Penny the Passive Pooch: Addressing Chihuahua Stereotypes

Hi, I’m Savanna! Read my introduction to be taught extra about me and my spunky Chihuahua combine, Penny.

I’m simply going to be trustworthy: I by no means imagined proudly owning a Chihuahua. You hear all these canine stereotypes resembling Chihuahuas being aggressive, having “small canine syndrome”, and so forth., and I believed that will be method an excessive amount of for me to take care of. I’d additionally by no means had a small canine as a pet. My household at all times had bigger canine once I was rising up.

But you all know the story in case you’ve been following together with me all this time. I noticed Penny and I knew I couldn’t say no to her. After having her for nearly 4 years, I’ve to say that I don’t know what all of the stereotypes about Chihuahuas are about, and I believe many individuals are too fast to jot down them off on account of dangerous behaviors and aggression.

No, Penny’s not a full-blooded Chihuahua, however she’s over two-thirds Chihuahua, and I personally simply don’t get the stereotypes. I’ll give in to the “small canine syndrome”, as a result of Penny positively acts that method. But in terms of aggression, she truly chooses a passive route more often than not. In reality, I haven’t actually skilled aggression from any Chihuahua I’ve ever been round. Of course, each canine has their very own particular person character, and I can’t converse for all Chihuahua homeowners, and I’m actually not a canine conduct skilled, however that is simply my private expertise.

Does Penny Have Small Dog Syndrome? Yes

In case you aren’t accustomed to the time period, “small dog syndrome” (SDS) is a time period used to explain behaviors that small canine usually exhibit as a option to compensate for his or her smaller measurement. It’s also called a Napoleon complicated, and small canine are extra liable to the conduct.

Yes, I’ll admit that Penny reveals a few of these indicators. But she bought the nice finish of the cut price in terms of SDS. She’s not aggressive, she’s not disobedient, and he or she’s not nervous. The issues we take care of most are consideration looking for behaviors (however what canine doesn’t do that?), and numerous barking. I’m speaking about barking any time she hears a noise or notices one thing that wasn’t there earlier than. She does act just a little fearful round greater canine, however she’s superb round canine her measurement.

I notice that is an precise factor that occurs with many Chihuahuas. But greater canine can have the identical behaviors. Plus, even when a canine does present extra of the undesirable behaviors, many of those behaviors may be remedied with correct socialization and coaching. So, simply because Chihuahuas act this manner typically, it doesn’t imply they’re dangerous canine.

Is Penny Aggressive? Absolutely Not

The solely “aggression” she ever reveals is play aggression, growling and such once you attempt to take her toy away from her throughout a sport of fetch. In reality, I believe I could have seen Penny act aggressive in the direction of one other canine as soon as in 4 years. In her protection, she didn’t like the way in which the opposite canine was approaching her and getting in her area. But I’ve by no means seen her act inherently aggressive towards one other individual.

She will defend herself if crucial, however she a lot prefers to take a extra passive method. She both loves you from the get-go, or she completely ignores you in case you don’t cross the vibe verify. Penny would a lot somewhat you pet her stomach and let her lick you than present any aggression to you in anyway. Of course, we at all times supervise her interactions with different folks simply to be on the secure facet.

Even along with her barking, she by no means barks at something in an aggressive method, even when it’s value baking at. It’s at all times extra of a “sound the alarm, there’s one thing new right here” bark.

Again, she’s not a full-blooded Chihuahua, so which will account for a few of her passiveness. And I can’t converse for all Chihuahuas, however along with my very own, I’ve met a number of by way of household and associates over time and have never encountered one that is aggressive.

The Reality of Chihuahuas

Thanks to canine stereotypes, numerous canine get a nasty popularity even when they don’t really deserve it. But Chihuahuas are literally nonetheless fairly fashionable canine regardless of their usually “aggressive” popularity. These canine are generally seen in popular culture; all of us love Bruiser in Legally Blonde and Gidget, the mascot for Taco Bell within the late 90s. Due to their measurement, they’re additionally simple to maintain in smaller residing areas on account of assembly weight necessities or tackle the go together with you. So many individuals appear to nonetheless need one regardless of the usually unfavourable stereotypes they carry with them.

Unfortunately, their recognition has led to Chihuahuas being probably the most widespread canine breeds to be present in animal shelters due principally to unintended breeding or overbreeding, but in addition as a result of some folks don’t know take care of their huge character as soon as they create them dwelling.

Not solely that, however the unhappy fact is that Chihuahuas are the second most euthanized breed. This is usually as a result of giant variety of Chihuahuas in animal shelters. They aren’t essentially euthanized as a direct results of their conduct. But it additionally makes me surprise why folks aren’t adopting them from shelters extra if they’re so fashionable and so generally discovered.

Is it due to their unfavourable popularity that causes folks to decide on a breed resembling a Labrador that can be generally present in shelters and has a popularity for higher conduct? (This is nothing in opposition to Labradors; we had one for years and he or she was probably the most wonderful canine.) Are Chihuahuas being euthanized extra usually as an oblique results of their popularity that results in them not being as fascinating?

I don’t know the reality of the matter, however what I can say is that each canine has their very own character and doesn’t essentially comply with breed stereotypes. Chihuahuas are extra clever than they seem and may be simply educated to exhibit extra fascinating behaviors if conduct is an issue.

Final Thoughts

Now that I’ve a Chihuahua, I don’t know if I may ever see myself proudly owning every other breed. Especially understanding what I find out about their historical past in shelters. I’ll advocate for Chihuahuas at all times, because of my candy Penny. There is far more to those canine than the stereotypes and popularity that precedes them.