Chihuahua Dog Breed and the CityThe chihuahua dog breed is the smallest dog breed around. Weighing 6lbs (3kg) at most, you'll have no trouble carrying this furball around town. Thanks to Hollywood and celebrities in general, the chihuahua dog breed has become increasingly popular. Which means a lot of people buy this breed without knowing anything about it. And let me tell you, chihuahuas may be small in size, but not in temperament. That's where all those snappy, yappy, jealous chis come from. They're pint-sized pack leaders bossing around a human family 50 times their size...if you let them that is. Big dog? Small dog? Humanized dog?As with most small dog breeds, a chihuahua is a big dog in a small package. They want pretty much what any dog wants. A good and fair pack leader. Healthy food. Shelter. Exercise and mental stimulation.Unfortunately, because of their size, we treat chihuahuas completely differently than the average golden retriever. I mean, they're so cute and cuddly and small...who cares if they jump up against people. And that's where things go wrong. We humanize them. Treat them like babies. The Chihuahua Dog Breed TemperamentChihuahuas are bold and brave. Which sounds cute because of the size, but you need to keep your chi in check. You really don't want him to protect you from that bus passing you by on the street. He may not realize it, but the odds are against him...Another fun charachter trait is that they love affection and are extremely loyal. If you want a dog you can cuddle and who will look up to you, a chi could be a great choice. From a more practical point of view though, this also means they don't like to be left alone. If you spend 8 hours a day at work, it's important to teach him to stay home alone to avoid any complaints from the neighbours. Because they are so loyal, you should also spend a lot of time socializing him with strangers. Otherwise you run the risk of him yapping at everyone on your daily walks. The Chihuahua Dog Breed and ExerciseYes, you read that correctly; daily walks.Just because chihuahuas are small, doesn't mean they don't need to exercise. Playing with your chi at home will take care of some of the exercise he needs. But not all. Dogs love to explore. Sniffing around in a park for half an hour can be just as tiresome as going jogging for an hour. If the city where you live has a safe open place where dogs are allowed off lead, don't be afraid to go there. Running around free, romping around with other dogs can really tire your chi out. Providing your chihuahua with both the mental and physical stimulation of a daily walk can prevent a lot of behavior problems. Chihuahua Health Problemscoming soonReturn from chihuahua dog breed to the list of small dog breeds Go back to the small dogs and the city homepage |