i would really love to buy a honey coloured chiauhah dog, but my husband says he will never let me own one as they are nasty nipping little yappers of a dog... my cousin owns one and she is the most quiet docile chiahuah you would ever see.... i want to know are chiauhah's really as bad as my husband says, or is it just a breed stereotype???

they are yippy,yappy,snappy and mean. my uncle had one when I was a kid.

It ALL depends. I have owned 3 chihuahuas now, one I owned for 12 years (he recently passed). The first one I had was very yappy, but only around strangers. Very nervous around non-family, and very aggressive. But he was my favorite dog ever. Chihuahuas usually end up preferring one, maybe two people in a family. They're very loyal.On the other hand, I've had a new chihuahua pup (he's 8 mos now) since January and he is the complete opposite. So sweet and social. Everytime we go to the vet they always love him and say how sweet he is. I really think it all depends on their upbringing and how social they are when they're little puppies. He is very playful and hyper, but not yappy.We just got a new puppy 3 days ago, and he's also such a sweetie. I think he's about 10 weeks old. Very social with everyone, not very yappy. But of course, we haven't had him long.Chihuahuas can be very shy around strangers, but I think that if you show them alot of love in the beginning and throughout their lives, and bring different people and dogs around, they'll be more social.I honestly think they are one of the best breeds out there, and I probably will never own a different breed of dog. I'm hooked!

It's all in what you let them get away with. There are really sweet pit-bulls, and very mean ones...there are annoying yippy chihuahua s, and really sweet calm ones. Your dog is like your kid, they will act in accordance with what they think is appropriate, so it's up to you as a "mom" to teach them what is appropriate. I will admit there seems to be a large percentage of these little guys that are yappy little dogs...my vet friends and I refer to them as "land-sharks!" I also have to admit that I have 2 clients with these guys that are the sweetest dogs ever.

You're husband is wrong, these are the best dogs in the world. They are, however, very territorial and tend to develop incredibly strong bonds with their owners, which is where the incessant barking and ferocious attitude comes in. The trick is to socialize them at an early age, so that they understand that strangers aren't a threat to their territory and, more importantly, you. They are very smart and affectionate and make great apartment dogs. If you decide to get a chi puppy, just take it around people as much as possible while it's young and it will be very well behaved.

yappy-yessnappy-probably

I have one! and she is great. she is a little princess and she knows it. My mother has one too and i grew up with her. she is a good No GREAT dog, she loves everyone. My pup doesnt like many people but she loves me and my husband and our other dog, our german pointer, they are not mean nasty dogs!

I have a 6 month old Chihuahua male. He is the most loving and cuddly dog i have ever had. He is also very protective. I live in an apartment with neighbors above that make a lot of noise. Sometimes he yaps at them because he thinks someone is coming into the apartment but hes just trying to protect my wife and I. He yaps at new people but once he gets to know them he is very friendly. Generally he is not vocal at all. The only time he gets snappy is when he is tired. But even then it is only when he is agitated when hes asleep or trying to sleep. The stereotype of a chihuahua is yappy and snappy but, like any dog, its all in how it is raised.

[sandyh]

Originally Posted by sxc angel

i would really love to buy a honey coloured chiauhah dog, but my husband says he will never let me own one as they are nasty nipping little yappers of a dog... my cousin owns one and she is the most quiet docile chiahuah you would ever see.... i want to know are chiauhah's really as bad as my husband says, or is it just a breed stereotype???

Has your husband never seen your cousins dog ?

[Lara's mom]

I've never had this particular breed but, I'm a strong believer in nurture vs. nature. Most of what makes a dog the canine citizen that he or she is has to do with the way in which they are raised.