Why Are Chihuahuas So Aggressive?

Many of you have heard that chihuahuas are aggressive dogs. Why are chihuahuas so aggressive is the question many of you would like to know. In general, there are a few reasons why this is the case. Today we are going to reveal all of these below and help you by providing useful tips that all chihuahuas owners need to know and implement.

7 Most Common Reasons Why Chihuahuas Are So Aggressive

Did you know that chihuahuas are more aggressive than Pit Bulls? As a matter of fact, these are some of the most aggressive dog breeds in the world. They are small but can still scare a person. Why are chihuahuas so aggressive? Well, there are 7 reasons why this happens and now we must reveal all of them.

1. They protect their territory

The main reason why chihuahuas are so aggressive is related to territory. They protect their territory all the time and it is the most common case when they will show signs of aggression. For instance, if they rest in their favorite spot and you approach, this dog will become aggressive. The situation is the same for all the territories they think they own so you need to be careful.

In this scenario, you need to look for the signs. Chihuahuas will show their teeth, stop wagging the tail and keep intense body posture. In general, you can see that a dog is preparing to attack and you can see that he is angry. An interesting fact here is that a dog will stay close to the object or a thing he wants to protect. You can use this tip to tell what the main cause of aggression is.

2. A new face

It is a common thing that dogs don’t always like new faces to see. Some of them will show signs of aggression as soon as they see another person. Well, chihuahuas are well-known for that. They can accept new people as much as you like but dogs who are older than 1 year of age will have a hard time doing this. They will show aggression as soon as they see another person. This is actually a very common reason and one that affects most chihuahuas and can be seen as one of the most common.

In order to make this not a common issue, you will have to take your to a walk, to let him play with other people and other dogs, and do this as often as you can. As such, your pet will adapt more and easier to meet new people. He won’t be as aggressive as dogs who don’t have this opportunity. 

3. Chihuahuas are extremely dominant dogs

Some of you may already know that chihuahuas are dominant and proud dogs. They will become aggressive as soon as they see a submissive person. If you allow them to do everything they like, they will become aggressive. 

The best solution here is to become dominant and let your dog know who the boss is. This may sound complicated but it is actually a simple and straightforward process that can help you fight the aggression of your Chihuahua. It does work well and you can see the progress within days. 

4. Your dog is sick

All dogs don’t like to show signs of pain or any discomfort of any kind. In other words, chihuahuas will be aggressive when they are in pain. The most common causes of this kind are when your dog has bone issues, due to obesity, swelling, and all the rest that can cause pain or discomfort of any kind. 

If there are no other, obvious reasons why a dog is aggressive you will have to take him to a vet and check for issues of any kind. If there is a health-related problem you can start treatment and find the solution within days. All causes and diseases of this kind are easier to treat when diagnosed earlier. 

5. A dog was abused

This happens when you adopt a dog who had a bad owner before. He may be abused all the time. As such he will be aggressive more than any other dog simply because he wants to protect himself. He is scared of all people and aggression is the best way to stay safe (he believes that). It is also possible that a dog was abused in countless ways. For example, if a dog’s tail was caught by a dog door, installing the same type of door to your house may be an issue. 

Always check with the previous owner and find all the resources you can in order to form a complete idea about the previous owner. Your dog must have had a great past and he should have had a great life with the previous owner. 

6. You are moving Chihuahua too much

Chihuahuas don’t like to be moved all the time. But, most owners who have these dogs like to move them all the time. They will carry them with them all around the city when visiting friends and so much more. Well, they don’t like it and they may become aggressive when they are exposed to a new place.

Chihuahuas like to stay safe and in order to be that they must stay in one place. A crate training may be the best option here and it is a very successful method. Luckily these pets are small so you will need a small crate. 

7. Due to anxiety

All dogs can be anxious and they will show signs as soon as this happens. There are multiple causes why that happens. For instance, they can become anxious due to trauma. There are countless examples here and we cannot mention all of them. If he sees something that scares him, your pet will become anxious and therefore aggressive. 

Chihuahuas can become aggressive due to noise and separation anxiety. Loud noise caused by construction, music, TV, or almost anything else will cause anxiety. Separation anxiety happens when you leave a dog alone for too long or he spends some time away from you. These are more severe cases and you will need to react accordingly. 

Things you can do to decrease aggression in chihuahuas

Chihuahuas are aggressive dogs. Now you know why they are aggressive almost all the time. Luckily there are a lot of things you can do in order to prevent or at least decrease this problem. Below we are going to show some of the most effective methods and some of the most appealing options you can implement to all chihuahuas.

• Play outside as much as you can

Taking your pet outside as much as you can is one of the best ways to keep his aggression under control. All you have to do is to take him to a park and if possible allow your pet to play with other dogs. But, look for certain signs that may appear quickly. These include excessive barking, violence, stiffness, and similar. If you notice any of these, break the two dogs apart as soon as you can. These are negative signs and they can make your pet even more aggressive. 

One, the additional benefit here is that your pet will use a lot of energy and he will be calmer at home. He will want to rest and won’t try to be as aggressive as before. It does work well and you can use the same tip for all dogs. 

• Training is mandatory

Chihuahuas should be trained as soon as you can. There are two methods to achieve your goal. The first one is for you to train him. This will be a more rewarding experience but it will take a lot of time and there are a lot of things you need to know. You should train your dog to obey commands such as speak, quiet, come, sit, stay, and more. In general, you have to reward your pet when he obeys you. Another option is to hire a professional trainer. This is a more appealing method for most owners.

• Regular vet controls and checks

You have to take your Chihuahua to a vet on a regular basis. He can test and diagnose the overall health of your pet. If there are any health issues he may prescribe a treatment and your pet will start with recovery as soon as possible. Once your pet is healthy, you can start using other tips here and make sure to decrease aggression as much as possible. 

• Daycare can be used

This is a huge advantage to all chihuahuas. Daycare is an effective method because your pet will learn how to socialize, have obedience training and he will also have agility training. There are a lot more things here that your pet will appreciate. In a nutshell, all of these will decrease the aggression your pet shows and he will start behaving better within days. 

The final word

Why are chihuahuas so aggressive? You know the reasons why and you also know what to do. There are a lot of things that can be used and that are very effective. All we can say here is that chihuahuas are very aggressive dogs most of the time so you will have to get used to it.