Is a Chihuahua an aggressive breed? Why are Chihuahuas considered evil? The Chihuahua is a breed of dog that became famous in the 50’s. They are small dogs that were initially bred for hunting but eventually became companion dogs. This post will talk about the Chihuahua dog breed and its physical and behavioral characteristics.
Evil chihuahua
Chihuahua dogs can be very docile animals, but there are stories that dogs can get a little more aggressive than normal in some situations.
Generally, these dogs can be aggressive towards strangers or when they feel threatened in some way. So, the dogs can growl showing their teeth, forming the image of an evil chihuahua.
Chihuahuas are energetic dogs and when not stimulated with toys and games, these dogs can show some behavioral deviations. This behavior deviations can be a result of the anxiety and stress suffered by these animals.
A study by Sandri and colleagues in 2015 observed that small dogs tend to be more anxious, agitated, and even more aggressive when compared to large dogs. Thus justifying why some Chihuahuas can be considered diabolical.
About the Chihuahua breed
One of the theories about the origin of the Chihuahua believes that these dogs lived wild in Mexico. These small dogs were captured and domesticated by the indigenous people of the region.
Physical characteristics
The head is very round and small, and the eyes are round. The ears are large and are always on alert. It is a dog with a compact body, short and muscular limbs, its tail is moderately long, carried high, arched or in a semicircle.
The Chihuahua’s coat can be short-haired or long-haired and can be found in many shades and combinations except for the merle color.
Behavior / Temperament
Chihuahuas have a strong personality. They are small dogs but agile, alert, restless and very courageous. It’s a dog that can bark a lot. They can react to any strange movement, always calling the tutor’s attention. Therefore, it is considered a good guard dog.
Breed health
Chihuahuas are very healthy animals, but they need to do physical activities such as playing and going for walks to burn off some energy. This breed can have some genetic diseases such as:
- Patellar deviation;
- Cryptorchidism;
- Hydrocephalus.
Patellar deviation is a disease where the animal may limp and feel local pain, as the patella leaves the anatomical place, which may lead to injuries from temptation and other complications.
Cryptorchidism is the disease present in males where one or both testicles are not observed in the scrotum. The puppies are born with the testicles in the cavity and until 8 months these testicles tend to be in the scrotum.
After 8 months of the absence of one or more testicles the animal is considered a cryptorchid. In these cases, castration of the animal is indicated, since the testicle in the cavity has a greater predisposition to become a tumor that can worsen the health of the animal.
Hydrocephalus, on the other hand, has no well-described causes. It is the disease that happens in the intra uterine life where there is a large accumulation of liquids in the puppy’s skull. Thus, the bitch may have difficulties when giving birth to the animal in a natural way, being a necessary cesarean section. Puppies often die due to neuronal complications generated by hydrocephalus.
Dogs with these genetic disorders are discouraged from breeding. And there must be veterinary monitoring for better resolution of the cases.
These animals do not have so many reproductive problems, but gestational follow-up with a veterinarian is advised due to the high incidence of hydrocephalus, which can lead to dystocia, resulting in the mother and the offspring’s death.
Animals must have a routine of being vaccinated and dewormed. In addition to care with ectoparasites such as fleas and ticks. When these preventive cares are not applied, the animals can present health problems.
Illness, happiness, excitement, or fear can cause the animal to shiver; this same sign can be seen when they are cold. If constant tremors are observed, a veterinarian should be sought.
Conclusion
The aggressiveness of chihuahua dogs, which makes them considered demonic dogs, is not a characteristic of the breed, but its size. Small dogs tend to be more anxious, agitated and even aggressive. The causes are still not very clear, but these characteristics can lead these dogs to show behavioral deviations. From the physical and behavioral characteristics of chihuahua dogs, it is clear that these animals are excellent companion dogs and nothing like good training to avoid this type of inappropriate behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Evil chihuahua
How heavy is a chihuahua?
The Chihuahua’s weight should be between 1 and 3 kg.
How long does a chihuahua live?
Chihuahuas usually live between 12 and 20 years, depending on their genetics and general care.
Do the chihuahua bark a lot?
Yes, because they are dogs that have great hearing and any noise they find suspicious they will bark. Thus making them good dogs to guard.
Reference
CBKC – Brazilian Canine Confederation, 2015 Official Breed Standard: chihuahua. Available at: https://cbkc.org/application/views/docs/padroes/padrao-raca_187.pdf, accessed January 22, 2022.
Sandri, M., Colussi, A., Perrotta, M. G., & Stefanon, B. (2015). Salivary cortisol concentration in healthy dogs is affected by size, sex, and housing context. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 10(4), 302-306.
Pictures from flirck.com and pixabay.com
