Chihuahua ro Dalmation?

Question

I am a 9 year old girl
I cant decide which one a chihuhua or dalmation
I want a dog that could sit on my lap and watch movies,doesnt bark like crazy,and be playful

Answer 1

First off.... are your parents ready for a dog? Don't they have an opinion on size, temperament, etc? All dogs bark.... that comes with the territory of dog ownership. But... in your opinion.... what is "bark like crazy"?

The Chihuahua is certainly small. But is it too small?

That Dalmatian (note spelling) is a LOT bigger and very active.

Research the breeds like crazy before deciding. Hopefully, whatever you decide on will be in your family for the next 15 years!

Answer 2

for a girl of your age I would say neither. I would go with a shitzu or something of that nature. Reasons being that dalmations are not good with children. When I had one my sisters were about your age and my brother was a baby the dalmation would nip at them to the point that we had to give it away because it was becoming a danger. They do not do good with playing as they get to rough. Chihuahua's are very yippy and tend to shake a lot and pee alot, if you dont like annoying little barks I would not go with that one either. I have a havanese-shitzu and unfortunately all small dogs bark more than big dogs but my dog doesnt bark a lot only when people knock on the door. He is very cuddly and loves to sleep with us at night, he is very happy to just sit with us for hours and watch a movie, thats if you want a dog to hold or cuddle with, if you want a bigger og that will lay next to you or that you could lean on I would go with a Lab of some sort, they are very loyal , friendly and dont bark that much Im my opinion they are the best dog you could possile own especially since you are younger and they are easily trained

Answer 3

First off, dalmations need TONS of exercise, they are great dogs but need to run a few miles EVERYDAY. They are very hyper as pups but calm down around 6

Chihuahua's are very affectionate and playful little dogs. But they can bark alot too, not all of them do, but its kinda like pot luck with this breed. I have a female Chihuahua that is about 3. she loves to cuddle, but doesnt like strangers very well, even though she was extreamly well socialized

My suggestion to you would be to get on the internet with your parents and go to YAHOO! and type in "dog breed selector" Several questionnaires will come up. They will ask you about your lifestyle and preferences. This should give you a good idea about the breed good for you. I would at least do 3 of them. Once you get it narrowed down, go to akc.com and look at the breed standard. then you may want to volunteer at a shelter or rescue so you can meet the dogs in person and see if you connect. Another resource might be to go to a dog show. Whatever you do, don't go to a pet shop or a backyard breeder

Answer 4

Chihuahua

I don't think any 9 year old should be living with a Chihuahua. They only get along with adults or OLDER, considerate children. They are very easy to drop and a drop from 1 metre could break bones or kill the dog. They are more a one-on-one dog. They need very thorough socialization and they take MONTHS to housebreak. Will YOU be the one taking the puppy out EVERY SINGLE 2 HOURS to go potty - this includes while you are asleep? Will you be the one laying out the puppy pads for him to pee on? Will you be the one able to spend MONTHS ON END housebreaking the puppy? They can be timid, aggressive, un healthy, etc. if it wasn't bought from a REPUTABLE BREEDER. They also have a LOT of health problems - YOU need to research Chihuahua Health for more information on their health. *DO NOT BELIEVE IN TINY/T-CUP/MINIATURE CHIHUAHUAS!* There is no such thing as a tiny/t-cup/miniature Chihuahua. Those are JUST RUNTS from the litter. Yes, they may be smaller and maybe even cuter, but they are NOT HEALTHIER! They are great lap dogs and will happily sit on your lap, but I don't think they would sit on a childs lap happily. They yap a lot. They don't bark - they yap. It can drive someone insane. They are playful but not as playful as many other breeds. They are more of an adults dog - not one for a child. Buying one from a reputable breeder who screens their dogs of all hereditary diseases can cost up to and over $1500.

Dalmatian

As the previous owner of a beautiful Dalmatian, I have a few comments about them which I can relate to. They can not sit on a 9 year olds lap - let's get that out of the way. They bark when they are bored. They will destruct everything and anything in sight if he is bored or wants exercise. They are very, very playful and if socialized properly, can be excellent dogs with children and other dogs/animals. Before you even consider a Dalmatian, you need to understand how much EXERCISE they need. A 20 minute walk to the park and back is NO WHERE NEAR ENOUGH! They need atleast an hour or two of exercise and then after that, they love to play. Fetch, ball, tug, chasey, whatever you want to play, he will play with you. Some are slow learners. They are fairly easy to housebreak but take a while to train (basic obedience). They shed a lot. Much more than what anybody would think. You get white/black fur all over your clothes, your bed, your house, EVERYWHERE! They also have a pretty bad doggy odor and need regular bathing. They have a lot of health problems - deafness accurs in 1/3 puppies so the pup MUST BE BAER tested. You need to RESEARCH Dalmatian Health to get a real idea on how many problems they have.

If you are going to be the primary caregiver for this dog, please re-consider and get something easier to take care of.

Edit: A note to the girl who posted above me: Dalmatians do NOT settle down at 6 - they settle down at around 10 but still require a lot of exercise, even as an older dog.

I wouldn't recommend either of those breeds for you.

Answer 5

You want a combination of both. A chihuhua will sit and be playful but may bark and nip. A dalmation while he will be playful it will be hard to have him sit on your lap when he gets bigger. I would get the chihuahua because they are lively fun small but the do bark a lot.

Answer 6

well, the dalmation cant sit on your lap, but it is playful, will watch movies with you, and it doesnt bark like crazy. The chihuahua is a yapper (you might not like that) and does all the other things... personally, I think you should get a dachshund instead of all the other ones... because it does all of the things you want!!!! GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 7

A Dalmatian is out if you are looking for a lap dog and Chihuahua's have a tendency to bark at new things and people. If you want a dog that will sit with you and be pretty mellow you should look into an older dog or a retired greyhound. Retired greyhounds are great family dogs. They are playful but are happy to sit around the house with their family.

Answer 8

There are several stereotypes about both dogs. Chihuahua's tend to be very hyper and playful, but wont sit still for more then 10 min unless they're sleeping. Dalmatians on the other hand seem to be more laid back in the long run but still are very playful when young. If you want a dog that doesn' t bark that much then the Chihuahua isn't for you. Even though they are tiny, they are very protective of their masters. Good Luck!!

Answer 9

Dalmations are pretty big so they cant really sit on ur lap. Chihuahuas are small and they love to be playful. Dalmations too, but they can't sit on their lap. Chihuahuas sometimes bark, but not all the time. I dont know about Dalmations but good luck finding your perfect dog! *winks*

Answer 10

Dalmatians are too big to sit on your lap. They also make poor pets. Each time Disney comes out with a Dalmatian movie, their is a rush to get these dogs and many end up in the pound as they are NOT good with kids. Forget that breed.

Chihuahuas are excellent pets provided you do not get a "tea cup." Tea cups are too small and fragile.

Since Chihuahuas get cold easily, they love to sit in the lap, often under a blanket. They also like to crawl up under your sweater. I have two and they are lots of fun. They also make good guard dogs as they are very Territorial.