequarters, yet not of the "Bulldog" chest. Feet - A small, dainty foot with toes well split up but not spread, pads cushioned. (Neither the hare nor the cat foot.) Pasterns - Fine.

Hindquarters
Muscular, with hocks well apart, neither out nor in, well let down, firm and sturdy. The feet are as in front.

Coat
In the Smooth Coats, the coat should be of soft texture, close and glossy. (Heavier coats with undercoats permissible.) Coat placed well over body with ruff on neck preferred, and more scanty on head and ears. Hair on tail preferred furry. In Long Coats, the coat should be of a soft texture, either flat or slightly curly, with undercoat preferred. Ears - Fringed. (Heavily fringed ears may be tipped slightly if due to the fringes and not to weak ear leather, never down.) Tail - Full and long (as a plume). Feathering on feet and legs, pants on hind legs and large ruff on the neck desired and preferred. Disqualification - In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.

Color
Any color-Solid, marked or splashed.

Gait
The Chihuahua should move swiftly with a firm, sturdy action, with good reach in front equal to the drive from the rear. From the rear, the hocks remain parallel to each other, and the foot fall of the rear legs follows directly behind that of the forelegs. The legs, both front and rear, will tend to converge slightly toward a central line of gravity as speed increases. The side view shows good, strong drive in the rear and plenty of reach in the front, with head carried high. The topline should remain firm and the backline level as the dog moves.

Temperament
Alert, with terrier-like qualities.

Disqualifications
Any dog over 6 pounds in weight.
Broken down or cropped ears.
Cropped tail, bobtail.
In Long Coats, too thin coat that resembles bareness.

Answer 7

because most lil' dogs bite and i love them and i dont think they hurt
iv'e got bite by a weener dog and there bigger than chiuahuahs

i dont know whyi tink its just becuz they are nipp and they bark and show there teeth alot

Answer 8

i do not think that they are mean yet,they are very protective toward their owners...i cant even greet my father with a hug or kiss without being bit.

Answer 9

I DONT THINK THEY ARE MEAN PEOPLE WHO DO USUALY HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN. AND BEING THE BIG BABIES THEY ARE CHILDREN DONT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THEM AND THEY GET NERVOUS AND SCARED AND DEFEND THEMSELVES BY NIPPING BITTING AND SCRATCHING.

Answer 10

They are instinctively defensive and nippers!!!