Chihuahas

[GhostofNatt]

Hmm, I know I've recently been on here soliciting very helpful advice about Maine Coons and thsi is going to seem incredibly fickle and indecisive, but... after worrying a lot about a cat going wandering from our garden on to the large main road we live on , was wondering whether a very small dog might be the answer (ie small enough to think our garden is big). Had anyone had a chihuaha? Do they like small boys? Would they be happy with frequent but modest walks. Interested in any thoughts, promise not to come on tomrorow enquiring about ferrets...

[flea]

Had chihuahuas growing up (2 of them). Would have deemed them rather unsuitable around children.. Although I loved both the dogs all of the other children in the house hated them and they were very, very snippy! One lept up and bit me on the back of the thigh once when I was fighting with my sister. Positives : they did get used to us and could be very affectionate: used to sleep under my jumper when I was sat watching TV : needed very modest walks and wree very bright dogs.

[GhostofNatt]

Thanks flea, maybe not the right dog for boisterous pre-schoolers then, sigh. I wonder if there is anything small but unsnippy that isn't a tortoise...

[Chandra]

Mmm not sure TBH. It is said tht the dog is only as good as the owner irrespective of the bred but... I have not yet met a Chihuahua that is not too territorial and has not a small fuse. Small dogs are not very compatible with young children as both are very fragile and a young child can easily kill a small dog by hugging it too hard and a small fdog can easily bite back if he feels that he need to defend itself from that hug). Probably a dog like a small spaniel may be more sturdy and may not need too much exercising.

[Chandra]

this may help

[Chandra]

forgot to say... there's a bred selector at the bottom of the screen

[GhostofNatt]

Thanks Chandra, that sounds very sensible and I will have a look at the breed selector thing, love mooning over animals... I am ashamed to say that was lo0oking in the window of a very silly petshop and there was sort of pink bed for a tiny dog and various sort of dog-carrier handbag things I'd got all picked out for my imaginary chihuaha which is now going the way of my imaginary Maine coon. I will have a good hard think about what is really the right pet for two small boys and a small garden.

[sullysmum]

I have had chihuahuas for 21 years, rescues and bought.The first one we got back in 1984 when my boys were 8 and 5 years old, Toby was fuine with them and they fine with him, our daughter was born when Toby was 2 he looked after her let her stroke him etc, we used to take Toby to meet the kids from school and all the children would stroke and love him never had a problem.My answer is yes chihuahuas are fine with children but as with all dogs must be supervised, teach the child to be gentle and not to pull the chi or pick it up all the time, teach them respect and they should be ok.